Epilogue:
Ducky was walking with Gibbs.
"These events are always painful." He said. "Even more so under the present circumstances. If I could have two wishes fulfilled, they would be that the words "Children's" and "Ward" would never again appear on a sign together; and that children would always outlive their parents."
"You have to be careful with that second one." Gibbs observed. "It almost came true."
"It did, at that." Ducky realized. "I guess there is a reason why I am not in control of destiny."
They stood in front of Abby and Matthew.
"Again, you have my deepest sympathies, son." Ducky said as he shook hands with Matthew. "Despite her injuries, she was one of the most mature people I have ever met."
"Thank you, Ducky." Matthew said. "She once told me she considered you a grandfather. Thank you for being so kind to her."
"She was a true gift from above." Ducky said. "And it was I who benefitted from her presence. She was a ray of sunshine in this storm filled world which, sadly, has just become all the more darker."
Matthew smiled as they took their seats.
"Today, we are filled with grief." Father Bailey began. "Grief over the loss of a member of our flock."
It was a graveside service. Father Bailey would later remark that it was one of the largest he had ever seen.
"Sarah Miracle Shuman was loved by all who knew her…and she had the rare ability to make others want to go out of their way to know her. While we mourn that she was taken from us far too soon, we are comforted by knowing that she is in a better place."
Looking around, Abby saw all of N.C.I.S. there, as well as the staff at St. Mary's, and even Dr. Thompson and several members of the hospital staff. For every person she could identify, there were easily ten she couldn't.
When Father Bailey was finished, he asked Matthew if he wanted to say a few words.
Matthew stood and walked up to her, and had to take a moment to compose himself.
He placed his hand on her coffin.
"Sarah Miracle Shuman." He began. "15 years ago, your mother was told she would never have children…but she refused to accept it. One day, I came home from work and she grabbed my hand and placed it on her stomach.
"The Lord has granted us our miracle." She told me.
And we decided that that's what we would name you."
He wiped the tears from his eyes.
"I wanted to name you "Divine Miracle", but she wanted "Sarah", to remind us of Abraham's wife, who was convinced she couldn't conceive…until God showed her that…He doesn't care about a Doctor's verdict, or the condition of our body. If He wants to bless us with a child, He will do so.
I'm glad we went with her idea."
Despite the situation, most of those present chuckled.
"From the second you were born, you had me wrapped around your finger, and you never let me go. I found myself wanting to stay awake, just so I wouldn't miss the next thing you did.
I cried with you when your first tooth came in. I cried the first time you hugged me and the first time you called me "Daddy". But I also laughed when you were learning to walk and hold a cup and eat on your own. Every day was a new blessing, and I didn't want them to stop."
He had to pause a moment.
"After the accident, when I didn't think I could go on, it was you who gave me the strength to continue. While trying to overcome your broken body, you also had to help me overcome my broken mind. And you never complained; you just kept doing things that the Doctor had said you would never do again. Yet again, you lived up to your name."
Again, he had to pause and compose himself, and Abby walked up to him and put her arm around his waist and her head on his shoulder; he grabbed her hand.
"There are those who believe that there is a place where unborn children choose which family they want to go to; if that is the case, I thank you for choosing me to be your Daddy. And I know it would be selfish to stand here and say that…I would do anything if I could trade places with you right now, as much as I would like to, because I know that, right now, you are running through the streets of Heaven, your mind and body restored, and I would never want to take that from you.
But know this, when I finally make it there, I want you to be waiting for me at those Pearly Gates, and we will go running together. Until then, run around as much as you want to, Sweetheart…you deserve it.
Goodbye, my Beautiful Princess."
