Day 10 - Baby

Naval Criminal Investigative Services HQ - 1500 hours

The last few days have been hard. Harder than a lot of days they've had.

Sitting in a chair that shouldn't be his, at a desk that shouldn't be his, in a squadroom that really shouldn't be his, Tony DiNozzo is numb.

The case had started out normal. Domestic dispute gone bad, typical thing.

But then everything went to shit.

First there was the suspicious circumstances, what with their prime suspect being overseas with an air-tight alibi. Then the victim - and her 3-month old daughter - go missing. They've been run into the ground, haven't had time to change in almost a week. and still no sign of the missing victim or her child. Tony knows, in the back of his mind, that if missing person aren't found after the first 48 hours, they're not usually found at all.

And for some reason, this really makes him just want to cry.

Letting out a breath, he stands to make his way to the gym to blow off some steam when Tim and Ziva barrel their way into his path. The younger agent simply bends over and places his hands on his knees, out of breath from running up the stairs. Ziva pushes her hair out of her face and starts to explain when Abby appears behind them.

"Tony, Tony! I found the victim and her daughter! I was triangulating her last cellphone call by remote turn-on and - "

"Abby.." Tony says, giving her a look. She grins at him and says, "Okay, long story short, I found them! Here's the address!" He takes it from her and moves around his desk to grab his Sig and gear, Tim and Ziva not far behind.

We're gonna bring them home safe, Tony tells himself happily. They're gonna be ok.

A few hours later, whatever optimism he had was long-gone. The victim was dead, at the hands of her husband. He, not being able to handle what he had done, had killed himself beside her body. Little Amelia James was now an orphan.

Sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, Tony was trying to stay positive. They had told the team that the baby was severely malnourished and dehydrated. They weren't sure if she would make it through the night. Just another victim of this crappy world, Tony thinks bitterly.

Ziva, sitting beside him, is silent and stoic. He knows this is hitting her hard (not that she'd ever admit it), but she's trying to stay strong for his and Tim's sake.

Tim is in the room with Amelia, not having let her go since they arrived at the crime scene. The EMTs hadn't been able to pull her away, and so they let him ride along. Tony and Ziva hadn't seen him since. The older agent hoped he'd able to handle it if she didn't make it.

Lost in his thoughts as he is, neither he nor Ziva hear Tim arrive in the room until he's in front of them. They both jump up and start talking over each other. He holds up a hand as they fall silent.

Tim's covered in drool and baby puke, hair in 50 different directions, but he's beaming.

"They said she'll be okay."

They both embrace him as he starts to cry and laugh.

Pressing a kiss to Tim's moist cheek, Tony sends up a silent thanks.

Thank you, whoever is up there, for sparing Amelia. Now she'll get to have the life she deserves.

Um..Hai, guys :)

Yeah, I know..way to dip out on a story, huh? Well, now I'm back, and better than ever!

Well, maybe. I'm not too happy with that ^ but I hope you guys like it anyway :)

And before you worry, this is not the last of baby Amelia! We still have over three hundred days..Anything can happen :)