Hey everyone, sorry I'm bad at updating. I am trying to get better. New Years Resolution. But I don't promise anything because of school. Please read and review!
Gibbs was the first one up the next morning. He knew that Tony and Sloan needed their rest. He figured Ziva was already out on her morning run. He went to check on Parker but she was still sleeping so he figured he would go out and make some coffee. About 10 minutes Ziva came in.
"Morning Gibbs" Ziva said
"Morning, How was your run?" Gibbs asked. Ziva was surprised that he was making conversation
"Good thank you" Ziva replied
"Coffee?" Gibbs asked his younger agent
"No thanks, I always drink water after my run then coffee after my shower" Ziva said getting herself some water.
"Is anyone else awake?" Ziva asked
"Nope" Gibbs said take a swig of his coffee.
"When everyone wakes up, I figure I will make eggs and bacon"
"Sounds good to me" Gibbs said sitting down with his paper and coffee
Ziva cleaned up a little bit and then sat down and read the part of the paper that Gibbs had already read. They heard noise so they went to see if everyone was okay.
They went into Sloan's room to see Tony trying to get Parker out of her crib. That posed a problem with one arm in a sling. It seemed that Parker was throwing toys out of the crib. Ziva went to get Parker and Gibbs picked up the toys Parker decided she wanted to throw.
"Morning Tony" Ziva said. Tony was clearly frustrated so she figured she would help him out.
"Thanks Zi" Tony said
He got Parker's blanket out of the crib and handed it to Ziva. Gibbs came over with all the toys she ejected from the crib. Then told her it was not good to throw toys. Gibbs, Tony, and Ziva carrying Parker went out to the family room to let Sloan sleep some more. Some time passed as they watched Mickey Mouse Club House with Parker.
"I did not think Sloan would sleep so late" Ziva said
She was still not sure why teenagers liked to sleep so late. She herself was always up at 5:30 or 6 o'clock to go for her morning run.
"Not everyone likes to be up be for the sun Ziva" Tony said
"Last night probably took a lot out of her too. It's not easy to be upset like that and cry that much" Gibbs said
They sat around and talked some more. Watched more kiddie shows and played with Parker. Then around 11:15 Sloan decided to join them.
"Morning" a very sleepy Sloan said. She was still wearing a long sleeve t-shirt and flannel pj bottoms. Tony was in sweatpants, Ziva was in her workout pants and jacket and Gibbs was in jeans and a USMC sweatshirt, and Parker was still in her footie pjs.
"Good morning" they all said
Sloan came over and picked Parker up off the floor so she could cuddle her.
"Hey parks" Sloan said sitting down on the couch next to Tony.
"How are you doing Sloan" Gibbs asked her with a concerned expression on his face
"Better than yesterday. I was tired and it all just caught up with me" Sloan said
"Sorry I scared you kiddo" Tony said, he was still feeling guilty that he had scared Sloan so badly. He never wanted to cause her pain.
"It's okay, actually no it's not, I was scared to death that I was going to lose you. You're basically all I have left" Sloan said wiping a tear from her eye.
Tony hated seeing her cry but he knew it was the only way to get her to feel better.
"Let it out kiddo" Tony soothed
"I'm tired of crying, I'm tired of this and I'm tired of everyone thinking I'm hopeless" Sloan said
"Sloan, after they rescued me from Africa I felt the same way that you do. I did not feel like myself, I just wanted to stay home and cry. But everyone kept checking on me, making sure I was okay and that I was going back to normal. One night though Tony and McGee came over to watch a movie and I ended up telling them everything that happened in Africa and how I was tortured and everything and it helped me heal. I was able to tell someone else and it took the burden off of me. I felt hopeless because McGee and Tony did not leave me alone for many nights they would come over and stay the whole night. I was scared and I had been raised that if you admitted you were scared and that meant that you were wear; but I realized that not saying how I truly felt was weak, that it took more courage to open yourself up instead on keeping everything closed up. I want you to be able to tell us everything, so we can help you heal and get through it easier. It is not easy trust me but with time and great, supportive friends you will get through it. I promise" Ziva said all this in the most soothing and caring tone and when she looked over again at Sloan she was crying. She was not sure if that was good or bad.
Tony and Gibbs just sat there. This was a different side of their Israeli Agent that they rarely ever saw. They were surprised that she told all this to Sloan. Tony then realized that she really had needed him and McGee.
"Thanks Ziva" was all Sloan got out before she started crying.
"We will get through it, I promise you kiddo" Tony said giving her a kiss on the top of her head.
Sloan sat on the sofa with Parker in her lap. She was just crying into Parker's back. Tony and Ziva were on either side of her not sure what to do. They just wanted to let her know that they were there for her. Gibbs sat in the arm chair across from them. It broke his heart to see her upset. He was thinking back to when he first met Sloan, Jim and Sarah. Sarah was his probie. She joined NCIS after she retired from the Marines. Jim was still a Marine and Sloan was about 8. She really reminded him of his daughter Kelly. She would come by the office after school and she use to make him smile. He hasn't seen her smile like that in a while. He dad was killed in Afghanistan and now her mom died. He just wished she had an easier time of things.
He was shaken out of his thoughts when Ziva asked if anyone wanted eggs and bacon.
"Anyone hungry?" Ziva asked
They all said yes so they made their way out to the kitchen.
Tony was telling them were everything was but Ziva figured it out.
"It's actually creepy that you know where I store all of my stuff" Tony said
"My job is to be observant and profile people, that is how I figured it out. And I have been here before Tony" Ziva said laughing
"What does everyone want?" Ziva asked
"Eggs, toast and bacon. I'm starving" Sloan said
"Coming right up"
After they ate breakfast and they cleaned up Gibbs got a call.
"Ziva, we have case call McGee" Gibbs said
"Boss you want us to come to the office"
"DiNozzo, you are taking your personal time, remember?" Gibbs said while head slapping him.
"Right boss"
"Okay Ziva we need to go" Gibbs said
"McGee said he would meet us at the crime scene" Ziva said
"Then what are we waiting for?" Gibbs said
"Boss wait" Tony said. He looked back to make sure that Sloan was still playing with Parker.
"Yea DiNozzo" Gibbs said
"Boss, I'm scared. What if I can't take care of Sloan and Parker? What if Sloan gets so upset and I can't do anything for her? What if I screw her and Parker up, what if I can't do what they need me to do?" Tony was really starting to realize that this was permanent and he didn't want to break his promise to Sarah.
"Boss, I can't let Sarah down"
"DiNozzo, the girls worship you. I think you can manage for a few hours" Gibbs said
"Tony, I will come back later and keep talking to Sloan. Okay we will all get through this" Ziva said
"If she gets really hysterical call me and I will be over" Ziva said
"Thanks Zi" Tony said still unsure
"DiNozzo we need to go do our job and you need to go do your job" Gibbs said motioning for Ziva to walk out the door.
Gibbs and Ziva left to go to a crime scene and Tony just stood leaning against the door jam thinking of how he was going to get them all through this.
"Tony" Sloan said
"Sloan how much did you hear?" Tony was startled. He really hoped that she didn't know that he was upset and worried.
"Nothing why?" Sloan said she was really confused as to why Tony was jumpy.
"No reason, I promise you I will get you through this"
"Thanks Tony, can we talk?" Sloan hesitantly asked
"Sure kiddo" Tony said he was kinda worried of what she was gonna ask him
"You doing okay?" Tony asked. Now they were both sitting on the couch and Parker was down for her nap.
"I don't know, yes, no"
"Which one" Tony asked he was kinda laughing
"No" she mumbled
"So you know I'm not good at the whole crying emotional woman thing but I will try. Tell me what else is bothering you" Tony soothed
"I'm scared" she mumbled
"You need to use your big girl words so I can help you"
"Tony, what if I screw up, what if I'm not there for Parker enough? What if I miss out on all the important things in her life? Tony I can't do it" Sloan said letting a few tears slip out.
"Sloan, you are the best big sister she could ask for. You have taken such good care of her, you kept it all together while your mom was sick. And I know that you will do a great job managing college and Parker. She will be here with me and you know Gibbs won't let anything happen to her"
"Everything is just scary and uncertain" Sloan said cuddling up to Tony's good shoulder.
"I know kiddo, I just want you to know that everything will be okay with time and I will always be here for you. I also hope you understand that you can come to me with anything. I'm always here for you" Tony said kissing the top of her head.
"You also know what Ziva said is true. You are in a lot of ways like her. I actually don't know if that's good or bad" Tony said with a small laugh
Tony looked over at her and noticed she was crying again. What I do for her. He thought. I hate when the women I love cry and there is nothing I can do.
"Wh..en will it . okay to sm…ile" Sloan asked him through her broken sobs
"Whenever you think it is okay. Believe it or not there's no time limit on it" Tony said he was hoping that would make her laugh a little. He missed when she smiled and laughed.
"Like when will it be okay to go back to gymnastics and soccer. Are you going to let me go back to soccer and gymnastics?"
"Of course I would
"I could never take anything away from you that made you happy and your pretty damn good at them both.
"Good. Like is it okay if I want to go to prom and the dance that they have for all the gymnasts and their families. I want to but I feel like it would be bad because I don't know if I want to have a good time"
"You can't let you own happiness suffer because you miss your parents. Your parents would not want that for you. They would want you to have fun your senior year go to prom go to parties and continue your gymnastics and soccer. They loved seeing you do the things you love and I think that you need to continue your old life" Tony said
"Yes but when, when will things go back to normal. What if they don't go back to normal" Sloan said her voice wavering
"Kiddo things will never be completely normal again. But after the funeral you will start to heal and you can gradually go back to everything. I don't want you to think that you need to make yourself sick trying to please everyone and do everything. Were gonna take baby steps and fix as much as we can" Tony said
"I want to make your senior year as best as I can. I don't want you to miss out on anything"
"Thanks Tony" Sloan said giving him a hug
So there is chapter 11! Please review!