Vance sat in a chair in the small waiting room outside of the PICU. He looked over at the chair beside him where Jared had fallen asleep sitting up. It had been a week since Kayla had been shot and until that afternoon she had been doing remarkably well. They expected her to return home next week or the next. Then around three she started having pain and vomiting. Tony had been with her when it happened. He had been talking to Gibbs in the cafeteria. He hadn't even been with his little girl during what must have been one of the most terrifying moments of her life. The last seconds she was OK as the infection began taking over. His excuse he needed air. Now Kayla was fighting for her life and losing the battle. She had lost consciousness when Tony was with her and stopped breathing on her own around five.
"Leon?" The night nurse called from the doorway.
"Yeah?" Vance asked.
The nurse walked over and sat beside Vance and Jared. "We think it would be wise if you and Jared said you're goodbyes." She replied.
Wordlessly Vance stood up and shook Jared awake. The two walked hand and hand down the hall to Kayla's room.
"You want to go first?" Vance asked Jared.
Jared nodded and walked into his sister's room. "I'm going to miss you sis. I love you." He said.
Jared exited and Vance entered the room he held Kayla's hand tightly. "You were my little girl and I loved you. It's hard to lose you so soon after your mom. I know you two will be watching me and Jared from heaven. It's still going to be hard though." he told her.
Vance walked over to the door and called Jared back into the room. Vance held tightly onto both Kayla and Jared's hands. With his free hand Jared held tightly onto Kayla's bed. Vance looked down at his daughters still body. She didn't deserve to die this way. He was glad that Jimmy had killed her killer and J.L.'s attacker.
"BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!" The sound of the heart monitor flat-lining caused his own heart to stop temporarily. It would have stopped forever if it weren't for Jared squeezing his hand. The kid who rarely cried as a baby sobbing uncontrollably. His heart shattered and he heard Jared sobbing next to him. He held his son in a tight hug and the two cried together. It was a full hour before he could call Gibbs.
Gibbs was in the middle of a deep and peaceful sleep. Something he had rarely experienced after Shannon and Kelly but ever since he got the twins it had been a regular occurrence again. He was sure part of it was the exhaustion from raising two five year olds and working a full time job but mainly the fact that he was sleeping in his bed again. He felt slightly guilty sleeping so well tonight though because yesterday Kayla Vance had developed an infection where she had been shot and was now hovering between life and death. Suddenly he was roused him from his sleep by his phone ringing. He flipped it open looked at the screen it said the call was coming from Vance.
"How is she Leon?" Gibbs asked.
"We lost her an hour ago Jethro." Vance said.
"I'm coming over." Gibbs replied.
He hung up and looked at his background picture McGee had helped him set it was one Tony had taken of Liz and J.L. on their first day of school. He felt weird suddenly he had two kids and his house was full of life and Vance's was sad and empty. Even though he had Jared things were still different now. He jumped out of bed and started hurriedly getting ready. Even though he was trying to be quiet he still managed to wake Tony. Because just as he was about the head out the door Tony descended the stairs and looked at him curiously.
"I need you to watch the twins and start contacting the others." Gibbs said.
"Boss what's going on?" Tony asked,
"Tony Kayla died an hour ago." Gibbs replied.
"Alright Boss and give the director my sympathies." Tony replied after a moment of silence.
"Thanks DiNozzo." Gibbs replied as he walked out the door.
Tony walked back up the stairs and saw Liz sitting in the hallway between her and J.L.'s rooms. It wasn't much surprise to Tony. She was the early riser of the twins. Some mornings she even went on morning jogs with Gibbs. How a five year old could keep up with the ex-Marine was beyond him. J.L. who was more like Tony and enjoyed sleeping as late as possible poked his head of his room.
"Tony what's going on?" Liz asked.
"Where's Gibbs?" J.L. asked.
"Come here" Tony called knowing they had to be told about Kayla sometime.
Liz and J.L. nodded and walked over to Tony. He knelt down to their level, putting a hand on each twins shoulder, and making sure to have eye contact with them.
"Liz, J.L. I have some sad news for you guys. Kayla Vance died this morning." Tony replied.
"NO!" Liz and J.L. cried before bursting into tears. Tony pulled them close and the three cried together for what felt like hours. When the twins finally calmed down Tony sent them back to their rooms and went to make the dreaded calls. He called Ducky first but quickly learned that Vance had contacted him from the hospital and he had called Jimmy. So Tony only had to call McGee, Abby, and Ziva. He decided to call Ziva first. She was quiet for a minute before telling him to pass her sympathies on to Vance and call her if he needed anything. When he was done he called McGee.
"Hey McGee." Tony said
"HI Tony." McGee wheezed.
"Probie are you OK?" Tony asked.
"Yeah I was just…" McGee replied.
"Let me guess Abby is over?" Tony asked.
"Yeah" McGee replied. "Why are you calling do we have a case?"
"No Tim Kayla died this morning." Tony explained.
"No. How's Vance?" McGee asked.
"I don't know Gibbs is with him." Tony replied.
"Tell him I'm sorry if you see him before me." McGee replied.
"Will do." Tony replied.
Tony hung up with McGee who had said he'd pass the news onto Abby and then made a few more calls. Calling the team leaders of all the teams in the D.C. office who would contact their agents. The other offices in the country would be notified by an email. He also notified Deputy Director Craig who said he'd get back to the states as soon as he could.
Gibbs walked through the doors of Bethesda. The receptionist recognized him and knew who he was going to see. He quietly told him that Vance and Jared were in one of the bereavement rooms waiting for Ducky to come and transport the body to NCIS.
"Leon?" Gibbs asked quietly as he opened.
"Jethro" Vance greeted.
"Mr. Gibbs" Jared greeted.
"I'm so sorry you two." Gibbs replied.
"I never thought I'd understand you so much Gibbs." Vance replied.
"I know Leon." Gibbs replied.
"It's just… she… my little girl… why?" Vance asked.
"I know Leon." Gibbs replied embracing his friend.
That evening the team, a few others from NCIS, and some close friends of Kayla and the Vance's had all gathered over at Vance's house. Most were in the living room talking to Leon. Abby and McGee sat on the couch holding each other close. Some kids including the twins were in the den with the food that had been brought over. In the kitchen six or so teenage girls sat around the table. Heads hung lo. Gibbs walked in to get a glass of water for Breena who had disappeared into the bathroom. Jimmy had run out to get her a salad with an oil dressing that was about the only thing she could eat. He looked at the girls. They were just sitting there they all had their phones on the table or sticking out of their pockets but none of them were using them. There was no music playing just silence. It was a rarity for kids today even under the current circumstances.
"Hey girls how are you holding up?" Gibbs asked.
His reply was a series of mumbled "OK's". The door opened and Jane walked in. She walked over to one of the girls. She had auburn hair and grey eyes which were bloodshot from crying.
"Are you OK Madison?" Jane asked.
"Honey you need to take your insulin do you have it?" Jane asked.
"In the fridge." Maddie replied.
Jane walked over to the fridge and retrieved the kit. Maddie injected herself and then made sure her levels were good.
"You can stay here if you want but I have to go get Syd from Emily's house and run home to use the bathroom. Somebody has been in the guest one forever and I don't want to use the kids or master bath." Jane explained.
"OK will you be back or should I walk home?" Maddie asked.
"I'll be back." Jane replied.
"Hi Jane" Gibbs replied.
"Oh hi Jethro. Maddie this is Jethro Gibbs the man I met yesterday." Jane replied.
"Hi Mr. Gibbs." Maddie replied.
"Please call me Gibbs." Gibbs replied.
Maddie nodded.
"I really wish that whoever's in the bathroom would just come out already. I'm not desperate or anything it's just rude." Jane told Gibbs.
"The woman is in there is pregnant and feeling sick." Gibbs explained.
"Oh now I feel bad." Jane replied.
"Don't worry about it." Jane replied.
Ziva walked over to Vance during a moment when nobody was talking to him.
"Ziva" Vance greeted.
"How are you holding up?" Ziva asked awkwardly.
"Worst day of my life." Vance replied.
"Oh Leon I am so sorry. I can't imagine she was such a wonderful child." Ziva replied.
"Thanks" Vance replied.
"How is Jared?" Ziva asked.
"He locked himself in his room as soon as we got home. He won't talk to anyone. Tony is back there trying to get him to eat." Vance replied.
"Oh I think I will go help him." Ziva replied.
"Thanks" Vance replied.
Gibbs walked into the bathroom and handed Breena the glass of water.
"Thank you Gibbs." Breena replied.
"How are you feeling?" Gibbs asked.
"Terrible" Breena replied.
She took two sips of water and then started to get sick again. Gibbs helped her keep her hair back and made whispered reassuring words to her. Just like he had done with Shannon. He was relieved when Jimmy walked in.
"I'm sorry it took so long. I couldn't find a place with the salad you wanted." Jimmy replied.
"It's fine. Can you please just take me home? I feel terrible." Breena replied.
Jimmy helped Breena stand up and practically carried her out of the room. He couldn't help but smile when he saw the look of panic on Jimmy's face. It was the same look he had with Shannon. He remembered being convinced she was going to die. He could count on one hand all the times he had thrown up in his life and only once was from illness the others were from partying too hard. Jack was the same way and his mom had thrown up a lot when she was sick. So naturally Gibbs freaked out. The visibly pregnant doctor had laughed at him. As it turned out Shannon's sickness was low average. Vance walked in and sat on the tub.
"I'll clean up after Breena." Gibbs said.
"It is fine I'll get it." Vance replied.
"You sure you've had a tough day?" Gibbs asked.
"No it's fine. It actually reminds me of when Jackie was pregnant with Kayla." Vance replied sadly.
"Yeah reminds me of Shannon and Kelly too." Gibbs replied.
"You know it's funny she was miserable with Kayla but with Jared she was fine. Normally boys are harder. Though Jackie was always the one to do the opposite of what everybody expected. Kayla was the hard one though. She had colic real bad and all the other baby problems acne she always seemed to have a cold or something until she was five or six." Vance explained.
"What about me?" Jared asked walking in.
"You were easy except you always thought it was funny to be still and lower your heart rate whenever we had an ultrasound." Vance replied.
"You were so good with him." Ziva told Tony once they had gotten Jared to leave his room and get something to eat.
"You were the one who got him to come out." Tony replied.
"McGee and Abby are breaking rule twelve." Ziva commented.
"I know." Tony replied.
"Gibbs told me. He said that we could break it too. If you want to." Ziva replied.
"OK but I don't want to start here. It would be disrespectful to Vance." Tony explained.
"OK" Ziva replied taking Tony's hand.
Gibbs left the bathroom so that Jared and Vance could talk. He walked back into the kitchen where he saw Maddie's chair empty. He learned from one of the other girls that she was out back. He found he sitting on the swing-set.
"How you holding up?" Gibbs asked sitting down beside her.
"Why'd it have to be Kayla?" Maddie asked.
"I don't know but she's in a better place." Gibbs replied.
"She meant so much to me." Maddie replied.
"She seemed like she was a great friend." Gibbs replied.
"She was more than a friend. OK she was just a friend… I doubt she felt that away about me but it's still hard… Why am I telling you this… My mom doesn't even know. Only Robby does and he found out by accident." Maddie stammered.
"What is it?" Gibbs asked.
"I'm gay." Maddie mumbled.
"What?" Gibbs asked.
"I'm gay! OK!" Maddie yelled.
"That's OK" Gibbs assured.
Jane Harriet watched her daughter from the Vance's back porch. It wasn't the way she would have picked to learn her oldest daughter's sexuality but what she did appreciated was how Gibbs reacted. He simply took her into his arms and told her it was OK. She didn't know if he was looking for a relationship but she hoped he was. So that maybe she could finally find someone who didn't wind up being a giant loser. She just hoped he felt the same way.
A/N: Sorry for the lack of Vance's emotions. Next chapter will reveal if Gibbs and Jane start a relationship. Thanks for reading and please review.
A/N 2: Please vote in my poll for "The Hardest Part".