Breena was buried four days later. Jimmy had not been in contact with any members of the team besides Ducky since his talk with Gibbs. He only got out of bed to use the bathroom and to help Ed plan Breena's funeral. Ed was surprisingly easy to work with. He didn't argue with any of Jimmy's decisions. In fact he didn't even help with the planning. He just sat at his kitchen table holding a picture of Breena when she was a little girl. Jimmy was glad when the arrangements were made and he didn't have to go over to Ed's anymore. It destroyed him to see her father so emotional. He was like Gibbs, in the sense that he was very stoic and let his guard down or show emotions. Jimmy just wanted to lie in his bed, grieve for Breena, and think about the call he had received the day after Breena's death. The call he hadn't told anybody else about. The call that had rocked his world for the second time in twenty-four hours. The morning of the funeral he managed to drag himself out of bed and get dressed. He was sitting on the couch watching TV when the front door opened and Ducky walked in.
"Are you ready to go Mr. Palmer?" Ducky asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Jimmy replied.
"Is something troubling you Mr. Palmer? I mean besides the fact that we are about to attend Breena's funeral." Ducky questioned.
"No just missing Breena." Jimmy replied.
"Her loss was a difficult one." Ducky sighed.
"Sometimes I swear I can hear her voice." Jimmy admitted.
"While I have never lost a woman like Breena. None of my relationships have lasted long enough to be even close to what you had with Breena but I can say that I felt that way after mother died. I still forge that she is gone." Ducky explained.
"Gibbs said he still calls to Shannon when he gets home from time to time." Jimmy replied.
"I am glad that Jethro and you are bonding. I just hate that it has to be under such tragic circumstances." Ducky replied.
Tony studied himself in the mirror. He hoped that he looked decent. Even his black Armani suit felt sloppy today. Maybe it was because he didn't want to go and watch his best friend bury his wife. He had always hated funerals. Especially for people who died young and in a tragic way like Breena. Ziva came into the bedroom and collapsed on to the bed. She was wearing a black blouse and a pair of navy blue slacks.
"Are you OK?" Tony asked.
"Not really" Ziva admitted.
"What's wrong?" Tony asked.
"I just feel off." Ziva replied.
"Off how?" Tony asked.
"I am just feeling bad." Ziva replied.
"Do you want to stay home from the funeral?" Tony asked.
"Would Jimmy mind?" Ziva questioned.
"If you are sick I am sure he will understand." Tony assured.
"Well tell him I am sorry." Ziva replied.
"Will do." Tony replied.
Gibbs had spent the past four days trying to get in contact with McGee. He knew that the junior agent was worried about Delilah but that didn't give him an excuse to break rule three. He knew that if God forbid Delilah had succumb to whatever was wrong with her. McGee would have contacted NCIS to arrange for bereavement leave. He decided to make one last attempt to contact his junior agent. Just before he headed out the door with Tony to Breena's funeral.
"Hello?"
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Didn't Tony tell you I was in Dubai?"
"Of course he told me you were in Dubai!"
"Then why are you asking me where I am?"
"Because you have been breaking rule three for almost a week."
"I was with Delilah"
"How is she?"
"Oh please like you care enough to call an ask how Delilah is?!"
"Well I do have another reason to call."
"What?"
"Why the hell didn't you give Tony a chance to explain what happened to Breena?!"
"Because I get it Boss! He killed her because she would be disabled!"
"It's not that simple McGee."
"What would Jimmy have had to take care of his wheelchair bound wife?!"
"She wouldn't have been in a wheelchair."
"So he let her die for no reason?!"
"McGee! Listen to me!"
"You sound just like Tony!"
"I suppose I do the one difference is I can fire your!"
"Fine be that way."
"McGee, Breena had a massive stroke and her left side was completely paralyzed. She had been having seizures and the right side was greatly weakened. She would have spent the rest of her life in a nursing home dependent on oxygen to live and nurses to care for her."
"Oh God. I didn't know."
"Well next time listen."
"Are you pissed?"
"No I am not."
"Good"
"Now how is Delilah? We are all extremely concerned."
"It's good news actually."
"What?"
"She's pregnant?"
"Are you sure?"
"I am looking at the ultrasound right now."
"Is everything going well?"
"So far. They just brought her to the hospital for observation and due to severe morning sickness."
"Oh that's rough. Well is she feeling better?"
"They gave her some medicine and so far it's helping."
"That's good to hear. Will you be able to come back to the states soon?"
"Delilah and I will both be coming back on Tuesday."
"That's great news!"
"Look we don't want to say anything just yet."
"I understand how far along is she?"
"Ten weeks"
"Well I hope everything goes well for her and you two have a healthy baby."
"Me too."
"I have to go."
"Breena's funeral?"
"Yep"
"Tell Jimmy I am sorry for his loss and tell Tony I am sorry I was such a jerk."
"Will do."
A/N: Like I said it wasn't necessarily going to be bad news for Delilah. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.
