Rachel tightly held onto Ziva's hand as they walked through the airport. In a few hours she would be back in the US and have to face Jethro. She knew that she was being crazy. Even if Jethro was unhappy about her bringing Ziva home. He would not hate her and he certainly wouldn't hate Ziva. Jethro could never hate a little girl. Especially not a blind girl who had lost her entire family to murderers. She also knew that Ziva will be better off in America with a loving family. Thanks to Jethro's job she would have access to the best doctors and Tony's school had an excellent program for blind student. Tony it would be good for him to have a new friend. Who understood him in a way that Abby and Timmy never could.
"Do you think your family will like me?" Ziva asked.
"They will love you." Rachel assured.
"I hope that Tony is OK. He sounds like fun." Ziva replied.
"I hope that he will be OK too." Rachel replied.
"If he isn't will you let me stay with you?" Ziva asked.
"Yes I will make sure that you stay with us." Rachel assured.
Gibbs returned to his son's side. Once again he was greeted with the news that there had been no change to his condition. He was beginning to wonder if Tony would never change. If he would spend the rest of his life in a hospital bed. Never getting better but also never getting worse. He cursed himself for being so pessimistic. Of course Tony would get better. He had to, he just had to. It would be too cruel if he lost two of his children.
"Jethro?" Ducky called from the doorway.
"What are you doing here Duck?" Gibbs asked.
"Don't worry Leon came by to stay with Abigail and Timothy so that I could come by and check on you and Anthony." Ducky explained.
"No change in Tony and I am fine." Gibbs replied.
"I know you aren't fine." Ducky argued.
"Trying to be brave." Gibbs explained
"Understandable but don't try to lie to me." Ducky replied.
"Are Abby and Tim behaving for you?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes they are being wonderful." Ducky assured.
"That is good to hear." Gibbs replied.
"They are good children, Jethro." Ducky reminded.
"Rachel did a good job with them." Gibbs commented.
"Oh I almost forgot to tell you Rachel called." Ducky replied.
"What's up with her? Is she OK?" Gibbs asked.
"She is doing well and she will be home in a few hours." Ducky replied.
"I told her she could stay." Gibbs sighed.
"She said that she needed to come home. She also said that she had a surprise." Ducky replied.
"I don't like surprises." Gibbs commented looking at Tony's limp form.
"It is a good surprise." Ducky assured.
Ducky insisted that Gibbs take a break and go get something to eat. The two men sat at a table in the hospital cafeteria. Ducky had a cup of soup and Gibbs had a sandwich, that he took two bites out of and promptly threw in the trash. His stomach was churning too much to even attempt to keep anything down.
"You look exhausted Jethro." Ducky observed.
"My son is in the hospital." Gibbs grunted.
"Well once Rachel arrives. I want you to try and get some rest." Ducky replied.
"Won't be able to." Gibbs argued.
"Well at least try if not for you or me than for Anthony." Ducky requested.
"I will try to get some rest for Anthony but I make no promises." Gibbs replied.
"All I ask is that you try." Ducky replied.
Abby pushed her fork around her plate. Ducky, her dad, and even director Vance had assured her that Tony was fine but they couldn't promise that he would be fine and that's what scared her. She looked up at Timmy who was sitting across from her. He hadn't eaten anything since before they took Tony to the hospital and he had barely said a word all day.
"Are you OK, Timmy?" Abby asked.
"No" Timmy admitted.
"What's wrong?" Abby asked.
"I am scared for Tony." Timmy replied.
"Me too." Abby agreed.
"Yeah but what I did was really bad and now Tony may die and it's all my fault." Timmy rambled.
"How is it your fault?" Abby asked.
"I gave Tony the envelope that had the plague in it!" Timmy snapped.
"That was a mistake." Abby assured.
"No it wasn't! I hurt Tony!" Timmy cried.
"No you didn't." Abby assured.
Rachel picked a sleeping Ziva up and carried her off the plane. She knew that Jethro wouldn't be waiting for her. He would be in the hospital with Tony for the duration. So after getting off the plane she walked over to the desk and asked for a taxi. She stood outside with her bags resting on the floor, Ziva's bag draped over her shoulder, and Ziva asleep in her arms. The taxi pulled up and the driver helped her load her bags. The cab ride home was silent except for Ziva's light snoring. They pulled up in front of her house and Rachel got out and unloaded her bags. The driver once again helped her with her bags. It was still morning and Abby and Timmy were in school. She was kind of glad that the kids were gone and Jethro was still at the hospital. She still had no idea how to explain Rachel to any of them. The front door opened and Jethro walked inside.
"Rach your home!" Gibbs cried.
"Yeah I just got in." Rachel replied.
"Hmmm?" Ziva asked.
"Who's this?" Gibbs asked.
"Jethro this is Ziva." Rachel replied.
"What is she doing here?" Gibbs asked.
"I adopted her." Rachel explained.
"You adopted her?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes" Rachel replied.
"OK" Gibbs replied.
"Are you mad?" Rachel asked.
"No this is great." Gibbs replied.
A/N: At least Gibbs is accepting of Ziva. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thank for reading.
