Chapter 6: Parents are not allowed to get sick at the same time.
"UGH!" Ziva rolled over into Tony's embrace. "I feel like someone ran over me."
Tony nodded, "Me, too. I guess we got that flu the kids had last week." He ached all over and just wanted to go back to sleep. He noticed that Ziva felt feverish when he kissed her forehead.
Ziva groaned, "I am glad it is Saturday. I just want to go back to sleep." She hurt all over and felt feverish. Tony felt warmer than usual to her, and when she felt his forehead, he felt as though he was running a fever.
The couple snuggled together and fell back asleep. Three hours later they were awakened by a loud crash from within the house. Both shot up out of the bed, grabbing robes and heading out towards the sound. In the kitchen they spotted LJ standing by a toppled chair, the container of dog treats in his hands.
"Are you all right, LJ?" Ziva gave her youngest a once over with her eyes.
"Yes, Ima. The chair fell over when I was getting the treats for Asher and Daisy." The two dogs were on the other side of the kitchen waiting by their bowls for treats. A bag of cat treats was on the floor by the chair. "The cats ran away when the chair crashed on the floor."
Ziva looked over at the counter by the sink. There were cereal bowls, spoons and cups in the sink and cereal and milk spilled on the counter. An empty box from granola bars was on top of the pile of bowls and there were three empty wrappers on the counter. She sighed, "Do these children not know how to put anything in the trash can?"
LJ heard his Ima's comment, "Sorry, Ima, Anthony and I'll get that cleaned up very soon. We all ate breakfast since you and Abba were still asleep."
"Thank you, LJ." Ziva smiled at her youngest. "Where are your sisters and brother?"
"Outside, I think. I have to find my boots before I can go outside." There was about a foot of snow in the yard, and the kids had been begging to play in it all week.
Tali came in the deck door, "Hey, LJ, what's taking you so long? Oh, hi, Ima. Hi, Abba."
"Tali, Abba and I have the flu that you all had last week; would you watch over your brothers and sisters so we can rest, please?" Ziva was ready to go back to sleep, she hurt and she felt tired. "There is lunch meat for sandwiches in the refrigerator and there is chili in the small freezer for dinner that you can heat in the microwave or on the stove."
"Sure thing, Ima." Tali nodded. Ziva hated to put so much responsibility on her thirteen year old, but she also trusted Tali to handle it. Tali had always been her little caretaker with the younger children. She had a natural maternal instinct. Ziva and Tony were both certain Tali would be a good mother someday down the road.
"Toda, Tali." Tony hugged his oldest, trying not to breathe on her. "If you need us, we'll be sleeping or resting in our room. You can also call Grandpa if you need."
Ziva and Tony headed back to the master bedroom and both crawled under the covers. Within fifteen minutes, both were back asleep. The pair was curled together in the center of the bed, their usual sleeping positions. Both were still achy and running fevers.
When Tali checked on her parents midafternoon, Tony had just crawled back into bed after using the bathroom. "Abba, do you need anything? Is Ima okay?"
"Sleep is all we both need to get well. Thanks, Tals. Are your brothers and sisters behaving for you?"
"Mostly. Anthony is making cornbread to have with the chili for dinner. Riv wanted cheese and they had an argument over the cheese until Beth suggested they make some with and some without cheese."
"Okay; I trust you to handle it." Tony closed his eyes as Tali went back out of the room. He curled into Ziva, wrapping an arm around her sleeping form. She snuggled into his embrace as he drifted back to sleep.
The next time Tony and Ziva both awoke, it was 0235 on Sunday. They were both drenched in sweat and felt as though fevers had broken. Ziva suggested that they shower and then strip the sweat-soaked sheets off the bed, a suggestion to which Tony readily agreed. After showering, Ziva gathered sheets and Tony gathered towels and clothing and both headed to the laundry room.
Tony followed Ziva and almost walked into her as she stopped in her tracks. All five children were sprawled in the family room, a video playing on the television and four empty pizza boxes scattered on tables and the floor. The animals were also in scattered places around the family room, some on pet beds and some on kids. All appeared to be asleep, until Beth looked up.
"Oh, hi, Ima and Abba," she jumped up, Lightning flying off her lap. "Ima, Abba, um…" Beth poked Tali who was asleep next to her on the pull out sofa bed.
"What?" Tali looked at her sister. "Oh, Ima, Abba…" Tali sat up quickly after spotting her parents staring at the family with arms full of sheets and towels. Simba sent her a glare before he settled down on the blanket again.
Tony spoke first, "What? How?" He gestured at the pizza boxes and the apparent party the kids had.
"I used your phone app to order the pizza, Abba." Tali explained. "We were watching movies and we got hungry."
By then, all of the kids were awake. "We were trying to stay up all night," LJ added.
Ziva headed to the kitchen on her way to the laundry room; she expected to find a mess, but was surprised to find the kitchen clean. She kept going to the laundry room, Asher following her. She put the sheets in the washer and started the machine. Tony put the towels and clothing on top of the washer.
"The kitchen looks great; I wonder if they ate the chili?" Ziva remarked. Tony headed back into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. There was a container of left over chili and two small plates of cornbread wrapped in plastic. Tony took all three out and moved to get bowls to reheat the chili.
"Hungry?" he asked Ziva.
She nodded, and unwrapped the cornbread. She pulled a piece off and popped it into her mouth, "That is good! Anthony can make the cornbread from now on." She put a piece in Tony's open mouth.
"Mmm. I agree. Now, what are we going to do about our all-night party in the family room?" Tony took the two bowls of reheated chili out of the microwave and stirred them. He tested the temperature, and put them back in for another two minutes.
"Join them?" Ziva suggested.
Tony grinned at his ninja, "Works for me!"
