Gibbs had Abby clean his carpet the night before. When McGee came over to mind Sadie for a few hours while Abby went bowling with a few friends. They had moved the coffee table out to the shed. He would decide what to do with it later but right now. He just wanted to protect Tony from the memories of that day. When he walked through his front door. He immediately noticed that something was different. His carpet was completely gone and a pile of throw rugs were stacked up in the middle of the room. Where the coffee table had been. Abby was kneeling in the corner wrestling with the last piece of carpet.
"Abby!" Gibbs called.
"What is it Gibbs?" Abby asked standing up, dusting off, and coming over to him.
"What are you doing?" Gibbs questioned.
"I am removing your carpet." Abby replied.
"Why?" Gibbs asked.
"Well you asked me to clean the blood of the carpet and I did but I couldn't get it all out and I was thinking you know Tony will see it and remember everything that happened. So I cut out that patch of carpet but then it looked bad and uneven. I realized that I had to remove the whole thing and then I thought Sadie could skin her knee if she fell so I bought all these throw rugs until you can get the carpet replaced. Don't worry about it being wasted though because my church is always taking donations to give to people whose homes were flooded or burned down." Abby rambled.
"You didn't have to do all that Abbs." Gibbs replied.
"I know but I didn't want Tony to be afraid and I think it was scaring Sadie too." Abby explained.
"Well thank you very much." Gibbs replied.
"I ruined your house. I know the carpet and coffee table came from Shannon. I took memories of your dead wife. The true love of your life because I am a coward!" Tony cried from behind Gibbs.
"No Tony I did love that stuff but it freaked me out too. Every time I came in here I saw you lying on the floor and that bastard standing over you." Gibbs assured.
"Where's Sadie?" Tony asked.
"She is up in her room taking her nap." Abby replied.
"I am going to lay down with her." Tony replied.
"Be careful on the steps Tony! I don't want you back in the hospital!' Gibbs called.
Tony slowly climbed the steps to Sadie's room. She was sitting up on her race-car bed playing with her favorite doll. When she saw him her eyes lit up and she tossed the doll down on to the bed. Tony moved as fast as he could to the bed. Sadie jumped up and threw herself into his arms. He winced but tried to hide the pain from his little girl. Sadie curled up in his lap but managed to kick him right in the stitches. This time he couldn't hide his pain and let out a groan of pain.
"Are you OK daddy?" Sadie asked.
"Yeah just be careful I am still sore from when I got hurt." Tony explained.
"Sorry" Sadie apologized.
"It's OK just be more careful next time." Tony replied.
Gibbs let himself fall on to the couch. Tony and him had been home around two hours now and he had already put down the area rugs and put dinner in the oven. Abby had taken Sadie to the park so that Tony could rest. His living room looked so weird and empty without the carpet and coffee table. Abby had a point though. The blood would have never come completely out. It would have left a stain. A permanent reminder of what had happened in this room. The coffee table was probably going to end up in the trash too. It would destroy the finish and weaken the wood to get the blood completely removed. If it weren't for the circumstances he would just leave the blood stain on the table. There was already a spot where he had broken his toe on it years ago and another on the top when he cut his hand open working on one of his boats. Tony's blood was different Gibbs hated any sign that Tony had been in pain and the blood would just be another reminder. He had put a bullet in Senior's head but that had only ended his life and prevented further ill-treatment. There was nothing he could do that would put an end to the memories or take away Tony's scars. Those would be there forever. Gibbs heard the front door open. He looked up expecting Abby returning with Sadie. Instead he saw somebody he was sure he would never see again.
"Ziver!" Gibbs cried.
"I missed you Gibbs." Ziva replied.
"I missed you too Ziver. What brings you here?" Gibbs asked.
"I am rejoining your team." Ziva replied.
"Really?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes I moved back to America after almost dying in a missile attack. I was not caught in the blast but I would have been if I had been on time to work." Ziva explained.
"Well I am glad that you survived." Gibbs replied.
"I am too." Ziva replied.
"Did Tony ever call you about Jack?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes I am so sorry. I wish that I had attended the funeral but I changed my number when I moved back to Israel and by the time I saw the email. It was less than twelve hours before." Ziva apologized.
"That is alright he knew you cared." Gibbs assured.
"Did he suffer?" Ziva asked.
"Not much from what the kid that was working in the store with him said. I have a feeling it happened pretty fast." Gibbs explained.
"If you don't mind me changing the subject where is Tony?" Ziva asked.
"He is resting. He just got out of the hospital." Gibbs explained.
"McGee told me, I am glad he is home." Ziva replied.
"Me too it scared the hell out of me." Gibbs replied.
"Would it be OK if I went up to see him?" Ziva asked.
"It is fine but be quiet. He needs rest." Gibbs replied.
Ziva climbed up Gibbs's steps and headed towards the larger spare room. The door to the smaller room that had been Kelly's room was opened. Ziva peaked inside and saw a race-car bad in the corner and kiddie toys scattered across the floor. That must be Sadie's room she thought to herself. She opened the door to the room next door. Tony's room. He was asleep on the double bed curled up in a ball holding the blanket under his chin. He was so cute. She walked over and stroked his cheek and hair. She wished that he was awake and that they could talk but after what he had been through. She was just glad he was alive and healthy and that they had the ability to talk again. Tony reached out from under the blanket and grabbed her hand.
"Srry abt brking rle twlv bss." Tony mumbled.
A/N: Tony and Ziva will reunite when both are awake soon. I just liked the idea of Ziva watching Tony sleep. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.