It was Sadie's senior year and the night of homecoming. It would also be the first homecoming dance that Sadie would be attending. Life always seemed to get in the way the past four years. Freshman year she had still been too torn up about Jack to attend. Sophomore year she had a nasty case of stomach flu and couldn't even get out of bed, and Junior year she got the dates mixed up and ended up having to baby-sit Madison while her parents were out. This year she and Emma were going as friends since John had graduated in May and Sadie was still distrusting of boys since the Josh incident. Even though Ziva had taught her Krav-Maga. Sadie studied herself in the mirror. The dress was a hand me down from Amira but she didn't mind. It worked for her and she didn't have to deal with dress shopping.
"Oh Sadie you look amazing!" Ziva cried.
"Yeah really grown-up." Tony added wiping a tear from his eyes.
"Thanks" Sadie replied.
"I hope that you and Emma have fun." Ziva replied.
"And remember to call us if you guys decided to stop anywhere afterwards." Tony added.
"Will do." Sadie replied.
"Be good" Ziva replied.
"Sadie, I worked as a beat cop for years and every year on the nights of the big dances I would have to call at least one kid's parents and tell them that their child was never coming home. Please don't drink even if everybody else does and if you do succumb to peer pressure call us. Yes we will be mad but I would rather wake up furious at you than without you." Tony explained.
"I will be good daddy." Sadie promised.
"If Emma drinks take the keys and don't be afraid to rat her out to Jimmy and Alison." Ziva added.
"I will" Sadie assured.
Sadie was semi annoyed at her parents lectures and reminders but knew why they had to be made. Both Emma and her had been shaped by alcoholic parents. Sherry had left her to go and get drunk and Emma had endured similar neglect before being adopted by Jimmy. Madison came into the room covered in finger-paint and Tony had to apprehend her before she ruined her sister's dress. Ziva chuckled and went to fetch her camera. Sadie picked up her purse and phone and started downstairs. She heard frantic knocking on the front door and knew that it was Emma. She loved her best-friend but that girl had to learn that it was OK to be late every once in a while. She slipped off her shoes and ran down the stairs and swung the front door open. Emma was standing on the other side but her eyes were puffy and she was still in her work uniform.
"Emma why aren't you dressed for the dance?" Sadie asked.
"Oh Sadie I got a call at work! My dad collapsed at the office. They rushed him to the hospital! It could be a stroke!" Emma cried.
"Emma I am so sorry!" Sadie cried.
"Oh hi Emma did you get off work late? I can help you get ready." Ziva asked.
"No I am not going to the dance." Sadie replied.
"Why what is going on?" Ziva asked.
"Jimmy is in the hospital." Sadie replied.
"What? Why is my autopsy gremlin in the hospital?" Tony asked walking down the stairs with a slightly cleaner Madison in his arms.
"He collapsed at work. Alison thinks it was a stroke but they don't know anything yet." Emma explained.
"Oh Emma I am so sorry is there anything we can do?" Ziva asked.
"Can you take me to the hospital. I am too upset to drive anymore." Emma replied.
"Yeah of course I will take you." Ziva replied.
"Do you need us to watch Samantha for you?" Tony asked.
"No she is with the neighbors and Alison's sister is driving down to take care of her." Emma explained.
"Tony take Sadie's pictures and make sure she has enough cash for food and a cab home if well you know." Ziva said handing Tony the camera.
"Have fun at homecoming Sadie. I wish I could be there." Emma sniffed.
"No Em I am going to the hospital with you." Sadie replied.
"Are you sure? You were looking forward to this for weeks." Emma asked.
"Yes Sadie and it is you senior year. This is your last chance to attend homecoming and you missed it every other year." Ziva reminded.
"Emma you were there for me every time Jack was hospitalized and when my dad had his cancer scare in elementary school." Sadie explained.
"Sadie you are the best friend ever." Emma sniffed.
Sadie ran upstairs and changed back into the jeans and t-shirt she had been worn earlier that day and then rushed back downstairs. Ziva was trying her best to get Emma calmed down and Tony was in the middle of calling McGee and Abby to let them know about Jimmy. Sadie let Emma ride in the front of Ziva's newest mini-cooper and for once in her life she didn't make any comments on Ziva's driving. She just prayed that her best-friend's father would be OK. The only other person she knew who had suffered a stroke was her peewee soccer coach and he had ended up in a nursing home. He was only two years older than her dad. She kept reminding herself that Alison didn't know anything either. At least she hadn't when she called Emma. Ziva pulled into the hospital parking lot and the girls ran inside.
"May I help you girls?" The receptionist asked.
"Yes we are looking for my dad Jimmy Palmer." Emma replied.
"Unfortunately all I can tell you girls is that he is in the CCU room 5-29 bed two." The receptionist replied.
"I don't know what I will do if he died!" Emma sobbed.
"He won't die. Your dad is strong and Ducky and Breena wouldn't let him leave you this soon. He may have problems but he will live." Sadie assured.
"What if he is permanently disabled and Alison leaves him?" Emma asked.
"Alison wouldn't do that. She may be stressed and scared but she will never leave you guys no matter how bad things get." Sadie assured.
"What if he is disabled and Alison has to quit her job to take care of him? I don't want to live on the streets! God that sounds so selfish!" Emma cried.
"Emma if your dad is left disabled and you guys have to sell your home. You guys can live with us. You and Sadie can share a room and Samantha can take the spare upstairs room and we still have Jack's old room set up and it is fully accessible." Ziva promised.
"I am so lucky to have you guys but I am so scared." Emma sniffed.
"Like Sadie said you are always there for us." Ziva replied.
"Thank you and Sadie I am so sorry you have to miss homecoming." Emma said.
"I did not have to miss homecoming. I chose because you are my sister." Sadie replied.
Sadie and Emma sat down on the hard plastic love seat and clung to each other. Emma buried her face in Sadie's chest and sobbed. Jimmy had saved her from the horrors of foster-care and now he was in trouble and there was nothing she could do for him. All she could do was sit and wait. It was almost ten o'clock before the doors opened and Alison walked into the waiting room. She looked frazzled yet relieved.
"Alison?" Emma asked.
"It wasn't a stroke." Alison replied voice filled with relief.
"Then what was wrong?" Emma asked.
"It is a migraine and severely low blood sugar. The two are probably linked. They are going to keep him overnight for observation and they are going to adjust his insulin. He is going to have to come back every few days or so until they get it right but he is going to be OK." Alison explained.
"Can we see him?" Emma asked.
"Visiting hours are over and he is heavily medicated and out of it." Alison replied.
"OK well I will be back first thing in the morning." Emma replied.
"You girls can probably make the end of the dance if you hurry." Alison replied.
"Will you be OK?" Emma asked.
"Yeah I was going to sleep here and if you are coming back in the morning I can run home to shower and change. Hopefully by then we will know when Jimmy is getting out and I can know if I need to pack a bag." Alison explained.
"OK, uh Sadie you you want to go?" Emma asked.
"You think they will let us in like this?" Sadie asked.
"Kids wore jeans last year and nobody said anything and they just did it because they thought they were being cool." Emma explained.
"Let's go then." Sadie replied.
A/N: I figured this story had enough untimely deaths. New and final chapter will be up soon and will feature important events from Sadie's adult life. Please review and thanks for reading.