Abby was being hooked up to a feeding tube when Sarah showed up at the hospital.
"Hey guys." She said quietly seeing Caitlin and Anastasia sleeping on the couch. "How are you feeling Abby?"
Abby simply shook her head knowing she would hurl if she even began to part her lips. Tim jumped in. "She's weak… but fine."
"I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier." Sarah apologized as she set her purse on top of the coffee table. "I got your message but…" She bit her lip. "I was at Tyler's."
Tim shook his head. "Sarah it's fine… It's good you got some time with Tyler. I know you guys have conflicting schedules…" Tim said trying to ignore the sound of the feeding machine starting.
Abby I'm going to go out in the hall with Sarah for a moment alright? Tim signed knowing that she'd be able to respond that way.
Go ahead. She signed back slowly.
Tim quietly led his sister into the hallway. "Tim what can I do to help?" She asked gently.
Tim thought about it for a moment before sighing. "Well… I would ask you to take the girls home but they're asleep for the first time in a couple of days so I figure we should leave them there until they wake up… But it would actually be really helpful if you could pick up a couple of things for Abby at the house."
"Sure what does she need?" Sarah said willing to do pretty much anything for her sister-in-law.
"Clothes mostly… In her words she 'popped yesterday and now her stomach and chest don't fit in anything' So… you'll probably have to dig out some maternity clothes from in the garage…" Tim said realizing they hadn't gotten them out yet. "I don't have any idea of where to look…"
"Don't worry." Sarah cut off. "I'm sure I'll be fine." She turned to leave before she turned back around. "Hey Tim?" She asked.
"Yeah Sarah?" Tim replied knowing that whatever she had to ask wasn't related.
She scuffed her feet against the linoleum before speaking up. "How did you know… that Abby was the one for you?"
Tim smirked. "Sarah… you'll know." He promised. "It's not something you can explain when you know… you just… know."
"Thanks Tim." Sarah replied. "I'll be back as soon as I find the clothes."
Tim took in a deep breath before going back into Abby's hospital room. "Hey." Tim said quietly.
"Timmy can I go home?" Abby practically begged. "Please…" She said as tears started flowing.
"Hey… Abby calm down… you need to for your own sake… if that tube starts sliding around it could damage your esophagus." Tim reminded her as he took her hand.
"I want… to go home…"She said quietly.
Tim sighed. "You are amazing and you don't deserve this… but right now home isn't really an option."
"Why not?" Abby asked. She knew she was whining but at this point she didn't care.
Tim gave her a glance that clearly was meant to mean 'you know why'. Before he could reply the shrill sound of his phone rang through the room. "Two seconds." He said to Abby before going into the hallway. "What Tony?" Tim asked sounding more frustrated than he felt.
"I thought I should give you a heads up Ziva's headed your way." Tony replied.
"Can you have her not visit right now…" Tim began to explain.
"She's not visiting, she's being transferred. I however will be visiting as soon as Slacks is done with me." Tony cut him off.
Tim sighed. "Alright… If you want I can go in and check on them once she's here."
Tony smirked. "That's kind of what I was hoping for."
"Whatever… I gotta go before Abby…" He began before he was interrupted. "TIM GET BACK IN HERE" Could be heard in the background. "Seriously… I have to go." He said before going back into her room.
"I have news." Tim said gently.
"If it's not that I've been released due to some miracle I don't want to hear about it." Abby muttered.
"Sienna and Ziva are being transferred here." Tim said anyway.
Abby sighed. "Just what I need, more people here to watch me throw up…"
Tim looked at her with wide eyes. "That's not why she's…"
"I KNOW." Abby cut him off. "Can you call a nurse to take out this tube so I can sleep?"
"Sure." Tim said losing his patience as he pressed the call button.
Moments later a nurse came in. "What can I do for you Mrs. Mcgee?"
"Get this thing out of my nose." She demanded immediately.
"Abby!" Tim exclaimed.
"It's quite alright Mr. Mcgee. She's been under a lot of stress it's understandable she may be a bit irritable." The nurse said as she pulled on a pair of gloves. "Okay Abby you may feel a bit of pressure in your sinuses…"
Abby winced as the nurse pulled the tube gently. At the nurse's instruction she carefully sipped water as the tube was removed. "Do I have to do that again?" Abby asked as soon as the tube was out.
"We're going to wait a bit and see how you're responding to the treatment. If all goes well we plan to try having you eat solids this afternoon." The nurse said as she checked over Abby's chart.
"Hey that's great news Abs." Tim said trying to be enthusiastic.
"Yeah… I'm being treated like a one year old that can't feed myself. Great." Abby replied sarcastically.
"Abby." Tim snapped back. "You have got to get a grip." When Abby didn't respond other than a deathly glare he spoke up again. "I know this is hard… and I'll do anything I can to help you. But half the battle of you getting better depends on your attitude about this."
"Are you seriously telling me to get an attitude check?" Abby asked angrily.
He could see his daughters beginning to wake up on the couch. "Abs, I'm going to take the girls to get something to eat and let you calm down a bit." He said before moving over to his daughters. We're going to the cafeteria. He signed before taking their hands and heading out the door. He was surprised at first that she hadn't said anything in return but just as the door to the room was about to close he heard it.
Abby screamed out as the door clicked shut, "GO DIE IN A HOLE MCGEE!"
Caitlin was picking at her food as they sat in the cafeteria. "Caitlin are you alright?" Tim asked gently as he put his hand on her arm.
"Fine." Caitlin said before hurriedly shoving a piece of her chicken in her mouth.
"Come on sweetheart I can tell something's bothering you." Tim pressed.
Caitlin swallowed. "I don't wanna talk about it."
What's going on? Anastasia asked curiously.
Shut up you little brat! Caitlin retorted immediately.
Tim looked at her angrily. Caitlin in the hallway now. He signed before stomping through the cafeteria doors with Caitlin close behind.
"Caitlin Kelly Mcgee what is bothering you?" Tim demanded. Caitlin simply tightened her lips and shook her head. "If I have to get your mother involved in this you're going to be sorry."
"It's not that big of a deal!" Caitlin protested. "Siblings fight okay Dad?"
Tim glared at her. "You know the rules in this household Caitlin. There is too much fighting out in the world to have it in our family."
"Yeah but I guess that only applies to me and Stacey cause you and mom have geen going at it all day." Caitlin muttered.
Tim sighed. "Look… It's hard being married. It's even harder when your mom is pregnant. We're doing our best right now but we're under a lot of stress."
Caitlin shook her head. "It wasn't that big of a deal when Stacey was born… Why is this so different?"
Tim sighed. "It's… it's complicated."
"I'm not five dad… you can tell me." Caitlin said as she rolled her eyes.
Tim sat down along the wall and had Caitlin sit next to her. "It is a very complicated situation, but I guess you deserve to know a bit of what's been going on. Mom isn't as young as she was when she had you and Stace which makes this pregnancy riskier for her anyway. She's also having severe morning sickness which is making her feel pretty sick right now."
"Dad you're just listing off what's going on symptom wise… something else is going on." Caitlin interrupted.
Tim nodded. "Our team at work is being accused of committing a murder of a woman none of us have ever met. We're all pretty stressed."
"Oh." Caitlin said softly. "I'm not trying to cause trouble dad I promise… I didn't know."
Tim pressed his lips into his daughter's hair. "It's okay Katie. I just need you to try and help with everything for right now."
Caitlin nodded. "Are Stacey and I going back to school?"
Tim sighed. "We can't keep either of you out of school for this… So chances are Sarah will be taking both of you to school until we can work something out."
"Dad?" Caitlin asked softly.
"Yes Katie?" He replied.
"I probably should have told you before… but I did something you and mom told me not to…" Caitlin began to confess.
"Katie… this time… I don't want to know. Consider yourself forgiven." Tim said with a smirk. "You ready to go back and actually eat some food?"
She nodded as they stood up. "I'm sorry dad… I don't want to disappoint you again. I'm already on the verge of you and mom hating me and…"
Tim grabbed Caitlin by her shoulders and turned her to face him. "Caitlin Kelly Mcgee your mother and I will never hate you. Do you understand that?" Caitlin stood there quietly for a moment before Tim pulled her into a hug. "You're our daughter and we will always love you."
"Abby?" Ziva asked quietly as she opened her door. Abby immediately groaned into her pillow in response. "I brought Sienna with me."
"I don't care." Abby replied as she rolled over.
Ziva smirked before setting her daughter gently in the nursery cradle she had brought with her. "Can't get comfortable?" She asked as she sat at the end of Abby's bed.
"You aren't helping." Abby replied as she sat up.
Ziva couldn't help but smile. "I kind of miss being pregnant." She confessed.
"You can take all my nausea and swelling that you want." Abby said sounding frustrated.
"I don't miss that… at all… I just miss her being mine. I was the only person who really knew and could understand her. Now anyone could take care of her." Ziva explained.
Abby put her hand on her stomach. "I don't want to be pregnant Ziva. I can't do anything about it but I don't want to do this again."
Ziva took in a deep breath. "I get it Abs." she replied. "When Tony and I first found out I was pregnant we seriously considered all the options. We didn't want to be parents… And we're still dealing with Gibbs thinking we're in a relationship we don't have. But the moment I saw Sienna for the first time… even though I didn't think she'd be alive for more than a few more hours I knew every moment was worth it."
Abby gulped a sob. "Stupid hormones." She muttered as she wiped her eyes.
Ziva held back a smile as she took Abby's hand. "It's all worth it. You know it's worth it."
"What if… I lose it again?" Abby asked softly. "Then what's this worth?"
Ziva looked at her sympathetically. "Abby… you know Tim is doing everything possible to protect you right now."
Abby nodded. "It's just… every time I feel anything, every cramp, every stiff muscle, every pain, I relive that day. Over, and over, and over."
"What he did was wrong. We all know it was wrong. Losing Oliver wasn't your fault though and you can't blame yourself." Ziva said gently. "You know that."
"Ziva I know… It's hard though. I'm doing this because I know I have to, but nothing… nothing right now can make me want to do this." Abby confessed before laying back down.
Ziva was still trying to figure out what to say when a knock came from the door. She looked up and saw Sarah and waved her in.
"Ziva." Sarah said in surprise before looking over to the cradle. "She's beautiful." Sarah said as she set down a red duffel bag on the floor.
"Thanks." Ziva replied before standing up. "Abby Sarah's here."
"I brought some clothes for you…" Sarah began to say.
Abby immediately sat up. "If you brought me a bra I'll marry you."She said with wide eyes.
Sarah couldn't help but laugh. "You're married to my brother… but yes… I did."
"Gimmie!" Abby demanded immediately as Sarah retrieved the bag. Abby was rummaging through the bag when Tony came in.
"Hey who planned the party and didn't invite me?"Tony joked as he made his way into the room.
"It's not really a party…" Sarah began.
"Out." Abby demanded.
"I just got here!" Tony protested. Abby gave him a death glare in response. "Really? You really are kicking me out?"
"Tony I have to change bras." Abby deadpanned.
"I'll be in the hall."
"Tony?" Tim asked as he approached Abby's room and saw him out in the hall. "Why are you outside?"
"No reason…" Tony tried to hide.
"What did you do?" He almost scoffed.
Tony sighed. "Abby kicked me out…so she could change."
Tim bit his lip realizing that Sarah must have come back. "Nice Tony." He said before getting ready to knock on the door.
"Wait!" Tony protested. "You should know Abby's OBGYN just went in with Dr. Walker."
Tim nodded before knocking on the door.
"Tony don't you dare…" Abby began in response.
"Abs it's Tim." Tim interrupted her.
He could hear some sort of shuffling behind the door before Sarah opened it and blocked the doorway. "Abby says Tim can come in. Tony's supposed to stay out here with Katie and Stace."
Tim quickly turned to Anastasia. You and Caitlin need to stay out here with Tony alright?
What's going on? Anastasia asked having not been able to follow most of the conversation.
Tony and Caitlin will explain. Tim promised before following Sarah into the room the door shutting quickly behind him.
"I hate you." Abby said obviously frustrated from her hospital bed.
Tim knew that voice. "I'm here Abs." He said gently as he took her hand.
"Okay Abby." Dr. Amy Peterson, Abby's OBGYN said gently. "We're just going to do a routine exam to check for any infections."
Abby nodded as she gripped onto Tim's hand. "I will kill you later." She promised. Tim smirked in response. "You do know I mean that right?"
"Oh I know you mean it Abs."
"I'm going to take Sienna back to our room." Ziva said quietly before excusing herself.
Sarah followed suit. "Do you want me to take Katie and Stace back home for tonight?" She asked.
Tim nodded. "Abby and I will be here."
"Shut up Tim…" She said angrily.
"Call me if you need anything." She said gently before closing the door behind her.
"So what are our determined fates for the rest of the day?" Caitlin asked sarcastically from the floor.
"We are going home." Sarah said and signed at the same time.
"Home?" Caitlin asked. "Really?"
Sarah sighed. "Well I wasn't going to tell you until later but I've got something planned for you to tonight."
"What?" Caitlin asked immediately.
Sarah smirked. "It's gonna kill you not knowing isn't it?"
"Possibly." Caitlin replied trying to act nonchalant.
"Alright then. This should be fun." She said as she pulled her car keys from her purse.
Anastasia followed behind, confused as to what was going on as Sarah had forgotten to continue signing. When they reached Sarah's car Caitlin promptly took the passenger seat forcing Anastasia into the back, her least favorite place in the car. She sat quietly for nearly an hour as the banter between Caitlin and Sarah continued. Finally she spoke up. "What is going on?"
Caitlin replied still facing the front of the car. "I dunno McSarah over there won't tell me anything about what's going on."
Anastasia tried desperately to read her lips. "We're rowing where?" she asked desperately.
"No Stacey we're going somewhere but I won't tell Caitlin where." Sarah replied, also facing forward. Which was probably ideal since she was driving.
That was the last straw and her hands began to fly. Really? No one here can seem to remember the fact that I'm deaf. I've just been in your family for almost eleven years now and all of a sudden one thing happens and I'm forgotten.
"Hang on Stace, you're signing way too fast." Caitlin said, this time facing her sister.
I'm signing too fast. And you can't even bother to sign back. Anastasia snapped before speaking up. "Sarah stop the car."
"Anastasia…" She began.
"STOP." She demanded and the car came to a screeching halt. Anastasia quickly hopped out of the car and slammed her door shut.
"STACEY!" Caitlin screamed after her as she fiddled with the lock to her own door and Sarah followed suit.
Their words had no affect on Anastasia. She was determined and wasn't turning back now. She broke into a run as rain began to pour.
"What is she doing?" Sarah asked as she fumbled with her jacket.
"I don't know!" Caitlin replied still running full speed ahead after her sister.
"CAITLIN STOP!" Sarah screamed as she was about to cross the street that Anastasia happened to have cleared safely.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO!" Caitlin asked angrily. "She's my little sister…"
Sarah shook her head. "You can't just run after her through busy streets like that.
"Well then what do we do?" She asked realzing that they had lost sight of her sister.
"We go back to the car and call your parents." Sarah admitted.
Anastasia was running out of breath. She quickly turned into a dimly lit alley for shelter and pulled out her phone. Oliver can you come get me?She typed in quickly before putting it back in her pocket and proceeding further into the alley looking for any sort of shelter.
Her phone buzzed to tell Anastasia she had a reply. Sure Stace, where you at? She sighed. I don't really know… can you track my phone? She replied.
She was putting her phone back into her pocket when she felt the hand. It covered her mouth. She angrily began to shake her head in protest.
"It's really too bad your mommy had to hurt my wife." The man said softly unaware she couldn't hear him. "Because now I'm going to have to do something about it."
Anastasia was taking in deep breaths and begging Oliver to be somewhere nearby when she felt the prick of a needle in her neck. "Please…" She said softly before everything went black.
Author's Note: Oh yes… I'm on a cliffhanger roll again. I really hope you guys are enjoying the story! If you have any ideas be sure to let me know! Thanks for reviewing, Keep it up!