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jae
Four
On the fourth day, she learns that she will be able to go home.
She also discovers that though there are many others she has misplaced in her memory, there is one, crucial person she needed to be reminded of - more important than any of her adoptive family of five.
When Tony tells her the news after she had awoken, she mirrored his smile and, for the most part, his excitement. But insecurity began to crawl throughout her body. Being there, in her hospital room, with everything unchanging and familiar, had made this whole situation easier to deal with. But facing the prospect of going back home, a place she could not recall, had her becoming increasingly nervous.
Sensing this, Tony proceeds to comfort her and tells her there is nothing to worry about. They'll go home, and do the same things they do here. She laughs when he tells her she can finally bathe, and the thought of a nice, long bath does cheer her up considerably. Soon, she fines that, as scared as she is, she is beginning to look forward to going home with him the next day.
Late in the afternoon, he dismisses himself, disappearing as he does every day for several hours. And as always, he leaves looking tense, and arrives back much the same.
The sun had set when he finally arrives back. He walks in slowly, and she greats him with a smile that unconsciously appears on her face at the sight of him. Glancing at her expression, his own softens. Checking behind the door quickly, he leaves it ajar and slowly makes his way toward her.
She looks at him curiously. His hair is disheveled, and when he sighs, he runs a hand through his hair, and it looks as though that has been a frequent gesture throughout his day.
There is something he needs to tell her, he says, but makes her promise him that she'll stay calm.
She chuckles uncomfortably, and of course his words have the opposite effect on her.
"I promise to remain calm," She attempts to tease lightly, "Now just tell me what you need to say."
He studies her for a moment, and resolve floods his features. He bends down to place a kiss on her brow, and turns around to the still open door.
"Alright, c'mon in." Tony says softly, nearing the entrance.
Hesitantly, a dark figure steps around the door and enters the room. As the low light lands on him, she can make out his face, and observes that he is definitely not alone.
Her focus shifts from Tony, to Gibbs' tall figure, and finally comes to rest on the small, sleeping, little girl tucked tightly into Gibbs' arms.
No older than three, with tanned, golden skin that glowed in the low light, her peaceful face was surrounded by a halo of light brown, and very relaxed, curls; nothing compared to how she knew her own curls to be. Her fists are clenched around Gibbs' shirt, and the sight of this beautiful, little girl takes her breath away. Tony looks at her uncertainly, and she realizes her mouth has fallen open. He comes over and sits down next to her, carefully taking her hand in his. She grips his back tightly, steeling herself for what he's about to say. She looks up briefly and locks gazes with Gibbs; His eyes are shining and his mouth is curved in a rare smile.
Before Tony even utters the words, she knows this little girl is undeniably her own.