Holly had no idea where she was going, she just needed to get away. She could not believe that Noah was dying. He was her brother, her twin. He was literally her other half. That morning everything was fine and normal. They were planning their birthday party and their nicknames for summer camp. Now Noah was dying. He may not even live to see their birthday and he certainly wouldn't be able to go to summer camp. At least not the camp they usually went to. She knew that something was not right with him but she never expected it to be this bad. She never expected her brother to die, not when they were just kids.

"Holly!" Ziva called.

"Mi...Miss David?" Holly asked.

"It is not school hours. You may call me Ziva." Ziva offered.

"Thanks" Holly sniffed.

"Come here, I want to talk to you." Ziva instructed.

"A...about what?" Holly asked.

"About Noah" Ziva replied.

"Why does he have to die so young?" Holly asked.

"I cannot answer that." Ziva replied.

"Yeah I know but it's not fair. I mean I already lost my mom and I am sure that I will outlive my dad. What if I end up with nobody?" Holly questioned.

"That's what happened to me and I can safely say that while I have no genetic family left but I am far from alone." Ziva explained.

"You outlived your entire family?" Holly gasped.

"Yes my dad died about two and a half years ago. We were never what you would call close but it was much harder than I thought to lose him. My brother died about ten years ago and that was tough. I lost my mother just before my tenth birthday. My sister she died far too young." Ziva explained.

"I am so sorry." Holly apologized.

"My sister I would like to tell you about her. I feel like it might help." Ziva replied.

"What about your brother?" Holly asked.

"That is not a story I am ready to tell just yet. Besides I was younger when my sister died." Ziva explained.

"OK, I hope that I did not offend you." Ziva apologized.

"It is fine." Ziva assured.

"Good" Holly replied.

"My sister Talia. She was twelve and I was well I must have been fourteen. Our brother was coming home from university. He had not been home in nearly a year. Naturally my father felt this was a cause for celebration. He decided that we would have a big dinner party for everybody in the neighborhood. The day Ar... uh my brother was due to arrive home. My dad left money for Talia and me to go to the market and pick up the supplies for the party. We were to go immediately after school but this boy I liked Adam, invited me to go and play basketball in the park. Being young and stupid and most of all selfish. I lied to Talia and said that I was not feeling well and asked her if she was OK to go alone to the market. So that I could lie down before we had to start preparing for my brother to arrive. Talia was so sweet and sensitive, that she immediately agreed. I was going for a basket. When we heard it. At first we were not fazed by it. Suicide bombings were a regular thing in Tel Aviv. Then some kid came running up to the court and yelled that the market had been blown up. We were not far from there. So we went to see the damage. We got sent to Adam's house and were all sitting around watching movies and laughing at some stupid inside joke. Then there was a knock on the door. We heard Mrs. Eshel scream and begin to frantically call my name. I ran out to the living room and my dad and brother were their my brother was holding my sister's butterfly hair clip in his hand and crying. My dad told me that Talia was dead. She was at the market and right by the bomb. There was time to get out but she was alone and scared. She froze and nobody stayed to help her. It was all my fault. I should have been there. She should not have been alone." Ziva explained.

"That was not your fault. You could not have known." Holly replied.

"I know but from time to time, I still feel guilt for Talia's death. I still cry for her all the time but I am happy. Because I know that Talia would not want me to spend my life grieving for her. That she would want me to be happy. So I am. As hard as it is. I am happy and I am a good person. That is how I honor her memory and that is how you should honor Noah. When he is gone." Ziva explained.

"What about when he is still here?" Holly asked.

"Love him all you can. Enjoy every second that you have with him and squeeze in as many happy memories with him as you can." Ziva explained.

"Will you be there for him and my dad and me?" Holly asked.

"Always, I will always be there for you guys because I love you." Ziva assured.

"Thank you, Ziva." Holly sniffed embracing her teacher.

"It is no problem Tateleh." Ziva assured.

Tony sat on the bottom step, leading down to his boss's basement. It was after visiting hours and Noah had insisted that he go home to be with Holly but instead of going home. Tony grabbed his and Holly's go bags and went over to Gibbs's house. Holly was upstairs working on her homework. She was such an amazing and strong child. Tony wished that he could be half as tough as she was. All he could do was sit on the steps and and sip the bourbon that Gibbs gave him. He held the glass in his hand and cried into the brown liquid. His life was falling apart. He could not believe that he was going to lose his son.

"Tony?" Gibbs asked.

"What?" Tony replied.

"I need to run this to my neighbor. Are you going to be OK, alone?" Gibbs asked picking up a bright purple bicycle.

"At ten at night?" Tony asked.

"It's for the kids birthday tomorrow. They want it there when she wakes up but if you need me. I can wait until morning." Gibbs offered.

"No go" Tony replied.

"I will be back in fifteen minutes." Gibbs promised.

"OK" Tony replied.

With Gibbs gone, Tony felt even more hollow than he had before. He knew that Gibbs would be back soon and that he would never totally abandon him but logic was failing him that night. He stood and made his way upstairs. He found Holly asleep in the guest room. She held the small key-chain that Noah had gotten her when she was too sick to go to the Lincoln Memorial in the fifth grade and she was crying in her sleep. He felt completely helpless. One kid was dying and the other was putting it upon herself to be the strong one. His heart breaking further, he made his way back down to the basement. He picked up and unopened bottle of bourbon, opened it and began to drink. He had already had several glasses but he wanted to forget. He wanted to forget everything...

A/N: Hopefully Gibbs will catch Tony before he polishes off the bottle. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.