The first thing Tony noticed as he regained consciousness was his pounding headache. He tried his hardest to sit up but the room seemed to be spinning around him and he fell back onto the pillow. His eyes slowly blinked open and he quickly forced them shut. The light was blinding him and making his headache about fifty times worse. Somebody was walking across the wooden floor and even though they were stepping lightly and likely barefoot or only wearing socks. It sounded to Tony as though he were in a over filled tap dancing class.
"Ohhh" Tony groaned.
"I bet that your head is killing you." Gibbs commented.
"Hhhh" Tony agreed.
"Well you have one hell of a hangover." Gibbs explained.
"Y?" Tony asked.
"You polished off a bottle of bourbon last night. Almost had to call 911 a few times but I think that you are going to be OK." Gibbs explained.
"Hrts" Tony moaned.
"Here drink this, it is my grandpa's hangover cure." Gibbs replied handing Tony a glass.
Tony polished off the Gibbs family hangover cure. He suspected that it cured your hangover but the payout was that you vomited yourself to death. The taste was terrible. Like the worst thing he had ever tasted in his life. He set the glass down on the bedside table and then collapsed back onto the pillow. When he opened his eyes again, the cup was gone. He looked at his watch, expecting it to be late afternoon, his heart racing in fears that he had missed a precious day with Noah. To his surprise only twenty minutes had passed.
"Good you are up." Gibbs said entering the room.
"What is that hangover cure?" Tony asked.
"That is a Gibbs family secret." Gibbs replied.
"Well it's terrible." Tony spat.
"I know but it is the best thing I know and it stopped me from being a teenage drunk. Jack gave it to me one time and I did not touch the stuff again until I joined the Marines." Gibbs explained.
"Where's Holly?" Tony asked.
"With the McGee's. Tim got her last night." Gibbs explained.
"You did not tell her what happened, right?" Tony asked.
"No that is your news to share." Gibbs replied.
"What am I going to do? I don't want to lose my son." Tony cried.
"Do what I could not and cherish every moment. It may not make the pain go away but at least you and Holly will have plenty of memories. Just be glad for the memories." Gibbs explained.
As Tony sat by his son's bedside. He reflected on Gibbs's words to him. He would make as many memories as possible with Noah. He would cherish every second he had with his son and he would make sure that Holly did the same. Holly his heart broke for his daughter. How would she cope with the loss of her twin brother. How were they supposed to move on from this? The loss of child was not something you got over but how the hell was he supposed to continue to live? How the hell was he supposed to expect Holly to continue to live? Why did his life have to be so God Dammed, unfair?
"How are you holding up?" Ziva asked.
"Ziva? Is school out already?" Tony asked.
"For about an hour. Holly is with Julia." Ziva explained.
"Oh" Tony sighed.
"She said that she was going to get a ride over here but the girls have a project to work on." Ziva explained.
"It's been a hard day." Tony replied shakily.
"How is Noah?" Ziva asked.
"Heavily medicated but I would still rather step out of the room to discuss this any further with you. People in comas can hear what you are saying and I would rather not distress him." Tony explained.
"I understand" Ziva replied.
Tony followed Ziva down to the hospital's cafeteria. He was somewhat annoyed at Holly for not coming straight to the hospital after school but he could not really fault her. She had taken the news hard, really hard. He would have to make sure that she came to see him sometimes but he was not going to force her for a few days. He did not want to distress her any further. Not so close to getting the worst news of her young life.
"So did you guys get any news? From Noah's additional tests?" Ziva asked.
"Not yet." Tony sighed.
"What are you going to do about treatment?" Ziva asked.
"Not much they can do but make him comfortable. Pain management mainly but we can do oxygen and dialysis, if we so choose. I am going to meet with a hospice social worker tomorrow. I decided to bring him home to die. I want him to be comfortable. When he dies, not in a miserable hospital. God, I never thought I would be saying those words about my child. I always thought that Noah would be telling his wife this about me. It shouldn't be the other way around." Tony explained.
"No it shouldn't." Ziva agreed.
"Gibbs agreed to build the casket. He almost broke down, Gibbs is so strong. He never breaks down, never. He lost a child too, he is trying to help me but it is bringing back too many bad memories for him. He is so strong and losing his little girl nearly killed him. I am so weak, there is no way that I can survive this. I just can't." Tony explained.
"Oh Tony" Ziva whispered.
"I am so glad that you are not going to be Holly's teacher much longer because I do not want to have to worry about you showing favoritism but she is going to need extra care." Tony explained.
"I will be there for her, I would risk my job for her." Ziva assured.
A/N: The team finds out in the next chapter but somebody accidentally spills the beans which causes a huge fight between two of the characters. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.