Since it was four o'clock before Noah was discharged and cleared out of the hospital. Tony was completely on his own until the night nurse arrived. Tony's insurance paid for two hospice nurses, working twelve hour shifts. The day nurses would be on from six in the morning until six at night and the night nurse would work from six at night until six in the morning. Tony had met with both nurses while Noah was still hospitalized. Both had personal experiences that resulted in them working in hospice. Beverly the day nurse was older not old but she was in her early fifties or maybe late forties. She had worked at Bethesda for twenty years but retired after her husband had a stroke ad required her constant care. After he died two years ago, she started working as a hospice nurse. Noelle was younger she had actually graduated a two years ahead of Jimmy. She got pregnant in her senior year of high school and her son was born with severe health problems. When he died at only two years old, she was inspired to go into nursing. Both were very attached to Noah and Tony cold tell that they would be sure to make Noah very comfortable in his final days. Which at this point was all Tony could really ask for.
"Hi dad" Holly said from the doorway.
"Hey Holly, when did you get home?" Tony asked.
"Just now" Holly replied.
"Do you want to spend some time with him?" Tony asked.
"Is he up to it?" Holly asked.
"He's sleeping but he may wake up. Either way you really should spend as much time as possible with him." Tony explained.
"I know" Holly replied, wiping a tear from her eye.
"We'll get through this. I may not but I will make sure that you are OK." Tony assured.
"Gibbs will be there for us." Holly replied.
"That he will." Tony replied.
"Oh, Miss. David is downstairs." Holly replied.
"She is? I thought that you were supposed to go out with Julia." Tony asked.
"Don't bring her up." Holly warned.
"Oh no, did you guys have a fight?" Tony asked.
"Dad, I need my privacy." Holly said.
"OK" Tony agreed.
Ziva sat at Tony's table. It was her first time being inside his house. They had, had sex a handful of times but Tony always insisted that they go to her apartment. At least until she was no longer the twins teacher. She had been to Tony's house before but she had never been further than just inside the door. It was actually a pretty nice place. Nothing super fancy but it was a nice place. She had also seen her for the first time. Kate, standing beside a man in a Santa suite balancing Holly and Noah on his knees. It must have been from Kate's last Christmas. She was beautiful and flawless. She felt so self conscious standing there with her scarred back, compared to Kate's flawless beauty.
"I feel so naughty, a girl in my kitchen." Tony joked coming down the stairs.
"How is your son, Tony?" Ziva asked.
"Sleeping he is in bad shape." Tony sighed.
"I am sorry." Ziva apologized.
"I need a distraction but unfortunately I must first ask you about my other child." Tony explained.
"Why is that bad?" Ziva asked.
"Because something is wrong with her." Tony replied.
"She had a fight with Julia. Did she tell you about that?" Ziva asked.
"No but she seemed upset when I mentioned her. So I figured as much." Tony explained.
"Yes it seems that Julia told her dad about Noah. Holly had told her in confidence and it greatly upset Holly. She also said that she did not want friends. She just wanted to be with Noah." Ziva explained.
"I will talk to her? Would you like to see Noah?" Tony asked.
"Sure" Ziva replied.
"Wash your hands and when I come up with the nurse you will have to leave." Tony explained.
"OK" Ziva agreed.
Noelle arrived at six o'clock on the dot. A fact that Tony took as a very good sign. He showed her around and introduced her to Holly. She stayed up in the room with Noah, while Tony went to get ready for dinner. Gibbs was bringing food and the others were coming over. It was going to be rough but Tony knew that he needed to tell the team. He was actually kind of glad that Holly had already told Julia and that Julia had told her dad. Especially since McGee had likely spilled the beans to Abby and that may make things easier or it may make things worse.
"Your girlfriend seems really nice." Noelle said.
"She is amazing and more importantly she is good for the kids." Tony explained.
"She is a teacher, right?" Noelle asked.
"Yes" Tony replied.
"And she teaches both twins?" Noelle asked.
"Yes" Tony replied.
"Well that will be good for both of you." Noelle said.
The team arrived around eight. It was later than Tony was used to eating but he was not exactly hungry and neither was Holly. Gibbs already knew what Tony was going to say. So he went into the kitchen and dished up the food, while Tony broke the news in the living room. McGee had whispered that he was sorry as he walked past. Ducky sat in the recliner, Bishop as on the floor, and Abby, McGee, and Jimmy were sitting in a row on the couch.
"You are probably wondering why I called you all here and why I have been out of work for the past few days. This will not be easy to say. So I am just going to get it out. As you know, Noah and I had our check-ups the other day. I was fine. My asthma was a little worse but they increased my meds and I am now just fine. Noah, unfortunately Noah's body is in rapid decline. His kidneys are failing, his heart is deteriorating and failing, and he has stage four cancer in both lungs. I brought him home today and we are going to make him comfortable." Tony explained, voice cracking.
"That is dreadful Anthony. I am so sorry. It is always hard for me to hear that a child is dying. When I am so old." Ducky apologized.
"That is terrible." Bishop added.
"I am sorry Tony, I really am. I know it won't help but I really am. Just let me know if there is anything I can do." McGee said.
"Oh Tony! That is so horrible! I am so so sorry! I cannot believe that Noah is dying. Oh poor Holly! Poor you! Oh I wish there was something I could do! Of course I will be there! But I so wish that I could make Noah better!" Abby cried.
"Oh Tony" Jimmy said.
"It means a lot guys. I am glad that you have my six, I am going to need it and Holly is too. She is in a really bad place." Tony replied.
The next morning Noelle was getting ready to leave and Tony was waiting downstairs for Beverly to arrive. Gibbs had spent the night on the couch. Tony heard something coming from upstairs and raced up the stairs, thinking that something was wrong with Noah. He saw Noelle standing in the hallway, her arms were crossed and she was smiling. He got to his son's room and peaked inside. Noah was sitting up in the hospital bed and Holly was in the chair. Holly reached up and wiped a tear from her eye. Tony rushed in, fearing that his daughter was breaking down. Then he realized the twins were not crying they were laughing. He had forgotten how to laugh or really joke around. He had made that comment about Ziva being in his kitchen but that was half-hearted and a faint attempt to lighten the mood but it was not real, joy. Holly had seemed miserable too and he knew that she had not laughed, smiled, or felt anything but depression but Noah. The one who was facing his own mortality at such an early age. Was making his sister laugh. Maybe their was hope after all. He felt a pair of arms wrap around him and his neck was softly kissed.
"What's going on?" Ziva asked.
"Noah made Holly laugh." Tony replied.
"That is wonderful." Ziva replied.
"Yes it is, because we have all been so depressed." Tony replied.
"I know and I am glad to see that you are all doing well." Ziva replied.
"We really should be happy for now." Tony said.
"Yes we should, I love you Tony and I love the twins too." Ziva said.
"After losing Kate, I have realized that no family is traditional but I will still love having a whole family for the short time that I have it." Tony explained.
"I will too." Holly added.
"Me too" Noah agreed.
"I am glad to be part of your family. I am sad that it will not last the way it is long but I am happy that we have this time together." Ziva explained.
"Noah may not be here but we will always be a family. That is what Kate always told me. Especially when Noah was so sick. So much sicker than me but we need to appreciate when we are all physically together." Tony explained.
FIN
A/N: Since they dynamic of the story has changed. I have decided to start a sequel, that will deal with Noah's death and Tony and Ziva's official relationship. I should post that soon. Thanks to all who read, followed, favorited, and reviewed. One last time please review and thanks for reading.