Three days later and Ducky was still the only one to visit with the Palmer family. The DiNozzo's were all feeling better. Including Ziva who had developed a minor case of the virus, but they were waiting until they were sure everything passed. Slowly the family became ready for visitors. They had set up a makeshift living area in the kitchen. So they would not have to disturb Eddie with visitors or if they desired to watch television.
"You can invite your co-workers but make sure they know the rules. They have to wash their hands and put on masks before entering Eddie's room and if Eddie is asleep they cannot go into his room. If he is having a bad day it is family only and we don't talk about death or cancer around either child. They know but we are not shoving it down their throats." Breena explained.
"What about Abby?" Jimmy asked.
"If she is going to be her usual ten. She is going to have to go. I can't deal with a ten right now. I can barely handle Ducky and he's like a two." Breena explained.
"That's going to be rough for Abby." Jimmy sighed.
"Well when her child is dying! She can decide how people act!" Breena snapped.
"Breena" Jimmy whispered.
"Just leave me alone Jimmy! I need to be alone now!" Breena snapped.
The twins were arguing about something stupid and Tali was having a tantrum about something equally stupid. Just a few days before all three had been sick in bed. Now they were fine and it was as if they had never been sick. Tony had recovered although he still had to use a couple prescriptions. Even Ziva had bounced back. Though her illness had increased her nausea and she hadn't quite gotten through that one yet. Still they were very lucky. They were lucky the worst their children had ever faced was a few nasty bouts with the flu. Tali had ended up hospitalized the previous winter but she was back to her old self in a matter of days. Eddie Palmer and other children were not so lucky. For starters they had a fatal or potentially fatal illnesses. For another even a simple cold could kill them. He had heard about sick kids pretty frequently being a cop for so many years. He just never imagined that it would effect him. Even though his children were healthy. He was effected by Eddie Palmer's illness. Seeing your best friend fall apart and being completely helpless impacted his life. Knowing how easy it could be one of his own. They had thought Eddie just had a virus and took him to the pediatrician. In an instant everything had changed. One day that could be one of Tony's kids.
The others would be coming the following afternoon. Jimmy had set out a bowl of masks by the doorway. It was like some germaphobes Halloween. Just masks in a bowl and a sign that read "TAKE ONE OR LEAVE" in bold, bright letters. Breena did not want anybody coming. Abby was by far the worst but the others had there own issues. Nobody wanted to be around a sick child and nobody knew what to say. Jimmy had considered just saying he did not want visitors but he knew that Eddie needed support and that everybody had the right to say goodbye. He was practically sick from the stress. It didn't help that Breena was upstairs sobbing and there was nothing he could do for her. She wasn't even talking to him and he could not even think of anything he had done wrong. He had just continued a conversation that she had started. This was destroying both of them. The only thing keeping them going was Tori. Tori the sweet girl who was staying with her grandfather while she battled a stomach virus. The child who had been shoved aside her entire life. Shoved aside so that her parents could deal with her brother's cancer. Shoved aside because her mom couldn't get out of bed. Shoved aside because her dad was cleaning houses and mowing lawns to make ends meet. Nobody was winning in this situation. That was the worst part of everything.
Breena was alone in her bedroom. She knew that Jimmy meant well standing up for Abby. They had been friends for years but Breena was never Abby's biggest fan. Things only got worse when Eddie got sick. Abby was a nice person but she just did not understand that not everybody could handle excessive perkiness. Some people did not need the extra stress and right now Breena was certainly one of them. Her world was falling apart and as unfair as it was. She wished that everybody could be as miserable as she was.
Jimmy helped the nurse get Eddie cleaned up and changed. They had replaced the sheets on the hospital bed. Eddie had not woken all day and the nurse said she suspected the end was near. There was no timeline but Eddie was going downhill fast. They were lucky to be able to get him home from Boston. The doctors had discussed the possibility of Eddie being to sick to return home. In which case they would have remained in the hospital. They would have been moved to a special room where they could all stay together. Thankfully it had not happened that way. Though deep down Jimmy wished that it had. He was dreading his son dying in their home. He wondered if they would be able to stay there or if they would have to move elsewhere. He couldn't help but wonder if the family would survive this ordeal or if they would fall apart. Statistically his and Breena's marriage was doomed. Statistically there was a good chance that Tori would grow up resenting them. She had been shoved aside so much and it would be worse if the Palmer's broke up. There new baby may feel like a replacement. They could be one of those tragically broken families you read about. They could end up being completely void of hope.
A/N: How will the team's visit go? New chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading and please review.