It was a beautiful day. Tony was sitting out at the park watching Tali play on the slides. Tali had been getting restless with having to be inside most of the day. She was not a fan of "virtual classes," she was like her parents, always having to be on the move and doing things. In the evenings Tony was able to get Tali to settle down after dinner and watch a movie. More or less she would fall asleep to the movie. Tony and Ziva shared the parental duties, but when it came right down to it, Tali only wanted to be with Tony. Ziva had been getting therapy in Paris and was making great strides, but she was nothing like the fearless ninja that Tony first met or fell in love with. Tali came running over to Tony.
"Daddy, can I spend the night with Ima?" Tali asked.
Before he could answer, Tali sneezed in Tony's face.
"Tali…remember when we sneeze, cover your mouth and nose. Like this." Tony said as he brought his arm over his nose and mouth.
"Sorry Daddy" Tali looked down.
"It's ok. How about we go get some ice cream and I will text Ima to meet us." Tony told his very happy little girl.
Ziva gladly took Tali for the evening.
"While you have her, I am going to go to the grocery store. Is there anything I can pick up for you?" Tony asked.
"No, I am good." Ziva answered. Big crowds, even in a grocery store scared her.
As Tony walked around the store, he was diligent to wear his mask. He had already had the plague, he didn't want to end up with Coronavirus too. He was over by the produce when he saw a man without a mask on. It was all he could do to hold his tongue and not give the man a piece of his mind. Didn't the guy realize that there were people that were vulnerable to the virus? Instead of confronting the man, Tony just shook his head and finished his shopping. He didn't realize his life was going to change drastically and quickly.
It started several days later when he felt water being poured on his face, causing him to fall out of bed.
"Talk about a rude awakening, Tali. Haven't Ima and I told you not to pull pranks on people when they are asleep?" Tony said rubbing his eyes.
"Oh, it wasn't her you have to worry about." A voice said.
Tony looked up to see Kate standing next to his bed.
"Kate…what are you doing here?" Tony asked.
"What? Can't an old friend drop in to say hello?" Kate pouted.
"Yeah but not when they're dead. Seriously Kate, what is this about?" Tony asked.
"You need to get things in order." Kate said as she sat down on his bed.
"What do you mean? I have my life in order. I retired from NCIS; I have a family. What more could I do to get my life in order?" Tony asked.
"Things are about to change. Make sure Tali will be taken care of. Make any arrangements you need to." Kate said before a voice cut her off.
"You will be joining us soon."
"Jenny." Tony whispered.
"Hello Tony." Jenny said. "Take Kate's advice. You will need it."
Before Tony could ask anymore questions, Tali came into his room to find him on the floor.
"Daddy, are you ok?" Tali asked.
"Yeah baby girl I'm…" Tony was cut off by a severe coughing fit,leaving him gasping for breath when it was over.
"I'm going to call Ima." Tali said before running out to grab the phone.
Tony didn't have the breath or the strength to tell his little girl he was fine, that she didn't need to call Ziva.
Less than ten minutes later, Tony heard Ziva come through the door. He was still lying on the floor with no strength to get up.
"Tony? Are you alright?" Ziva asked as she rushed over to him.
"Just tired." Tony made out before he began coughing again.
"You are burning up. I need to get you to the hospital." Ziva said as she felt his forehead before rushing to call the nanny to watch Tali.
Tony didn't have the strength in him to argue. He knew if he went to the hospital, he wouldn't come back out. Not with his lungs already being damaged... not with COVID-19 spreading like wildfire.
Tali rushed back into the room. She had never seen her daddy struggling to breathe like he was right now, and it scared her. Tony saw his little girl in the room.
"Promise me you will be good and do exactly what Ima says." Tony whispered between coughs. "I love you Tali."
Tali ran over to him and gave him a hug.
"I love you too Daddy." Tali whispered in his ear.
It melted his heart. She had always called him Abba when she was younger. He had been teaching her recently how American children usually called their fathers "Daddy". She had begun calling him Daddy more frequently than not after this, but this morning her consistently calling him Daddy melted his heart.
"Are you ready?" Ziva asked, worry present on her face.
Tony was growing weaker by the moment. Ziva and the nanny helped Tony into the car before Ziva drove at break neck speed to get Tony to the hospital.