Sisters for Life - Tiva

***the Whole Way***

About three months later, Sam was back on her feet. Cassie had been acting a little different ever since Sam's incident. No one could place exactly what was going on in her head because she put on a good show. But she had been quieter and withdrawn.

Sam woke her up a little late one morning. She'd slept past her alarm. "Cassie! Wake up, you're late!"

Cassie jumped awake. "Oh crap! I'm late."

She scrambled to get ready in ten minutes. Sam left earlier than her, so she could get to school a little early. She kissed Tony amd ziva on the cheek saying a quick, "Bye dad, by mom," and left.

She went through several of her classes quickly, until she got to one that she and Cassie had together. Cassie never showed up. Sam leaned over to a classmate and asked, "hey, have you seen cassie?"

"No, I thought she was sick," the classmate responded.

Sam was confused. She raised her hand. "Mrs. Stanton, may I use the restroom?"

As soon as she reached the restroom, sam took her phone out. It beeped with a message. Sam opened it up and her heart sank as soon as she read it.

Message:

Sent by - Cassie <3

I know you won't get this until school is over, but by then, I'll be gone... I've been thinking over the past three months. It's my fault you went through what you did. He said so... you can't be safe if I'm around. But sam, please don't think this is your fault. My death isn't on your shoulders... it's not because I'm weak... it's just because I've been strong for too long... I'm sorry. And I love you....

Goodbye.

<end of message>

Sam covered her mouth, then ran out the door. The message had been sent three minutes ago... there was still time.

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Cassie scrambled to get ready in the ten minutes. She'd overslept and sam just left. Ziva came to Cassie. "Hey, we've got to go to work a little early. You're okay here alone until you leave?"

Cassie nodded. Her mother hugged her and then they both left. Cassie looked around, completely alone. Then she fell to the floor crying.

All she could think about was that awful text from her father.

'It's all my fault,' she thought. 'I'm such an awful person! Why am I even alive?'

She gasped at her own thought. She should never think such a thing. Yet, as she thought about it more, the more she thought it made sense to her.

She spent the morning crying and deciding. On one hand, sam needed her here. But on the other. Sam said she didnt, and sam would only be in danger with her around.

All she cared about was Sam since the day they were born. So, she got her phone and worked on a text. Finally, she sent it... then she made her way to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, crying the Whole Way.

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