Sisters for Life - Tiva

***End of the World***

Sam woke up in the hospital. She had no memory of how she'd gotten there. All she knew was immense and ever-growing pain. Not just physical.

The first thing on her mind when she woke up was cassie. Instantly, tears formed in her eyes. She saw her parents, relaxing in chairs next to her. She heard the faint beep of the heart monitor. She smelt the smell of awful hospital food and lots of alcohol. She tasted the aftertaste of plastic, oddly enough. They must've run tests, was all she could assume.

Sam didn't even speak to announce herself being awake. Her diaphragm clenched as she let out a sob, the first noise to break the silence. Her body trembled as she closed her eyes so tight, refusing to let the tears out.

Tony and Ziva both snapped out of their zoned out states and back into the hospital. They both scrambled to Sam and tried to touch her hand, or arm, or anywhere that wasn't marked with a wound.

"Sam!" Ziva called. "Sam, it's okay. Just let it out." She rubbed Sam's arm. "You won't be able to breathe if you hold it in."

Sam released the sob she was holding back. With the wall down, sam was full on blubbering. Grief clenched her heart as she sobbed and almost shrieked. She shoved tony and ziva away from her as she pulled the thin, papery hospital blanket up over her shoulder. Her body-shaking sobs eventually faded as she cried herself back to sleep.

~~~~~~~

Ziva stood and darted from the curtained area, moving swiftly and tightly. Tony sighed and followed her.

"Zi, wait up," he called after her. She only walked faster. Once he jogged to catch up, he put his hands on her shoulders and faced her to him. "Stop, we need to talk. Look at me."

Ziva's head hung, but she lifted it to look him in the eyes. Her tan skin, now reddened, shone in the blinding light of the hallway.

"I can't... do this anymore," she croaked. "You have to do something, Tony..."

"I can't."

"Please," she pleaded. "Do something."

Tony ever-so-slightly shook ziva's shoulders, just enough to get her attention. "Aren't you listening?? I Can't. Do. Anything. No matter what. Sam wakes up again, her sister will still be gone. Our daughter is dead. And I can't do anything to change that."

Ziva trembled, her neck straining as she began to collapse into Tony's arms. In the middle of the hallway of the hospital.. they broke.

But once they were broken... they could rebuild.

~~~~~~~

The next time Sam woke up, they were ready. Ziva's loving voice, calmed and soothed as she spoke simple nursery rhymes that any child would know of.

Tony held Sam's hand and wiped her tears as he gently reassured her that everything would be okay in the end.

When Sam was calmed down enough to be capable of talking, Tony asked, "Do you need anything? Do you hurt?"

Sam nodded. "A little.."

"I'll go get the doctor then," Tony said. "You just rest."

When he was gone, Ziva scooted in. "Are you alright?"

"No," Sam whispered. She shook her head and stared at the wall in front of her, tears still at the edge of her eyes.

"I know," Ziva said. "Stupid question... hey sam, I know this might seem like the end of the world, but it's not... I know you don't want to hear this right now, but just remember it, okay?"

Sam nodded. Ziva was right about one thing. It sure as heck did seem like the End of the World.