<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99"><span style="font-size: 15px">Sarah smiled at her brother. "I need you to do something for me Tim, okay? And no, you don't get to refuse or stall. I just want you to nod in agreement, hug me, and then do as I tell you." She paused for a minute, and hugged him. "I love you, Tim. You're my big brother, and you mean everything to me. You're my best friend.." She said softly, and smiled shyly. "With all of that said, I appreciate you being here and supporting me. But, you need to go home tonight. I expect you to do three things for me, and no, there will be no negotiating."<br/>
<br/>
"Once you are home, you are going to eat, shower, and then fall into bed and not wake up until 7am tomorrow morning. You're going to relax and rest, and take a few hours away and not worry about me. You will take care of yourself, and come back any time after 7am. I'm kicking you out because I love you, and I know you need some time to wrap your head around all of this. You've been so focused on me, so worried about me, that you haven't allowed yourself to react. </span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(153, 255, 153)"><span style="font-size: 15px">Not really react to everything that happened today."<br/>
<br/>
"And I know you always try to be strong for me, and I love and appreciate you for it. But I also know that you look like you're about to cry any minute now, and you're used to doing that alone. And while I don't like it, I can respect it. You need to shower, eat real food, not hospital mush, and sleep in a real bed, your bed. Not a hospital cot that will leave your back aching all day tomorrow. If you stay here, you wouldn't sleep. You'd be awake all night worrying about everything, and as much as it sucks, there's not much <br/>
you can do."<br/>
<br/>
"Not right now at least. There are two more things I have to say, and well, unlike the last few things, which should be considered orders.. the first is more of a request. When I get out of here in a week, I want to move out of the house that Wesley and I lived in. So, if you could pick up a few paper's or check out a listing or two, and let me know some ideas of places in the area and prices.. I'd be so grateful." Her arms locked around his neck, and she smiled once more when he kissed her temple. "As for the second thing."<br/>
<br/>
"I need you to promise me something. I don't want to take over your life. I know you want to help, and I'm happy to let you. But I also refuse to cut into your job and your time with your friends. Besides, you still need to ask out your pretty friend with the dark hair. She's a genius, like you, and I have a feeling the two of you will be good together. And.. before you offer me up as an excuse to avoid asking her out, don't bother. I'm not gonna allow it. I want you to be happy, and she makes you happy. "Now, hug me."<br/>
<br/>
"Kiss my cheek or temple again, and go get food, shower, and sleep. And if you come back again in the middle of the night, I'll make you eat this gross looking mystery meat thing. And trust me, I'm sure you don't want to do that." There was a small smile on her lips as she fell silent and waited to see what her brother would say and do.</span></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99"><span style="font-size: 15px"><br/>
____________________<br/>
<br/>
Ziva listened to Tony speak, and when he finished she said, "I had two siblings. A younger biological sister.. Tali.. And, my half brother, Ari.. Who was older than I am. Siblings are.." She laughed, though her eyes shined with unshed tears. "They are both </span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(153, 255, 153)"><span style="font-size: 15px">the best and worst thing a person could have. The love they give you, is like nothing else. And then.. the pain you feel when they're gone.. Well.. that too, is like nothing else.." She said softly. "McGee and Kate are great. For those that get to choose their family, they </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(153, 255, 153)">are damn good people to have as family, and to have your back." <br/>
<br/>
She smiled as she watched him eat the soup. "I made enough for the week, and have saved the remainder of the soup into bowls sorted by each meal time. My suggestion is to have it twice a day, for breakfast and dinner, and eat crackers for lunch. The soup can be pretty filling, and you do not want to get sick in another way. As for you going to work, you did not ask me, but oh well. I suggest taking three or four days off. Give your immune system and body a chance to right itself once more, and also give yourself a chance to rest."<br/>
<br/>
"You obviously need it." She gave Tony a look when he said that she didn't need to stay and take care of him. "You do not get an opinion, sick one. Not on this matter. You are stuck with me for the rest of the night and all of tomorrow. After that, I will be over every morning for an hour before work, and for a few hours each night after. The only thing you get a say in, is what movies you want me to pick up on my way over for the rest of the week after work. You tell me a list, and I will pick them up so we can watch them."<br/>
<br/>
"Of course, I expect you to sleep some, too. But that is what the day is for. If you get worse, you call Dr. Pitt, or 911, or I will kick your butt. And that is not me asking. That is a command. Now, eat the soup. I am gonna see what's playing on TV." She carefully sat down on the far edge of his bed and grabbed the remote. A few moments later, she turned on the TV and began to channel surf, as she looked for a movie for the two of them to watch together. One where it wouldn't matter when and if Tony fell asleep while it played.<br/>
<br/>
_______________________<br/>
<br/>
Kate smiled as she leaned into his touch, when he wrapped his arms around her, sighing against his lips as he kissed her and his hands stroked her face.When their eyes locked, she pulled back from the kiss and she smiled again, this one wider than the one before. They kissed again, and as their bodies pressed against each other, she felt how turned on he was, and she was unable to stop the moan that left her lips. And when he spoke, she didn't need to hear him and what he'd said, nor did she need to know how to lip read. <br/>
<br/>
She'd seen people on movies say that they loved each other and knew what he had said. "I love you too, Jet." The words were serious, and she meant them. But she also cracked a big smile, and stepped back and rested one hand on her cane, and held the other out to him. "I want you.." She said in what she hoped was a soft volume. Not being able to control the sound of her voice was annoying, but she knew they'd tell her if she spoke too loudly and needed to quiet down. </span></span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(153, 255, 153)"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 15px">As their hands locked together, she led him down the hall and to her bedroom.<br/>
<br/>
Kate released his hand and pushed open the door  to her bedroom a few moments later. And once they were in the room, she carefully made her way to the bed where she sat down on it, and motioned for him to join her. As she watched him cross the room she said, "Remind me to tell you how to use the new lights attached to the doorbell.. But.. later.. Right now, I just want to do.. this.." Once he had sat down beside her on the bed, she opened her hand that held onto her cane, and let it drop to the floor. And then her lips were on his this time.<br/>
<br/>
And she sighed and pushed him back down on the bed, as she covered his body with her own, and pressed her body back against his once more. It had been way too long since she had felt this way about a man, and she was ready and willing to go as far as he was comfortable with. Her hands plucked at his clothes, and she moaned his name, wanting and needing to feel his skin. "Jet.."</span></span></span>