This is my idea for how episode 7x18 should go down. It's not based on any spoilers, and I'm almost sure it's wrong, but this is how I'd like to see things play out. This will not be a whole episode, just a few scenes showing how I'd like to see them deal with Jack's illness. For the sake of this story, assume that Tony accomplished what he needed to at Starkwood and then he listened to Jack and got out of there, and he was helicoptered back to the FBI to be debriefed and then eventually taken into custody. For right now, the FBI is on standby until they get orders from the President and things aren't as crazy there as before. This first part's pretty short, but hopefully you'll enjoy it.

Tony is sitting in a holding room waiting to be debriefed when Renee walks in.

"Hey," he says casually, looking up. "You here to do the debrief?"

"No, Agent Moss will take care of that in a little while. But first I need to talk to you," she says hesitantly.

"What's going on? Any word on why the President called off the air strike?"

Renee hesitates for a moment, knowing that Tony is not authorized to hear any of the details but feeling that they owe him that much after he risked his life to find the canisters. "Jonas Hodges called the president with proof that they were ready to launch three missiles containing canisters of the virus if she didn't stand down the strike immediately. She had 30 seconds to make a decision and she told the Joint Chiefs to stand down."

"So now what?" Tony asks, frustrated.

"For now we're on standby until we get orders from the White House. They're restricting information flow right now…Larry's trying to find out what's going on, but so far he's not having much luck getting anyone to tell him anything."

Tony nods. "So what's going on with Jack? Have the symptoms gotten any worse?" he asks nervously.

Renee sighs. "The doctor gave him something to mask the symptoms, but it's only temporary. She said he doesn't have much time, a day or two at most, unless…"

"Unless what?" Tony asks.

"She said that there's an experimental treatment that might be a cure…it's a long shot, and it requires stem cells from a genetically compatible donor, preferably a family member."

"So let me guess. Jack's being stubborn and saying he doesn't want his daughter involved, right?" Tony guesses.

Renee nods, marveling at how well Tony knows Jack. It reminds her how little she knows him despite how much she feels like she does after the past 18 hours. "I know it's none of my business, but I can't help but think that she should have the choice…at the very least, shouldn't she have the chance to say goodbye?" she asks.

Tony nods in agreement. "Have you contacted Kim?" he asks.

"No. I've thought about it, but it's not my place," she says. "I've tried to convince Jack to call her, but I can tell he's not going to listen to me."

"So what do you want me to do?" Tony asks.

"I thought maybe if you talked to him he'd listen," Renee suggests.

Tony sighs. "Look, if there was ever a time when Jack respected my opinion, that time has long since passed. In case you didn't notice earlier, he's been pretty disgusted with me since I told him about my past, and frankly I don't blame him."

"I don't believe that," Renee argues. Tony looks at her curiously. "I heard Jack talking to Bill about you when we were getting ready to leave for the White House to meet with the President. I can tell from what he said that he's a lot more sympathetic than he's let on. He didn't come right out and say it, but I can tell that he blames himself for what happened to you."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me," Tony scoffs, feeling ashamed as he remembers that there was a time when he blamed Jack for everything, as ridiculous as that seems now. "But listen, regardless of what he thinks about me, Jack's stubborn as hell, and he's not going to listen to either of us. The only way to get him to consider this treatment is to contact Kim ourselves and let her convince Jack if she wants to do it."

Renee sighs, contemplating. "Alright, I'll give her a call," she agrees after a moment.

"Why don't you let me do it?" Tony suggests. Renee looks at him curiously. "I know her…she used to work for me. I think she'd take it better coming from me than coming from someone she's never met before."

"I don't disagree, but as far as she knows you've been dead for the past 5 and a half years. You don't think it would spook her to get a call from you all of a sudden?"

Tony hesitates, debating with himself for a moment before revealing a surprising truth. "Actually, she doesn't."

"Doesn't what?" Renee asks, confused.

"She doesn't think I'm dead." He pauses for a second as she looks at him with a bewildered expression. "I contacted her a few weeks after Michelle died," he explains. "I was looking for Jack and at that point nobody knew he'd been abducted by the Chinese and I thought she might know where he was."

Renee looks surprised. "Does Jack know about this?" she asks.

"No, and if you don't mind I'd like to keep it that way," Tony replies. He prays that Renee will not ask any more questions, because the last thing he wants is for anyone to find out the real reason he was looking for Jack back then.

Fortunately for Tony, Renee seems to accept his explanation for the time being, putting aside any lingering suspicions. "I'll go get you a phone," she says.

"Thanks," Tony says.

Renee turns to go, but then turns back towards Tony. "Larry said we have to take you into custody when you're done being debriefed," she says.

Tony nods. "Yeah, I understand," he says matter-of-factly but with a touch of shame in his voice.

"I want you to know that I'm going to testify to everything you've done today," she continues. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without you."

"Thanks," Tony says appreciatively. Renee nods before walking out to get him a phone, marveling at how a man who seemed like a ruthless killer this morning could now seem like such a compassionate friend.

How will Kim react when Tony calls her? What is Tony hiding that he feels so guilty about? How will Jack react when he finds out Tony and Renee went behind his back to get in touch with Kim? Stay tuned...and if you get a chance please review! Hopefully more will be up today or tomorrow.