Note: The original ending. I have included the previous scene to give you an idea of where it went. Not a bad ending, but I didn't feel it did Jason justice. Plus, I've never really cared for happy endings (life rarely has them, why should fiction?)

When Abby checked on him thirty minutes later, she found him asleep. She grabbed a blanket and put it over him, then kissed his cheek and turned to leave.

Gibbs and Ducky were standing at the door to her office.

"Thank you." She told Ducky as she closed the door. "He tries to hide it, but I can tell how bad he's hurting."

"You knew this time would come." Ducky told her.

"But it's not "this time" yet." She retorted and walked over to her computer.

"Abby," Ducky began, "you have to accept…"

"I don't have to accept anything." She snapped, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry…it's just that…to look at him…every day, knowing what's going on inside him, and how much pain he is in…and to not be able to do anything to comfort him…I can't even hug him."

Gibbs held her as she cried.

"You have given him a purpose, Abby." Ducky said. "This lab gives him a reason to get up in the morning. You can take comfort in knowing that you have made the last few months of his life worth living. If it weren't for you, he probably would not have held on this long."

"So he gives me comfort, but I can't give him any?" Abby replied.

"You have missed my point." Ducky told her. "You have given him the comfort of knowing that somebody cares about him…and that he won't die alone."

She half smiled.

"Have you found anything?" Gibbs asked, changing the subject.

"Still working on the readings we got yesterday." Abby told him. "It's almost as if he were poisoned with two separate chemicals."

Gibbs kissed her on the cheek, then he and Ducky turned to leave.

"Ducky?" She called. "I'm not saying that I'm not worried now…but when should I really be?"

"If he starts coughing up blood or has trouble seeing or moving." He replied. "Call 911 first, then me."

After the elevator doors, Gibbs turned to Ducky.

"How long?" He asked.

"No more than 48 hours." Ducky replied.

When Gibbs was back at his desk, he looked over at McGee.

"Were you able to find them?" He asked.

McGee looked up. "I was." He said.

"Where do they live?"

"Virginia."

"How far?"

"About two hours…one way." He cocked his head. "You're not thinking?"

"Send the directions to Ziva's phone." Gibbs replied as he grabbed the car keys and he and Ziva stood up.

"On the way." McGee said as he started typing. "Cheryl Goodman."

"Cheryl Goodman?" Gibbs asked the woman who opened the door.

"That's right." She answered. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Special Agent Gibbs," he said, as he and Ziva showed their I.D., "and this is Special Agent David. Can we have a word with you?"

"What's this about?" She asked after she invited them in and they were sitting at her kitchen table.

"Jason Graham." Gibbs told her.

"I was hoping I would never hear that name again." She told them. "But, somehow, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I would. What has that bastard accused me of this time?"

"Nothing." Gibbs replied.

Cheryl gave them a puzzled look. "Then, why are you here."

"Mrs. Goodman…" Gibbs began, "Jason has worked for me for almost four months…"

"And he asked you to find me." Cheryl interrupted. "My lawyer's gonna love this. What kind of lies did he tell you?"

"He didn't ask us to find you." Gibbs said. "Actually, he doesn't even know that we are here."

She looked at them skeptically. "Forgive me if I don't believe you."

"Mrs. Goodman," Gibbs tried again, "please listen to what I am about to tell you, then, if you want us to leave, we will."

She just stared at them.

"A year ago, Jason was diagnosed with a terminal disease." Gibbs began. "He has been taking an experimental drug, and the only reason he has done so was that a trust fund would be established…payable, on his death, to whoever he named. He named you."

"Tell him he wasted his time." She replied. "Because I don't want any money with his name attached to it."

"The fund is five million dollars." Gibbs said. "And he told us that it wouldn't make up for what he did to you…"

"He finally got something right." She interrupted.

"But he also told us that it was probably the only way he would ever be able to tell you how sorry he was."

"He said that." She laughed. "You still haven't told me you are here. I mean, you're speaking like he's still alive, so you're obviously not here to give me the fund."

Gibbs looked at Ziva before he replied. "Our Doctor says that he has less than 48 hours left. Mrs. Goodman, I realize that you have every right to refuse what I am about to ask…But I ask that you consider how your daughter would feel."

Cheryl just looked at him, knowing what he was about to ask.

As they were getting ready to leave, Abby turned to Jason.

"Do you want to stay at my place tonight?" She asked.

"A year ago," He laughed, "I would have jumped at such an opportunity."

"I guess that could be interpreted wrong." She blushed.

"Could be." He laughed.

She started laughing. "What I meant was…"

"I know what you meant." He interrupted. "And I will have to decline the offer."

She just looked at him.

"Abby." He continued. "I know what you are trying to do. But, if it does happen tonight, I don't want it to happen in your home."

"I love you." She said, tears filling her eyes. "And I don't care how you interpret that…and I want to see you here tomorrow morning…understand?"

As they were passing McGee's desk, he looked up.

"You two aren't leaving, are you?" He asked.

"Would it be a problem?" Abby asked as Ducky grabbed Jason's arm to check his pulse.

"Well…Uhhh…" McGee stuttered. "Gibbs doesn't want anyone to leave until he returns."

"Great." Abby replied. "He's in one of those moods."

"You could say that." DiNozzo said.

"Have a seat." Ducky told Jason. "Your pulse is still fast."

As he sat down, Ducky pulled a thermometer from his bag.

Abby heard the elevator chime and turned, hoping it was Gibbs.

Jason watched her go pale and laughed.

"I think she needs your help more than I do." He told Ducky.

"Daddy?"

Jason turned at the voice, and for a few seconds, all he could do was stare.

"Jennifer?" His eyed started watering as he stood. Jennifer ran toward him and he closed his eyes and embraced her, tears running down his cheeks.

"I've missed you…so much." She was barely able to say, due to her own tears. As much as she wanted to hug him, Ziva had told her about his pain.

"I'm so sorry, baby." He told her. "I've missed you, too. And I love you."

"I love you, too." She told him.

After more than a minute had passed, he pulled back and looked at her questionably.

"Agent Gibbs paid mom a visit." She said. "He told her about…She agreed to let me come."

Jason looked at Gibbs. "Thank you." He said.

Gibbs just smiled. "You two have a lot to catch up on." He said. "She can stay the night…Ziva will give her a ride home tomorrow."

Jason smiled and turned to Jennifer. "Your mother didn't come?"

She just shook her head.

"I guess that would have been too much to expect." He sighed. "But tell her I said "Thank you"."

Jennifer just nodded as they started for the elevator.

"Oh my God." Jason paused. "Where are my manners?" He turned and introduced everyone.

"See you tomorrow." Abby told him after the introductions were complete.

He smiled and turned to Jennifer. "You still like pizza?" He asked.

"Extra pepperoni?" She laughed.

"Is there any other way?" He laughed as they headed for the elevator.

When they were gone, Abby turned to Gibbs and stared.

"What?" He asked.

"And you told me not to do it." She laughed.

"Yeah…well…" He stuttered.

"You don't have to explain." She hugged him. "Thank you."