Note: After rejecting the previous, I decided to include Jason's death…but after looking at this scene for a few days, I felt it was too cheesy. Again, I included the previous scene.
After lunch, Ziva walked in to find them both at the computer, trying to make sense out of what was there.
"How you feeling?" She asked.
"Better." He smiled. "Thank you."
"I take it Ducky knows that you are up?"
"He gave his blessing." He laughed. "And here I thought Abby was the most stubborn member of our team."
Abby and Ziva both laughed at that.
"I'm not even the most stubborn person in this lab." Abby countered.
"I was about to say the same thing." Ziva added, then turned serious. "My father says that he remembers you, and when I told him the situation, he wanted me to tell you that you would be in his prayers."
On Thursday at 0840, Abby headed to Gibbs' desk to find him and Ducky in conversation. Normally, she would have waited for them to acknowledge her, but not today.
"Gibbs?" Abby was near tears. "Will you do me a favor?"
"What is it, Abbs?"
She took a few seconds to compose herself.
"OK." She began, but they could tell she was still on edge. "In the almost four months that Jason has been working here, he has always arrived thirty minutes early and always worked late on Mondays to make up for his Doctor's appointment. But…he hasn't shown up today and he hasn't called and he's not answering his cell phone and I all can think about is what happened yesterday and Ducky saying he had less than three months to live and…I don't want to go to his apartment by myself."
"Duck?" Gibbs said.
"I'll go get my bag." Ducky said. "Pick me up outside my garage."
"Programming his address into the car's GPS and my phone." McGee said as everyone stood.
"We can't all fit in the car." Gibbs observed.
"I'll drive my own." McGee said.
"I'll ride with him." Ziva added.
Gibbs shrugged, then turned to Abby.
"You don't have to go." He told her.
"I don't want to." She said. "But I have to."
"Alright." Gibbs replied. "Let's go."
DiNozzo was the first one in the apartment after the landlord had opened the door.
"Shower's running." He noticed as he headed to the bathroom.
It was a small, one room apartment (about 30 feet squared) furnished with a bed, sink, refrigerator, table, and microwave. All Jason had added were a television and a collapsible lawn chair of the type resembling a recliner. The bathroom was a separate room off to the left as you walked in.
Seeing a piece of paper on the table, Abby walked over and picked it up. She grimaced when she saw it was a note to her.
"Abby," It read, "If you are reading this, then I am…"
She turned away, not wanting to read any more, and handed it to Ziva.
Looking around, she noticed the picture he had showed her on his phone, enlarged, and hanging on the wall next to the bed.
"I wish he could see her again." She thought.
"Ducky!" DiNozzo yelled.
She turned as Ducky headed for the bathroom.
When DiNozzo entered the bathroom, he saw Jason sitting against the bathtub.
He knelt and checked for a pulse, then yelled for Ducky.
"Tony?" Jason said.
"Look at me, Jason." DiNozzo said. "We're gonna get you to a hospital."
There was blood on Jason's mouth and shirt, and DiNozzo grabbed a towel to wipe his face.
Ducky came in and knelt down next to him as DiNozzo reached in and turned the shower off.
"Jason. Have you taken your medicine today?" He asked as he reached into his bag.
"No." Jason answered. "And I don't think I will be needing it anymore."
"Don't talk like that." Ducky told him as he shined a pen light in his eyes.
Standing in the doorway, Gibbs saw Ducky visually slump and lean back.
"Jason?" Ducky asked. "Can you see me?"
"No." He replied, shaking his head. "And the only thing I can move is my right arm."
Ducky and DiNozzo stared at each other.
"Tony?" Jason asked.
"I'm right here." DiNozzo said.
Jason turned toward the sound. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Name it."
"I don't want to die on a bathroom floor." Jason shook his head. "Can you please take me outside, so I can feel the sun, one last time?
DiNozzo looked at Ducky, who only nodded.
"You got it, pal." He said.
"Duck." Gibbs came in to help and needed Ducky to move. "McGee, bring that chair over here."
"How is he?" Abby asked Ducky as he came out.
"What's going on?"
They turned to see a woman standing in the doorway.
"Where's Jason?" The woman asked.
"I'm sorry." Ziva replied. "Who are you?"
"I'm his Doctor." She replied.
"Dr. Stevens." Ducky walked up to her, holding out his hand. "I'm Dr. Mallard."
"Dr. Mallard." She shook hands. "Jason has told me about you. It's an honor to meet you."
"And you." Ducky said. "Though I wish the circumstances were different."
She looked over and saw Gibbs coming through the bathroom door.
"Oh God, no." She said, turning to Ducky. "Is he…?"
"Soon." Was all Ducky could say. "He's blind…and paralyzed in all but his right arm." Ducky looked from Dr. Stevens to Abby. "He asked to be taken outside…to feel the sun."
They looked over as Gibbs and DiNozzo set him in the chair and picked it up.
"There's a picture on the wall by my bed." He said. "Can you hand it to me?"
Without a word, Abby grabbed the picture and placed it in his right hand.
"Thank you, Abby." He said.
"How did you know it was me?" She laughed through her tears.
"You have the most gentle touch I have ever known." He told her. "Please…don't ever lose it."
Dr. Stevens moved out of their way as they went through the door.
"He's supposed to check in twice a day." She said, the pain in her voice was evident as she watched them go. "After how he felt yesterday, when he didn't call or answer his phone, I got worried and came over."
She looked at Ducky.
"I wanted to admit him." She said.
"As did I." Ducky told her. "But he was just too stubborn…and he had a point…it would not have changed anything."
"My thoughts, exactly." She nodded, then put her hand to her mouth and visibly fought back tears. "I guess I've broken unwritten rule number one." She said.
"Never become emotionally attached." Ducky said. "I have always found that one rather difficult to follow, myself."
They headed outside.
They set him down in the sunlight and he smiled.
"To think, I took it for granted for forty years." He said. Fearing he would drop the picture, he set it on his stomach.
No one else had anything to say. Ziva put her head on DiNozzo's shoulder and he put his arm around her.
"Abby?" He asked.
"Right here." She answered as she knelt down and grabbed his arm.
"Abby." He said. "The readings we got Tuesday."
"Don't worry about that right now." She interrupted. "Just relax."
"Listen to me." He insisted. "It was lawn fertilizer mixed with bleach. Whoever did it knows that each bottle is chemically unique, and a sample can be traced…so they contaminated it with bleach."
"Yes." Abby agreed. "Now just relax, I want you to get better so you can be back at work."
"Abby." He turned to her voice. "We both know that's not going to happen."
"No." She shook her head. "You have to think positive thoughts. You…"
"Abby." He interrupted. "I am positive. Thank you for allowing me to work with you…to make a difference."
"And when you get better," She insisted, "you will continue to make a difference."
"Goodbye, Abby." He squeezed her hand.
She shook her head.
"No…no, it's not that." She shook her head. "You're going to get better and be back and…"
She paused and looked at him.
"Goodbye, you beautiful person." She said. "I don't know what you did in the past, but I promise you, you have atoned for it. Thank you for enriching my life…and know that you will live in my memories forever."
She held his arm and cried.
"Jason." McGee said. "I uh…found your ex-wife and daughter. I promise you that I will make sure they get the fund."
"Thank you." He replied. "The paperwork for the fund, my life insurance policy, and my will are all in a safe deposit box at First Federal."
He was silent for awhile, catching his breath.
"Also." He continued. "In my drawer at the office…is the key to it…and a Power of Attorney giving…Abby access to it."
He stroked Abby's hair. "Abby?"
"I'm here." She sobbed
"Please tell Patricia that…I am so sorry, and…if I could go back…and end my life to prevent…what I did, I would…without hesitation. And tell Jennifer…that I love her…and I died…thinking of her."
"I will." She promised as his hand went limp.
On Monday at 0900, Abby was standing at McGee's desk.
"Have you been able to reach her?" She asked.
"I have." He nodded. "Cheryl and Stephanie Goodman. They are still living in Virginia, and promised to come in this morning."
"Did you tell her why?" Ziva asked.
McGee just shook his head.
The elevator chimed and three people got off and headed their way.
Abby turned to see a beautiful girl who looked about seventeen, tall (about 5 foot 10), with jet black hair tied in a ponytail.
"Agent McGee?" The mother asked as the security guard who had escorted them turned to leave.
McGee stood and held out his hand.
"Cheryl Goodman." He said. "Thank you for coming."
"You said it was important." She replied, shaking his hand.
As she spoke, her daughter noticed the way Abby was staring at her, and stared back at her with a curious expression.
"If you will come with me," McGee said, "I will explain everything."
Gibbs got up and went with them.
While they walked off, Abby texted Jimmy.
"She resembles him." Ziva commented when they were out of earshot.
"That's putting it mildly." DiNozzo said.
Abby, who was thinking that very same thing, did her best to hold back her tears.
