I throw together a suitcase as quickly as I can. My heart is jumping for joy at the thought of seeing Ella for the first time in two years. Will she even recognize me? I laugh softly at my own stupidity. She's my daughter. Of course she'll recognize me. I am, however, a little worried about seeing Caroline again. She will probably be a mess. I wonder idly how she's been coping. Maybe she found someone to share her burdens with. Perhaps she got remarried; I haven't gotten an alimony bill in a while. My head is spinning. I need to see her.

I grab my bag and rush for the door. I stop dead in my tracks when a thought occurs to me. What if Caroline doesn't let me see her? Momentarily panicking, I crumble to the ground. In my head, I've been building up the moment I see her, and it never occurred to me that I might not get to. I grip my hands to my head and lay on my back. The cool floor helps clear my head. She'll let me see her. She'll have to. My body relaxes, and for the first time since the news reached me, I feel myself hoping; truly hoping, not the false hope that accompanies denial. I am ready for anything now.

"Slip, Mike?" Paige catches me off guard and I jump to my feet. When I realize that it's her, I breathe a deep breath. "I didn't mean to scare you." She smiles at me.

"Nah. I'm just a little worried about what might happen when I get there. But I'm ok," I reassure her. She doesn't look convinced. "Really. I am."

She pauses and looks me over, as if checking to make sure I'm ok. She runs her fingers over the bags under my eyes. She stops when she reaches my stomach. "Have you eaten today? And do you plan to sleep anytime soon?" I internally groan. No, I haven't eaten. Slept? Nope. I just need to be with Ella. I know Paige is just looking after me, but I really need to go. She takes in my slightly annoyed expression. What does she want?

"So you haven't?" I smile guiltily and she sighs. "At least eat something before you go. We don't want you passing out." I agree grudgingly and we head to the kitchen. Paige pours me a bowl of cereal and sits down across from me. She watches me meticulously as I take each bite. I hadn't realized how long a time it had been since I last sat here and actually ate. Slowly, the others wander in. They join Paige and me at the table. Briggs pats my back when he arrives. Charlie offers me a smile. Jakes playfully punches my arm. Johnny isn't nearly as subtle as the others. He shouts my name and wraps me in a bear hug.

"MIKEY! Where the hell have you been?" I smile weakly as he laughs and walks around the island. The others are all staring at me. I want to clean up my dishes and leave, but I feel like it would be rude to leave them all hanging.

"Hi."It's the first word I've spoken to anyone but Briggs or Paige in almost two weeks. They're all open mouthed for a moment before murmuring a collective hello.

"How are you guys?" I try to make small talk to fill the awkward silence.

"We should be asking you how you are," Johnny points out. "I mean, man, you disappeared. You haven't talked to anybody. I mean, that's not normal." I cringe internally. I wonder if they know I've been talking to Paige and Paul. I decide to leave that out. "Are you okay?"

"I will be," I look accusingly at Paige, "as soon as I leave for the airport." Johnny and the others look confused.

"The airport? Where are you going now?" Charlie asks.

"I'm going to get a standby ticket to New York. If a flight is open, I'll be on it."

"Why are you going to New York?" Jakes asks. No one seems to notice the lack of confusion or concern on Paige and Briggs's faces. I take a breath to keep myself from going over the edge.

"I'm headed to Mount Sinai Kravis Children's hospital. I need to visit a little girl."

"Show them the picture you showed me, Mike. It will help them understand," Paul pipes up. The others look between him and Paige. Jakes rests his gaze on Briggs.

"Wait… He talked to you?" He asks in a daze.

"And to me," Paige adds. Charlie looks pissed at first, but her anger turns to relief. I pull out the picture of Ella and me to pass around the table. When I pull it out, I catch a glimpse of her sparkling eyes and dazzling smile, my baby girl so full of life. It breaks my heart to know she isn't that way right now. She's in immense pain. My strength falters and a tear makes its way down my cheek. Paige rubs it off with her thumb and rubs soothing circles on my back as the photo makes its way around the table. When it reaches Paige she hands it to me face down.

"Who's that?" Charlie asks softly. Another tear slips and is dutifully caught by Paige. She's really been a great support in this. I can barely squeak the word out. It is a nearly inaudible whisper.

"Ella." The tears are flowing full force now and Paige leads me to the couch for some privacy. In the kitchen, Briggs is filling the crew in on my situation. I hear a series of gasps followed by more of Briggs's soft explanation. There is another gasp. He must have told them about the cancer. Paige soothes me. I don't know what I would do without her support. An idea strikes me unexpectedly, like a slap to the face.

"Paige," I say shakily, "Come with me to New York. I don't want to be alone. You've been there for me whenever I needed it. Please." She pokes her head around to face me and nods her answer. Johnny, Charlie, Jakes, and Briggs show up then by the couch and surround me in a group hug. It's good to know that there are people in this world that I can count on.