Rachel Cranston awoke to the sound of her alarm clock screaming at her. She groaned and switched the alarm off. She pulled herself out of bed, got bathed and cleaned up, and then changed into her work clothes. She grabbed her phone off the charger and made her way into the kitchen. After putting on a pot of coffee and tossing a couple of Eggo's in the toaster. She took a seat at the table and unlocked her iPhone. She was surprised to see a text from Leon Vance. She opened the text and what she read caused her heart to skip a beat; "Rachel, I need your help ASAP. Call me as soon as you can." She called Leon right away, not knowing what to expect but it certainly was not expecting to hear such devastating news.

"Leon Vance"

"Hi Leon, it's me Rachel. I got your message. What's going on?"

"Tony has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I need you to help Team Gibbs, Abby, and Dr. Mallard."

"Yeah of course. I left my appointment book at the office. I will get back to you when I can and let you know when I can help."

"Thanks"


Tony knew before he opened his eyes that he was in the hospital. When his eyes finally opened he studied the IV that was dripping into his arm. He prayed that it was not a bag of chemo being forced into his arm. He reached for the IV's needle and tried to yank it out of his arm. Before he could even peel the tape, a hand had grabbed his wrist. He didn't even bother trying to fight, it had taken all he had to get the IV tape loose. There was no sense even attempting any more physical activities.

"I said... I didn't want this." Tony sobbed.

"It's OK. It's just morphine." Jimmy assured.

"Why am I in the hospital?" Tony asked.

"You had a seizure last night." Jimmy replied.

"How bad?" Tony asked.

"Not bad but bad enough." Jimmy replied.

"Why did I have a seizure?" Tony asked.

"Tony your cancer has already grown. They now only think you have a month." Jimmy explained.

"That's what I was afraid of." Tony sighed.

"Tony I know you have a lot on your mind but I actually need to talk to you about something right away." Jimmy explained.

"What?" Tony asked.

"Breena and I were talking and she wants to bring you down to her family's beach house. It's down in Miami not far from where Breena grew up." Jimmy explained.

"That sounds lovely but can you really uproot your lives?" Tony asked.

"Ed has a small second funeral home down there. Breena and I can work there and your insurance will cover a qualified hospice nurse to take care of you in the end." Jimmy explained.

"Gibbs is taking care of me." Tony reminded.

"Yes but he has no idea how to care for someone in your state. Yesterday he left you in the bathroom alone. Even though he knew that you were dizzy and weak. As a result you ended up bruised and covered in your own filth. I am sure he means well but he really can't give you the care you deserve. If he comes around he can help out but you need a nurse." Jimmy explained.

"It actually sounds really nice but I don't think the others will take it well." Tony replied.

"Well they are going to have to deal with it." Jimmy hissed.

"God everything hurts. I need to close my eyes." Tony sniffed.

"Alright get some rest. I am going to talk to everybody at NCIS." Jimmy replied.


Jimmy left Tony sleeping in the hospital. He also left his number at the nurses station, telling them to call him before anyone else if Tony needed anything. He texted Abby before leaving the hospital and told her that he had news and to gather the usual gang in her lab. He had run his idea by Vance the night before and the director had loved it. Tony would be in a peaceful place and the others would only find out where he was. If they proved themselves worthy of being trusted with the location. Thirty minutes later he pulled into his parking spot at NCIS and after one last deep breath he headed inside. He walked into Abby's lab and was actually a little upset when he saw that everybody was there.

"What's the news?" McGee asked.

"Please tell me that Tony is taking the chemo!" Abby pleaded.

"Or that you are at least apologizing." Bishop replied.

"Make this quick I need to see if Tony is ready to leave the hospital." Gibbs ordered.

"Actually that is what I wanted to discuss with you. Tony will be able to come home this afternoon but Breena and I will be bringing him home. Then tomorrow we are going to take Tony to stay with some friends for his final days." Jimmy explained.

"Where?" Abby asked.

"Tony would prefer it to remain secret for now." Jimmy replied.

"Tony or you?" Abby asked.

"Tony" Jimmy replied.

"Oh really? So you are going to dump Tony with friends and abandon him?" McGee questioned.

"No Vance approved me to take time off and Breena works for her dad. So it was easy for her to get off. We will stay for him and we will hire a nurse for him." Jimmy explained.

"How can you take Tony from us?!" Abby cried.

"Tony wants to go." Jimmy replied.

"Yeah because you are forcing him! You are trying to keep him from us!" Bishop cried.

"Yeah! That is so cruel!" McGee cried.

"I bet that Tony isn't even sick! He probably is just leaving Jimmy money and Jimmy is making us think that Tony is dying!" Abby cried.

"Really Miss. Scuito. You really think that Jimmy is going to murder his friend for money?" Vance questioned.

"Well no sir but it is hinky."Abby replied.

"Tony is sick and you have to deal with it!" Vance barked.


A/N: The Palmer's take Tony to Miami in the next chapter but will anyone be able to get the address? New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.