Tori's tumor was more complex than the doctor's had anticipated. Which meant the surgery could not be preformed at Georgetown. After much deliberation she was transferred to Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia. Jimmy and her boarded a medical flight, bright and early the next morning. The surgery would take place the following day. It would be a long and risky procedure, with no promise of success. They were hoping to get most of the tumor and then knock the rest out with radiation and possibly chemotherapy. For Jimmy it was too reminiscent of when Breena was diagnosed. Never in his life had he felt more alone.


The hospital was huge and Jimmy got lost on his way back from the cafeteria. He could not help but wonder if he had got lost on purpose. If he was in fact trying to run away from his fears. He did not want to be in his daughter's room. Surrounded by all those machines and they heavy mood. His heart was breaking and he had no idea what the future would hold. For hours he just wandered around the halls; riding up and down the elevator, opening random doors, and staring blankly into space. He somehow made his way to Tori's floor but turned down the wrong hallway. He walked mindlessly past the nurses station, nearly colliding with a petite woman. She wore nurse's scrubs (they actually said nurse and had little superheros on them), cat's eye glasses over her hazel eyes, and frizzy strawberry blonde hair. According to her name tag her name was Lara.

"May I help you?" Lara asked.

"I am looking for my daughter's room." Jimmy replied blankly.

"What is her name?" Lara asked.

"Uh Victoria Palmer, middle name is Elizabeth." Jimmy replied.

"Oh her room is just around the corner. She is actually a patient of mine." Lara replied.

"Can you walk me over?" Jimmy asked.

"I actually needed to check her out anyway." Lara replied.

"Thanks" Jimmy replied.

"The surgery she is having. The doctor doing the procedure is an expert in the field. He is a true miracle worker. I know that he can save her." Lara assured.

"Her mom had the same tumor five years ago. She could not be saved, there was no hope." Jimmy explained.

"Major advancements have been made since then and Dr. Harts is a huge part of those advancements. He lost his brother to a brain tumor and will stop at nothing to wipe out pediatric brain cancer." Lara explained.

"I just hope Tori is one of the happy endings." Jimmy replied.

"She will be." Lara assured.

"God I hope so." Jimmy whispered.

"She's a strong girl if she's made it this far." Lara assured.


Tony was depressed and he hated himself for being depressed. His best friend was facing the loss of his child, and here he was moping around over a breakup. Julia and him had officially broken up that afternoon. Jimmy's bitter breakup with Andrea was what fueled the split. They had sat down and talked things out. It did not take long for them to realize they did not want the same things. Tony desperately wanted to get married, but Julia had thought about it and was not so sure. The big deal breaker was that Tony wanted more children but Julia said she was done with babies. Whether they come from her body or via adoption. She did not want anymore babies. Knowing they were not at a stage of their life or in a situation where they could settle. They decided it was best to go their separate ways. It was a hard decision but it was the best choice. Still Tony was heartbroken over the breakup and so was Tali. She had wanted a new mommy.

"So you really aren't dating Julia anymore?" Tali asked.

"No, we decided it was best to end things." Tony replied.

"So I'm not getting a mommy?" Tali asked.

"Not right now but we are fine on our own. Aren't we?" Tony asked.

"I guess so." Tali replied.

"Hey are you alright?" Tony asked.

"I don't want to do dance anymore." Tali confessed.

"Why not?" Tony asked.

"I don't like it that much. I used to but I don't anymore." Tali explained.

"Do you not like your teacher? I can put you in a new class." Tony offered.

"No I just do not want to dance anymore." Tali insisted.

"Are you sure?" Tony asked.

"Yes" Tali replied.

"I will call your teacher in the morning." Tony replied.

"So I'm out?" Tali asked.

"Well I want you to have an extra circular activity. I do not want you just sitting around all the time. Especially on days I am working." Tony explained.

"Can I play softball like Tori?" Tali asked.

"That is a wonderful idea." Tony replied.

"Can I call Tori and tell her that I get to play?" Tali asked.

"Remember what we talked about last night?" Tony asked.

"Tori's in the hospital." Tali recalled.

"Afraid so." Tony replied.

"Will she be OK?" Tali asked.

"I really don't know." Tony replied.

"Can I go see her?" Tali asked.

"They had to move her to another hospital. It is far away and as long as she is this sick. I don't think it would be the best idea." Tony explained.

"I want Tori." Tali sniffed.

"I know you do and you will see her soon." Tony assured.


Jimmy sat by his daughter's bedside. Tori had spiked a fever in the early evening hours. If it did not break by morning. The surgery would be delayed if not canceled. Tori had been suffering violent seizures throughout the day and was now fully dependent on the ventilator. The doctor's were slowly losing hope on her survival. If she did survive they could not promise that she would be the same girl Jimmy had raised. There was the risk of behavioral changes but the most concerning was total disability.


A/N: Tori's surgery finally takes place in the next chapter. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.