It ended up being a very rough night for Tony and the Palmer's. Tony would not be under nursing care until they arrived in Florida. Because nobody could have anticipated how bad the night would be. Tony was in a great deal of pain and found it near impossible just to sit up. Jimmy and Breena had to work together to carry Tony to the bathroom twice that night. Tony ended up in tears because a woman had to watch him use the bathroom.
The next morning Breena went to check on Victoria and Jimmy went to check on Tony. He found his friend balled up on the bed and sobbing heavily in pain. Jimmy walked over and gently put his hand on Tony's back. Tony violently flinched and let out a sharp cry.
"God, Tony I am so sorry." Jimmy apologized.
"It hurts. So bad. I don't even have cancer there and it's killing me." Tony sobbed.
"Did you take your pills?" Jimmy asked.
"They didn't help." Tony replied.
"OK, I will call the hospital and see if they can up the dosage." Jimmy offered.
"Thanks" Tony sniffed.
"Do you need anything?" Jimmy asked.
"I have to go... to the bathroom." Tony sniffed.
Jimmy called Breena who came rushing into Tony's room. They quickly realized that Tony was not lying about the pain he was in. It took half an hour just to get Tony sitting up. By that time he was crying and shaking he was so desperate to relieve himself. Jimmy and Breena started to stand but even the slow pace they used was too much for Tony. Jimmy and Breena calmly sat down on the bed and began the process again.
"It's too late." Tony sniffed.
Jimmy helped Tony get cleaned up, while Breena calmly replaced the sheets and took the wet bedding down to the laundry room. Tony cried the entire time Jimmy was cleaning him and it took all Jimmy had not to break down, himself. While Breena was getting the other bed cleaned off, Jimmy allowed Tony to rest on their bed. They had a water proof pad anyway since Victoria slept with them a lot of nights and was pretty prone to messes. Once Tony had calmed down Jimmy called the hospital and ended up getting a high dosage of morphine for Tony. He was terminally ill, so it's not like there was much concern for him becoming an addict.
"I called the hospital. They are going to send a prescription for morphine to the pharmacy down in Florida. You need a nurse to administer it but you will get some on the plane." Jimmy explained.
"OK" Tony sobbed.
"You'll be feeling better soon. The pain will be over soon." Jimmy whispered.
"I can't wait to die." Tony sobbed.
"I know but I am going to miss you." Jimmy whispered.
"I'll miss you too." Tony whispered.
Tony and Jimmy's flight was scheduled to depart at noon. He would be making the trip to Florida on Marcy Flights. A special airline that transported critically and terminally ill patients across the country. There were nurses on board and everything. Originally the plan had been to drive Tony down to Florida but as Vance pointed out. The drive would be too much for Tony. Especially given how much pain Tony ended up being in that night. So Jimmy booked a last minute trip down to Florida. The only downside was that children under eighteen were not permitted on Marcy Flights. Unless they were a patient or it was a member of their immediate family being transported. So Breena would be driving down to Florida. While Jimmy rode on the plane with Tony.
"Diaper bag?" Jimmy asked.
"Check" Breena replied.
"All four suitcases?" Jimmy asked.
"Check" Breena replied.
"Cellphone? Computer? Chargers?" Jimmy asked.
"Check, check, AC, DC, and travel" Breena replied.
"Bug spray?" Jimmy asked.
"Check" Breena replied.
"Baby?" Jimmy asked.
"Seriously?" Breena asked.
"Just trying to lighten the mood." Jimmy replied.
"Call me when you land?" Breena asked.
"Of course." Jimmy replied.
"I will call you every hour." Breena promised.
"I don't know if I will be able to have my phone on the flight but you can leave a voice-mail or text until we land." Jimmy explained.
"Alright, have a safe flight and try to get Tony in better spirits." Breena replied, kissing Jimmy on the lips.
"I will. You have a safe flight and I hope the Victoria is good for you." Jimmy replied, returning the kiss.
Upon boarding the plane, Tony was hooked up to an IV filled with morphine. He closed his eyes and managed to fall into a fitful sleep. Jimmy took the seat closest to Tony's bed. He did not move for the entirety of the three hour flight. Upon arriving in Miami, Tony was transported via ambulance to the Palmer's beach house. He was now officially under the care of Until The End Hospice. Where he would have two nurses. Each working twelve hour shifts. One coming in at six in the morning and the other at six in the evening. There was a third nurse who would come if one nurse was unable to come for whatever reason. Jimmy had spoken with all three nurses and they all seemed to be wonderful people. The day nurse was working a partial shift the first day. Since Tony's flight had landed just after three in the afternoon. She helped Jimmy set Tony's room up. Tony's room sat at the very end of the house. It was spacious and had it's own handicapped accessible bathroom and a large wrap around window that accounted for two of the walls. The window gave a lovely view of the ocean. So Tony would be able to see the ocean. Even on the days that Tony was too weak to go outside. He would still be able to see the beach.
"Can you help me get Tony into the bed?" Nurse Rose asked.
"Sure" Jimmy replied.
Jimmy helped Rose move Tony onto his new bed. While it was a hospital bed. It was large enough for two adults to easily fit comfortably and the mattress was extra soft. Jimmy had done all he could to ensure that Tony's final days would be as comfortable as possible. Even though he desperately praying for a miracle. An hour before Nurse Jane was due to arrive Jimmy received the call he had been waiting for and dreading at the same time. It was from a friend of his med school, Dr. Parker. He had chosen to focus on oncology and was working under one of the top oncologists in the country. It was Dr. Heller who was calling and Jimmy was praying for some good news.
"Hello?"
"Jimmy Palmer?"
"Yes sir"
"I just wanted to let you know that I went over your friend's scans and reports, and sent them to several colleagues of mine in the field. Unfortunately I have to confirm Dr. Pitt's findings. Tony's cancer is too advanced and rapidly progressing to manage."
"Even with clinical trials? Some of those are amazing."
"They are but it can take weeks or months to get accepted and that is time that your friend does not have. I am sorry."
"Thanks anyway."
"I am sorry."
"No it's OK. Tony wants to die anyway."
Even after Dr. Heller had already hung up. Jimmy just stood there with his phone pressed up to his ear. Tony did not want treatment and was actually desperately looking forward to his death, but Jimmy had still hoped that Tony would beat the odds and come through. His heart was breaking but he knew that he had to respect Tony's wishes. His feeling of hurt only grew when his phone rang again. Jimmy checked the screen praying that it was Breena. Only to feel as if he had been punched in the gut when he realized that it was Ziva.
"Hello?"
"Hi Jimmy"
"How are you?"
"I am fine. Jimmy is something going on with Tony? He has not video chatted or called me in weeks. I know that things can get pretty crazy at NCIS but Tali has been dying to speak with her Abba and he has never gone this long between calls. I am starting to get worried."
"Ziva I am sorry. I should have called you sooner but I just couldn't."
"Jimmy you are scaring me. Is Tony hurt?"
"Ziva, Tony is dying. He has cancer. It's too advanced for any real treatment. He is in Miami on hospice care. I am sorry."
A/N: After much debate I have decided to add Ziva to the story. Except for my story Tony knew about Tali all along. This will be a Tiva story but it won't be too heavy on the Tiva. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.