Ziva let her phone fall to the floor and crossed her arms over her chest. She knew that something was wrong but she wasn't expecting this. She wasn't expecting to find out that Tony had terminal cancer. Hurt in the field and laid up maybe or dealing with another nasty breakup but not cancer. She remembered him mentioning not feeling great and how Jimmy had been pressuring him to go to the doctors. She had told him that he had better go and that was the last time they had spoken. Jimmy had told her that the cancer had resulted from how severely his lungs were scarred by the plague and that it was extremely aggressive. They had said that a month would be good but Jimmy was surprised by every hour that Tony was still alive. She looked into Tali's room where her daughter slept peacefully, completely unaware of how her world was about to flip upside down. Living on separate continents had been rough for her and Tony but unfortunately it was necessary. She had told Tony right away when she was pregnant with Tali and she had planned on giving birth to her daughter in the home where Tali and her had been born. She would then bring Tali home when she was about six months old and introduce her to her family. Then just before Tali was born, her Aunt Nettie was diagnosed with ALS. With no other relatives. It fell up on Ziva to care for her aunt. Until her health failed to the point where she could no longer even breathe on her own. When she had been moved into a nursing facility. Nettie had finally died last month. Ziva was planning to return but leaving was harder than she had anticipated. Tony had been planning on coming and making her come home but then he had gotten sick. Ziva knew that it was now time for her to come home. She walked down the hall to her office and hopped on her computer. She needed to get to Tony fast.
"I'm coming, Tony." Ziva whispered.
Tony woke up the next morning feeling better than he had in a long time. His head was still pounding and breathing was still near impossible but he actually felt like he could live. With the help of Nurse Rose he got into his wheelchair and went to the bathroom. Rose watched him lift himself into the toilet chair but left as soon as he was secure in the seat. She returned when he finished and helped him into the shower. She let him draw the curtain but remained in the bathroom while he bathed. It took three times longer than it once had but he did it on his own. Rose helped him dress himself and then helped him back into his wheelchair. He rolled himself down the hall into the kitchen. Jimmy sat at the table feeding Victoria.
"Tony! Did you come out here by yourself?!" Jimmy cried.
"Yeah I am feeling great." Tony replied.
"Awesome, are you up for breakfast?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah I think so. Nothing too big but I can eat." Tony replied.
Gibbs sat with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl etched on his face. He could not believe that Leon was making him see a psychologist, before he could be reunited with his son. Didn't Leon care how fragile Tony's health was? He swore to God if his son died before he could get to him. Deep down he knew that he was wrong for trying to force Tony into treatment. Especially considering if it were him who was sick. He would want out. Hell he would refuse treatment for even a treatable cancer. Because he wanted to be reunited with his family. He knew that he was being an asshole but he couldn't bury a second child. He would take whatever crap Rachel gave him and make his amends. Then he would come rushing back to his son's side. He would apologize profusely to Tony and hope to God that he would get some good time with his son.
"Good evening, Gibbs. I am sorry I am late. I had to tend to a glitch in my appointment book. Rachel apologized.
"It's alright" Gibbs assured.
"First off I am terribly sorry about Tony." Rachel apologized.
"He's not dead yet." Gibbs reminded.
"I know but Gibbs he is terminal and he does want to go out on his own terms." Rachel explained.
"I know that but I don't want to lose a second child." Gibbs replied.
"You will lose him either way but if he dies this way. At least you will get more good days with him. Days when he is well enough to be with you." Rachel explained.
"I know" Gibbs replied.
"Gibbs I know that you care for Tony and that you do want the best for him. I also know that his death will devastate you. That is why I am going to give you his new address." Rachel explained.
"You are?" Gibbs gasped.
"On one condition." Rachel replied.
"Of course anything." Gibbs replied.
"You have to stay in touch with my friend Dr. Trevor. She is a hospice psychologist. She treats both terminally ill patients and their loved ones. She is already helping Tony and the Palmer's. So you can't really avoid her. If you do I will be forced to have Leon bring you home." Rachel explained.
"I will talk to her." Gibbs promised.
"I will check in with Dr. Trevor." Rachel reminded.
"I know" Gibbs replied.
After breakfast Tony was feeling well enough to go down to the beach. Rose pushed Tony in a special wheelchair and Jimmy carried Tori in his arms. When they got to the water Tony wanted to sit in the sand and feel it between his toes. So Rose and Jimmy helped him out of the chair and sat him in the sand.
"This is nice." Tony commented.
"It is" Jimmy agreed.
"Did you tell, Ziva?" Tony asked.
"Yes" Jimmy replied.
"How did she take it?" Tony asked.
"She is devastated." Jimmy replied.
"Take care of Tali for me man. Tell her about me." Tony requested.
"Of course" Jimmy replied.
The afternoon was not as kind to Tony as the morning had been. He had gone for a nap after lunch. It was almost dinner time and he had not yet woken up. Breena had come home from work and was walking with Tori along the beach. Down the hall Rose was filling Jane in on Tony's day. While Jimmy walked up the hall. He stood outside of his friend's room and watched him sleep. Suddenly Tony bolted up in bed. Fearing that he was in pain. Jimmy rushed into the room and to Tony's side.
"Jimmy is that you?" Tony asked.
"Yeah it's me." Jimmy replied.
"Are Gibbs and Ziva here yet?" Tony asked.
"No Gibbs is still about and hour out and Ziva's plane doesn't arrive until morning." Jimmy replied.
"Good" Tony replied.
"Tony what's going on?" Jimmy asked.
"Does insulin show up on an autopsy?" Tony questioned.
"It shows up in the blood but it can be neglected if the patient is a diabetic. Unless the amount is alarmingly large. Why?" Jimmy explained.
"Because before this cancer gets to be too much. Before I go into the coma and everything. I want you to help me die but I don't want you to get in trouble." Tony explained.
"Oh" Jimmy replied.
"Will you do it?" Tony asked.
"If that's really what you want. Just tell me when you are ready." Jimmy replied.
A/N: Will Jimmy be able to follow through on his promise once Tony is ready to die? New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.
