After a rough night Shane stabilized slightly but still remained critical. Jethro and Amy spent another morning clinging to each other. As they kept vigil over Shane's bed. There had been moments during the previous night. Where they were sure that it was the end. Liam and Emma would be coming by in the afternoon and Emma Lou would be coming after she got back from escorting Maynard to a doctor's appointment. The doctors still could not promise that this was not the end.


Amy found herself lingering in front of the hospital's vending machine. With her previous pregnancies she had at least attempted to be an Earth mother on an all natural diet. It had worked with the pregnancies that had ended in miscarriage and at first with Emma. Around the second trimester the Franks blood made itself known and Emma insisted that she eat a huge amount of meat every day. With this pregnancy there wasn't even the attempt at an all natural, organic, uber healthy, hipster diet. With this pregnancy her primary diet was hospital food and half cold leftovers hastily grabbed from the fridge. She never imagined that she would be fighting cancer alongside a three year old and trying to maintain a healthy pregnancy. So far everything was going well but every flutter still caused her heart to drop. The fear of a miscarriage had never been worse. The stress was unimaginable and she just wanted all of her babies to be safe.

"Are you OK?" An Elderly woman asked.

"Yes" Amy lied, pressing a random button, grabbing her soup cup, and fleeing the room.


The wind pounded Jethro's face as he stood in front of the grave. As always Tony's grave was decorated with beautiful flowers. So many people had adored his boy. Tears were falling from his eyes and it gave everything a sparkly appearance. It was almost beautiful in some tragic way. He was still reeling from the events in the chapel and Tony was the only one who could help. Tony was a better counselor than any religious official, shrink, social worker, or appointed whatever. Tony had always come through for him in life and too Jethro it made sense. That he would come through in death as well. He fell to the ground on his knees. Not the best decision for a man of his age but now was not a time for thinking clearly. He reached for the grave and ran his hand over the smooth stone. In this moment of bleakness he truly understood his boy's decision. Tony had gone so deep into his grief that there truly was no light. It was the way Jethro had felt after losing Shannon and Kelly, and it was the way he would feel if Shane did not come through this disease. In that moment the flood gates broke open and everything became a massive blur of grief.

"Pl...please son. You...you have to spare Shane. I know you have the ability. Please if you have to just take me instead. I am nothing compared to that sweet angel. Oh Tony my boy. Last night was so horrible. Amy and the kids are falling apart and he is so miserable. Please just spare him. Tony my boy. I miss you so much. Please I can't lose another baby. Oh Tony I miss you more than you can understand. I miss you. Don't take him too. Tony please. Please Tony. Oh please, please Tony! Just help Shane. I can't go on without him. I love you son and have done so much for you. Please just do this one thing for me. It's all I will ever ask." Jethro pleaded through his barrage of tears.


Liam's knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. His little sisters were in the backseat. Emma was upset about having to miss a scout meeting and Laura was asking for Shane. He was just trying to hold everything together. The original plan was to come after Emma's meeting but then Amy had called. Shane's condition had taken a rapid downturn and they were sure the end was near. Emma was not being petty with her anger about missing the meeting. He hadn't exactly told the girls the severity of their brother's condition. He just didn't have the heart to break the news to them. He had wanted to be a doctor but now he knew he could never do that. How on Earth were you supposed to tell a little kid their three year old brother was dying? How were you supposed to tell anyone that a three year old was dying? Why on Earth did any three year old child had to die?

"Are you OK, Liam?" Emma asked.

"I am fine but it's just. Shane is a lot more sick than I said." Liam explained.

"How sick is he then? He's already in the hospital." Emma remarked.

"Emma they I mean the doctors. They think that Shane might be dying." Liam explained.

"What do you mean?" Emma asked.

"His cancer has gotten really bad and he may not be strong enough to get better. I am sorry." Liam explained.

"Oh" Emma replied.


Emma could not believe what she had just heard. She could not believe that Shane may be dying. She knew that he was very sick but she could never imagine that he would be sick enough to die. She felt terrible for getting so angry about all this. She thought everybody was making too much of a fuss. After all everybody got sick sometimes. She could have never imagined that her baby brother would be dying.

"Don't be scared Emma. Shane might just beat the odds." Liam assured.

"And if he doesn't?" Emma asked.

"Then we will get through it together." Liam assured.


Laura looked nervously around Shane's hospital room. They had told her upon arriving that Shane may not get better. To make things worse he was so sick that he could not wake up. Meaning that she could not even say goodbye to him. She had loved him so much and now she may not even get the chance to say goodbye. What was worse. Was that if Shane died, she would truly be alone in this world. She had her new family but Shane was the only one who truly understood her. Well her Uncle Tony had too but he was gone now. Just like Shane may soon be as well.

"Come on Laura. We have to go." Liam signed to her.

"Why?" Laura asked.

"They have to run some tests on Shane. We have to get going. We can come back later with Grandma Emma." Liam explained.

"Alright" Laura replied, reluctantly.


Jethro and Amy clung to each other, their hearts racing from terror. They were running scans to determine if the cancer had spread. If it had that was it, there was nothing more they would be able to do for him. Treatment would be stopped and the only goal of any medical care would be to keep him comfortable. The minutes turned to hours and the hours turned to the next day. By this time Shane was showing signs of improvement but was still weak. His ultimate fate still uncertain the family had gathered around Shane's bed. At long last a doctor came into the room to give them the long awaited news.

"Mr and Mrs. Gibbs. Something has happened." Dr. Cruise said nervously.

"How bad is it?" Jethro asked.

"It's actually good news." Dr. Cruise replied.

"Is Shane now eligible for the trial?" Amy asked.

"He is not a candidate." Dr. Cruise replied.

"Than how is this good news?" Jethro demanded.

"He is not eligible. Because he is No Evidence of Disease." Dr. Cruise replied.

"Are you saying?" Amy asked.

"I am. Shane is cured from cancer at least for now." Dr. Cruise replied.


A/N: Tony always did come through for Jethro in life. Makes sense he would do the same in death. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.