Eunice left Ducky alone on the porch. Feeling simultaneously heart-broken and numb. He knew that Jimmy was her son and in the end she decided what happened to him but it didn't make it any easier. He had fallen in love with Jimmy over the past few weeks and now he was going to be ripped away from him. Heavy heavyhearted he turned into the house and closed the door. He switched off the porch light and walked down the hall. He opened the door to Jimmy's room. The child was fast asleep. Blissfully unaware that when he awoke. He would be told that his mother was dying and he was going to be forced to move yet again. He found himself moving closer to Jimmy's bed until he was sitting on the edge gently stroking Jimmy's hair. Tears were freely falling down his cheeks.

"Ducky?" Jimmy asked tiredly.

"Yes Jimmy? What do you need, son?" Ducky asked.

"What's wrong?" Jimmy questioned.

"I just got some bad news that's all." Ducky replied.

"What bad news?" Jimmy asked.

"Jimmy, your mother came by earlier." Ducky said.

"What did she want? Is she getting better?" Jimmy asked hopefully.

"No I am afraid not, actually she is dying." Ducky explained.

"No" Jimmy whimpered.

"I am so so sorry." Ducky replied.

"At least I will get to stay with you forever." Jimmy said.

"Actually I am afraid that I have more bad news." Ducky replied.

"What are you sick too?" Jimmy asked.

"I am well but your mother has decided that she wants you to stay with her for the remaining few weeks of her life and after she goes. She wants you to be cared for by her cousin." Ducky explained.

"No! I don't want to leave you!" Jimmy cried.

"I know Jimmy and I don't want you to leave me but we do not have any choice." Ducky explained.


Gibbs came up the stairs from the basement. It was late at night and he was expecting to be the only one left awake. He had helped Rachel tuck the kids in two hours ago and Rachel had seemed really tired when he went downstairs. He was expecting to find her asleep on the bed with the covers half over her. Instead much to his surprise he found her sitting at the kitchen table, holding her head in her hands, hunched over a pile of papers. Gibbs walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulders. Rachel looked up at him, she had tears in her eyes and she looked like she had been to hell and back. He tried to pull the papers away from her but she grabbed them back and slapped him on the hand.

"What's wrong?" Gibbs asked.

"Tony's papers from the trial." Rachel replied.

"Definitely not for the faint of heart." Gibbs commented.

"I thought he hated me but he is so broken. I am surprised he trusts anybody." Rachel explained.

"How could you think he hates you?" Gibbs questioned.

"He was just so cold, but he is so broken." Rachel replied.

"This is really heavy stuff Rach. I think it would be best if you went to bed and finished in the morning." Gibbs said taking the papers from Rachel.

"Yeah your right." Rachel replied.


Tony woke up with a start. He looked around the room sweat was blurring his eyes but he could tell that he was alone. He placed his hands on his injured leg. Suddenly he was in a ton of pain. Even worse than when the injury first happened. He let out a sharp cry of pain. The door flung open and Rachel raced in followed by Gibbs. immediately both parents were by his side. Rachel had gotten him his medicine and a glass of water and Gibbs had placed his hand on his forehead. He immediately pulled his hand back, jumped up, ran to the master bathroom and, returned moments later with the thermometer. He quickly forced it under Tony's tongue. Thirty seconds later the device beeped and Gibbs removed it from his son's mouth.

"Oh My God!" Gibbs gasped.

"What is it Jethro?" Rachel asked.

"One hundred and five" Gibbs replied.

"That's bad." Rachel replied.

"I know we have to take him to the hospital right away." Gibbs replied.

"Gibbs? Rachel? What is going on? I really hurt." Tony asked.

"Tony I don't want to scare you but you are running a really high fever and you have to go to the hospital." Gibbs calmly explained.

"No! I don't want to go to the hospital!" Tony cried.

"I know you are scared buddy but this could be really serious and you need to get it checked out right away." Gibbs explained.

"No! I don't want to go!" Tony protested.

"I don't want you to go to the hospital either Tony but you are really sick and if you don't go you will not get better and we need you." Rachel explained.

"You and Gibbs won't leave me right?" Tony asked.

"We will be by your side as long as you need us." Gibbs promised.

"OK" Tony sighed.


Once they had Tony calmed down, Gibbs got Jack up and let him know what was going on. The oldest Gibbs male agreed to stay with Abby and Timmy and to take shifts with Tony at the hospital so that Gibbs and Rachel could have time with the other kids and get some rest without feeling guilty. Rachel dropped Gibbs and Tony off at the front entrance and then went to look for a parking space. Gibbs ran to the reception desk. Holding Tony in a death grip.

"May I help you sir?" The receptionist asked.

"My son has a severely broken leg and spiked a fever tonight!" Gibbs explained.

"OK take these forms and we will have somebody with you as soon as possible." The receptionist replied.


A/N: What is wrong with Tony? Just a fever or did he develop an infection? New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.