Disclaimer is on chapter one.
A/N: Sorry gang it was so long in updating. I'm having major computer issues with the laptop and so I've had to move myself up to the main desktop (which isn't mine, therefore not always accessible) in order to get online and to write. So with that I bring you chapter six. Enjoy and hopefully another chapter coming shortly. Reviews always welcome dark rolling sea.

Chapter Six

California

Ann quickly made her way towards Dr. Nash's office as Gibbs continued to watch Jeb in the backseat. Kylie was clutching the seat tightly as she peered at Jeb. Gibbs looked up at her and saw her face was devoid of color and her eyes had a glassy hint to them. He reached out and put a gentle hand on her shoulder and it seemed to jolt her from wherever she had gone. He smiled and she nodded and turned back towards the front of the car.

Jeb sat back against the seat, his legs under him now as he had regained some strength. He fought with his brain to produce the memories of the run and just what had happened. Slowly he began to piece it together. Running, quickening the pace, the dizziness closing in on him, his eyes playing tricks on him, drunk with the dizziness of his brain, his heart rate spiking, his breath coming in gasps, his legs going numb, checking to make sure they were moving, the collapse, the feeling of helplessness, the feeling of loss of control. Nothing.

Jeb looked out the window and started to feel the panic again, maybe there was something seriously wrong with him. This wasn't just going to go away he thought suddenly and it scared him. Was he ready to go through this again? Was he ready for something to be seriously wrong with him? His eyes shifted to Kylie. His heart felt crushed. Damn it. Was she ready to handle something? Was she strong enough to go through this with him? Of course she was he said. She was there for the accident recovery. He couldn't doubt her love for him. That thought gave him a lift, but was it enough?

He looked then at his father. He saw the underline of fear and anger in his eyes. Gibbs continued to check Jeb's vitals about every 30 seconds and Jeb didn't disagree. He let him do it. As he stared at his father his thoughts invaded again. How strong was his father? Could he go through this and come out ok? Two sons, one already gone, how much more could he handle?

Then the shock hit him and he felt sick again. But this time not from what ever was wrong with him. Hunter. How could Hunter deal with something? Jeb knew now that he had to fight no matter what happening to him he could not go down without the fight of his life. He knew that he wasn't as strong as he had been anymore; the accident had wiped him out for a while. He was still only about eighty percent, but he would let that twenty percent take him.

The car had a deathly silence to it as they neared the doctor's office. Jeb was starting to feel better now and his strength was returning. Finally they pulled into the parking lot and everyone scrambled out and meant to help Jeb but he pushed ahead of all of them and walked away from the car under his own power. No matter what happened he had to appear strong…for them.

He walked into the waiting area and Dr. Nash was standing there anxiously waiting for them. He saw Jeb come in and hurried over to him. Gibbs came in next and quickly came up next to Jeb. Ann and Kylie came in and stood slightly back from the group.

"Jethro, so good to see you again, wish it were under better circumstances," Dr. Peter Nash said while extending his hand to Gibbs. Gibbs reached out and took his hand,

"Likewise, Peter," he replied softly.

"Now, Jeb, let's go into the exam room so we can talk," Dr. Nash said putting an arm around Jeb's shoulder and guiding him towards the hallway. They disappeared through a door and Gibbs sank heavily into a chair and sighed. Ann sat softly and clenched her hands in her lap. Kylie paced by the window like a nervous tiger. And they waited.

"Tell me, Jeb, what's been going on. Kylie was quite upset when she called in," Dr. Nash said when they were in the exam room. Jeb looked down for a moment before looking the doctor in the eye.

"Been feeling different lately I guess," Jeb began, trying to put everything in order in his brain. He was having trouble concentrating at the moment. "Been getting headaches, and my vision is messing up, dizziness, vomiting lately. I haven't been all that hungry either. There's been a tremor in my left arm for a little while now, this morning my legs went numb while I was running and I collapsed. I lost coherency but I'm pretty sure I never lost consciousness. My hear rate is irregular, spiking up to 120 beats a minute sometimes, and then coming down to 68 beats a minute at other times. Breathing can be screwy at times."

"Ok, and is there a pattern as to when these symptoms happen?"

"Usually during my morning runs, I get the shortness of breath, the wicked heart rate, the numbness and tremors, the headaches come all the time though, not just when I'm running. The vomiting usually happens a couple hours after I've eaten something, but it's not every time, and sometimes it surprises me. Loss of appetite is recent."

"Describe the headaches to me," Dr. Nash said quietly. Jeb looked at him a moment, seeing the concern in the doctor's eyes before continuing. He didn't like the look Dr. Nash was giving.

"They start here," Jeb said as he pointed to his left temple. "Then they spread across to my other temple and then from there it travels down to the back of my head and stops here," Jeb continued pointing to the base of his skull at the end. Dr. Nash nodded and then pulled a stool out of the corner of the room and wheeled it in front of Jeb. He sat down slowly and then looked up at Jeb. Jeb read the emotion of the doctor on his face and braced for the news. He knew this wasn't going to be something easy.

"Ok, Jeb. These symptoms could mean any number of things. Now since I've known you a long time now and gone through hell with you I think I need to be straight forward and honest with you. The news I'm about to give you isn't going to be pleasant, Jeb."

"I can handle it, Doc."

"There is a long list of possibilities and I'll have to draw blood and run test to find anything out but your symptoms could be cancer. Or it could be a brain tumor, and a nervous system disorder. Has there been any coughing involved?"

"No, none at all," Jeb replied shaking his head.

"Ok, then that most likely rules out TB."

"Tuberculosis?"

"Yes, but with no coughing it's quite likely that you do not have that. But these other's I've mention are possible. Now it could also just be a viral infection. I want to take some blood today and run some tests. So I'm going to have the nurse come in here and take blood. Sit tight," Dr. Nash said and then laid a gentle hand on Jeb's shoulder. The boy only nodded staring at the floor.

Jeb felt heavy. He felt sick in his heart. This was going to be tough he knew it. His brain was on overdrive now as it had fully recovered from the episode only half an hour ago. The thoughts were running so fast he was barely registering them before the next one blindsided the previous one.

You're going to die. No I am NOT. This is going to be hell on the family. We are strong we can handle this. It's cancer. Its not it is just a viral infection you wait and see. I already know and so do you. It's something more serious. You're going to DIE. No I refuse. I will not die.

His thoughts were interrupted when someone entered the room. Jeb glanced up quickly to see the nurse coming in. She smiled at him but he didn't return it. He couldn't even force himself to smile. She came up beside him and asked him to hold out his left arm. He did and she put a tight rubber band around his arm just above the elbow. She then tapped on his vein on the lower part of his arm just below the elbow. The vein came into view and she stuck a needle into it. The tube attached to the needle started to fill with a dark maroon colored substance that was his blood. That is your future his brain thought as the nurse pulled the needle back and then immediately placed a cotton ball over the hole. She then made him bend his elbow to hold the cotton ball in place. He gave her a small smile and she left the room.

Jeb sat silently in the room waiting. He was drained of everything. He hoped this was all a dream. His thoughts came back to Hunter again. Hunter was off attending school right now. He didn't know his uncle was at the doctor. He didn't know that his uncle could be dying. He didn't know his uncle was even sick. How would he explain to him?

He felt his heart grow heavy. He felt a depression coming over him. His brain screamed at him to wake up a moment before it was too late and he fought. No, I won't give into this; I won't let this beat me.

Dr. Nash came back into the room and sat down in front of him again. He waited a beat then looked at Jeb. He smiled then began to speak.

"Jeb, I know this is going to be tough, but it takes about a week to get the results back. You'll need to come in next Monday and I'll have the results of the blood tests then."

"All right," Jeb said. A week. An entire week without knowing. This is going to be the toughest week.

"You want me to go out there with you and help you tell your family?" Dr. Nash asked. Jeb looked at the floor a moment and pondered he doctor's request. He decided it would be best that way.

"Yeah, Doc, if you don't mind. I don't know that I could tell them," Jeb said, holding back the tears in his eyes. He didn't know how much more trauma he could endure in his life.

Dr. Nash nodded and stood up. He put a calming hand on Jeb's shoulder and the boy rose and they left the exam room. Jeb walked out slowly, behind Dr. Nash as they came back to the waiting room. Gibbs looked up when he saw them coming out and sprang to his feet. Ann was next to him in an instant and Kylie was still hanging back. Jeb motioned for her to join them and she reluctantly did.

"Jethro, Ann, and Kylie, Jeb asked that I speak with you. He doesn't know that he could tell you everything we discussed and would like me to inform you of his condition," Dr. Nash began. Gibbs looked curiously at Jeb, then back to the doctor. Jeb stared at the floor.

"What's the problem, Peter?" Gibbs asked his throat suddenly dry.

"Now, this is inconclusive and I want you to know no tests have been run as of yet. We have taken blood and tests will be run and we'll know the results next Monday," Dr. Nash began. Gibbs heart began to ache more and more with each word. His eyes started to fill but he would be strong, no tears would be shed here. "It is possible, with the symptoms that he described to me, that Jeb has any number of aliments. Some of those, and I don't mean to scare you but, they include forms of cancer, brain tumors, tuberculosis, but with no coughing that one not so likely, and there are several other reasons for his condition as well like any number of viral infections he could have. We'll know more and can go from there when we get his blood tests back next week."

"A week?" Ann asked quietly. The tears were about to fall from her eyes as she struggled to comprehend the news she just received. She was losing anther son. She tried to remain strong but the tears slipped down her cheeks. The other twin was going to die too. She fought hard to maintain control. Please God don't take another baby from me. Finally she just looked at the floor.

Jeb couldn't look at any of them. His mother was silently crying, Kylie had gone back to the window and Gibbs was staring at the wall. Dr. Nash was done and he silently made his way out of the middle of the crowd. He patted Jeb on the shoulder as he passed by him and then was quickly gone. Jeb finally looked up at his father.

"Dad, I…" Jeb started but couldn't finish. His throat was tight. He saw the tears in his father's eyes and the ones falling from his mother's and he sucked in a deep breath and swallowed hard to hold back his own insecurities.

"Come here," Gibbs said softly and pulled Jeb to him. He held him tight and the boy let go and cried into his father's shoulder. He didn't care anymore he just wanted it to be happening to someone else. Finally Jeb pushed back and wiped at his face. Ann and Kylie were both standing by the window now and he looked up at Gibbs.

"How am I gonna tell Hunter?" he whispered and almost lost control of the dam on his tears again. Gibbs just shook his head. He had no idea.

Washington DC

Kate was still at work and wondering why Gibbs had not called her yet. It was getting later in the afternoon and she still had that feeling that something was wrong. She sighed. She hadn't gotten much of anything done at work. She was now thinking of taking vacation time and doing something on her own just so she wouldn't be so distracted by Gibbs being gone. She stared at his empty desk and sighed. She missed him...a lot.

TBC...