It was time, the thing Gibbs dreaded most was about to happen. Leyla was going to die. He didn't want her to suffer but he didn't want her to go this soon either. He told the nurse he would be there as soon as he picked Amira up from school. Amira the poor little girl was going to be an orphan. He wanted to get her from school and take her to Disney World, the circus, or anywhere that wasn't the hospital to say goodbye to her mother. He forced himself to get off the couch and go upstairs. He was glad that Sadie wasn't around. She was too young to have to deal with any of this. Tony and him had decided just to tell Sadie that Amira's mom had gotten really sick and died, leaving out the cancer details. It was hard enough having to explain everything to Amira and being Leyla's daughter she needed to tell the truth. He opened the door to Tony and Ziver's room. They were lying curled up together on the bed.

"We were spooning!" Tony cried.

"He doesn't have to know that." Ziva groaned.

"It's obvious and I don't care." Gibbs replied.

"What are you doing up here?" Tony questioned.

"I feel so loved." Gibbs replied.

"I just figured you'd be building something for Amira." Tony replied.

"The hospital called, Leyla is dying." Gibbs replied.

"Already? They said she had more time." Tony questioned.

"She was really sick last night and took a bad turn. I really have to go and get Amira so we can say goodbye. Tony, I set Jack's old life alert up for Ziver. So if I am not back in time to pick up Sadie. You should be OK to leave her." Gibbs explained.

"Alright" Tony replied.

Jimmy was in the middle of assisting Ducky with an autopsy. When he received a text from Tony asking if he could collect Sadie from daycare that afternoon. Apparently Gibbs had some emergency come up and Tony was going for moral support. He texted Tony back and told him that he would be happy to pick both girls up. As long as Tony kept Sadie the following Monday when he had a doctor's appointment.

"Who were you texting Mr. Palmer?" Ducky asked.

"Tony" Jimmy replied.

"Anthony? Is everything alright with him?" Ducky questioned.

"Yeah, Gibbs had an emergency and so Tony needs me to get Sadie." Jimmy explained.

"When?" Ducky asked.

"When I get Emma." Jimmy replied.

"Oh dear, Leyla must be in her final hours." Ducky sighed.

"Poor Amira." Jimmy replied.

"Yes it is always tragic when a child is left orphaned." Ducky agreed.

"It is that is why I am glad that I could get into the doctors so soon." Jimmy replied.

"Mr. Palmer are you unwell?" Ducky questioned.

"Not really. I just remember my mom's diabetes got a lot worse after my dad died." Jimmy replied.

"Have you noticed any changes?" Ducky asked.

"Not really but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Especially since the disease ended up killing both my parents." Jimmy replied.

"I am sure that everything will be just fine but I am glad you are getting yourself checked before you have an actual emergency." Ducky assured.

Gibbs adjusted his mirror so he could see Amira in the backseat. The little girl was pushed against the back driver's side door. She knew what was happening as soon as she walked into the front office at school. She instantly burst into tears and he had picked her up and hugged her until she calmed down enough to go out to the car. She wasn't crying anymore but she looked like she had just found out the world was about to end but to her it probably was. Amira had always been a mamma's girl. With her father dying when she was so young and now her mother was about to die. She was going to have lost both her parents before she even hit double digits.

"Are you sure I will be able to see her?" Amira asked.

"Yeah they put her in a special room. So we can take as long as we need to say goodbye." Gibbs replied.

"Will she be able to talk to me?" Amira asked.

"Probably not but she will be able to hear you." Gibbs replied.

"I wanted her to tell me she loved me one more time." Amira replied.

"I know it's not the same but the last time she talked to me. She said that I should tell you that I love you. I did as soon as I got home but I thought you should here it again." Gibbs replied.

Gibbs held a sobbing Amira in his arms. He knew that Leyla could hear them and he really should get Amira to stop crying but he knew if he said anything they would both be in tears. He reached over and wiped Amira's face, then hugged her even tighter.

"Is there anything you would like to say?" Gibbs asked.

"I love you, mommy." Amira replied.

"Anything else?" Gibbs asked.

"I can't. I can't be in here anymore." Amira confessed.

"OK. I will call somebody to take you to the waiting room." Gibbs replied.

Gibbs was relieved that Amira didn't want to be in the room anymore. He was scared to death of what would happen if she was in there when Leyla died. A nurse came to the room and took Amira out to the waiting room. She had brought a volunteer from the pediatric ward to come and wait with Amira until Gibbs was ready to go. The door closed behind the three of them and Gibbs rested one hand on Leyla's forehead and grabbed her hand with the other. Enough time had passed for Amira to get down the hall with her caretakers. When it happened. He knew Leyla was gone before the heart monitor confirmed his fears. Because her hand went completely limp in his. He pulled away and just looked at her cooling body. He just wanted to close his eyes and this would all be a bad dream. She was gone taking with her another little piece of Mike and a huge chunk of Amira's innocence. He leaned over the bed, buried his face in her neck and chest, and wept.

"Don't worry Leyla. I will take good care of her." Gibbs sobbed.

A/N: At least Amira got to say goodbye even though Leyla couldn't say it back. Tony is going to be there to comfort both Amira and Tony in chapter 72. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.