Gibbs mind was spinning, but somehow he managed to stay calm and take Jen's hand in both of his. He just couldn't think of anything to say, all he could do was to look at her. She looked so fragile, so small and so scared.

"What?" he said. He didn't want this to be true, he hoped it wasn't, but the look on her face told him it was real, very real.

"I have cancer. Breast cancer" she explained "Jethro, I need you by my side, I don't want to have to go through this alone"

"But you will be ok, right Jenny? You are going to make it, aren't you?" Gibbs said with slight panic in his voice. He was terrified of the thought of losing her, maybe he wasn't in love with her, but he had been, and he still cared a hell of a lot about her.

"Honestly, I don't know" Jen admitted, which was extremely hard to say "It's bad, they might have discovered it too late, I don't know if I'll survive"

Gibbs pulled her towards him into a tight hug, and she cried quietly against his shoulder. He kissed her hair, and rubbed his hands up and down her back.

"Have you told anybody else?" he asked

"No, but I'm gonna have to. I won't be able to work for much longer, I'm gonna have to take the treatment. A new Director will probably take over pretty soon" she answered, lifting her head.

"I'm sorry"

"Never apologise, it's a sign of weakness" Jen said, and she managed to smile at him, but Gibbs just studied her with his eyes.

"Not between friends, Jen"

Jen sighed and pulled herself away from his embrace. They stayed silent for a couple of minutes, and then Gibbs said in a low voice "Are you scared?"

"I have a deadly decease, what do you think?" she answered. "Of course I'm scared, scared as hell. Will you stay by my side, Jethro?"

"Yes, Jenny. I will take care of you, you have my word on that" he promised her. He rose from the couch.

"I have to go now. But if something would happen, or if you just wanna talk, don't hesitate to call, day or night" he told her and she nodded. He walked towards the door, but stopped and turned when she called his name.

"Jethro, I thought I'd tell your team about this tomorrow…" she started, but before she could continue he finished the sentence for her.

"I'll be there to support you" he assured her and smiled at her before he said "Good night Jen"

"Good night Jethro" she said before he closed the door and left her alone in her office. She sighed and leaned back towards the couch. She closed her eyes.

Why her? How could this possibly happen? The only positive thing she could think of was that she had Gibbs by her side, and that she would spend the last time of her life in his company, not like a couple, since he obviously didn't feel like she did, but he would be there as her friend. She knew he would never leave her.

Gibbs had made his way home, he sat in his basement, though he wasn't working on his boat, he was thinking. He was thinking about Jen, and the fact that she was sick. He had promised to be there for her, and that he would be. He would watch over her, make sure she felt safe. He would never leave her side, because he had given her his word on that, and he would never betray that trust.

He knew now she was in love with him, but he doubted his own feelings. He loved her as a friend and a co-worker, but he wasn't sure he loved her the way he had in Paris, not sure he was in love with her. He was certain those feelings were gone, and would be gone forever. He suddenly came to think about that time, when she had just become Director, when he'd told her he'd missed her. But in what way had he missed her? As a lover or as a friend? At that moment, probably as a lover. But the more time he spent around her, the more he realized how much she had changed, and the feelings soon died. But he never stopped loving her as a friend. And now when she was sick, he'd be there for her. But he wasn't in love with her anymore.

Next morning, Jen had gotten in pretty early, trying to prepare herself for telling the rest of Gibbs' team her terrible news. She wasn't as nervous now like she had been the day before when she had told Gibbs, this time he would be there to support her. She checked her watch, everyone should be in by now, and she decided it was time. She took a deep breath and left her office. First she went over to the railing and looked down over the squad room, they were all there. She caught Gibbs' eyes, and he understood that now was the time. Jen walked down the stairs slowly, and met Gibbs at the end of the stairs.

"Should I call up Abby and Ducky?" he asked, Jen nodded. Ducky was an old friend, he should hear this too.

Gibbs put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"Are you sure about this" he asked with concern.

"Yes, I know your team better than any other team in this building, they are friends, they deserve to know" she replied and Gibbs nodded. He picked up his cell and called first Ducky and then Abby, telling them that they had to come up to the squad room right away.

"I here with you, Jen" he whispered as they walked closer to where the others were standing.

"I know" was her answer. They waited a little while for Abby and Ducky to come up. Jen was sitting in Gibbs' chair while waiting.

At last when they arrived, Gibbs told everyone to gather around his desk, him standing behind Jen, his hand on her shoulder.

"So, what's this about?" Tony asked "Don't tell me you two are getting married!"

"No, Tony, we're not. Are you done with your stupid comments?" Gibbs said, annoyed.

"I am more than done" Tony replied.

"Is something wrong?" Ziva asked, worried.

"Yes, Ziva, something's very wrong" Gibbs answered and hugged Jen's shoulder.

"What is it?" Abby asked, looking from Gibbs to Jen. "Director?"

"I probably won't be Director for much longer, so why don't you just call me Jenny?" she noticed how everyone's expression changed as she said that, they all looked very worried.

"Do you care to tell us why?" Ducky asked as he looked concerned for his old friend.

"I…I'm sick" was all she said. She couldn't bring herself to say the word 'cancer', not until she saw the confused looks on their faces, she knew she had to say it, but Gibbs beat her to it.

"She has cancer, breast cancer" he told them. Abby immediately rushed forward and threw her arms around Jen's neck.

"Oh my God" she said as she held Jen tightly.

"Are you going to be ok, Jenny?" Ducky asked. He was shocked, Jen was a good, nice person, he couldn't believe this was happening to her.

"I'm not so sure about that" she said sadly, and everyone gathered around her to hug her or pat her back. Gibbs moved away and let the team tell Jen what she probably needed to hear right now. Suddenly Ducky came up next to him.

"When did you find out?" he asked his friend as they both looked at the other from the window where they were standing.

"She told me last night" Gibbs answered as he saw Jen laugh at something Tony had just said.

"She'll make it, Jethro. Jenny is strong, and she is very stubborn, just like you. But it depends on how much it has already spread, the sooner they discover it, the better" Ducky said, trying to give Gibbs at least some comfort.

"Duck, she told me her doctors said it was bad, that they might have discovered it too late" Gibbs said, sounding both tired and sad.

"Good lord, if that's to be the case, we might need a miracle to get our Jenny back healthy" with those words Ducky walked back to the others to say good bye to Jen before he returned to autopsy.

Gibbs continued to study Jen from where he was standing, until she excused herself and walked over to him, away from the others.

"Thanks, for helping me out" she thanked him. "You look sad" she observed, and the smile she had worn disappeared.

"I'm just worried about you, that's all"

"You're not in love with me, are you Jethro?" she didn't look sad, not even surprised, just kind of blank, like if she was trying to hide how she really felt about this, but not completely succeeding.

"I don't know. No, I guess. But I love you as a friend" he admitted to her, and she made a small smile.

"Thank you"

Jen left NCIS a week later; she was getting her first treatment against the cancer. The first day without Jen was also a day without Gibbs. And the following days he could disappear for a few hours here and there, but everyone knew where to find him. He was at the hospital with Jen. Either because she had called him, or just because he wanted to check up on her. The new Director understood, and he let Gibbs do what he wanted, as long as he got his job done.

This continued for a few months, after a while he'd disappear more often, simply because he was worrying himself sick over her. Gibbs spent every night at the hospital, sitting by her side. He spent every weekend in her room, talking with her, or just watching her sleep. The others visited often too.

Jen appeared to be doing better; maybe she would survive this, against all odds.

Btw, this takes place in season 4, just so you know. Thank you for reading and I will post the next chapter asap, it will probably be a story of three chapters. Please leave me a review!!