It had been a few years. Jackson was 16, Paula and Anthony was 10. Paula and Anthony were still great friends they did everything together. Abby and McGee had a little six year old her name was Heather Sarah McGee who was always lovely to be around she was like her mother she cheered everyone up.
One day the kids had off of school and had come to the office with everyone. Paula and Anthony were downstairs with Ducky talking about their plans for this weekend and how they were planning a sleepover. Jackson was upstairs playing with Heather they were running around the bullpen. We smiled watching them. Just than Ducky came up bringing Paula and Anthony with him.
"These two never shut up do they?" He asked laughing as he stood in front of us.
I nodded "yeah Duck it's worse at home..." He just laughed and nodded.
We were all gathered in the bullpen when Jen walked in. She had gone to the doctors earlier because she had thought something was up. She came back now and walked over towards me I hugged her watching her.
"Everything alright Jen?" I asked watching her as she looked up at me and nodded.
"They took some test they'll get back to me as soon as they figure things out.."
We were all sitting there talking when Jen's cell rang. She stepped off to the side as she answered it. After a few minutes we watched as her body language changed. Next thing we knew her cell dropped to the floor. She looked towards us as she bursted into tears. She had turned to take off but I was faster and grabbed her pulling her into my side as I held her close running my hand up and down her back.
"Jen? What's wrong?" I said as I hugged her tightly. "Were they the test results?" When she nodded I glanced towards the team who quickly came over. "Tell us Jen we'll be here for you no matter what."
"C-c-cancer... I've got cancer Jethro..." I hugged her closer as the team came in hugging us as well.
"Jen I know that you're scared and I am too but I promise you'll never be alone, not only do you have me but you have the team as well..." She nodded as she continued to hug me tightly.
"Jen look at me."
She looked up at me.
"I'm gonna love you through this.." I said gently kissing her forehead
She dropped the phone and burst into tears
The doctor just confirmed her fears
Her husband held it in and held her tight
Cancer don't discriminate or care if you're just 38
With three kids who need you in their lives
He said, "I know that you're afraid and I am, too
But you'll never be alone, I promise you"
When you're weak, I'll be strong
When you let go, I'll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I'll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can't take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I'm gonna love you through it.
We stood there hugging until a sound from the kids broke us apart everyone but me and Jen let go as they looked towards the kids. Abby, Tony, Kate, Ziva and McGee took the kids away while Ducky stayed behind with me. I helped Jen sit down in my chair as I looked towards her.
"Jen I promise i'll be here with you every step of the way." I said gently placing my hand under her chin lifting her chin up so she was looking at me. She nodded as we sat there looking towards each other i gently moved my hand as I wiped away the tears that ran down her cheek.
"Jennifer? Did they say anything about treatment?" Ducky asked as he kneeled beside me looking towards Jen.
"Yeah... He said the earliest he could get me in is next month.. but there is no guarantee that it will help..." She said as the tears started flowing down her cheek again. I quickly hugged her once again.
"You gonna do it?" I asked softly and she nodded that was enough for me. We sat on the floor behind my desk I was hugging her close that was when the rest of the team came back, Jackson and Paula came over and hugged us.
"Mommy don't cry.." Paula said softly as she watched us. Jen smiled as she reached over pulling Paula into a hug she than looked around for Jackson finding him she pulled him into a hug as well. I looked at the team who nodded knowing what I was thinking.
We took the kids home, fed them and put them to bed. We were both sitting on the couch she was laying there with her head on my lap. I ran my hand through her hair as I watched her.
"Jen I promise i'll stay beside you the entire time I'm not gonna leave your side. Tony agreed to take care of the team while I stayed with you." She looked up at me as she smiled weakly.
"You don't have to do that for me Jethro... I'll be alright.." I could tell she really wasn't convinced herself but she was trying to stay strong for me. Before I could say anything else she got up and disappeared into the bathroom. I got up and followed her. She was kneeled over the toilet carefully I held back her hair as she threw up. As she finished she put her hair up so it was out of her face before she puked once again. I got up and called Ducky.
"Ducky? I need you to come over..."
"What's wrong Jethro?" He probably knew something was up by the tone of my voice.
"It's Jen.. She's puking..puking up blood..." I heard the silence on the other end before he spoke.
"I'm on my way Jethro.." He said before hanging up. I made my way back over to Jen rubbing her back.
The next few weeks were hard. During the day Jen would be with at least one member of the team sometimes two. Nights were spent in the bathroom puking, sometimes it was blood sometimes it was just plain puke. Finally the day came Jen sat silently in the car as I drove her to the hospital. I reached over and grabbed her hand gently running my fingers over her hand. She looked towards me and smiled weakly. After walking inside I kissed her forehead and told her i'd be here when she got out of surgery, she nodded and hugged me.
"I love you Jethro..."
"Love you too Jen. I'll see you soon." I said as I watched them take her off to get ready for surgery. I than went and sat in the waiting room where I would start my very long wait..
She made it through the surgery fine
They said they caught it just in time
But they had to take more than they planned
Now it's forced smiles and baggy shirts
To hide what the cancer took from her
But she just wants to feel like a woman again
She said, "I don't think I can do this anymore"
He took her in his arms and said "That's what my love is for"
When you're weak, I'll be strong
When you let go, I'll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I'll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can't take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I'm gonna love you through it.
I was sitting in the waiting room with Paula asleep on my lap and Jackson beside me sleeping in the chair. The rest of the team had just walked in and sat beside me. Ducky took Paula from me and sat down with her, I looked towards the others. Ziva had a sleeping Anthony and Abby had a sleeping Heather. The kids had woken up after awhile and were playing together, just than the doctor came out.
"Family of Jennifer Gibbs" Everyone stood up at this even the kids he nodded as he looked towards me. "You came in with her so I take it your her husband. Well she made it through the surgery fine, we caught it just in time if it was any later she wouldn't have made it. We had to take more than we planned. " I nodded and thanked him.
We all made our way down to Jenny's room, standing outside the door we all starred at the figured that laid in front of them. There was Jen she was pale she looked lifeless and fragile. Carefully I sat beside her and took her hand. The family stood watching from the other side of the glass as I sat there, Paula and Jackson pulled away from the others and made their way towards their mothers side where they stood looking towards her.
A few weeks had passed and Jen was home where she belonged. She wore forced smiles and baggy clothes a lot to hide what was taken from her. It took about a month before she finally came back into work and when she did she remained hidden in her office. I'd watch her from my desk often she never stood along the railing watching us, she never wore heels anymore, her smiles were always forced and her clothes were always baggy. I wasn't the only one who noticed when the team saw her they'd look towards me than back towards her. Other agencies had heard about it and would send gifts which Jenny accepted most of them went to the children anyway since it was candies or goodies. One evening I was sitting at my desk my team had gone to talk to Ducky, Jen came and stood in front of me.
"Jen? Everything okay?"
" I don't think I can do this anymore Jethro.." she said glancing down towards the ground.
"That's what i'm here for. To help you." I said as I pulled her into a hug she smiled as she hugged me back.
"I don't know how you can live with the fact that i'll be leaving you in a few years..." I looked up at her at that as I shook my head.
"Don't you say that. You'll live long, just like me, we'll watch the kids graduate, we'll watch them get married, we'll watch them have a family of their own. We will do all those things, together." I said as I pulled her to me holding her close.
"I did watch some of my kids grow up, I did watch them get married and have families of their own. I'm watching their kids grow up as well." I nodded knowing that she was talking about the team.
"I promise you you'll see Jasper soon enough, but right now Jackson and Paula need you. Don't only hold on for me Jen hold on for them too." She nodded as she looked towards me.
"Could we go home? It's been a very long day." I nodded as I helped her gather her things before making my way towards the elevator. I smiled as the team got off before entering with Jen. I winked at them as the elevator closed, I knew what they had plan and I was doing my part now, by taking Jen home.
And when this road gets too long
I'll be the rock you lean on
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I'm gonna love you through it.
I'm gonna love you through it.
While the team prepared for the party back at the office Jen laid in bed asleep I sat in the chair just watching her I couldn't help but smile as I watched her. After awhile I laid beside her holding her close so she knew I wasn't going to leave her.
"I'm gonna love you through this Jen..."
