Cassie sat there for awhile longer and another person she knew was walking down the street. She was not expecting to see her walking towards her.
"Jenny?!" said Cass
"Cassie Gibbs, what…I thought you were in Mexico,"
"I was I just got home yesterday. What are you doing?"
"I'm on my way into work. I had a meeting this morning."
"Where are you working at?'
"Your Dad didn't tell you?" she said with a slight laugh in her voice.
"Tell me what?"
"I'm the director of NCIS,"
"What?!"
"Yeah, I started earlier this summer. I'm surprised Jethro didn't mention it, but he always has his reasons. How have you been?"
"Pretty good. Trying to decide what I want to do in the next coming months."
"Jethro said you were going to Harvard?"
"Yeah, starting to second guess that decision."
"Anything I can help with?"
"Yeah, would you try and explain to my Dad that I didn't apply to FLETC to upset him."
"You applied to FLETC?"
"Yeah, I mean just to see what I would end up doing. I'm just keeping my options open you know. Dad thinks that I'm going through some rebellious stage of some sort."
"Don't worry I know Jethro. Give him time he'll come around if it's something that you truly want to do he'll understand,"
"I should get going I'm keeping you from work."
"Ok, I'll see you later," said Jenny going to get her coffee inside.
Cassie left and went to run her arrands. She felt a little better about things knowing that there were people willing to talk. She just needed to make sure that things didn't get worse before they got better. All she wanted to do was tell J.P what happened. Cassie found herself hanging out at NCIS talking to Abby about what was going on with her. Abby was like a sister as much as Tony was a brother. She told Abby everything and Abby kept her confidence unless it was something life threatening.
"So what happened in Mexico? Did you meet someone?"
"I did meet someone, but before we get to that I need to tell you something. You remember that guy I was seeing before I left?"
"Yeah, you said that you were going to introduce me before you left."
"I would have but we broke up."
"Right, you broke up because you didn't think that he was boyfriend material?" she said questioning her
"Yeah, well there was more behind that. I was pergnant,"
"You were what?! Cassie!"
"Abby please, I do not need my father to know I got knocked up. Doesn't matter anyways because I got an abortion."
"That's why you left,"
"No well yes, but I needed to clear my head and think."
"Who's the father Cass? Have you told him?" asked Abby looking at her friend with concern.
"No, but I am going to tell him. You just have to promise not to say a word to anyone. Please Abby,"
"Cassie, you have to talk to someone. This isn't something you can just keep bottled up. Who is the father?"
"Do the intials J.P. riing any bells?"
"Palmer!"
"I know, but there are just so many things going on right now. Oh talking about secrets; who the hell was going to tell me Dad's ex-girlfriend is running the entire freaking agency?! I ran into Jenny on the street this morning!"
"He didn't tell you?"
"No, but I know now why. I feel like I left and the whole freaking world just decided to jump onto the Leroy Jethro Gibbs bandwagon. Ziva's a mossad officer. I mean I know that she's part of what was going on with the terrorist,"
"Wait you know about Ari?"
"Know? Abby I saw him that night in my basement with my father!"
"Cassie, how?"
"I forgot my keys and I went to go get them. I saw them, but they didn't see me. I know that Ari is the reason Kate's dead. I know that my father's been lying to me for the past three months about everything. Abby, what the hell is going on?!" she was yelling now and McGee was standing in the doorway.
"McGee!' said Abby looking at him.
"Uh, hi, Gibbs wants this processed ASAP. Everything OK?"
"Yeah, we are great. Listen, did you hear anything?"
'Not really. Cassie, you OK?" asked McGee looking at her face
"Uh, no, I feel dizzy," she said just as she feel on the floor.
"Cassie!" yelled Abby running to her friend.
"I'm calling Gibbs!" said McGee picking up his cellphone. Abby grabbed hers and called Tony and Duck to get to the lab immediatley.
They were all standing over Cassie when she came too.
"Cassie, sweetheart, you OK?" asked Jethro helping her sit up.
"Yeah, I'm fine,"
"You are no where near fine," said Ducky
"I just passed out,"
"You haven't been eating enough Cass. You are sick," said Ducky looking at her.
"I know Ducky. I know everything,"
"What's going on Cassie?" asked Jethro. Cassie looked around and saw her family staring at her with wide eyes. She saw Abby and nearly cried.
"Tony, you were right. I didn't just come back early, can I have a minute with my Dad guys?" asked Cassie with tears in her eyes.
"Cassie," said Tony c hoking up.
"It's OK T, go,"
"Come on Tony," said Ziva.
"No, Ziva stay," said Cassie looking at her pleading.
"OK,"
Tony, McGee, Abby, and Ducky left. Palmer was there too and he stayed behind. Cassie wanted him to and knew he knew something was wrong.
"What's going on Cassie?"
"I have a confession to make to you Dad, and Palmer. I…didn't leave just because you told me to. I left because I had been seeing Palmer."
"You were seeing Palmer?!" said Jethro looking at Jimmy.
"Gibbs, we.."
"Jimmy wait…I didn't break up with you for no reason. I did it because…I was…pregnant,"
Both of them looked at her in shock. Ziva stood beside her as she caught her breathe.
"Why didn't you say something?" asked Jimmy
"Because you deserved better than what you got. I had to make a choice and I did, but at the time it wasn't what I wanted. I did it because I had to. I had an abortion before I left for Mexico. I wasn't ready to be a mother. I was scared. I'm sorry,"
"Cassie," siad Jethro nearly crying for his daughter. She was suffering and he wasn't there for her.
"Dad, the night I left I saw you and Ari in the basement of the house. I know what happened,"
"I don't know what to say,"
"I was hurting and you were hurting and part of me blamed you for a crappy situation. I blamed you for not saving Kate. I know you didn't have a way to, but I was just so hurt. Ziva, I know that you have been here for my father during this difficult time and I want to thank you for that. "
"Who else knows about all of this?"
"Just Abby. Ziva would you and Jimmy give me a minute with my Dad?"
"Yeah," said Ziva taking Jimmy out of autopsy.
"Cassie, I don't know what to say to any of this,"
"Don't be mad Dad. I would have told you, but it would have been aknowledging I'd let you down and I couldn't do that."
"Sweetheart," he said hugging her.
"There is one thing left. Ducky's right I am sick,"
"He said you aren't eating properly, but I'mm not surprised. You have been holding all this in you for three months."
"No, Dad, I'm not sick for that reason. I'm sick because I have cancer,"
"What?!"
"I have lymphoma. I started radiation treatments in Mexico with Franks who's been paying for them. I couldn't tell you. I didn't want you to think you were going to lose me too! I didn't want to loose you," she said crying.