"How are you doing?" asked Jethro coming back into the room.
"Ok, Dad, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the pregnancy or Palmer."

"Cassie, I understand you didn't feel comfortable telling me,"

"I should have told you about Palmer,"

"It is a bit strange," said Jethro looking at her

"I wasn't exac tly expecting for things to happen the way they did. I mean he's not Tony, but I like that about him. I don't have to worry about him joking around so much. He was fun to be around and he treated me like a normal girl. Not the daughter of a federal agent. I could talk to him about what I was going through. I just wish I'd of told him about the baby,"

"Excuse me Mr. Gibbs, you have a phone call," said the nurse walking into the room.

"Thanks, I'll be right back,"

Jethro stepped out of the room and walked to the nurses' station. He took a deep breathe before answering the phone.

"Probie," Mike Frank's voice over the line

"Franks, why didn't you tell me my own daughter was sick with cancer?! I'm sitting in a hosptial watching a needle pump chemo into her body. Let alone the fact she was pregnant? I'm glad that she feels comfotable talking to you about this, but I should have been clued in!"

"Probie, she needed to clear her head and I let her. She wanted to tell you, but she needed to work through somethings on her own first. How are you doing?"

"I don't know. I didn't even realize she knew that Ari was in our house that night. "

"She's tough Probie and you will both get throug this. You want me to come stay with you for awhile?"

"Maybe in a few weeks. I just want to spend some time alone with her. Did she say anything else about things?"

"She wanted to draw up a will. She's scared she won't be able to to fight Probie. You have to be strong for her."

"I will. Thanks Mike," said Jethro hanging up the phone.

Meanwhile Tony, Ziva, McGee, and Abby were talking with Jimmy about what he was going through. They knew he was terrorfied to talk to Cassie with Gibbs around, but they were going to help him.

"Palmer, I have to say you guys did a really great job of hiding your relationship. I had no idea," said Abby

"That wasn't easy keeping it from any of you. Cassie wanted to say something, but she knew that I might get fired so we didn't. Now that she'd got cancer I don't know where I fit into things."

"Did you know she was even pregnant?" asked Ziva

"No, I had no idea. I don't know what I'm supposed to do now,"

"Be there for her Jimmy. She's going to need us to get through this cancer," said Tony

"Thanks guys. So you think Gibbs is going to be OK with all of this? Yeah, I didn't think so. Anyone heard from them?"

"No, but they will call,"

"Anyone for another drink?" asked McGee passing the bottle of scotch around the group. Soon Abby's phone went off and so did everyone else's slowly. They all aswered the calls and soon found themselves driving to Gibbs house. Cassie was ready to see them.
They all arrived and were ushered into the house by Gibbs. Cassie was lying on the couch. She was tierd.

"Hi guys," she said smiling at them.

"How are you doing?" asked Tony sitting down next to her

"Better with you guys here. I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys about this sooner."

"Cassie, don't apologize," said Ziva

"I know it's a sign of weakness, but under the cirumstances I think it's OK. Did Jimmy see you guys?"

"Yeah, we saw him back at NCIS. He isn't doing so well,"

"He came to see me in the hospital. He's terrorfied of what dad is going to do to him. Would you tell him to call me tonight Abs?"

"Yeah, is there anything you need from us?"

"I just need you all to be my friends. I don't want to be known as the girl with cancer Ok? I am still the same person I was before I got sick. Promise me you won't tiptoe around me. I'll answer any questions you have. I have good days and bad days."

"We are just glad you are getting treatment Cass," said Tim.

"How is Gibbs?" asked Tony looking at her knowing that part of what she was looking for from them was supporting her father as well.

"He's hurting. Won't let me know it, but I know he is. He's probably angry which I don't blame him. I should have just told him, but I didn't want to hurt him anymore than I had to."

"Leave him to me Cass," said Abby smiling at her.

"What's the game plan from here?" asked Tim

"Well I go in for treatments and we see how things go. As far as school I'm not sure. We'll just have to wait and see how I'm doing. I hate to kick you out, but I'm kind of tierd guys. I'll call you all tomorrow."

"Bye sweetie," they said each leaving. The only one left was Tony.

"What do you need?" asked Tony seeing the look of her pleading him for help.

"I need you to watch out for Palmer. I know he's not your favorite guy, but it would mean a lot to me Tony. I do care about him. I just don't know what the next step is."

"I'll make sure the gremlin is Ok. Do you need anything?" asked Tony once again.

"I need this to all be a nightmare T. I need to wake up and be OK. God, I'm terrified of leaving behind unfinished buisness. I'm scared for Dad and you. Tony, you haven't told me how you feel,"

"I'm scared. I am scared of losing you too. I'm scared because you have to go through this. I'm scared because I can't stop what's happened."

"Would I have been a good mother Tony?"

"Of course you would. I'm living proof and so is your father. You will be a great mother someday Cass. Right now though you need to take care of you."
"Goodnight Tony,"

"Night Cassie girl," he said leaving.

After everyone had left Cassie went to find her father working on the boat in the basement. She sat on the stairs and watched him for awhile taking in the smells and sounds.

"Still needs a name," said Jethro

"That she does,"

"Any suggestions?"

"You already know what you need to name it," she said slowly walking over to him.

"Yeah, you are right I do, but I can't," he said knowing how well naming the last five boats he built after the women in his life went. They'd all in someway left him alone in this basement building another boat to foget the one before. Only this time he didn't want to forget.

"Why not? Dad, look at me. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow next week or even next month. I do know that what we have right now is time and I will take that for whatever it is worth. I know you are scare and so am I, but we still have each other. I'm not giving up. Not on you not ever. Please," she said looking at him.

"I love you so much it hurt me. I can't imagine my life without you and I don't want to,"

"So don't. Not now. It's OK to be scared Dad" she said hugging him.

"Just tell me, if you didn't have the cancer would you have kept the baby?"

"Yeah, probably."

"Jimmy Palmer my son-in law? Really?" he said rasing a questioning eyebrow at her.

"Oh Daddy," she said hugging him.