Jethro eventually took Cassie home with Jenny. They dropped off Jenny and drove home. Cassie sat in the car for a few minutes alone collecting her thoughts on everything. She picked up her phone and hit the speed number for Tony.

"Hey Cassie, how was your evening?"

"Tony DiNozzo don't you dare act like you don't know! I don't know how in the world you and the rest of the team thought this was a good idea, but next time just stay out of my personal life!" she said crying into the phone.

"Wait Cassie, what happened?"

"Your stupid plan back fired big time! Dad showed up at the resturant with Jenny! Then Palmer, God, he freaking proposed to me in the middle of the dinner!"

"He did what?!"

"Yeah diamond ring the whole thing!"

"Oh my God, I'm going to kill him!"

"Tony you don't think Dad already is? I have never been so embarrassed in my life!"

"What did you say?"

"No, I can't marry him. I don't even know what next week will bring. I can't do this. Tony, I can't do this to them and to you it isn't fair,"

"Cassie, slow down. Where are you?"

"At the house with Dad and I don't think he will evern talk to me again. I lied to him and said you were taking me out tonight. He's probabaly pissed off! Why did I agree to this stupid date?"

"Hang on Cass, just hang on. Listen, I'm sorry that we set it up, but we thought you could use a night out without thinking about Cancer. We wanted you to have a good time. We had no idea Palmer was going to be such a idiot. I swear we didn't tell him to ask you that question. We just thought you guys might like to spend sometime together and talk."

"Thanks Tony, but what am I going to do about Dad? Palmer is going to have to quit if he hadn't already,"

"Hey, I promise nobody is getting fierd. Let me talk to Jenny and see what we can do. I'm sure she understands. Would you please go inside and talk to Gibbs? For me?"

"Yeah, god Tony,"

"It will be OK,"

"Ok thanks for trying and tell Abby tomorrow she's dead meat!"

"Will do," he said hanging up.

Cassie went inside and walked upstairs to change. She did and laid down on the bed. She was wiped out. Her father soon was standing in her doorway.

"We need to talk Cassie," he siad walking in and sitting on the bed.

"Dad, I swear I wasn't trying to hide this from you, but I just wanted to talk to him. I didn't know about him proposing. I don't know where he got the idea. Please don't be mad the team meant well."

"I know they did sweetheart. I'm just concerned about you is all. Palmer is a really good guy. I know it took a lot for you to turn down his offer."

"Yeah, but I only did it for selfish reasons. I can't marry him because I don't know what's going to happen. We are way too young and I don't even know what I'm going to do with my life yet. Dad, I'm scared. I care about him I really do, but why did he do that? Part of him had to know how stupid it was."

"Cassie, he's scared too. He thought that it would make it easier on you possibly. Or he was just scared of losing you. I think that after you sleep it wll seem better in the morning."

"I didn't want it to be like this," she said sobbing

"I know you didn't. It's going to be Ok. Get some sleep," he said sitting with her.

"I love you Dad,"

"I love you too peanut," he said watching her until she fell asleep. A few mintues after Cass was asleep Gibbs slipped out of the room and into the basement. He grabbed the phone and dialed about the only number he knew. Little did he know she'd been waiting for his call.

"Jethro, how is she?"

"Not good Jenny. She's absolutely terrorfied. What the hell was Palmer thinking?"

"I have no idea, but I'm sure he didn't mean any harm by it. He must have panicked. I'm not so sure that the team didn't concock some story together to convice them to go out."

"I know and she lied to me to protect me. What am I supposed to now Jen?"

"Give her time and don't be too hard on the team. They were just trying to help. I think their hearts were in the right place. Besides, I enjoyed being with you again outside the office. I'd forgotten how charming you can be,"

"Thanks Director, but I don't forsee this happening again anytime soon. I was actually thinking of taking some time off and getting Cassie out of town for a few days."

"That might be a good idea. What did you have in mind?"

"Well Jack hasn't seen Cassie since Christmas so I'm thinking a trip to see him might cheer her up."

"Give you some time together as well as a family. I think we can manage a few days wtthout the fearless leader,"

"Yeah, Tony can handle things."

"I'll go put in the paper in the morning Jethro. When do you want to go?"

"I'm thinking we'll head out in the afternoon. Usually Cassie feels less lathargic by then. Thanks Jenny,"

"No problem Jethro just take care of your daughter,"

DiNozzo had called Ziva and told her what happened and Ziva called Abby. They all felt absolutely horrible and they were all going to kill Palmer when they saw him. They knew that Cassie was doing the right thing by not saying yes to Palmer, but they also knew how hurt he might be. They decided to let him explain to them what he was thinking. They wanted to make things right for him and Cassie