They arrived at the hospital and went straight to Cassie's room. Jethro went first hoping to calm some of Eric's nerves. Cassie was lying in the bed like she was before. Only this time she was awake. She looked really out of it still. The sight of her father brought her to tears. Her grandfather went in next. The motioned for the two boys to stay out for a few minutes so they could clarify things for her.

"Hey darling," said Jack sitting down next to her bed. Jethro stood next to her on the other side of the bed trying to sooth her fears. Jenny was standing outside as well trying to get the attention of the nurse or doctors.

"What is going on? What happened?" asked Cassie nearly crying

"You don't remember falling off the chair?" asked Jethro

"No, why am I in the hospital?"

"Sweetheart we know about the treatment change before we left. Why didn't you tell me? I can't help you if I don't know what was going on," he said looking at her

"I just wanted more time. I knew it wasn't working, but I didn't want to ruin things for you. I couldn't stand telling anyone that I'd made yet another failed decision. I just wanted time,"

"You're going back to Chemo ASAP and from now on all the decisions will be talked with both of us," said Jenny looking at Cassie

"Jenny, I'm…"

"All that matter is that you get better. There are some gentlemen outside wanting to see you,"

"Tony?" she asked shocked.

"Yeah, we drove all night to be here for you. Your father called it really scared us. Just be glad that the entire team isn't here."

"You owe Eric an apology and he deserves to know that truth Cass," said Jethro looking at her.

"I wanted to say something, but I didn't want it to ruin the time we were having. I really screwed this up didn't I?"

"Nothing that can't be fixed," said her grandfather.

The three adults stepped out of the room and let the boys in. They stood there looking at her laying in bed. Tony wasn't one for emotional stuff especially with another male around, but he couldn't help himself. He loved Cassie like a sister and the idea of almost losing her was too much to handle.

"Tony, please don't," said Cassie as he hugged her.

"I love you,"

"I love you and I'm sorry I did this to you both. Eric, I should have told you, but I couldn't. It just hurt too much,"

"Cassie, I care about you, but this really blows my mind. Were you ever going to tell me?" he said bitter

"I hadn't decided. I wasn't trying to scare you. I didn't realize how bad things were. If I did I would have said something. I just really wanted someone who didn't see me as sick and felt obligated to be with me because I was dying,"

"You think that you are an obligation?" said Tony

"No, Tony, that isn't what I meant. I know you'd do anything in the world for me, but I know that people are looking at me and treating me different. I hate this!"

"Cassie, we love you it's our jobs to be worried about you. The truth is you are very sick and you need treatment. The whole point is to get rid of the cancer not you. I don't care what you say I am going to make sure that you leave this hospital and get rid of that cancer," said Eric

"Thanks, suppose I really do need help. I get my stubbornness from my Dad,"

"You don't say," said Gibbs standing in the doorway.

"I am your daughter," she said coughing hard.

"Ok, I think Cassie's had enough excitement for now. We still have errands to run. We'll check in on you later. You do everything that doctor says," said Jenny giving her a downright dueling Gibbs stare.

"Yes, Ma'am," she sighed lying against the pillows.

"We'll stop in later. Rest OK?" said her father running his hand through her hair.

"I promise,"

They all left the room. They were still surprised that she didn't really remember much. The doctor had wanted to talk to Jethro before they left. He went to the desk and they called him. Jenny, Jackson, Tony, and Eric waited for him. After about fifteen minutes he had rejoined them. He looked totally devastated.

"Jethro, son, what's going on?" said Jackson

"They've been checking her cell counts and they aren't going up," he said swallowing.

"Well they haven't been doing much have they?" asked Tony

"No, they are going down. She's dying," he said as Jenny buried her face in his chest.

"Boss, no, that can't be,"

"They said maybe a week," said Jethro.

"No, they have to be able to do something?" yelled Tony.

They all just stood there in shock. Nobody knew what to do or what to say. Jackson sat down in a nearby chair. Jethro held onto Jenny for dear life. Tony and Eric were in shock.

"I should call the team," said Tony excusing himself.

"Is there anything I can do," asked Eric.

"Not right now," said Jenny with tears rolling down her face.

"This can't be happening," said Jethro.

"Jethro does she know?"

"Um, no, God, what the hell am I going to say to her?"

"We'll do it together," she said hugging him.

Tony told Tim on the phone and he said that he would let the rest of the team know. Tony didn't want to talk to anyone. He was angry and hurting. How was this happening? Why Cassie? He lean against the wall and cried. He'd lost a lot of people in his life, but this was unthinkable to lose someone so young. She'd hardly lived.

"I thought you were leaving," said Cassie when she saw her Dad come back in with Jenny.

"We talked to the doctors," said Jenny taking her hand and Jethro's.

"It's bad isn't it?" she said tears in her eyes.

"Your counts are really really low. They are doing everything they can, but it's not good," chocked out Jethro.

"I'm dying? How…how long?" she said

"Maybe a week," said Jethro breaking down.

"Daddy," yelled Cassie as she wrapped her arms around him. Jenny too cried. After awhile they talked about things. Cassie wanted to talk to the boys. Jenny said she would go get them. Tony was in the hallway with Jackson. Tony wasn't ready so Jackson went in first. Jenny asked Tony where Eric was, but he didn't know.

"How is she?"

"She's scared Tony. We all are,"

"How are we going to live without her?" asked Tony

"We're going to have to figure that out," said Jenny hugging him.

"Tony she's asking for you," said Jethro

Tony walked into the room. He was shaking as he approached her. She reached out her hand for him and he took it.

"Hi," she said looking at him.

"Hi,"

"Tony, I want you to promise me something,"

"Anything,"

"Promise me you'll look after Dad? He's going to need you even if he says he doesn't. Don't let him sit in the basement and drink himself to death. I want him and you to keep living. You two mean the world to me. Promise me you'll love someone again. If it's Ziva or someone else, but don't hold back anymore Tony. You're the greatest brother I could have ever not asked for."

"I promise Cassie. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yeah, help me say goodbye,"

"Ok, well then the time you do have left is a gift. You need to tell people whatever you want. You give them something of you to hold onto; a piece of you that they carry with them,"

"A piece of myself,"

"Yeah,"

"Tony, I'm scared. I'm scare Tony,"

"I know you are," he said kissing her hand.

Cassie eventually fell asleep. Tony left the room and found Gibbs with Jenny. They stood as he approached.

"DiNozzo what are we going to do without her," said Gibbs.

"I don't know but we're going to have to figure it out. Thank you for giving me my sister," he said hugging Gibbs.

"Thank you for being a great brother to her,"

"I need to go find Eric for her,"

"Would you take Dad with you?" asked Jethro

"Sure,"

"Now what do we do?" asked Jenny with tears in her eyes.

"I don't know Jen. I don't know," he said hugging her.