Four hours later everyone remained in Abby's lab waiting for Gibbs to come back. Tim was sitting on the futon with Abby in his lap. Abby was feeding Ryan and Ziva was holding Payton. Tony was sitting in the corner with Palmer playing peek-a-boo with Sienna.
"How's our little buddy doing?" Tim asked softly.
"He's so small Tim." Abby replied just as softly. "What if something is really wrong with him and we don't know?" She asked nervously.
"Ducky checked him out and said he's fine Abs." Tim reminded her.
Abby sighed. "I know…" She looked down at her son. "I don't know why I'm so worried about you. You're so perfect."
Tim looked at the two of them before speaking up. "So does this mean that he gets twice the amount of presents as the girls on Christmas?"
Abby looked up at him and smacked him in the shoulder. "Of course it does." She said with a smirk.
"Mom!" Caitlin's voice joined the room.
"Katie!" Abby said softly. "Come meet Ryan."
Caitlin rushed over with Anastasia right behind. "He's so cute mom!" Caitlin said excitedly.
What's his name? Anastasia requested.
R-y-a-n Tim spelled out for his daughter.
He's adorable. Anastasia said happily.
Abby nodded but didn't sign back as her arms were otherwise occupied.
"I told you I could do it." Gibbs' voice joined the conversation. "We slid off the road a few times but we made it."
"Gibbs!" Tim exclaimed. "Sliding off the road is a big deal!"
"Look Tim, your family's here for Christmas isn't that worth it for you?" Gibbs chastised, missing his own family more than he ever thought he could again.
"I guess." Tim said softly. "I just… I value their lives more than being with them today."
"I wouldn't put them at risk Mcgee." Gibbs replied irritably.
Tim sighed. "I know… I just have a very protective outlook on life right now." He admitted glancing toward his daughter in Ziva's arms. "We don't have much time left with her."
Gibbs nodded sympathetically. "Pictures?" He asked simply.
Tim nodded before going to Ziva. "May I?"
"Of course." Ziva said softly as she gently placed her into Tim's arms.
Tim walked over to his daughters. "This is your baby sister." He said gently.
"She's so small." Caitlin said softly as Anastasia held still. "And she's so pretty."
"I'm glad you think so." Tim said with a smile. "This is going to be the only time you get to see her." He said solemnly. "Do you want to hold her?" Caitlin nodded slowly as she took a seat in Abby's office chair. Tim gently handed the bundle to his daughter.
Caitlin looked down at her little sister with tears in her eyes. "I never got to know you…" She said feeling choked up. "But you're an amazing little girl."
Abby closed her eyes trying to block out the scene, anything that would take away the pain. She needed anything… Tim didn't notice when she drifted off to sleep.
"Abby?" Kate's voice filled her ears. Abby opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself in Kate's apartment rather than in her lab. "Abby is everything alright?"Kate pressed.
Abby looked at her best friend with tears in her eyes. "No… Kate nothing's alright."
"Oh Abs." Kate said softly as she pulled her friend into her arms. "Tell me about it." She requested softly.
Abby sighed. "I can't believe I let myself go through the pain I just went through."
Kate looked over at her with desperate eyes. "Abby I can't read your mind." She reminded her.
Abby sat down on Kate's couch. "I was in labor for over twelve hours before I broke down and let anything happen. And by then Tim was trapped in the mountains."
"Oh please tell me he made it back in time." Kate was begging for her friend's sake.
Abby sighed. "Ryan was already halfway delivered by the time he got back."
"Oh… Abs… I'm so sorry."
"We fought in the morning." Abby blurted out. "I was so irritated and I could feel the contractions starting. He was nagging me about staying home and I didn't want to give in yet. I ended up leaving him and making him walk Kate! I'm terrible!"
Kate sighed as she sat down next to her. "You're not terrible Abs." She assured her. "I'm sure Tim feels just as bad about this as you do."
Abby shook her head. "He's so focused on Payton…"
Kate took in a sharp breath. "Abby she needs you to let go." She said gently. "I promise you I'll take care of her but you have to let go."
"I don't want to!" Abby whimpered.
"Abby… for your sake… I can't tell you how come… but you have more important things to worry about." Kate said softly.
"No… I can't…"
"Sweetie until you let her go she's stuck with you. But as soon as you let her go I promise you I will take care of her."
"NO KATE!" Abby screamed at her. "I CAN'T GIVE UP ANOTHER BABY!" She yelled as she began to see the scene fading in front of her eyes. "NO KATE… KATE…"
"Kate… no…." Abby muttered in her sleep.
Tim quickly rushed over to her and shook her arm. "Honey you're alright… It's okay." He said as he gently coaxed her awake. "Abby…" He tried again and Abby abruptly sat up before moaning in pain. "Abby it's okay." Tim assured her gently.
"We have to let her go." Abby choked out.
"What?" Tim asked softly.
Abby looked up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Payton… it's time to let go of Payton."
"Abby we can keep her for a little longer." Tim said gently.
Abby shook her head. "Kate promised me she'd take care of her… It's time to let her go." She said with a heavy sigh.
Tim cupped her chin with his hand. "We'll have Ducky come and get her alright?" He asked softly. When she nodded in response he took in a deep breath before going over to his daughters. "It's time to say goodbye girls." He said regretfully.
"Can't she stay?" Caitlin asked softly. "She's so pretty."
It took all of the strength Tim had to say no. "She needs to go sweetie."
Gibbs glanced over. "Do you need Ducky?" Gibbs asked gently.
Tim closed his eyes before nodding. "It's time." He confirmed.
Gibbs looked at his agent, no it wasn't his agent. The team was family, if anything Tim was his son. "I'm so sorry." He said sincerely as he pulled him into his arms. "It's hard… but it gets better."
"I can only hope."
It was late afternoon on Christmas Day and everyone was gathered in Abby's lab. Gibbs had moved the Christmas tree from the main part of the lab to Abby's office while Tony and Ziva had raided the vending machines attempting to ration a reasonable Christmas dinner. Abby was sleeping on the futon with Ryan gently cuddled in her arm as Tim watched over them. Caitlin and Anastasia were being entertained by Ducky and Palmer in order to keep them out of their parents way.
"We come bearing gifts!" Tony exclaimed happily as he dumped a pile of processed food onto Abby's desk.
"Shhh!" Gibbs hushed him pointing to Abby who was stirring on the futon.
"Sorry." Tony whispered as Ziva placed her pile gently next to hers.
"It's okay." Tim dismissed it. "Abby's probably starving. I should wake her up anyway." He said before gently shaking Abby's arm.
"Ten more minutes." Abby requested as she began to try to roll over.
"Whoa there." Tim said softly pressing Abby back to where she was and carefully rescuing Ryan from his groggy mother. "Come on Abs wake up." Tim tried gently as he held his son up to his shoulder.
"I don't want to.' Abby protested as she began to turn again moaning in pain when she twisted her abdomen. "Augh."
Tim sighed. "I know it hurts." Tim assured her gently. "Tony got some food for dinner. Do you want something?"
Abby opened her eyes taking in her surroundings. "I want to go home." She whispered.
Tim looked at her, feeling her pain. "I know Abs. We will as soon as we can. How about until then we make the best of this Christmas?"
Abby nodded. "Can I get help sitting up?" She asked softly.
Gibbs heard her request and quickly moved across the room to help her sit up. "Easy…" He muttered as he felt her wince. "Are you alright?" He asked as she squeezed his hand.
Abby nodded in gratitude. "Thanks Gibbs."
"Alright what do we have to eat?" Tim asked trying to be as enthusiastic as possible.
"Pretty much as much processed, sugary, carb-filled, crap as you could ever want." Tony reported.
"Ugh." Abby moaned and Ducky looked over at her.
"Timothy Abigail's going to…" He began before Tim looked over and saw her expression, grabbing the trashcan just in time.
Several moments later Abby collapsed backwards. "Are you alright Abs?" Tim asked gently as he handed her a bottle of water.
"I feel awful." She admitted quietly as Tim helped her adjust to a more comfortable position.
"As soon as we can get out of here we'll go to the hospital and get you checked out." He said softly as he waved Ducky over from the food.
"What seems to be the matter, other than the obvious?" He asked softly. Abby moaned as she slowly rolled over, trying to get the aching feeling out of her joints. Ducky carefully pressed his palm to her forehead. "She's burning up Timothy."
"I don't wanna be sick." Abby complained softly.
"Tim we should try and get her to the hospital sooner rather than later. If she got an infection during delivery that I missed it's going to get worse rather than better with time." Ducky said gently.
Tim sighed. "What's our best vehicle choice for getting out of here?"
"I know Vance's car is in the garage and has snow chains on it." Gibbs said as he quietly joined the conversation.
"Oww…" Abby hissed, grabbing her stomach.
"Alright Abs, we're going to the hospital." Tim said softly. "We'll bring Ryan with us and get him checked out as well…"
Very slowly Ducky, Tim, and Gibbs helped Abby get up. "I'm going to throw up again." Abby said as soon as she was upright. Tim grabbed the wastebasket and Gibbs held it under her as Ducky and Tim supported her. Once she was done she looked up with tears in her eyes. "What if something's wrong Timmy?"
Tim sighed, hoping that nothing was horribly wrong. "Then we'll get through it… just like everything else."
Ducky and Tim were standing outside of the window to the nursery. "I'm so worried." Tim admitted softly.
"Abigail's strong. Even if something's wrong I'm sure everything will be fine." Ducky assured him.
"If it was an infection don't you think they would have identified it as such by now?" Tim said as he began to pace the hallway.
"Tim… you need to calm down." Ducky reminded him. "You have three kids depending on you and if you have a heart attack…"
Tim rolled his eyes. "I'm fine." He assured him. "I'm just really nervous…"
"Mr. Mcgee?" A nurse asked as she approached the pair.
"Yes?" Tim asked as he turned around.
"I need you to come with me." The nurse requested, leading Tim to the elevator and up to Abby's room.
"Timmy!" Abby exclaimed through choked tears. "I'm so sorry…" She whispered into his neck as he held her tight.
"Abby what's wrong?" Tim asked softly as he pushed her hair out of her face.
"You know how Doctor Hogan diagnosed me with Anemia during my pregnancy?" Abby asked softly, keeping her eyes closed in a feeble attempt to block out reality.
"Has it gotten worse?" Tim asked gently as he felt her grip on his hand tighten.
Abby shook her head. "It wasn't anemia…" She said before breaking down into tears as a doctor came into the room.
"Excuse me, Mr. Mcgee?" The doctor asked, and Tim nodded in response. "I'm Doctor Samson your wife's oncologist."
Ducky who had been standing in the doorway shook his head in disbelief. "No…" He whispered. "Not them… not Abby…" he said as he felt a tear fall down his clearly distraught face.
"Oncologist?" Tim asked, not following the conversation.
"Mr. Mcgee, your wife's gynecologist misdiagnosed her when he said that she was anemic." Doctor Samson explained. "You need to understand that I've spoken with Doctor Hogan and it's a very common mistake in situations such as these as the symptoms are very similar with the demands of a growing fetus and so it's often overlooked as a possibility."
"What's going on?" Tim asked, not following what was happening at all.
"Mr. Mcgee, your wife has Leukemia."
Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm trying desperately to write this story as I have the entire plot figured out, but I really haven't had time. I just finished finals today though so it's back to writing as usual! Please review… I've only gotten one for this whole story… What happened to you guys?