It was a cruel feeling. Tony felt like he had been punched in the gut but he couldn't breakdown in front of his son. As hard as it was going to be. He had to be strong for Noah. He had always known that there was a chance that Noah's health would take a bad turn but he never expected it to be this soon and this bad. He never thought that his son would be terminal. He had beaten five percent odds to survive the plague. He should be able to beat anything but his body had betrayed him. All in one cruel afternoon. He had noticed that Noah seemed off and was expecting their to be bad news but he was not expecting this.

"Come here" Tony said to Noah.

"I'm scared dad." Noah sniffed.

"I know you are but I am never going to leave your side." Tony assured.

"What about you and Holly?" Noah asked.

"Don't worry about us. We will be OK." Tony assured.

"I love you dad." Noah sniffed.

"I love you too Noah. More than anything. I love you so much. I really do." Tony replied.

"I know you love me dad, tell Holly I love her." Noah replied.

"You can tell her yourself. I will have Miss. David bring her over but you are not going to die right away." Tony explained.

"God, I hope that you are right." Noah sniffed.

"Me too, Noah. Me too." Tony replied.

While Noah was being admitted to the hospital. Tony stepped outside to make the necessary calls. He was allowed to use his cellphone in the waiting rooms and in the cafeteria but he needed to get some fresh air and to catch his breath. He looked at his watch, it was one forty-three. Meaning that there were about fifteen minutes left in Holly's last class. If he wanted her to get to the hospital right away. He needed to call, Miss David first. He knew that it was heavily frowned upon for teachers to answer their cellphones during classes. So he selected her classroom number.

"Miss. Ziva David"

"It's me Tony."

"Hello Mr. DiNozzo. Um there are only fifteen minutes left in class. Can you call me back at two?"

"This isn't a personal call."

"Oh what's up then?"

"Can you do me a huge favor and bring Holly to Bethesda Naval Hospital, after school."

"Of course I can, Tony. Why?"

"Look I know, Holly is in your class and I don't want to upset her. I will explain when you guys get here."

"I understand"

Ziva hung up her phone and turned back to her class. Tony's phone call had made her extremely nervous. Why did she need to bring Holly to the hospital? Why couldn't Tony go and get her himself? Was he sick? What would she do if he were sick? They had finally got their relationship rolling after a rough and rocky start.

"Alright class please read chapters four through seven and answer the follow-up questions at the end of each chapter. I will expect the papers on my desk before the tardy bell." Ziva told her class.

Calling Ziva ended up being the easy call. Since he couldn't risk upsetting Holly in class and saying the words "Noah is dying." Calling Gibbs would be a far more challenging task. The others had to know the news too but he was hoping that Gibbs would be the one to break the bad news to the others. He knew that he should be the one to tell them but he was not sure that he could bear to do it. He was going to have a hard enough time telling Holly, Gibbs, and Ziva and they were all ones who deserved to be told by him. He took several deep breaths and let out a few shaking sobs. Before dialing Gibbs's number.

"Gibbs"

"It's Tony"

"Are you alright, Tony?"

"No I am not."

"What's wrong?"

"I need you to get to Bethesda right away."

"Are you sick?"

"I am fine but just get down here."

"I will be right there. Just sit tight."

Gibbs knew by the tone of Tony's voice. That something was severely wrong with his son. He knew that Tony and Noah had their checkups today. Tony said that he was not sick. Of course Tony was hard-headed and tended to stretch the truth. Of course he had already instructed him to get to Bethesda right away. If he was going to give that much information. Why not tell the truth and admit that he was sick. If Tony was not sick and he needed to get to Bethesda right away. That left Noah. He felt like he was going to be sick. He threw down his tools, jumped up from his workbench and ran up the basement stairs.

"I'm coming, Tony!" Gibbs cried out,

In the end Tony was glad that he did not break the news to Gibbs over the phone. The news that a child was dying. Was not news to break over the phone. He would wait until everybody got to the hospital and break it to everybody at once. Holly and Ziva arrived first.

"Hi dad!" Holly cried.

"What is going on, Tony?" Ziva asked.

"Just wait a minute, OK? Gibbs is on the way." Tony replied.

"Tony?" Ziva asked.

While they waited for Gibbs. Holly got started on her homework and Ziva called her babysitter and let her know that shew as away from the school and to contact either her cellphone or Bethesda Naval Hospital if an emergency should arise. Ten minutes later Gibbs arrived.

"What is going on, Tony?" Gibbs asked, eyes showing concern.

"Guys come here." Tony instructed.

"Dad you are scaring me." Holly said.

"Please Tony just tell us." Ziva begged.

"Guys I really hate to tell you this but Noah's tests were not good." Tony explained.

"What's wrong with him?" Gibbs asked.

"Where is he?" Ziva added.

"How bad is it dad?" Holly asked.

"He is dying. My son is dying." Tony replied.

"Oh Tony I am so sorry." Ziva apologized.

"I know that nothing I say will help but I am here for you Tony. You and Holly." Gibbs replied.

"No! You are lying! Noah! Noah!" Holly yelled running down the hallway.

"Hol..." Tony started.

"I will go after her. Gibbs you comfort Tony. I know how it feels to lose a sibling and you know how it is to lose a child." Ziva instructed.

A/N: Tony will be able to breakdown in the next chapter. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.