STOPPING A MISTAKE
AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER
This was inspired by the episode "Life Before His Eyes" during the scene in which they were discussing what would've happened if Gibbs hadn't shot Hernandez and it got me to thinking. This resides in the same reality as my current fic "The DiNozzo Files". Belongs to Donald P. Bellisario.
The three men were silent as they headed to the ridge where they saw their friend.
"Leroy, what are you doing?" Tobias Fornell hissed. This is going to come back to haunt him for the rest of his life. I can't let him do it, he thought to himself.
"What I have to do," Leroy Jethro Gibbs responded as he adjusted his scope. Not sure why they're even here. Not like we're best friends. They only know me cause Fornell was helping Morrow and Franks investigate Shannon and Kelly's murders, he fumed.
"No. This isn't the way," Thomas Morrow stated, placing a hand on the younger man's wrist. Can't blame him though. I'd be wanting to do the same thing, he thought to himself.
"This guy got his wife and child killed. I say we let him do it," Mike Franks interjected, earning him a glare for the other two, which he ignored. It's what I'd do. You don't mess with family. And the asshole deserves it, he thought. They should just let Leroy kill the son of a bitch. No one would miss him and the kid would have his vengeance.
"He's right. Shannon was just trying to do the right thing and he killed her and Kelly. I'm doing this for them. I'm getting revenge for them," Leroy told them.
"At what cost?" Thomas pointed out. "You want to get revenge? Fine. Get the ultimate revenge: don't let him break you. Honor your girls by living life to the fullest. If the situation were reversed, would you want Shannon out here scoping out the guy's head?" At this, Leroy turned and stared at the man. What the hell was he talking about that? Shannon would never do anything so ludicrous! She hated guns! Well, not hated. It wasn't like she threw a fit when he brought his guns into the house because she knew that he always kept them locked up tight. She would never be out here like this. But that was his point, wasn't it? What am I doing? Shannon wouldn't want this, he realized. How had he gotten so consumed? The man started crying and Morrow pulled him into his arms holding him.
"I don't-I can't do this without them," the younger man admitted.
"We're here for you. We're not going to let this destroy you," the older man promised.
"That's right," Tobias interjected. "We're going to get you through this," he added.
"Damn straight," Mike agreed. As the young Marine continued to sob, the three men looked at each other and nodded, each silently making the same vow. Leroy Jethro Gibbs was theirs and they weren't going to let him fall.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I know this may be a bit out of character for the people we've come to know and love in the series, but I wanted to try something different and may lead to another story some day.