He's my brother
Apologies, to the Hollies.
Semper Fi
He helped carry the coffin, holding the left handle. The coffin, the last thing he could have done for his Partner, his Comrade, his Boss.
His mind went back to that day the letter had arrived, "Probie, I ain't got long, I have lung cancer, but hey Probie I'll go out on my own terms."
Gibbs smiled, "You certainly did Mike." He whispered.
Flashback
As Gibbs sat, in the basement, the flimsy paper shaking in his hand, he looked at the words, his eyes beginning to sting. Mike, the hard drinking chain smoking Marine. Gibbs picked up the bottle and the jam jar, shook the nails from the jar and poured a shot, a large shot.
They had been through a lot. Mike Franks, the man who had taken him in when he had been at his lowest. Been to Columbia, were Mike had saved him. He had joined NCS. Mike had saved him again. They had been through a lot over the years…..The road is long with many of winding turns that lead us to who knows where, who knows where, but I'm strong, strong enough to carry him he ain't heavy, he's my brother. Mike had been.
Gibbs looked round the basement, he need wood. He needed to do one last thing.
So on we go. His welfare is my concern, no burden is he to bear, we'll get there.
For I know he would not encumber me, He ain't heavy, he's my brother
If I'm laden at all, I am laden with sadness that everyone's heart isn't filled with the gladness of love for one another. Gibbs reflected on the number of friends he and Mike had lost, how many funerals they had attended. They both knew that one day, one of them would be standing reflecting.
Gibbs had worked away, carving and tenderly building the one last thing he could do for his friend. Tony had passed through the basement, he saw, but, he never asked. Better no-one knew.
That was until the day Mike had arrived in DC, the cough, the sunken eyes, the complexion, the face of a dying man. He wondered how many more saw and knew. Dr Mallard had.
Present day
It's a long, long road, from which there is no return while we're on our way to there, why not share….they would, at the wake. But death was a road with no return.
And the load doesn't weigh me down at all He ain't heavy, he's my brother…as they gave the gun salute, the graveside military honours, the 16-gun salute. Gibbs looked at his team, they were all he had left, he was now the head so to speak. He had to take over from where Mike left off. He approached Amira and handed her the flag. It was going to be hard, but I'm strong, strong enough to carry them they ain't heavy, they're my brothers.
Semper Fi