Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS, just play with 'em and give 'em back
Author's Note: The sheepdog analogy has been around law enforcement and the military for a while.
Gibbs is a sheepdog. So am I.
Stakeout, Back in the Day
It was that time of night when you fought your body to stay awake. The coffee was all gone and the small talk had dried up. The two NCIS agents sitting in the sedan were staking out a suspected drop for a drug ring operating on a Marine Corps base.
"Listen up Probie," growled the older agent. The younger man snapped his head around. Usually when the Boss used those words, knowledge was about to be dispensed. It could take the form of either technical or philosophical. "There are some things about this job you need to get your head around." It was going to be philosophical then.
The older man lit another cigarette and continued. "A majority of the people in our society are sheep. They go about their lives working, raising families and would only hurt each other by accident."
"When I call them sheep it's not to be negative. They do not want to believe there is evil in the world. Sure fires, floods, hurricanes or other disasters are horrible. But the Charles Manson, Ted Bundy type evil is mind blowing to them."
The young agent sees his mentors face harden. "Now we come to the wolves. The wolf feeds on the sheep without a thought. Killing and taking what he wants without pity or remorse. There are evil people in the world Probie, capable of evil deeds. You've learned this thru personal experience."
The young agent has a flash of his wife's and his daughter's faces.
"Lastly we come to us. You and me, the sheepdogs. We live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. Generally the sheep don't like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf, except that the sheepdog would not, could not harm the sheep. Also the sheepdog is a constant reminder that there are indeed wolves out there."
The older man smiled. "I see I'm starting to lose you Probie. A little more then I'll shut up. When the shit hits the fan the sheep say 'Thank God I wasn't there.' The sheepdog says 'Dear God I wish I was there, maybe I could have stopped it.'"
Mike Franks lit another cigarette off the butt of his last. "School's out Gibbs, make sure you don't fall asleep.
A/N: I first heard the sheepdog analogy in 1978. It was in a bar after a particularly tough shift. An older cop was trying to impart some wisdom to a New Guy.
I have an idea to move this forward to the present day, but my first fic didn't seem to do too well so if you want more or want me to pack it in push that green button.