Note: This is set at some unspecified time in season 11. (335 words)

SPOILERS: 3.24 Hiatus, 10.24 Damned If You Do


Litmus Test

Fornell sat on a sawhorse, hands on knees, shirtsleeves rolled up, watching Gibbs carve a rectangular piece of wood. "You ever think about retiring?"

Gibbs did not look up or stop his carving. "Think about it? I did it."

"Yeah, but that wasn't really-I mean, regular retirement!"

Now Gibbs stopped, but just to blow off the wood shavings, before replying, "What? Like moving to Florida?"

"Not exactly. Like you said, you already had Mexico. Besides you built a cabin."

Gibbs looked over at Fornell and made the point, "Did it. Didn't think about it."

That propelled Fornell off the sawhorse. "Ah, come on! You had to plan it."

Gibbs found the next spot for his chisel and began to apply force. "Wanted the place, so I figured out how to build it. Didn't think about if I should do it or why."

Now Fornell was closer, intent on Gibbs handiwork. Softly, he began, "Yeah, but..." and trailed off.

Gibbs finished for him, "For you, there's Emily."

Fornell nodded. "Emily. And her college education."

"Thought you had one of those funds set up?"

"Well, she might want to go to grad school, too. She's pretty smart."

Gibbs chuckled, "Yeah, yeah, she is." Then he sobered and went on, "It can't be a question of earning money for Emily's future, though."

Gibbs put down the chisel and stood up to pour bourbon into two glass jars. He handed one to Fornell.

Fornell took a sip, saluted Gibbs with the glass, and asked, "What is the question, then?"

Gibbs focused his attention on the liquid in his jar. "Does your gut still churn when you're looking for a lead on a case?"

"That's it? The deciding factor?"

Gibbs took a sip and answered, "That. Or mandatory retirement age."

Fornell chortled, then examined his own glass. "That used to seem so far off."

"Used to."

Fornell set his glass on the workbench and picked up the manila file folder there. "What will I drink about then, I wonder."