Gibbs (To Alejandro): You've never done this before. I have. I've killed men and woman, in combat, in the line and in life. And some of them still haunt me, but I never lost a night's sleep over your father. You want to know what it feels like to be the hand of justice, then pull the damn trigger and find out yourself, go on, do it!


Death was always an option. It was then, and it was now.

It was the type of option that didn't leave room for second chances. It wasn't a choice you could take back, or plead your case for another go around.

No, death was permanent.

A truth, Gibbs had come to know all too well.

And if death meant sparing their lives, then death was becoming more appealing by the minute.

Full proof? No. She could kill them just for sport, and that, he couldn't let happen. But then the choice was still daunting… he couldn't endure the pain or guilt if he was alive to see it. So maybe this was a win, win…

Then again, maybe not.

There were always other options. Everyone made mistakes, and it was just matter of time before Paloma and Alejandro made theirs. So until then, he'd stay alive…

But after holding Abby in his arms, and hearing his Father's voice over the phone, the thought of losing any or all of them terrified him.

And that was a place he never wanted to visit again.

Ever.

So he battled against the fear, and kept his mind focused on the task at hand. There was a lot he was unsure of, but one thing was clear.

He would protect them.

Even if death became the only option.