Gibbs: I want to protect my team...

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The lump that formed in Gibbs throat was instantaneous with the news. His eyes couldn't see his team's expressions but he could feel them burning into him. He knew they were waiting for direction, a word of comfort, an explanation…anything.

"Boss?" Tony finally managed after allowing a full minute to process what they'd just heard.

Gibbs swallowed and turned around to face them. "We wait."

McGee spoke before Tony had the chance. "Wait?"

"Did I stutter McGee?"

Tony stepped beside his teammate. "Wait for what boss? For them to tell us she's been killed…no way."

"Then what DiNozzo? You want to hop on a plane to Somalia and raid the ship with guns blazing? This isn't Hollywood…"

"No…this is reality. And reality is that we cant leave her there…"

Tim agreed. "We have to try boss…"

Gibbs noticed how confused and angry they both look and chose to explain himself. "No way in hell I'm putting your lives at stake…"

They both glanced at each other before Tony spoke first. "You wont be boss…we'll be doing it ourselves."

"Cant let you do that Tony."

"With all due respect boss…I've never questioned one order, one direction, one suggestion you've given me in seven years…but right now, I have to."

Tim shook his head at the situation. "I don't understand boss…if it were one of us, you wouldn't leave us behind..."

"She made a choice."

"A wrong one." Tim answered quickly, not surprised that the situation had stirred him up enough to question Gibbs. "We've all made wrong choices before…hers shouldn't cost her, her life…"

Gibbs ran a hand over his face. "You could die Tim..." He approached them both. "And you DiNozzo…do you get that?"

"Do you?" Tony's decibel grew a bit. "We're not kid's boss…now you either come with us or let us go…"

"Or what DiNozzo…"

Tony glanced at his teammate as they simultaneously removed their badges.

Gibbs swallowed. "Do you realize what your up against?"

"I'd rather try then wait for a phone call." Tony responded with grace, slipping his badge back into his pocket.

"She's waiting for us boss." Tim added gently.

Gibbs managed a smile that seemed to express his pride in both of them before conceding the only way he knew how. "Semper Fi…"