Gibbs leant on the railing and looked down at his team. One man muttering, fingers flying over keys. Another reclining, loudly indifferent but quietly dedicated. A woman, at variance within herself, guarded and stoic yet fresh and sparkling.
Each brought their own unique skills to the team. And each brought their own unique heartaches. Neglect, manipulation, absence, insecurity and doubt plague their combined pasts.
The rules that they follow have saved them some from further grief.
But they hadn't healed his love-broken heart. Neither had they prevented two others from falling.
Hence rule 51.
But he'd never tell them that!