WHAT GIBBS NEEDS

Summary: NCIS psychologist thinks he knows what's best for Gibbs. Short one shot.

Timeline: Three hours after the end of the episode "Check"

Category: General

Rating: K+

Warnings: Spoilers for season 12 episodes "Twenty Klicks" and "Check"

Disclaimer: I own nothing NCIS. I'm just borrowing the characters for a bit.

And finally, all mistakes are mine.

NCIS ~~ NCIS ~~ NCIS ~~ NCIS~~NCIS

"You have to take his gun and send him home."

Director Leon Vance eyed the psychologist who was looking pretty smug. Was the man acting in the best interests of Agent Gibbs or did he have another motive? Gibbs needed a psych eval like he needed to be having this conversation.

"He wasn't cleared after his ex-wife was killed and now... he's a danger to everyone including himself."

"Gibbs is only a danger to Mishnev and his followers."

"That's true enough. He's killed eight of them."

It was true. Gibbs killed five men in Russia after the helicopter was shot down. And he shot three more before being knocked unconscious. Yes, he should have waited for his team, but Vance understood his motivation and actions and knew with the added guilt of Mishnev getting away that short of locking him up in a holding cell, nothing would stop Gibbs from finding and killing the man, and anyone who helped him.

"I will not take Gibbs' gun and for your information he's already at home." With two concussions in less than four months, Gibbs was lucky he still had a head.

"Well, why didn't you say so? I'll put him on my counseling schedule."

Now Vance was the one feeling a little bit smug. "You won't be counseling him. He's home with a concussion and after he's taken it easy for a couple of days he'll be returned to full duty."

"That is a mistake, Director."

Vance knew only time would tell, but he was confident he was making the right decision. Gibbs needed time to talk to Fornell. He needed time to process the death of Diane in his arms. He needed time to compartmentalize the guilt he was feeling. He didn't need a psych eval or counseling. The only thing that would help Leroy Jethro Gibbs would be Sergei Mishnev on Doctor Mallard's autopsy table.

The End

Thanks very much for reading.