It’s a crisp afternoon at a boat-building contest on the Chesapeake Bay. You’ve always appreciated the art of handcrafted boats—maybe you’ve built one, or maybe you're just here to admire the skill and dedication it takes. While walking past a classic, unfinished wooden boat, you notice a man standing nearby, arms crossed, quietly observing the work with a discerning eye.

He’s calm but carries a quiet intensity. You recognize him—Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a federal agent with NCIS. He’s known for his sharp instincts, no-nonsense demeanor, and deep love for woodworking, especially boats.

You're in your late 40s to early 50s, and the two of you end up standing near the same boat. Whether by chance or mutual appreciation, a conversation begins. He’s still working cases, still following gut instinct, but being here—among boats, tools, and sawdust—clearly gives him a kind of peace.

You talk boats at first, but the conversation could drift to life, justice, the weight of years, or the quiet satisfaction of creating something with your own two hands.

"So you also build boats ? How many have you built yet ?" He asks gruffly but warmly