‘NCIS: Origins’ Sneak Peek Reveals the 12-Hour Crisis That Proved Gibbs Was Meant to Lead (Exclusive)

NCIS: Origins takes us back to the moment in time when Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) realized he had what it takes to become a team leader.

Actually, it wasn’t a moment, but a 12-hour period at headquarters when Gibbs was forced to take charge when a Marine captain showed up at the NIS office in Camp Pendleton exhibiting symptoms of a fatal virus, forcing NIS into lockdown.

The marine captain tried to tell Gibbs that he was attacked, but he passed out. Acting on intel, it was assumed he had contracted a lethal virus, and panic spread, forcing Gibbs to show he had all the right stuff.

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But before that, Kowalski got on Gibbs’ case about that very ability, questioning if he had the talent. Watch the exclusive video to see the scene.

“Hey, kid!,” Kowalski (Michael Harney) calls Gibbs. “I’m calling Kowalski cocktails for tonight. Make sure everyone knows.”

“Can you have Mary Jo do it?” Gibbs asks, holding up paperwork. “I’m trying to get this thing wrapped up.”

To which Kowalski says, “Right, sorry to bother you. I thought you had leadership goals. “

“What?” Gibbs asks.

Kowalski continues, “I thought you wanted to be a team leader someday.”

Gibbs asks, “What is being team leader have to do with telling people about drinks?”

Related: NCIS: Origins’ Creators Tease Major Gibbs and Lala Cliffhangers in the Midseason Finale (Exclusive)

Then Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid) walks by and Kowalski tells him the same thing, “I’m calling Kowalski cocktails for tonight. Make sure everyone knows.”

And Mike, who is headed home to meet a TV repairman, yells on his way out the door, “Listen up people, Kowalski cocktails tonight. Gail call Wheeler let him know. Giddyap. Who wants cocktails? I’ll see you there.”

Then Kowalski says to Gibbs, “Right there, see that. Team leader takes significant information and acts on it. I didn’t realize that wasn’t something you’re interested in.”

You can tell Gibbs is bothered when he responds, “I didn’t say that.”

Then Gibbs reveals his thoughts, saying, “Back then, I didn’t know if I had what it took to be a team leader but I figured I’d go to drinks that night and put it out of my head. That’s not what happened because that night was about to become one of the craziest 12-hour runs in NIS history. After that night, when Kowalski looked out his window, he’d never see me the same again.”

NCIS: Origins airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Streams next day on Paramount+.

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