NCIS s09e11 Episode Script
Newborn King
[FESTIVE MUSIC PLAYING INDISTINCTLY ON SPEAKERS.]
MAN: Hey, I'll wait here.
Good morning.
Welcome to The Freemont Inn.
- How can I help you? - I'd like a room.
Oh, I'm sorry, we're all full for tonight.
Christmas Eve, no room at the inn.
Who would've guessed, right? Are you sure? I'll take anything you got.
Please.
Well, forecast is calling for snow.
Maybe we've had some cancellations.
Ah.
Looks like the only thing we have available is our Premiere Suite at the holiday rate.
I'll take it.
Don't you wanna know how much first? Nope.
Okay.
[FESTIVE MUSIC PLAYING QUIETLY ON TV.]
It's me.
I think we're clear.
I'm on my way down to get you.
[ELEVATOR DINGS.]
It's Christmas Eve.
- Yes, it is, Tony.
TONY: And we drew the short straw.
We have to work, why are you smiling? You did not tell us that Wendy sent you a Christmas card.
- Wendy who? - Your Wendy.
- Baltimore Wendy.
- Your former fiancée, Wendy.
Oh.
What are you doing reading my Christmas cards? ZIVA: It was pinned on the wall behind your desk.
People usually do that so that others can enjoy them.
I thought you and, uh, Wendy haven't talked in Nine years.
What's your point? So it says here that she and her ex-husband divorced last year.
I read that.
Too bad, very sad.
And she invited you to Christmas brunch tomorrow with her and her 7-year-old son, Fred.
Pretty cute.
So you gonna go? No.
I think I'll relegate that part of my life - to Christmas past.
- Huh.
Well, I get the impression that Wendy may be looking to try again with you.
- You think so? PALMER: No.
No, no, of course not.
I wouldn't dream of blowing him off, Breena.
Ha, ha.
No.
I can't wait to hang out with your dad.
Yeah.
Okay.
I'll call you later.
TONY: Tiny Jim, to what do we owe this lovely sweater vest? Thank you, Tony, for noticing.
It was a gift from Breena.
Heh.
Actually, unfortunately, my gift to her should be arriving at any minute.
I agreed to give her father a tour of NCIS while he's in town for the holidays.
Well, that is nice.
Actually, I thought Director Vance would nix the idea.
You and Breena's dad do not get along? The last time that Ed and I talked was when I asked for his permission to marry Breena.
He laughed.
And then he cried from laughing so hard.
Then he got really quiet.
So why is he coming here? Breena wanted us to bond before the wedding.
She thinks his main problem with me is my job.
Autopsy Gremlin.
Yeah, if we could keep that talk to a minimum while he's here.
I say it with the utmost respect.
No, I know that, I know that.
But Ed doesn't.
You guys, he actually thinks that I'm stuck in some government job which pays too little and requires too many hours.
GIBBS: You are.
Get off my desk.
- Grab your gear.
- Ah! Yes.
Uh Duty calls.
So I had better call Ed and cancel.
GIBBS: You're not going anywhere, Palmer.
Family first.
Nice sweater.
ZIVA: Merry Christmas, Palmer.
ZIVA: Navy Captain Jake Marsden.
Stationed in Charleston, South Carolina.
According to his driver's license, he also lives there.
GIBBS: Tourist.
Desk clerk said he was in a hurry to get to his room.
For good reason, judging by those wounds.
Blood spatter indicates that he was standing about here when multiple gunshots went through him.
GIBBS: Looks like different calibers.
Multiple weapons.
Multiple shooters.
Guests did not hear anything that sounded gunshots.
The gunmen must have used silencers.
No fingerprints or evidence were left behind.
Pro job.
Humbug.
Twenty-five bucks for valet parking.
It's highway robbery.
Actually, I wouldn't rule out highway robbery.
Look at that, the passenger window has been blown out.
Bullet holes.
Looks like it's been sideswiped.
McGEE: Valet said they found it this way.
That's what they always say, isn't it? Hey, thought our dead guy was Navy.
You know, you, uh, never mentioned why you broke off the engagement with Wendy.
Who said I broke it off? What, did she leave you at the altar? Didn't say that either.
Yahoo.
Marine seabag, woman's bra.
Either our dead Navy captain was having an identity crisis or he wasn't traveling alone.
Agent David, would you give me a hand in wrapping up the captain? I was premature in giving Mr.
Palmer the morning off.
[PHONE RINGING.]
If that's the hotel manager, tell him we won't take the body through his lobby.
Gibbs.
The call's not coming from inside the hotel.
The area code, that's northern Maryland.
WOMAN [OVER PHONE.]
: Jake? Is that you? What happened? Well, I'd like to know the same thing.
- You killed him, didn't you? - He's dead, but I didn't do it.
- Who is this? - Who is this? Are you a cop? - NCIS.
- Prove it.
How? If you are who you say, you'll figure it out.
TONY: Navy Captain Jake Marsden.
Single, no family, well-liked.
But according to his unit, the only thing he made time for was his job.
It's kind of sad, really.
Precisely why you should reconsider lunch with Wendy.
McGee and I searched Marsden's car, nothing that IDs the female travel companion.
- Perhaps she was our mystery caller.
- McGee, hotel phone records.
Prior to the murder, our victim made one outgoing phone call from the hotel room.
To a cell phone registered in his own name.
- You track it? - It's been turned off.
- Incoming to the room? McGEE: I already ran a backtrace.
- The call to the hotel came from PALMER: Hey, team.
Just came to introduce my future father-in-law, Ed Slater.
This a bad time? Go ahead.
Okay.
Ed, this, uh Mr.
Slater, this is, uh, our fearless leader, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Over here we have Special Agent Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo.
Stop speaking, James.
I don't need their dossiers.
Only here for a few hours, but what a pleasure.
- Welcome to NCIS, Mr.
Slater.
- Ah.
Can't say enough about your future son-in-law and his work ethic here.
Yes, well, that's why I'm here, isn't it? To make sure that if my daughter marries James, she gets him, not the bureaucratic baggage that comes with a government job.
You know? - No.
- No? No.
I'm sorry.
Did you just say "if she marries him"? Big "if.
" Let me ask you something, Special Super-Agent Gibbs.
You the only team leader who makes his folks work Christmas Eve? I guess when Uncle Sam calls, you answer, even when he calls collect.
[CHUCKLING.]
Ha! I think we've seen all we should in the squad room.
Why don't I show you, uh, any place else? [WHISPERS.]
I'm so sorry.
He's a pleasant man.
McGee, phone call to the hotel.
McGEE: Traced the number.
Call came from a courtesy phone in an outlet mall in Fillmore, Maryland.
That's two hours from here.
If our mystery woman was at the hotel, how did she get out there? Find her.
Find out.
Pulling mall security footage now.
DUCKY: A visit to the National Christmas Tree.
Followed by a production of The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center.
Sadly, captain, your visit to D.
C.
Was much too brief to enjoy our city's holiday fare.
He always talk to himself? Actually, Mr.
Slater, I am conversing with our victim.
Well, it's a waste of time.
In my experience, the dead are dead.
And what experience would that be? - Well - Ed owns a funeral home.
Heh.
I guess that is where Breena got her passion for embalming, huh? - You know, I always used to tell her - You're speaking again, James.
Uh.
I'm a professional mortician, Dr.
Mallard.
Then you should know that everybody has a unique story to tell if asked the right questions.
Maybe.
But, uh, as much as you talk, this poor guy can hardly get a word in edgewise, huh? [ED & PALMER LAUGHING.]
I think it best if you two wait outside.
- Yeah, I'll second that.
- Look Motion carried.
A lot of things to see.
This is fun, huh? Doc, what do you got? Confirmation of cause of death and this.
When I took off the captain's clothes, I found it stuffed deep in a pants pocket.
Dried blood.
His? Well, that's up to Abby.
But apart from the bullet wounds, which are fresh, there's no other exterior signs of trauma anywhere.
Well, it could be from our missing woman.
Well, if it were, it would suggest that in addition to being on the run, she could also be wounded.
[PHONE RINGING.]
- Abs? ABBY: Can you come to the lab? GIBBS: Yeah, I'm on my way.
Abs? Abby? ABBY: Back here.
Oh.
Thank goodness it's just you.
Jimmy and his grinch-in-law have been stalking the halls spreading ill-will and yuletide yuck-ness.
Hey, did he try to pick a fight with you in the squad room? - No, he was just being - Unseasonably, unreasonably rude.
He's being a father-in-law-to-be.
If he knows what's good for him, he's not gonna come "a-wassailing" within at least 20 feet of my leaves of green.
- What have we got? - Mall security footage, courtesy of McGee, and the kind people at the Carroll County Outlet Shoppes, the jewel of Carroll County.
I don't think there's a lot to do in Carroll County.
Did you find our female caller? Granting you your first Christmas wish, Gibbs.
That is her, calling the hotel.
Now, if the blood on the rag that Ducky found is hers, she doesn't appear wounded.
Get an ID? No.
But I think I know where she is.
Watch when she turns towards the camera.
If you are who you say, you will figure it out.
- Bag? - Yeah.
It's from a women's clothing store.
She knew that we would watch the security footage.
She wants you to come find her, Gibbs.
Nice work.
Tell DiNozzo to have local P.
D.
Meet us there.
Welcome to Carroll County.
You must be NCIS.
Snow is really coming down out there, huh? - So they, uh, sent a mall cop, huh? BILLY: No, sir.
I'm a county deputy.
Officer Billy McCormick.
I was the only one on duty when you called.
You got an update, deputy? Yes, sir.
I canvassed the store but haven't found anyone in distress.
Whoever you're looking for must have left already.
How hard did you look? I talked to every single solitary person.
What about in the dressing rooms? Well, no.
This is a women's clothing store, so TONY: Yeah.
Yeah.
We are looking for a woman, though.
Get everybody out of here.
Will do, boss.
Good job, though.
Good job.
MAN: Can I have your attention, please? Everyone needs to leave the store immediately.
Exit is this way.
Please.
- Federal agents.
Go on, get out of here.
- Okay.
[THUD.]
NCIS.
Yeah, I've seen fake credentials before.
Hand over your weapons.
There's only one way to get a Marine's weapon.
What do you know about it? You a leatherneck? Where do you think I got this haircut? If you aren't the ones that killed Jake, that means they're still out there.
- You think they're after you too? - I know they are.
Jake wasn't the target.
I am.
GIBBS: Did my I.
T.
S.
At Camp LeJeune.
You like it there, Lieutenant Reynolds? Call me Emma.
And yes, I did.
- Wish like hell I was there now.
- Weather is getting pretty bad, boss.
Tractor trailer jackknifed on the highway.
It's bumper-to-bumper.
You out getting coffee, DiNozzo? No, no, no.
This is hot chocolate for the pregnant lieutenant.
Uh, listen, everyone, I don't want any special treatment.
I'm a Marine first and pregnant second.
- Hoo-rah! - Hoo-right.
ZIVA: I will gladly take the special treatment.
I like mine with extra marshmallows.
The little tiny ones, please.
Who do you think I am, your elf? Actually, I'll take one with marshmallows too.
Heh, thought you said you didn't want any special Extra marshmallows, coming up.
So who is after you, lieutenant? I don't know.
Only ever been a squared-away Marine until eight and a half months ago.
I was stationed outside Kabul.
Our unit was training local Afghan soldiers.
One of them spoke English.
His name was Amir.
Things got romantic.
Heh.
At least what passes for romantic in that hellhole.
Sand can get in some pretty inconvenient places.
- Any disciplinary action? - I took responsibility.
CO made me forfeit two months' pay and sent me stateside.
- Thought that was it.
- But? Last week, I noticed I was being followed by a black SUV.
I would shake it, then another one would show up.
- Multiple people were following you? - Three men, separate SUVs.
I got one of the license numbers.
It was registered to the Department of Defense.
- Call McGee.
Have him follow up.
- Mm-hm.
So you skipped town with Marsden? Jake's an old friend.
He offered to drive me to my parents' place in Ohio.
But that's when things got crazy.
They followed you.
They tried to run us off the road.
I cut my hand when the window broke.
And we lost them, but I started feeling woozy, so we went to the hotel.
When Jake didn't come down, I knew that I had to get out of there.
Why didn't you call the police? If these guys were government, they would send local LEOs looking for us too.
I don't know what this is about or how far up this goes.
Well, you can trust us.
Thank you.
Where's the father now? McGEE: The baby's father is dead? Yes.
Amir Mayat died in an IED explosion back in May.
It says here Lieutenant Reynolds went on leave after the incident.
What about the in-laws? They must have some interest in the child.
Well, according to her statement, she and Amir kept the pregnancy a secret from his family.
You know, Agent McGee, all of this is in her personnel file.
You don't need me to read it to you.
Hang on.
What is it you really wanna know? Is that file the only record DoD has on Lieutenant Reynolds? - What do you mean? - Someone is having her followed.
You think it's us? We're DoD, not CIA.
- We don't usually do that kind of thing.
- Usually.
Why would we care what Reynolds does on her maternity leave? We have reason to believe that three gunmen, using vehicles registered to the DoD, murdered a Navy captain and are now after the lieutenant.
What are you suggesting? You know how many vehicles we have registered in this city? Thousands.
They get stolen all the time.
I'd be happy to check our database for you.
I understand that, sir, but you're not answering my question.
Is Lieutenant Reynolds on your radar? Agent McGee, the only thing on my radar right now is Santa Claus.
I understand, sir.
But you will let us know if you find out anything on Lieutenant Reynolds? Even if I did, I couldn't tell you without authorization.
Feliz Navidad.
GIBBS: Yeah, Abs? - Gibbs, what are you still doing there? The snow is falling faster than my holiday spirit.
There's a pregnant Marine being hunted on Christmas.
- Heaven and nature are not singing.
- I'm waiting on intel and escort from state troopers.
Tell me what you got.
Background on Lieutenant Reynolds' baby daddy.
Amir Mayat.
And he is not a poor farmer.
The Mayat tribe controls a massive and critical land parcel just outside of Kabul.
- The family is wealthy.
- Extremely.
And Amir was the sole male heir.
- Till he was killed.
- Yes.
- And if Emma has a boy, then - The kid inherits everything.
Practically royalty.
At least extremely valuable.
That explains why the lieutenant is still alive.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
They don't want her dead.
They want the baby.
Alive.
- It doesn't explain DoD's involvement.
McGEE: This might, boss.
What, McGee? I did some digging.
I tunneled under the DoD firewall.
Turns out U.
S.
Military forces in Afghanistan are trying to build a trade highway through Mayat land.
It's vital for fighting insurgents and stopping weapons shipments.
ABBY: And the tribal elders aren't cooperating which is costing the DoD millions of dollars.
And if the project goes under, they lose even more.
Well, they need a bargaining chip.
The little baby heir.
By birthright, he'll be head of the Mayat tribe.
They have the kid, they have the land.
- Can we prove it? McGEE: I can't find anything concrete connecting the DoD and our three kings.
Keep looking.
[TAPPING ON WINDOW.]
How long have they been back there? Not long enough.
ED: Door? I can't hear a word they're saying.
PALMER: If you hadn't made that remark about her tattoos, we wouldn't be in time out.
Still got six minutes left.
You do know that there are jobs in the private sector where you could make twice as much money and still be home by 6, right? Hadn't really thought about that.
Well, maybe you should start.
And all I said to her was that girls with tattoos are easy.
Everyone knows that.
Is something wrong? What did you find out? I'll tell you on the way out.
The car is out back, boss.
They started closing highways.
Not gonna open till the morning.
We're on our own.
Back roads? What if someone follows us? - Can't wait any longer.
- I want a weapon.
You don't need one, you got us.
Don't patronize me.
I was the top shot in my platoon.
You think Deputy Dawg has ever seen actual combat? - I did three tours.
- Where is Barney Fife, anyway? I thought he was out back with you.
- I'm sorry.
MAN: Shut up.
- He came out of nowhere.
- Shut up! - He's one of the three.
- NCIS.
Let him go.
Give me the woman.
No, it's not gonna happen.
I don't want to hurt him.
I know exactly what you want.
Drop your weapon.
MAN: You are in no position to make demands.
I'm not, but she is.
Unless you wanna die today, put it down.
Now! DiNozzo, you and the deputy take him back.
We got the lieutenant.
All right, meet you back at the Navy Yard.
On it, boss.
[MAN GRUNTS.]
What's that all about? Hedge trimmer accident? Proof.
- Of what? ZIVA: Nerve.
Initiation ritual, common in Russian prison gangs.
Any of your other friends missing fingers? - You will see for yourself.
- What does that mean? It means we're getting the hell out of here.
Watch your head.
Oh, there you are.
I hear the team is on its way back with a suspect.
Have you heard anything more? No.
Just been waiting on Ed.
What's the matter, Mr.
Palmer? Just a bit overwhelmed, I guess.
My own father was only ever encouraging to me.
No matter what I did.
But Ed, Ed is like Ebenezer Scrooge at the beginning of the book.
A bit of advice: Don't let the disparaging remarks of a myopic individual influence your life.
See, that's just it.
He finally said something nice to me.
- Really? - He offered me a job.
At his funeral home.
He said Breena and I could work together.
Eventually take over the business.
Really? Is that what you want? Me? No.
No, I love NCIS, but I want to make Breena happy.
Doctor, what if this is the only way? Breena will be happy if you are happy.
Tell that to Mr.
Ed.
Russian mercenaries wanna take my unborn child because he's the only heir to land in Afghanistan? We believe the gunmen may have been hired by someone inside the government.
Why? Because that land may be key in winning or losing Afghanistan.
I'm starting to understand why Amir distanced himself from his family.
[ENGINE RATTLES.]
What happened? Is it the engine? Russians.
There is no signal out here.
There's a light up ahead.
God.
[ZIVA GROANS.]
Do you think we can fix it? I don't think we've got a choice.
I saw a garage around back.
I'll help push.
Don't push.
- You guys are still here, huh? - Heh.
Well, I'm Ed's ride, and technically I'm still on duty, so Duty.
Hey.
Any word from Gibbs? Not yet.
What do you think is taking them so long? I don't know.
We left separately.
Must have taken a different route.
Could've hit bad weather.
Did you try calling him? Abby has been calling every five minutes.
Nothing.
And the land lines are down from here to Baltimore due to ice.
We're lucky we have Internet.
Did you find anything to finger our fingerless man? I ran his remaining prints.
Name is Veli Tupolev.
No record in the States, but Interpol's a different story.
Let me guess.
Trained mercenary who's used to hard Russian winters and even harder Russian prisons? Pretty much.
How do you wanna break him? Well [CRUNCHING.]
What? I was hungry.
Didn't know I'd be held hostage.
Wait a second.
Are those Hollander's homemade Christmas cookies from HR? Did she make molasses this year? She did, and they were good.
Then we need to commandeer these.
Police business.
I think I have a way to break our bad Santa.
With what, cookies? What are you gonna do, sugar-board him? Thought you said they were pros.
The injector rail was damaged.
Fuel leaked into the manifold and caught fire.
Yeah.
I'm gonna have to try to redo some wiring.
- I'll see what they've got.
- Uh-huh.
EMMA: The phones are still out.
But I'll keep checking.
Or if you want any help in there, I know my way around a car.
No.
Sit down, rest.
Drink some fluids.
No.
I already did.
I left a couple of bucks on the register.
It felt weird just to take it.
GIBBS: Hey.
Don't worry about it.
It's gonna be fine.
This is not exactly the Christmas Eve that I had planned on, Agent Gibbs.
Actually, I hadn't planned on any of this.
Amir, the baby, people trying to steal him.
Him? Thought you said you didn't know.
I don't, but I can tell.
Heh.
Ugh.
Judging by the way he's punching and kicking me right now, - Come on.
- Think he's gonna be a Marine too.
- Sit down.
- Whoo.
I just wanted to be a Marine.
I guess someone else had other plans.
Yeah.
Wouldn't be the first time.
Do you have kids, Agent Gibbs? Had a daughter.
Were you there when she was born? Deployed.
Well, I guess I kind of have to be there for mine.
Not that I'm complaining, it's just I might be Scared.
The hell you say? - It's all right if you are.
- Not according to the Corps.
That's what I like about being a Marine.
The procedures, the code.
I like having a measurable set of expectations.
I could always tell how good I was doing.
But with this, how do I know? You don't.
But you'll be able to tell.
Mm.
Right now, I think this guy is telling me that it's time to eat.
Well, in that case EMMA: Mm.
- This one's on me.
- Heh.
Thank you.
You know, Wendy used to make the most kick-ass snickerdoodle.
I'm gonna start with a series of true or false statements - Mm-hm.
McGEE: To give us a baseline.
What are you talking about? TONY: Just think of it as a lie-detector test.
With cookies.
You just have to sit there and eat.
McGEE: Okay, here we go.
Your hair is purple.
You have all your fingers.
You were following Lieutenant Emma Reynolds with the intention of abducting her baby.
A little hesitation.
- You see that hesitation? - Yeah, I did.
TONY: Confirming hesitation.
No.
No, I did not hesitate.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You sure about that? You've never committed a crime.
Your favorite color is pink.
You were hired by someone at the United States Department of Defense.
[LAUGHING.]
So you really are working for the government.
No.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Sure about that? So then you must be working for the Mayat tribe in Afghanistan.
[COUGHING.]
- Take that as a yes.
- No.
I just choke on cookie.
It does not mean anything.
Oh, it speaks volumes.
This is stupid.
You're just trying to mess with my head.
Then why are you getting so upset if it isn't true? If the family hired you, they must have found out about the baby.
They need an heir to keep their land.
Not the frosted cutouts.
I will stop eating cookies.
Your prepaid cell we found on you.
TONY: How are you communicating with your other two associates? McGEE: The only number stored on your contacts list is six numbers long.
You're always missing a couple of digits, aren't you? [CHUCKLES.]
Or maybe that's not a mistake.
Maybe it's something else.
- Coordinates? - Code? Password? McGEE: Radio frequency? Radio frequency.
I'm gonna go with radio frequency.
You will never get it now.
- We wrote it down, genius.
McGEE: If they're using radio systems, we should be able to pick up chatter.
TONY: Not out of him.
Okay, try it.
[ENGINE CLICKING.]
Eh.
[GRUNTS.]
Try it again.
[ENGINE CLICKING.]
Given the parts available, this could prove to be a problem.
EMMA: Uh, that's not our only problem.
My water just broke.
I'm going into labor.
Hoo-rah? Good to know you no longer think the government is hunting a pregnant woman.
But I'm afraid I can't help you apprehend the Afghan in-laws that are.
It is Christmas Eve, sir.
Well, that gift would have to come from CENTCOM and about 14 other people above my pay grade.
Yeah.
Let me guess.
It would be wrapped in red tape? Thanks for nothing.
Got something from our gunman's radio frequency.
And given the weak signal, they've gotta be at least 40 miles away.
MAN 1: Where are you? MAN 2: Not too far.
MAN 1: Meet me.
Petrol station outside Ridgeville, now.
Sounds like Russians to me.
Searching for gas stations near Ridgeville, Maryland.
TONY: Pretty small town.
All right, I got a hit on a single service station alongside State Route 15.
Only one reason our gunmen would go there.
- Gibbs.
- Gibbs.
- They're in trouble.
- Could be where they're holed up.
- Did you find Agent Gibbs? - That's what we're gonna find out.
Hey.
TONY: Put it in gear, McGee.
Good luck.
Yeah, good luck.
Why in the world would you say it like that? Why? The weather, the road closures.
They're never gonna make it.
How the hell would you know? They're trained agents.
Well You might not respect me or what it is we do here, but you have got to respect the fact that these people, my people, are risking their lives.
Well, if you're gonna put it like that There's no other way to put it.
Till you can figure that out, we're not going anywhere.
Sit down and shut up.
The last two were less than a minute apart.
It didn't hurt this much when I took shrapnel in Mosul.
- The whole harness must be sautéed.
- Fried.
Ugh.
[EMMA GASPING.]
Unh! Oh, boy, the baby is coming.
Gibbs, we have company.
What do you wanna do? Defend our position.
You stay with the lieutenant, I'll draw fire.
EMMA: Don't you leave me, Gibbs.
I need someone to tell me how I'm doing.
You're doing fine.
I'm not so sure.
Are you asking for special treatment, Marine? Sir, yes, sir.
Just this once.
ZIVA: Hey, Gibbs.
It's okay.
Got this covered.
Thank you.
You might wanna hold off on that.
[GRUNTS.]
[METALLIC CLANKING.]
[EMMA YELLING.]
Push.
Push! Push.
[YELLS.]
Push.
[CONTINUES YELLING.]
[SHOUTS.]
[BOTH GRUNTING.]
[BABY CRYING.]
Is he okay? Yeah, she's beautiful.
It's a girl? She's got her mom's eyes.
Well done, Marine.
[BOTH LAUGHING.]
Ah.
Merry Christmas, Agent McGee.
Agent DiNozzo.
McGEE: Hey, Breena.
- Merry Christmas.
Have you seen Jimmy or my dad? They never came home last night.
[CHUCKLES.]
Guess they got caught up in the case, huh? ED: What's going on? - Yeah.
- What day is it? - It's Christmas, Dad.
You didn't miss it.
Oh, boy.
They're back.
What's happening? The lieutenant okay? ED: What about the baby? They're at the hospital.
Mother and child are fine.
What? They're okay? Oh, look at that.
Cute little bugger.
Reminds me of you, baby.
- She's beautiful.
- She's beautiful.
[LAUGHS.]
Ed, if you're still wondering why we put in so many long hours and make so many personal sacrifices Yeah, yeah, I get it.
And while I really appreciate the offer, I'm very happy right here.
If that's what you want, and Breena is still willing to marry you despite - Dad.
- Yeah? Stop.
Never.
Just don't spend too many nights here, son.
I want you two to have one of those someday.
Merry Christmas, you two.
Pretty pink bike, boss.
Nice tassels.
Yeah.
For Mike Franks' granddaughter.
Oh, I forgot.
Amira and Layla live in D.
C.
Now.
Of course.
So I guess you have somewhere else to be.
Yeah, well, so do you.
Ah.
I went.
Sat in the car for about 20 minutes debating.
I didn't go in.
Decided to swing by Casa de Gibbs instead.
Well, we all make our own choices, DiNozzo.
You think I made a mistake? I think you made it twice now.
[HORN SQUEAKS THEN TONY CHUCKLES.]
Well, when I joined NCIS, I knew what you expected of me.
Everything.
Doesn't exactly leave a lot of room for the Wendys of the world.
Did you come here to blame me, DiNozzo? No, boss.
Good.
Family and job.
Two different cups.
That's right.
And if I couldn't fill both, that was my problem.
Mm-hm.
- What if I can now? - Then get out of my basement.
- Man up and move on.
- Heh.
- Like you have? - Don't be like me.
Learn from it.
Good talk.
[CHUCKLES.]
Merry Christmas.
Hey, are you coming or not? Layla is making lamb.
- You sure it's all right? - Yeah.
I told her you were coming.
- When? - I told her last week.
You're not gonna find what you're looking for down here, DiNozzo.
Come on.
MAN: Hey, I'll wait here.
Good morning.
Welcome to The Freemont Inn.
- How can I help you? - I'd like a room.
Oh, I'm sorry, we're all full for tonight.
Christmas Eve, no room at the inn.
Who would've guessed, right? Are you sure? I'll take anything you got.
Please.
Well, forecast is calling for snow.
Maybe we've had some cancellations.
Ah.
Looks like the only thing we have available is our Premiere Suite at the holiday rate.
I'll take it.
Don't you wanna know how much first? Nope.
Okay.
[FESTIVE MUSIC PLAYING QUIETLY ON TV.]
It's me.
I think we're clear.
I'm on my way down to get you.
[ELEVATOR DINGS.]
It's Christmas Eve.
- Yes, it is, Tony.
TONY: And we drew the short straw.
We have to work, why are you smiling? You did not tell us that Wendy sent you a Christmas card.
- Wendy who? - Your Wendy.
- Baltimore Wendy.
- Your former fiancée, Wendy.
Oh.
What are you doing reading my Christmas cards? ZIVA: It was pinned on the wall behind your desk.
People usually do that so that others can enjoy them.
I thought you and, uh, Wendy haven't talked in Nine years.
What's your point? So it says here that she and her ex-husband divorced last year.
I read that.
Too bad, very sad.
And she invited you to Christmas brunch tomorrow with her and her 7-year-old son, Fred.
Pretty cute.
So you gonna go? No.
I think I'll relegate that part of my life - to Christmas past.
- Huh.
Well, I get the impression that Wendy may be looking to try again with you.
- You think so? PALMER: No.
No, no, of course not.
I wouldn't dream of blowing him off, Breena.
Ha, ha.
No.
I can't wait to hang out with your dad.
Yeah.
Okay.
I'll call you later.
TONY: Tiny Jim, to what do we owe this lovely sweater vest? Thank you, Tony, for noticing.
It was a gift from Breena.
Heh.
Actually, unfortunately, my gift to her should be arriving at any minute.
I agreed to give her father a tour of NCIS while he's in town for the holidays.
Well, that is nice.
Actually, I thought Director Vance would nix the idea.
You and Breena's dad do not get along? The last time that Ed and I talked was when I asked for his permission to marry Breena.
He laughed.
And then he cried from laughing so hard.
Then he got really quiet.
So why is he coming here? Breena wanted us to bond before the wedding.
She thinks his main problem with me is my job.
Autopsy Gremlin.
Yeah, if we could keep that talk to a minimum while he's here.
I say it with the utmost respect.
No, I know that, I know that.
But Ed doesn't.
You guys, he actually thinks that I'm stuck in some government job which pays too little and requires too many hours.
GIBBS: You are.
Get off my desk.
- Grab your gear.
- Ah! Yes.
Uh Duty calls.
So I had better call Ed and cancel.
GIBBS: You're not going anywhere, Palmer.
Family first.
Nice sweater.
ZIVA: Merry Christmas, Palmer.
ZIVA: Navy Captain Jake Marsden.
Stationed in Charleston, South Carolina.
According to his driver's license, he also lives there.
GIBBS: Tourist.
Desk clerk said he was in a hurry to get to his room.
For good reason, judging by those wounds.
Blood spatter indicates that he was standing about here when multiple gunshots went through him.
GIBBS: Looks like different calibers.
Multiple weapons.
Multiple shooters.
Guests did not hear anything that sounded gunshots.
The gunmen must have used silencers.
No fingerprints or evidence were left behind.
Pro job.
Humbug.
Twenty-five bucks for valet parking.
It's highway robbery.
Actually, I wouldn't rule out highway robbery.
Look at that, the passenger window has been blown out.
Bullet holes.
Looks like it's been sideswiped.
McGEE: Valet said they found it this way.
That's what they always say, isn't it? Hey, thought our dead guy was Navy.
You know, you, uh, never mentioned why you broke off the engagement with Wendy.
Who said I broke it off? What, did she leave you at the altar? Didn't say that either.
Yahoo.
Marine seabag, woman's bra.
Either our dead Navy captain was having an identity crisis or he wasn't traveling alone.
Agent David, would you give me a hand in wrapping up the captain? I was premature in giving Mr.
Palmer the morning off.
[PHONE RINGING.]
If that's the hotel manager, tell him we won't take the body through his lobby.
Gibbs.
The call's not coming from inside the hotel.
The area code, that's northern Maryland.
WOMAN [OVER PHONE.]
: Jake? Is that you? What happened? Well, I'd like to know the same thing.
- You killed him, didn't you? - He's dead, but I didn't do it.
- Who is this? - Who is this? Are you a cop? - NCIS.
- Prove it.
How? If you are who you say, you'll figure it out.
TONY: Navy Captain Jake Marsden.
Single, no family, well-liked.
But according to his unit, the only thing he made time for was his job.
It's kind of sad, really.
Precisely why you should reconsider lunch with Wendy.
McGee and I searched Marsden's car, nothing that IDs the female travel companion.
- Perhaps she was our mystery caller.
- McGee, hotel phone records.
Prior to the murder, our victim made one outgoing phone call from the hotel room.
To a cell phone registered in his own name.
- You track it? - It's been turned off.
- Incoming to the room? McGEE: I already ran a backtrace.
- The call to the hotel came from PALMER: Hey, team.
Just came to introduce my future father-in-law, Ed Slater.
This a bad time? Go ahead.
Okay.
Ed, this, uh Mr.
Slater, this is, uh, our fearless leader, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Over here we have Special Agent Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo.
Stop speaking, James.
I don't need their dossiers.
Only here for a few hours, but what a pleasure.
- Welcome to NCIS, Mr.
Slater.
- Ah.
Can't say enough about your future son-in-law and his work ethic here.
Yes, well, that's why I'm here, isn't it? To make sure that if my daughter marries James, she gets him, not the bureaucratic baggage that comes with a government job.
You know? - No.
- No? No.
I'm sorry.
Did you just say "if she marries him"? Big "if.
" Let me ask you something, Special Super-Agent Gibbs.
You the only team leader who makes his folks work Christmas Eve? I guess when Uncle Sam calls, you answer, even when he calls collect.
[CHUCKLING.]
Ha! I think we've seen all we should in the squad room.
Why don't I show you, uh, any place else? [WHISPERS.]
I'm so sorry.
He's a pleasant man.
McGee, phone call to the hotel.
McGEE: Traced the number.
Call came from a courtesy phone in an outlet mall in Fillmore, Maryland.
That's two hours from here.
If our mystery woman was at the hotel, how did she get out there? Find her.
Find out.
Pulling mall security footage now.
DUCKY: A visit to the National Christmas Tree.
Followed by a production of The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center.
Sadly, captain, your visit to D.
C.
Was much too brief to enjoy our city's holiday fare.
He always talk to himself? Actually, Mr.
Slater, I am conversing with our victim.
Well, it's a waste of time.
In my experience, the dead are dead.
And what experience would that be? - Well - Ed owns a funeral home.
Heh.
I guess that is where Breena got her passion for embalming, huh? - You know, I always used to tell her - You're speaking again, James.
Uh.
I'm a professional mortician, Dr.
Mallard.
Then you should know that everybody has a unique story to tell if asked the right questions.
Maybe.
But, uh, as much as you talk, this poor guy can hardly get a word in edgewise, huh? [ED & PALMER LAUGHING.]
I think it best if you two wait outside.
- Yeah, I'll second that.
- Look Motion carried.
A lot of things to see.
This is fun, huh? Doc, what do you got? Confirmation of cause of death and this.
When I took off the captain's clothes, I found it stuffed deep in a pants pocket.
Dried blood.
His? Well, that's up to Abby.
But apart from the bullet wounds, which are fresh, there's no other exterior signs of trauma anywhere.
Well, it could be from our missing woman.
Well, if it were, it would suggest that in addition to being on the run, she could also be wounded.
[PHONE RINGING.]
- Abs? ABBY: Can you come to the lab? GIBBS: Yeah, I'm on my way.
Abs? Abby? ABBY: Back here.
Oh.
Thank goodness it's just you.
Jimmy and his grinch-in-law have been stalking the halls spreading ill-will and yuletide yuck-ness.
Hey, did he try to pick a fight with you in the squad room? - No, he was just being - Unseasonably, unreasonably rude.
He's being a father-in-law-to-be.
If he knows what's good for him, he's not gonna come "a-wassailing" within at least 20 feet of my leaves of green.
- What have we got? - Mall security footage, courtesy of McGee, and the kind people at the Carroll County Outlet Shoppes, the jewel of Carroll County.
I don't think there's a lot to do in Carroll County.
Did you find our female caller? Granting you your first Christmas wish, Gibbs.
That is her, calling the hotel.
Now, if the blood on the rag that Ducky found is hers, she doesn't appear wounded.
Get an ID? No.
But I think I know where she is.
Watch when she turns towards the camera.
If you are who you say, you will figure it out.
- Bag? - Yeah.
It's from a women's clothing store.
She knew that we would watch the security footage.
She wants you to come find her, Gibbs.
Nice work.
Tell DiNozzo to have local P.
D.
Meet us there.
Welcome to Carroll County.
You must be NCIS.
Snow is really coming down out there, huh? - So they, uh, sent a mall cop, huh? BILLY: No, sir.
I'm a county deputy.
Officer Billy McCormick.
I was the only one on duty when you called.
You got an update, deputy? Yes, sir.
I canvassed the store but haven't found anyone in distress.
Whoever you're looking for must have left already.
How hard did you look? I talked to every single solitary person.
What about in the dressing rooms? Well, no.
This is a women's clothing store, so TONY: Yeah.
Yeah.
We are looking for a woman, though.
Get everybody out of here.
Will do, boss.
Good job, though.
Good job.
MAN: Can I have your attention, please? Everyone needs to leave the store immediately.
Exit is this way.
Please.
- Federal agents.
Go on, get out of here.
- Okay.
[THUD.]
NCIS.
Yeah, I've seen fake credentials before.
Hand over your weapons.
There's only one way to get a Marine's weapon.
What do you know about it? You a leatherneck? Where do you think I got this haircut? If you aren't the ones that killed Jake, that means they're still out there.
- You think they're after you too? - I know they are.
Jake wasn't the target.
I am.
GIBBS: Did my I.
T.
S.
At Camp LeJeune.
You like it there, Lieutenant Reynolds? Call me Emma.
And yes, I did.
- Wish like hell I was there now.
- Weather is getting pretty bad, boss.
Tractor trailer jackknifed on the highway.
It's bumper-to-bumper.
You out getting coffee, DiNozzo? No, no, no.
This is hot chocolate for the pregnant lieutenant.
Uh, listen, everyone, I don't want any special treatment.
I'm a Marine first and pregnant second.
- Hoo-rah! - Hoo-right.
ZIVA: I will gladly take the special treatment.
I like mine with extra marshmallows.
The little tiny ones, please.
Who do you think I am, your elf? Actually, I'll take one with marshmallows too.
Heh, thought you said you didn't want any special Extra marshmallows, coming up.
So who is after you, lieutenant? I don't know.
Only ever been a squared-away Marine until eight and a half months ago.
I was stationed outside Kabul.
Our unit was training local Afghan soldiers.
One of them spoke English.
His name was Amir.
Things got romantic.
Heh.
At least what passes for romantic in that hellhole.
Sand can get in some pretty inconvenient places.
- Any disciplinary action? - I took responsibility.
CO made me forfeit two months' pay and sent me stateside.
- Thought that was it.
- But? Last week, I noticed I was being followed by a black SUV.
I would shake it, then another one would show up.
- Multiple people were following you? - Three men, separate SUVs.
I got one of the license numbers.
It was registered to the Department of Defense.
- Call McGee.
Have him follow up.
- Mm-hm.
So you skipped town with Marsden? Jake's an old friend.
He offered to drive me to my parents' place in Ohio.
But that's when things got crazy.
They followed you.
They tried to run us off the road.
I cut my hand when the window broke.
And we lost them, but I started feeling woozy, so we went to the hotel.
When Jake didn't come down, I knew that I had to get out of there.
Why didn't you call the police? If these guys were government, they would send local LEOs looking for us too.
I don't know what this is about or how far up this goes.
Well, you can trust us.
Thank you.
Where's the father now? McGEE: The baby's father is dead? Yes.
Amir Mayat died in an IED explosion back in May.
It says here Lieutenant Reynolds went on leave after the incident.
What about the in-laws? They must have some interest in the child.
Well, according to her statement, she and Amir kept the pregnancy a secret from his family.
You know, Agent McGee, all of this is in her personnel file.
You don't need me to read it to you.
Hang on.
What is it you really wanna know? Is that file the only record DoD has on Lieutenant Reynolds? - What do you mean? - Someone is having her followed.
You think it's us? We're DoD, not CIA.
- We don't usually do that kind of thing.
- Usually.
Why would we care what Reynolds does on her maternity leave? We have reason to believe that three gunmen, using vehicles registered to the DoD, murdered a Navy captain and are now after the lieutenant.
What are you suggesting? You know how many vehicles we have registered in this city? Thousands.
They get stolen all the time.
I'd be happy to check our database for you.
I understand that, sir, but you're not answering my question.
Is Lieutenant Reynolds on your radar? Agent McGee, the only thing on my radar right now is Santa Claus.
I understand, sir.
But you will let us know if you find out anything on Lieutenant Reynolds? Even if I did, I couldn't tell you without authorization.
Feliz Navidad.
GIBBS: Yeah, Abs? - Gibbs, what are you still doing there? The snow is falling faster than my holiday spirit.
There's a pregnant Marine being hunted on Christmas.
- Heaven and nature are not singing.
- I'm waiting on intel and escort from state troopers.
Tell me what you got.
Background on Lieutenant Reynolds' baby daddy.
Amir Mayat.
And he is not a poor farmer.
The Mayat tribe controls a massive and critical land parcel just outside of Kabul.
- The family is wealthy.
- Extremely.
And Amir was the sole male heir.
- Till he was killed.
- Yes.
- And if Emma has a boy, then - The kid inherits everything.
Practically royalty.
At least extremely valuable.
That explains why the lieutenant is still alive.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
They don't want her dead.
They want the baby.
Alive.
- It doesn't explain DoD's involvement.
McGEE: This might, boss.
What, McGee? I did some digging.
I tunneled under the DoD firewall.
Turns out U.
S.
Military forces in Afghanistan are trying to build a trade highway through Mayat land.
It's vital for fighting insurgents and stopping weapons shipments.
ABBY: And the tribal elders aren't cooperating which is costing the DoD millions of dollars.
And if the project goes under, they lose even more.
Well, they need a bargaining chip.
The little baby heir.
By birthright, he'll be head of the Mayat tribe.
They have the kid, they have the land.
- Can we prove it? McGEE: I can't find anything concrete connecting the DoD and our three kings.
Keep looking.
[TAPPING ON WINDOW.]
How long have they been back there? Not long enough.
ED: Door? I can't hear a word they're saying.
PALMER: If you hadn't made that remark about her tattoos, we wouldn't be in time out.
Still got six minutes left.
You do know that there are jobs in the private sector where you could make twice as much money and still be home by 6, right? Hadn't really thought about that.
Well, maybe you should start.
And all I said to her was that girls with tattoos are easy.
Everyone knows that.
Is something wrong? What did you find out? I'll tell you on the way out.
The car is out back, boss.
They started closing highways.
Not gonna open till the morning.
We're on our own.
Back roads? What if someone follows us? - Can't wait any longer.
- I want a weapon.
You don't need one, you got us.
Don't patronize me.
I was the top shot in my platoon.
You think Deputy Dawg has ever seen actual combat? - I did three tours.
- Where is Barney Fife, anyway? I thought he was out back with you.
- I'm sorry.
MAN: Shut up.
- He came out of nowhere.
- Shut up! - He's one of the three.
- NCIS.
Let him go.
Give me the woman.
No, it's not gonna happen.
I don't want to hurt him.
I know exactly what you want.
Drop your weapon.
MAN: You are in no position to make demands.
I'm not, but she is.
Unless you wanna die today, put it down.
Now! DiNozzo, you and the deputy take him back.
We got the lieutenant.
All right, meet you back at the Navy Yard.
On it, boss.
[MAN GRUNTS.]
What's that all about? Hedge trimmer accident? Proof.
- Of what? ZIVA: Nerve.
Initiation ritual, common in Russian prison gangs.
Any of your other friends missing fingers? - You will see for yourself.
- What does that mean? It means we're getting the hell out of here.
Watch your head.
Oh, there you are.
I hear the team is on its way back with a suspect.
Have you heard anything more? No.
Just been waiting on Ed.
What's the matter, Mr.
Palmer? Just a bit overwhelmed, I guess.
My own father was only ever encouraging to me.
No matter what I did.
But Ed, Ed is like Ebenezer Scrooge at the beginning of the book.
A bit of advice: Don't let the disparaging remarks of a myopic individual influence your life.
See, that's just it.
He finally said something nice to me.
- Really? - He offered me a job.
At his funeral home.
He said Breena and I could work together.
Eventually take over the business.
Really? Is that what you want? Me? No.
No, I love NCIS, but I want to make Breena happy.
Doctor, what if this is the only way? Breena will be happy if you are happy.
Tell that to Mr.
Ed.
Russian mercenaries wanna take my unborn child because he's the only heir to land in Afghanistan? We believe the gunmen may have been hired by someone inside the government.
Why? Because that land may be key in winning or losing Afghanistan.
I'm starting to understand why Amir distanced himself from his family.
[ENGINE RATTLES.]
What happened? Is it the engine? Russians.
There is no signal out here.
There's a light up ahead.
God.
[ZIVA GROANS.]
Do you think we can fix it? I don't think we've got a choice.
I saw a garage around back.
I'll help push.
Don't push.
- You guys are still here, huh? - Heh.
Well, I'm Ed's ride, and technically I'm still on duty, so Duty.
Hey.
Any word from Gibbs? Not yet.
What do you think is taking them so long? I don't know.
We left separately.
Must have taken a different route.
Could've hit bad weather.
Did you try calling him? Abby has been calling every five minutes.
Nothing.
And the land lines are down from here to Baltimore due to ice.
We're lucky we have Internet.
Did you find anything to finger our fingerless man? I ran his remaining prints.
Name is Veli Tupolev.
No record in the States, but Interpol's a different story.
Let me guess.
Trained mercenary who's used to hard Russian winters and even harder Russian prisons? Pretty much.
How do you wanna break him? Well [CRUNCHING.]
What? I was hungry.
Didn't know I'd be held hostage.
Wait a second.
Are those Hollander's homemade Christmas cookies from HR? Did she make molasses this year? She did, and they were good.
Then we need to commandeer these.
Police business.
I think I have a way to break our bad Santa.
With what, cookies? What are you gonna do, sugar-board him? Thought you said they were pros.
The injector rail was damaged.
Fuel leaked into the manifold and caught fire.
Yeah.
I'm gonna have to try to redo some wiring.
- I'll see what they've got.
- Uh-huh.
EMMA: The phones are still out.
But I'll keep checking.
Or if you want any help in there, I know my way around a car.
No.
Sit down, rest.
Drink some fluids.
No.
I already did.
I left a couple of bucks on the register.
It felt weird just to take it.
GIBBS: Hey.
Don't worry about it.
It's gonna be fine.
This is not exactly the Christmas Eve that I had planned on, Agent Gibbs.
Actually, I hadn't planned on any of this.
Amir, the baby, people trying to steal him.
Him? Thought you said you didn't know.
I don't, but I can tell.
Heh.
Ugh.
Judging by the way he's punching and kicking me right now, - Come on.
- Think he's gonna be a Marine too.
- Sit down.
- Whoo.
I just wanted to be a Marine.
I guess someone else had other plans.
Yeah.
Wouldn't be the first time.
Do you have kids, Agent Gibbs? Had a daughter.
Were you there when she was born? Deployed.
Well, I guess I kind of have to be there for mine.
Not that I'm complaining, it's just I might be Scared.
The hell you say? - It's all right if you are.
- Not according to the Corps.
That's what I like about being a Marine.
The procedures, the code.
I like having a measurable set of expectations.
I could always tell how good I was doing.
But with this, how do I know? You don't.
But you'll be able to tell.
Mm.
Right now, I think this guy is telling me that it's time to eat.
Well, in that case EMMA: Mm.
- This one's on me.
- Heh.
Thank you.
You know, Wendy used to make the most kick-ass snickerdoodle.
I'm gonna start with a series of true or false statements - Mm-hm.
McGEE: To give us a baseline.
What are you talking about? TONY: Just think of it as a lie-detector test.
With cookies.
You just have to sit there and eat.
McGEE: Okay, here we go.
Your hair is purple.
You have all your fingers.
You were following Lieutenant Emma Reynolds with the intention of abducting her baby.
A little hesitation.
- You see that hesitation? - Yeah, I did.
TONY: Confirming hesitation.
No.
No, I did not hesitate.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You sure about that? You've never committed a crime.
Your favorite color is pink.
You were hired by someone at the United States Department of Defense.
[LAUGHING.]
So you really are working for the government.
No.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Sure about that? So then you must be working for the Mayat tribe in Afghanistan.
[COUGHING.]
- Take that as a yes.
- No.
I just choke on cookie.
It does not mean anything.
Oh, it speaks volumes.
This is stupid.
You're just trying to mess with my head.
Then why are you getting so upset if it isn't true? If the family hired you, they must have found out about the baby.
They need an heir to keep their land.
Not the frosted cutouts.
I will stop eating cookies.
Your prepaid cell we found on you.
TONY: How are you communicating with your other two associates? McGEE: The only number stored on your contacts list is six numbers long.
You're always missing a couple of digits, aren't you? [CHUCKLES.]
Or maybe that's not a mistake.
Maybe it's something else.
- Coordinates? - Code? Password? McGEE: Radio frequency? Radio frequency.
I'm gonna go with radio frequency.
You will never get it now.
- We wrote it down, genius.
McGEE: If they're using radio systems, we should be able to pick up chatter.
TONY: Not out of him.
Okay, try it.
[ENGINE CLICKING.]
Eh.
[GRUNTS.]
Try it again.
[ENGINE CLICKING.]
Given the parts available, this could prove to be a problem.
EMMA: Uh, that's not our only problem.
My water just broke.
I'm going into labor.
Hoo-rah? Good to know you no longer think the government is hunting a pregnant woman.
But I'm afraid I can't help you apprehend the Afghan in-laws that are.
It is Christmas Eve, sir.
Well, that gift would have to come from CENTCOM and about 14 other people above my pay grade.
Yeah.
Let me guess.
It would be wrapped in red tape? Thanks for nothing.
Got something from our gunman's radio frequency.
And given the weak signal, they've gotta be at least 40 miles away.
MAN 1: Where are you? MAN 2: Not too far.
MAN 1: Meet me.
Petrol station outside Ridgeville, now.
Sounds like Russians to me.
Searching for gas stations near Ridgeville, Maryland.
TONY: Pretty small town.
All right, I got a hit on a single service station alongside State Route 15.
Only one reason our gunmen would go there.
- Gibbs.
- Gibbs.
- They're in trouble.
- Could be where they're holed up.
- Did you find Agent Gibbs? - That's what we're gonna find out.
Hey.
TONY: Put it in gear, McGee.
Good luck.
Yeah, good luck.
Why in the world would you say it like that? Why? The weather, the road closures.
They're never gonna make it.
How the hell would you know? They're trained agents.
Well You might not respect me or what it is we do here, but you have got to respect the fact that these people, my people, are risking their lives.
Well, if you're gonna put it like that There's no other way to put it.
Till you can figure that out, we're not going anywhere.
Sit down and shut up.
The last two were less than a minute apart.
It didn't hurt this much when I took shrapnel in Mosul.
- The whole harness must be sautéed.
- Fried.
Ugh.
[EMMA GASPING.]
Unh! Oh, boy, the baby is coming.
Gibbs, we have company.
What do you wanna do? Defend our position.
You stay with the lieutenant, I'll draw fire.
EMMA: Don't you leave me, Gibbs.
I need someone to tell me how I'm doing.
You're doing fine.
I'm not so sure.
Are you asking for special treatment, Marine? Sir, yes, sir.
Just this once.
ZIVA: Hey, Gibbs.
It's okay.
Got this covered.
Thank you.
You might wanna hold off on that.
[GRUNTS.]
[METALLIC CLANKING.]
[EMMA YELLING.]
Push.
Push! Push.
[YELLS.]
Push.
[CONTINUES YELLING.]
[SHOUTS.]
[BOTH GRUNTING.]
[BABY CRYING.]
Is he okay? Yeah, she's beautiful.
It's a girl? She's got her mom's eyes.
Well done, Marine.
[BOTH LAUGHING.]
Ah.
Merry Christmas, Agent McGee.
Agent DiNozzo.
McGEE: Hey, Breena.
- Merry Christmas.
Have you seen Jimmy or my dad? They never came home last night.
[CHUCKLES.]
Guess they got caught up in the case, huh? ED: What's going on? - Yeah.
- What day is it? - It's Christmas, Dad.
You didn't miss it.
Oh, boy.
They're back.
What's happening? The lieutenant okay? ED: What about the baby? They're at the hospital.
Mother and child are fine.
What? They're okay? Oh, look at that.
Cute little bugger.
Reminds me of you, baby.
- She's beautiful.
- She's beautiful.
[LAUGHS.]
Ed, if you're still wondering why we put in so many long hours and make so many personal sacrifices Yeah, yeah, I get it.
And while I really appreciate the offer, I'm very happy right here.
If that's what you want, and Breena is still willing to marry you despite - Dad.
- Yeah? Stop.
Never.
Just don't spend too many nights here, son.
I want you two to have one of those someday.
Merry Christmas, you two.
Pretty pink bike, boss.
Nice tassels.
Yeah.
For Mike Franks' granddaughter.
Oh, I forgot.
Amira and Layla live in D.
C.
Now.
Of course.
So I guess you have somewhere else to be.
Yeah, well, so do you.
Ah.
I went.
Sat in the car for about 20 minutes debating.
I didn't go in.
Decided to swing by Casa de Gibbs instead.
Well, we all make our own choices, DiNozzo.
You think I made a mistake? I think you made it twice now.
[HORN SQUEAKS THEN TONY CHUCKLES.]
Well, when I joined NCIS, I knew what you expected of me.
Everything.
Doesn't exactly leave a lot of room for the Wendys of the world.
Did you come here to blame me, DiNozzo? No, boss.
Good.
Family and job.
Two different cups.
That's right.
And if I couldn't fill both, that was my problem.
Mm-hm.
- What if I can now? - Then get out of my basement.
- Man up and move on.
- Heh.
- Like you have? - Don't be like me.
Learn from it.
Good talk.
[CHUCKLES.]
Merry Christmas.
Hey, are you coming or not? Layla is making lamb.
- You sure it's all right? - Yeah.
I told her you were coming.
- When? - I told her last week.
You're not gonna find what you're looking for down here, DiNozzo.
Come on.