All language subtitles for NCIS - S12E10 - House Rules.en

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[clicking]

McGEE:
Dear Dad,

Merry Christmas Eve.

Because we usually end up
saying the wrong things

when we talk,
in lieu of presents this year,

I'm writing a letter.
Even though a blank page

and a conversation with you
can be equally scary,

I am a published novelist.

I want to tell you
about an unusual case

NCIS had last week,

a case that reminded me of you
because it was about rules.

And, in hindsight,

it's helped me
realize a few things.

About you.

Me. Us.

So here goes.

[horse whinnies on TV] It all started with a news report last week...

[dramatic music playing on TV]

ANNOUNCER:
WJGZ breaking news.

Good evening. I'm Guy Ross.
The nation's capital tonight

is experiencing
a city-wide Internet shutdown.

And WJGZ has just received word
that the interruption

of service may be the result of
a group of coordinated hackers.

Federal authorities say they are
looking into the matter,

but there is no immediate cause
for alarm,

which has many questioning:
is this a coincidence

or is the city
under cyber attack?

Rule 39...

It's no secret you ruled our
house with an iron fist, Dad.

In fact, a coworker
once made a comparison

to the filmThe Great Santini.

I won't name names,

but it was Tony.

You've always questioned
my career choice at NCIS,

but I know
you respect Agent Gibbs

as someone who lives by a set
of rules not to be broken.

For example...

Where's McGee?

I left messages
on his home phone, cell,

and BlackBerry--
no answer.

Rule number three:

"Never be unreachable."

Boss, I'm sorry I'm late.

I couldn't hear my cell.

It won't happen again, boss.

You're right, McGee.
It won't.

Ah, we were so close.

BISHOP:
Yep, less than three hours

from being officially
on holiday leave.

A miracle that would've
been second only

to the birth
of little baby Jesus.Mm-hmm.

Then we get a call at
9:30 on a Saturday night.

Clearly you had big plans.

Are those your pajamas?

In winter, I put my sweats
in the dryer

just before bed,

so that when I get under
the covers, it's warm.

And Gibbs called

and it felt like a waste
not to put 'em on.

Where were you,
the shooting range?

Yes. On a date.

No "Silent Night" for you.

GIBBS:
It will be now.

Okay. What do we know?

Uh, well,
that the civilian Internet

and the military Intranet
are two separate things.

TONY: Yes. The wonderful
laypeople of Washington, DC,

may not have their computers,

but we can still Christmas shop
online.

And why we've been asked
to help.

This is big, Gibbs.
A DDoS attack that crashes

all of DC takes
a massive coordination

of users and botnets.

[no voice]Uh...

So...

pretend that this filing cabinet

is a local service provider,

and you want to
access the Internet.

So...

It's pretend, boss.

Open it.

Except my computer is already
pretending to use that drawer.

Try another one.

Mmm... I am also pretending
to use that drawer, too.

Try another one.

I don't like this game.

Okay, so now imagine hundreds
of hackers doing that

1,000 times a minute.

What is the point?

We don't know.
It's the calm before the storm.

Well, what's the storm?

City infrastructure?
Taking out vital transportation

or power grids?

Or it could be
a targeted data breach.

Washington, DC,
is chock-full of targets.

Which is why cyber divisions
of the FBI, Homeland,

NSA, and Metro are all on

the highest alert.Where is McGee?

He is down
in the cyber basement.Along with everyone else,

looking for answers.
Or a connection.

Or a lead.
Anything, really.Well, it sounds like there are

enough people working
on this one right now, boss.

Yeah, uh, and my sweatpants

are getting cold.

Oh, I do hope
you aren't hinting at leaving.

No, no, no. We're here to work.No, no. I think she was
just talking about...

I'm not a computer
person, so...
Yeah.
Break...

does not start
until we figure out

what the hell
is going on.

Find something!

Fast!

[phone rings]Mm-hmm.

Ooh. I'm gonna go out
on a limb here

and say Abby's got something.

Hey, Abbs, you got something?

Do you think
I'd call you just to chat?

So, how was your date
last night?

It was good. Never got a chance
to reload, though.

Okay, um, I'm sending you
something right now.

Hey, Abbs.
McGee.

You're back already.

Yeah, cyber division
can handle this without me.

Aw, they kicked you out.

So "clique-y" down there.I know.

Besides, all they found was
the username of the guy

who was trying to get all
the hackers together to hit DC.

Message boards. I read them.
It's Krampus.Yep.

Involved in every major U.S.
hack in the last three years,

yet no one's been able
to get close enough to I.D. him.

Luckily, I have
my research.

Vintage Krampus postcards.

McGEE:
This is terrifying.It's German.

So St. Nicholas gives
gifts to the good kids,

and Krampus kidnaps
the bad ones and eats them?

America watered it down
to coal in a sock. Boring.

Is this your research?
No.

[chuckles]
I've been running down

Krampus's history
of hacks and cracks

and phreaks and
spams and smurfs

and general online
mischief and identified

three people
who've had past encounters

with our Christmas demon.

Person of interest A...

I.T. Kevin?

Yeah. He dealt
with Krampus attacks

when he was NCIS
systems administrator.

Yeah, before he tried
to sell

a computer virus to terrorists.

Person of interest B,
Heidi Partridge.

Kindergarten teacher
turned dark webmaster.

ABBY:
And allegedly sold goods

to a user named-- wait for it,
wait for it-- Krampus.

So who's number three?

Ajay Khan.

Former cyber terrorist.

This is the connection
we've been looking for.

These three can tell us
what Krampus has planned.

Abby, we either

put these people in prison
or we made sure they stayed.

It's a bad idea.No, it's not.

Yes, it is.

Gibbs knows
that I speak their language.

He's gonna send me
to talk to 'em.

I'm gonna be in charge.

This could be
the worst Christmas ever.

Come on, McGee,

let your Grinch heart grow.

Abby, listen, please, please
just keep this between us.

Oof.

[indistinct chatter,
phones ringing]

Listen, boss, I know we need
to find this Krampus

before whatever
he's planning happens.

But talking to hackers?

I mean, we're gonna go
to each prison

and talk
to three criminals

who aren't gonna answer
the questions we ask 'em.

I just...

I think it's a waste of time.

I agree.

Really?

Yes. Which is
why they're coming here.

Prison transports
will be here first thing.

Oof.

What? There a problem, Tim?

No, boss.
It's a great plan.

Tony's idea.

So Tony's taking lead on this?

[Gibbs chuckles]

No, you are.

You speak geek.

TONY: Anything to
close this case

and open my vacation--
so go get your binary buddies

to cough up some info,
will you?

Even if it means breaking
rule number one?

Which one?

Both.

Never put
your suspects together,

and never screw over
your partner.

Merry Krampus.

McGEE: We talk a lot about
fathers at NCIS.

And for good reason.

As federal agents,
we not only deal

with the legal code
of justice--

we also have a personal code
of rights and wrongs,

instilled by our parents.

The disciplinary code

of Team Gibbs is heavily influenced by our dads.

Gibbs learned from his father.

Tony's still trying
to figure out his.

I hear Bishop's dad
has rules of his own.

And Ziva's dad was, well,

not kosher.

But now with three criminal
computer hackers coming

into NCIS, it was my turn
to play the parent.

And I must admit, Dad, I saw
shades of you coming through.

What the hell is this?
They're all in one van?

Responsible
government spending.

Oh, why start now?

You know, I didn't
actually think that we were
gonna break rule number one.

We use it to our advantage.
From what I understand, uh,

computer geeks can be
a little competitive.

This sucks.

When are we going back
to prison?

Hey, guys.

Nice to see you.

We're missing
prisoner gift exchange.

KHAN:
And the holiday chow.

This is the only week
we get two rolls.

My gift exchange
isn't until Wednesday,

but I still need to shop
for my cell mate.

He's very... picky.

Shut up and get out
of the truck.

Line up outside the van.

Nobody say anything.
This is voluntary rendition.

My lawyer's checking in
to make sure

that we're still in America!

Inside voices, children.

No talking, inmate.

Oh, I remember you.

You're just the computer nerd.

Who's really
in charge here?

Not Agent Gibbs.

I'm not allowed to be in
his eyeline ever again.Hey.

No talking.

I'm the one in charge,

and you're gonna respect
this badge or else

you'll never...

get another roll again
in your life.

[whispers]:
Don't let 'em get to you.

Which is easier said than done.

That's why
it's rule number ten.

When did you start caring
about the rules?

My rules.Yeah? Which ones?

Rule ten.

Never get personally involved
on a case.

I think I killed someone, Tim.

Sarah, I'm a federal agent.
I have a responsibility.

Tim, I didn't come
to a federal agent.

I came to my big brother.

Forgive me, Director,
for not putting the integrity

of NCIS before my sister.

It won't happen again.

And this is...?

A peace offering
while you're here.

Ugh... trade me.

These are too small
and jingoistic.

Oh, no, actually, those
are mine from my locker.

He won't want them.

Oh, I'd be more than happy to
get in your pants, Agent Bishop.

HEIDI:
Imagine,

a horny computer geek.

Oh, it's an
open invitation.

I can be hot
for kindergarten teacher.

[sighing, groaning]

What's that
supposed to mean?

Exactly what it says.

No CP for you
and you and you.

It's also

an obscure film reference--

Breakfast Club.

More old movies? Move on, man.

If we can't use computers,

how are we supposed
to help you I.D. Krampus?

We can't anyway.

Because we don't know anything.

Kevin...

Hey.

[whispering]: We talked about
this in the van, man.

Come on, Kev.

Don't side with them.

It's the first day
of prison all over again.

Come on, man.

Come on!

Okay.

Kevin...

Only because it's true.

I wish I knew
something to help.

Oh, come on!
Are you such hardened criminals

that you don't care
about anyone on the outside?

Mm.
Eh.
Mm.

You all know Krampus.HEIDI:
Knew him.

People convicted of computer
crimes don't get Internet

privileges in jail, and I've
been in for over a year now.

Two years.

Three months, but the first
months are really hard.

Anyway,

the point is, boys and girls,
in Internet years,

we've been out of contact
with our world

and your hacker for decades.

Until we get computers,
or access to the MTAC.

Mm-hmm.
[laughs]
Yeah.

HEIDI:
The Internet's out citywide.

You wouldn't have brought us in

unless something bigger
was about to happen.

We might be willing to
figure out what that is.

Mm-hmm.

[phone ringing]

Ah. Yeah, boss.

[Gibbs speaking indistinctly]TONY: Uh-huh.

Okay, got it.

The attack?
Do we know what it is?

It's over.

[elevator bell dings]

The Internet's back on?!

The real Internet,
for the huddled DC masses?

I didn't touch anything.

But it does mean the hackers get

to go back to jail,
which is great news.

It's weird news.

I mean, there were
no residual effects?

Bad guys didn't leave
anything behind?

No viruses? Nothing?

No. I mean,
the attacks just slowed down

and then eventually stopped.

I'm running
server tests now.

I don't know, McGee.

I just feel like we're getting
played here, like we're gonna

wake up
on Christmas morning, and...

[phone ringing]...all the trees
and presents

in Whoville are
gonna be gone.

Oh, Sarah.

Do you have Christmas plans
with the family?

Yep, the whole fam,
including Dad.

Oh, that's good.

So, are his chemotherapy
treatments working?

[computer chiming, blipping]

Oh, server test
came back.

Uh-oh.
I knew it!

A single server farm in
Anacostia is still under attack.

Why would all the other attacks
just stop?

Unless we arebeing played.

McGEE:
Rules number 36 and 40.

And then, of course, there's
my favorite rule, number 36.

If you feel like
you're being played,

you probably are.

Gibbs mentioned rule 40.

If you think someone's out
to get you, they are?

This one is just addressed
to "NCIS Special Agent."

I think that's
mine, McGee.

Evacuate, get everybody
out of here.

Abbs!
Oh!

McGEE:
Suffering the consequences
of the rules is like

being sent to your room
without dinner.

You know, Dad,
when you did that,

Mom always brought me
a grilled ham-and-cheese

20 minutes later.

But your punishments
still stung.

However, as a kid,
I never realized

that enforcing the rules
can feel just as bad.

You don't want
to be the bad guy,

and whether you're sending kids to their room

or criminals to prison,
sometimes it has to be done.

Gibbs! Gibbs!
Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs!

The citywide attack was just

Krampus's little helpers
causing a distraction

so he could hack a lone server.

We know what he's after, boss.Congressional e-mails?

ABBY: Krampus wants
to send a message

to the naughty U.S. government.

KHAN:
More leaked crotch pics!

Finally, truth
in Washington.

McGEE:
Hey, government

e-mail accounts contain more
than just lewd selfies, okay?

ABBY:
Yeah, there's deployments

and anti-terrorist
strategy memos.

Giving ISIS a Christmas present
this good, they might convert.

Good luck with
that, sweet cheeks.

Stop!

Thanks, Gibbs,
but I can handle myself.

No, not him. You.

They're not going anywhere.

Boss, they're-they're
talented hackers,

but we can't let
them near a computer.

How else are
they gonna help?

Figure it out, McGee.

Don't waste good.

McGEE:
That's rule number five.

Sometimes it's hard
to tell the difference

between rules and punishments.

Go.

Where did Tony
and the hot one go?

KEVIN:
The team likely went to go
check out the server farm.

Standard procedure.

You wish
you were there, daddy-o?

KEVIN:
Server technicians
would have taken

the entire place offline
after NCIS discovered

it was the target.

Yeah, 12 hours later.
Krampus has the data.

It's just a matter of when

he releases it.
You need to get us online.

Or the intel leaks,

and the country sees
Congress's ineptitude.

Win-win.

KEVIN: If I were them,
I wouldn't let you guys

near computers, either.

What? You werethem,
which makes you a traitor.

[phone chimes]

[beep]

If they move, shoot 'em.KHAN: Hey!

If you're not gonna talk to us,
why the hell are we in here?

I want my two rolls!

Your "roll" is staying
out of the way.

McGEE:
Of course, rules are up
for interpretation.

Gibbs's rules aren't just
for being a good agent,

no more than your rules
about not using the kitchen

for science projects
were about food safety, Dad.

So, the dead guy was
at the server farm, huh?

Hooked up to a utility box.

Hacking servers using
on-site data lines

is risky and unusual, but...

It possible?

It is that magic time of year

when anything's possible.

McGEE: Who is he?GIBBS: Uh, no I.D.

His prints aren't
in the system.

You recognize him?

Boss, that's not how
anonymous message boards

and hackers usually work.

No, don't recognize him.

Ducky's got the body in Autopsy?

KHAN:
Field trip!

Who wants to
see a dead body?

McGEE:
What are you guys
doing out here?

I told you to shoot 'em.

Uh, my idea, Tim.

HEIDI:
Those are sorry excuses

for personal
computers.

Nice monitors.

They're government issued.

By the First
Continental Congress?

[Khan laughs]

Hey, MTAC.

Bet the monitors
are newer in there.

Not really.

Enough. You're gonna
identify the body.

Come on, bring 'em down.

Wait-- boss, you want them
to go to Autopsy?

People online don't know
what each other look like.

It's-it's anonymous,
it's impersonal.

Tim, it's about to
get very personal.

The mean and very
raggedy-looking Belsnickel,

Knecht Ruprecht
with his bag of ashes.

Oh, and the creature-like

Krampus with his rusty nails...

[groans]
and chains and bells.
I mean, what better way

to show the light
of Father Christmas

than to examine
the dark alternatives?

GIBBS:
Cause of death, Duck?

Uh, well, organs

show signs of malnutrition
and enlargement.

They are consistent
with exhaustion

and high blood
pressure.

A heart attack is
not out of the question.

KHAN: I read about
a South Korean dude

who died from playing video
games for 27 days straight.

Urban legend.

No, no, no, no, what Mr. Khan
is saying is possible.

Prolonged lack of sleep
and improper nutrition

cause immense stresses
on the body.

KEVIN:
So, did this guy die while

extreme hacking the servers?

Oh, it's inconclusive thus far.

But I have estimated
the time of death

as late last night
or early this morning.

Oh, Krampus called in the threat
to the media at 10:00 a.m.

Mm.
It's not him.

No, if he was hacking on-site,
he'd have a computer with him.

Right.
It would help I.D. him,
Agent Gibbs.

In the snow, all night long.

That's gonna need
to be dried out before using.

Six to eight hours.Yeah, more like 12.

HEIDI: Well, not if
it's a solid-state drive.

It wouldn't take as long.

We can't afford to wait around
while Krampus decides

when and where to leak
the sensitive intel.

This guy's not Krampus.
He works for him.

A lackey.KHAN: Right,
but if we can I.D. dead guy,

we connect him
to Krampus, and...

[Khan laughs]

Not that we care.

No, never thought you did.

We're the bad guys,
remember?

Even Santa Claus needs
a team of elves.

McGEE:
Another Gibbs rule.

SHEPARD:
Rule number 15--

always work as a team.

Okay, more left.

[grunting, Tony bellowing]

Oh.

Oh.

[grunting]

Oh, come on.

Aah! It's about time.

I love you, McGee.

So, I guess this whole teamwork
thing is out the window?

No way!

Working together
is always better.

Then why did Agent Gibbs
leave us down here?

And why won't you

let us into your lab?

Hey!

Stay in the line of sight.

I'm confused.

Do you trust
us or not?

It's like... A Christmas Carol.

Scrooge was shown all
the facts, and what

he does with them is up to him.

So, we're-we're Scrooge?

We're supposed to just
have a change of heart?

HEIDI:
Because we don't know anything.

So, can we just skip
to Christmas future?

If only wishing made it so.

[phone chimes]

Another dead body?

No, it's my sister.

We're coordinating
Christmas presents.

Hey, uh, you
never did say

how your dad's doing
on his treatments.

Well, chemo worked
until it didn't.

Surgery is our only option now.

Luckily, he's got one this week.

That's why you didn't want
to do all this.

McGee, you should have
said something.

HEIDI:
It's a Christmas miracle!

You're gonna want to see this.

Are those...?

New computer monitors.

How long have they been
in there?

This invoice is dated
three years ago.

And it just says "Bullpen."

Your tax dollars
at work.

B-Bishop?

Can't talk
given present company.

McGEE:
Because rules number three
and eight

just came into play, Dad.

Rule number three:
Don't believe what you're told.

Double check.

Rule number eight is going
to save you, McGee.

TONY:
Never date a co-worker?

Never go anywhere
without your knife.

TONY:
I thought that was nine.

Never take anything
for granted.

McGEE:
It's just occurred to me

that rules number three, eight, 36 and 40 are the same thing.

And with two rule number ones
and two number threes,

I'm starting to question that
these are honest mistakes.

Is Gibbs making up these rules
as he goes?

Do all parents?

TONY:
So...

Heidi lied to us, boss.

Turns out she was
granted an hour

of unsupervised computer use,
for good behavior.

"Supervised" doesn't
mean monitored.

GIBBS: Pull prison
computer records.
Already did.

Heidi has been using
an anonymous message board.

The prison's site blocker
missed it, but I didn't.

Who'd she talk to?Well,

I used the prison
computers' key logger,

so we only know
what she typed.

Krampus.

Heidi played matchmaker.

Hooked him up
with her underground contacts

to coordinate
the citywide attack.

Location?

More untraceable usernames.

But it does prove
that Heidi knows Krampus.

She could lead us to him.

Could, but hasn't.

No, not yet.

[mellow Christmas jazz plays]

McGEE:
If you're lost, Dad,
let me recap.

Sensitive intel was stolen
from a downed Internet server

by a hacker named Krampus.

If leaked, national security
would be at risk.

So we brought in
three criminal hackers

to help track down Krampus,

although they've done
anything but.

In fact,
we just discovered one of them

has been in recent contact
with him,

and is fully aware
of his plot.

Our only advantage is that she
doesn't know we're onto her.

[elevator bell dings]

KHAN:
Tony.

Miss us already?

You have a call
from your lawyer.

Come on.

Ah.

Told you he'd check up.

The rest of you, no.

You're going
to the conference room.

McGEE:
Did I accuse you of making up
parenting strategies

as you went along, Dad?

Well, I'm beginning
to understand the feeling,

because we were about to trust
a convicted cyber criminal.

Where's my phone call?

Wait a minute, there is no call
from my lawyer, is there?

GIBBS:
Nope.

Sit down.

This another ruse?

Yes, it is.

But this time
you'll be in on it.

What are you talking about?

Krampus is still out there,

so we're forced
to be creative.

Oh, creative--

like making me think
I was about to be murdered

by terrorists in Guantanamo Bay?

It worked.

Wow.

So, what, suddenly you trust me?

Not in the least.

But we did find something
to barter with.

The only thing
you've ever valued.

Money.

Sit down.

McGEE:
Prison visitation records show
that you've been meeting

with Internet
security companies.

You looking to consult
from your prison cell?

Lot of money in it.

Plus, I'm bored.

Yeah, well, so are a lot
of other ex-hackers.

And only the trustworthy ones
land contracts.

Oh, I see,

but if I help you now...

McGEE: We will make
phone calls

and put in a good word
at the federal agencies.

[wry laugh]

So it's hypothetical money.

Wait-- just wait, wait!

Wait. God!

Fine.

What do I have to do?

Just do what you've been doing.

McGEE:
Being a pain in the ass.

And flirting with Heidi.

You stole this cell phone
from Agent Bishop

and you are going to let Heidi
use it to warn Krampus.

About...?

Us.

We're going undercover online.

[scoffing laugh]

Finally.

But wait, so,
wh-why would she trust me?

Not think this is some kind
of setup?

Because you're you,
that's why.

Deal.

[door opens]

Hey, hey.

I said we have a deal.

It's on hold.

McGEE:
As a team,

there are rules
we choose to ignore

because the benefits promise
to outweigh consequences.

Number 22 is one of them.

Rule number 22:
Never, ever bother Gibbs

in interrogation.

Working.

Gibbs.

I know you hate being
interrupted during

an interrogation,
but this is important.

Oh, it better be.

Gibbs. Hi.

Uh, could I see you
a second, boss?

Never interrupt an
interrogation, McGee.

GIBBS: Abbs?

[pounding on door]

Gibbs, enter.

Quickly.

Can't be too careful with
criminal outlanders

roaming the highlands.

You two got something?

Ducky and I have been working

to I.D. our server-farm snowman.

DUCKY:
Cause of death wasn't simply
from prolonged

computer use,
but from a rare disease

called fatal
familial insomnia.

Also known as the
inability to fall asleep.

When the disease
first presented itself,

it might've been seen as a bonus
to a hacker.

Until weeks of sleeplessness

took a toll on his body
and it shut down.

Usually the patient falls
into a coma and dies.

But, in this case,
heart failure got him first.

You said it was rare.

Our victim never reported
that he had the disease, but...

His father did.ABBY: Yep.

He died when his son
Lyle was five years old.

Lyle became a ward
of New Jersey

until he came of age
and became

a web designer
and a Krampus disciple.

Notify local police.

They're already
at his apartment

collecting computers
and cell phones,

and anything to
lead us to Krampus.

Who, good news,
hasn't leaked any intel.

Only because, bad news,
he's putting it up for bid.

Everyone from TMZ to ISIS
is licking their chops.

Can't wait for them
to pay up, Abbs.

Means the deal with Khan
still stands?

Unless you give me
something first.

McGEE:
I have to admit that Abby

is another example
of a rule often broken

by our team: rule number 12.

Never date a co-worker.

Hello, Jethro.

♪

He stay at your place?Yep.

You sleep
in the coffin, McGee?

[scoffs] I can't believe
I slept in a coffin.

Not just slept.

[moaning]

McGEE: But every rule
exists for a reason...

...because it can come back
to bite you, or worse.

I found those
nice new monitors for you.

I thought we'd use them.

How do you read
these things?

Look, don't make us regret
letting you in here.

I regret agreeing to the terms.

BISHOP:
All right, Maryland forensic lab
just posted a copy

of Lyle Trigget's hard drive.

You type like
an eighth-grader.

You smell like horny concrete.

KEVIN:
Uh, Tony, you can't do that.

Why not?If we're trying to create

an undercover
message board alias

to infiltrate chat rooms,
you can't make

your username Serpico73.

Why not?Pacino was a cop.

Yeah. That way,
they will never suspect me.

Girlfriend?

Sister.

Sarah, hey, listen,
I can't talk right now.

I'm in the middle of...

Wait, what?

When?

Why didn't he tell us?

Well, I can't be there
right now.

[McGee sighs]

Talk to him.

I have to go.

That didn't sound like
Christmas-present coordination.

No, it didn't.

Told you, every word
these guys say is a lie.

McGEE:
It's not about presents, okay?

My father cancelled his surgery
and instead of me being there

to convince him otherwise,
I'm stuck here with all of you.

HEIDI:
Well...

I need a bathroom break.

Agent Gibbs,

may I have a hall pass?

Door's right over there.

No detours.
Okay.

Don't get lost.

Okay.

KHAN [quietly]:
Hey.

Here's my chance.

Give me the phone.

Our deal.

The restrooms are right next
to each other. Come on.

Forget about it.

Hey, come...

Dude, look, about your dad,
I'm sorry.

Okay, I am.

But I can do this.

Shh.

What the hell are you doing?

[quietly]:
Bathroom break.

I don't think they saw me.

What do you want?

Um, mm...

To make out.

[snickers]
Yeah.

What's in it for me?

Hmm...

Oh.

Oh.

McGEE:
No activity yet.

KEVIN:
You made a deal with Khan?

I think I would've been
a better option.

Shh!
Shh!

Phone's on.

Why is she using the camera?

Is this part of the plan?

Oh, no.

[Tony groans]

Boss.

Ew.

He double-crossed us.

McGEE: Like I said, Dad,
a lot of things

can come back to bite you.

KHAN:
Hey.

GIBBS:
Gift exchange is over.

I was just getting started.

Tell me about it.[Heidi giggles]

I need a cold shower.

Ooh, that wasn't part
of our deal.

[laughing]
You told her?

[panting]:
Well, like you said,

I'm me.

Furlough free time is over.

I want a lawyer.

McGEE:
Gibbs's rule number 13:

Never involve lawyers.

Sorry.

[laughs]

Rule number 42:

Never accept an apology
from someone

who just sucker-punched you.

[phone chimes]

Guess that visit
to MTAC is out.

You mad, bro?

I'm disappointed.

I'm done with all of you.

A parent makes the rules
to help.

But you can't
force kids to follow them,

no matter how hard you try.

They have to make
their own choices.

I suppose I owe you an apology

for those times, Dad.

Which is breaking
yet another rule, actually.

Douglas VonDorothy. AKA Krampus.

You found him?

Yes. With Abby.

Our dead guy
in autopsy kept records

of his message board
chats with Krampus.

They gave away
personal details--

hobbies,
regional indicators.

Info that you could track
on social media

to get real names.Mm-hmm.

Only one of which had

a criminal record
for computer crimes

and fit what we already

knew about Krampus.

Where is he?

Uh, photos on his
EveryoneIEverMet.com

profile show him
in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

His parents own a cabin there.

It's cold, but isolated.

FBI field office in Chicago?

Make the call.

Let's just hope he hasn't
found a buyer yet.

Problem, Tim?

Always be specific when you lie.

People that hide online
know that better than anyone.

Boss, this feels...Too easy?

Yeah.

If they show up
in Wisconsin and Krampus

isn't there, he's gonna
disappear with the intel.

Hold on.

Am I sending FBI SWAT
to Wisconsin?

Let's ask her.

Who, Heidi?

Why would she talk now?

Show her who she's protecting.

Boss, can you give that
to someone else?

I can't take it anymore.

I said from the beginning
that this wasn't gonna work.

These...
It's a waste

of time.
These guys are criminals.

They're not worth it.

McGee...

...rule 51.

Fifty-one?

What is...

I wrote it down once.

That's who you're protecting.

Is there anything you want
to tell us before the FBI

get to Wisconsin
and arrest him?

You still don't have
anything else to say?

Kevin, you wanted to help.

Now's your chance.

Read his record.Yes. Anything.

Finally.

"Douglas VonDorothy:

"while not shutting down
cities as Krampus,

"uses other usernames
to perpetrate

"acts of online stalking.

"Gathering
personal information

"of ex-girlfriends
or wives

"for the purpose
of continued

harassment or slander."

Revenge porn.

For hire.KHAN:
Don't listen.

This is
a made-up file.

That's a photo
of some guy from HR.

This is just a ruse
to guilt-trip you.

This man also has
a history of hacking

the cell phones
of random high school girls

and holding embarrassing
pictures for ransom

or posting them online.

Most of these victims
are underage.

Did this guy have a mother?
This keeps going.

That's enough for now.

This wasn't political
or someone seeking truth.

For once, the avatar
matches the man.

You're protecting a monster.

So what?
I thought you got him.

So what?

That's all you have to say?
How can someone

be so callous and cynical?
At Christmas?

You're a criminal,
too, Bob Cratchit.

Except I would give
anything to make up for it.

You two are just hopeless,
heartless humbugs.

Heidi, listen to me.

You made bad choices

and you were caught.

You're a criminal.

But not doing
the right thing because

you have nothing
to lose or gain?

That just makes you
a bad person.

But that's
not you, is it?

Kevin's wrong.

I was wrong.

It's okay to admit.

Rule number 51.

Sometimes you're wrong, Heidi.

[laughs, voice breaks]

Believe it or not,
before all of this,

I was a good teacher.

[cries]

I taught my students
right and wrong.

To clean up their messes.

Krampus isn't in Wisconsin.

But you know
where he is, don't you?

Mm-hmm.

Left a mess
I have to clean up now.

McGEE:
That happens to be
rule number 45.

And what I slowly realized

Gibbs's rules are all about.

What they're meant to prevent.

Messes. Problems.
Screw-ups. Mistakes.

But when messes
and problems happen,

the rules are also there
to protect us.

And because each of us
live by those rules,

we know that no matter
how many we break,

no matter how much we screw up,

there will be someone
to save us.

[helicopter flying over]

Which is what Christmas
is about, too.

Someone giving us
a second chance.

Like a parent.

A father.

FBI agents raided
the Jacksonville

retirement community

where known hacker

Douglas VonDorothy lived

with his elderly parents,

under false names.

VonDorothy was arrested
and taken into custody.

I told you
I'd get into MTAC.

There he is.Our Cyber
and Special Operations

Division have recovered
hard drives

thought to contain vital
security intel stolen

from Washington, DC, Internet
servers late last night.

[soft whistle]

[whispers]:
Nice, Tim.

McGEE:
The case helped me
recognize all the hard,

thankless work
you put in over the years.

That while I've learned
a lot from Gibbs,

it's only possible
because of how I was raised.

By you.

You may not have numbered
your rules, Dad, but...

they were meant to teach
the same lessons.

You taught me to always
be prepared.

Always stand up for yourself.

Then go. I'm staying.

But if you're wrong, admit it.

I'm still leaving out
a few, but...

maybe hitting them all
was too lofty a goal.

Dad, how can you say that?

It's not about you, sometimes.

Oh, I'm stubborn? Gee, I wonder
who I get that from?

[sighs]

No, we have the whole week off.

There are other
agents here, Dad.

Look, I have to go.

I'll... I'll see you in an hour.

Notice anything
different, McGeek?

We installed the new
computer monitors.

You touched my desk?

It was their idea.We wanted
to thank you.

What? No, we...
Don't say that out loud.Speak for yourself.

No, no, no. This monitor should
be more to the left and...

Okay, let's go to the van.

Nobody needs to see
this part of Tim McGee.

Come on, I.T. Kevin.Come on!

You didn't even bundle
all the cables? Oof.

What are you still
doing here, McGee?

Your dad made time for you.

Return the favor.

McGEE:
Postponing that surgery was
you doing everything you could

to make sure we had this
last holiday week together.

Not in the hospital room,
but as a family.

All of us.

Why you couldn't have just
said that is beyond me.

But I guess I'm the one
who has to write a letter.

Communication was never
our strong suit, Dad.

And we haven't always
seen eye-to-eye.

But your rules,

my breaking of them,

our ensuing arguments,

the resulting punishments...

[knocking, door opens]

Uh, people will
be arriving, Tim.

Uh, just another minute, please?

Sure.

Every moment with you...

from growing up
to these last few days--

it meant something to me.

I've heard it takes a man

to make a man.

Well, you've helped make me one.

Before I say good-bye, Dad...

I just want to say thank you.

For everything.

[voice breaking]:
Merry Christmas, Dad.

I love you.