All language subtitles for NCIS.S22E09.Humbug.1080p.HEVC.x265-MeGusta-NH1

"'But you were always
a good man of business, Jacob,'

"faltered Scrooge.

'Business,' cried the ghost..."

"...wringing its hands again.

"'Mankind
was my business.

"'The common welfare
was my business.

"'Charity, mercy, forbearance

and benevolence
were all my business.'"

Man, what is this crap?

Cut it out, Zanella.

Give it back.

It's bad enough we inherited
this hellhole from the Brits.

Now we got to listen
to their boring books, too?

- Respect the classics, Marine.
- Yes, Lieutenant.

Let's see this.

Stay alert.

We're moving out
in about 20 minutes.

It's almost dawn.

Never understood ghost stories

at Christmas anyway.

Pay attention.

It's a reminder.

That mankind is
our business?

Damn straight.

Especially the man to our left

and the man to our right.

Understood?

Oorah.

Contact!

- Enemy fire!
- Down! Down! Down!

Watch your six! Guard your six!

Left side, left side!
Left side, left side!

Changing positions!
Changing positions!

Evan, get down!

Grenade! Grenade!

Morning, McGee.

Reflecting

- on this special season?
- No, actually,

I was thinking about how if this
was real snow, it wouldn't melt.

It's been three days, we still
have no heat on in here.

Yeah. Maintenance
says it's coming.

In the meantime, might as
well get warm by the fire.

God bless paperwork.

And warm kringla,

the heart of Norwegian "hygge,"

otherwise known
as "coziness."

Good food, good people,

- warm fire.
- Just in time, too.

- I'm all right.
- Because our fire

is about to run out of paper.

And the peoples

are going to get frostbite.

Holidays are all about
making the best of things.

Everybody got plans?

We got kids,

Santa and Delilah.

Doesn't get cozier than that.

I got board games
and listening to my dad

complain about retirement.

How about you, Torres?
Family time with your sister?

She's out of town.

You want to come over
to my place or...?

Oh, thank you, man, but, uh,

Jimmy already booked me.

Christmas with the Palmers.

I hope you're ready
for some caroling.

- Lots and lots of caroling.
- Brutal.

Well, speaking of

unexpected guests,

looks like
Deputy Director Laroche

is back in the building.

He's been overseas.

Are you stalking him?

No, I'm just keeping tabs.

Because he got
the job over you?

I thought you had moved on.

I did.

There-there is something off
about this guy.

Okay, Laroche just spent
the last two months

doing a "friendly" tour of
every NCIS office in the world.

- Friendly? That guy?
- Exactly.

I mean, the guy's
had the job five minutes,

he's using it
as a political stepping stone?

Or maybe he's just
spreading Christmas cheer?

Happy holidays,

everyone.

Ah, same to you,
Deputy Director.

Oh, please call me Gabe.

Interesting place

for a copier.

Lot of paperwork.

It's just, uh,
end-of-year reports.

And makeshift handwarmers?

Relax. I am not here

for a lecture
on wasting office supplies.

My job is simply
to help you do yours.

All set.

Although I should
mention that each ream

costs this agency $7.29.

Mm, there it is.

Deputy Director Laroche.

Media blackout order
from the DoD?

Wonder why they don't want us
talking to the press.

Yes, sir. On our way.

The, uh,

director wants to talk to us.

Good morning, sir.

We got a problem.

Yeah, you're hogging
all the heat.

Must be pushing 90 in here.

It's being worked on.

Right now
this is the real issue.

Excerpts from an
upcoming tell-all book

- have just been leaked.
- That explains the
media blackout.

Darkness at Dawn? I take it

this, uh,
tell-all isn't flattering?

No, they never are.

The book accuses a Marine
of gross negligence

during a Taliban ambush in 2010.

- That was a long time ago, sir.
- Maybe,

but the ambush resulted
in the deaths of three Marines.

Also, the Marine in question

is Lieutenant
Merritt Hastings.

Hastings?

- That rings a bell.
- Well, should.

He famously threw back a Taliban
grenade during that same ambush.

Lost the use of his arm
when the shell exploded midair.

Attacking a wounded vet
at Christmas?

Who wrote this book, the Grinch?

Since his medical retirement,

Hastings has become
a veterans' advocate.

He's also the face
of a veterans' bill

which is up for vote
in the New Year.

A bill with SECNAV's backing.

And if these allegations
are true,

that bill collapses.

Yeah, along with
Hastings' reputation.

SECNAV wants
these claims investigated

before the book hits shelves
after the holidays.

All right.

On it, Director.

I wasn't finished.

DoD is afraid

that this could land us
on some political thin ice.

Oh, well, we'll watch our step.

SECNAV is offering
a little extra help.

Deputy Director Laroche
has been assigned

to oversee the case.

He'll be working
with you directly.

I appreciate your trust,

Director.

Observing your team up close

will be a gift.

Can't wait.

These excerpts
are kind of vague.

Yeah, but the prose is tight.

They accuse Lieutenant Hastings
of dereliction of duty

- without a shred of evidence.
- Yeah, they're baiting
the readers.

The big reveal's
probably in the full book.

Or it's smoke and mirrors.

Have you ever heard
of this author?

Marley Jaggers?

No, there's no record of 'em.
Probably a pen name.

Yeah, what kind of coward
hides behind a fake name?

What?

I use a pen name for my books.

Yeah, but you're
not attacking anyone.

- This feels like a PR stunt.
-If it is,

the publisher could use
the investigation to build buzz.

So we might be doing
their job for them.

Reminds me of someone else
we know.

Laroche? Getting assigned
to our case?

You think he planned this?

Well, he's been in and out
of SECNAV's office for weeks.

That dude is definitely looking
to score some points.

Maybe he'll be too busy

brownnosing to bug us.

There you are.

Thought you were avoiding me.

Why are we meeting
down here again?

It's where
the bodies are, right?

Also, it's warmer.

Yeah, barely.

Do me a favor and stop that.

Excuse me?

No eating or drinking
down here.

Right. Down to business.

How does this work?

Do I ask questions or...?

We usually start with an update.

Do your thing.
Pretend I'm not here.

Like, uh, Jane Goodall
with gorillas.

Go.

Book excerpts
focus on an ambush

in the early hours
of December 19, 2010.

Lieutenant Merritt Hastings,
uh, led a squad

outside of Sangin.

It's a Taliban stronghold

and one of the deadliest zones
in the war.

The squad was staged

and awaiting predawn orders
to move out.

Until they were hit
from the northwest.

With rifle fire and RPGs.

Uh, including a grenade

that Hastings managed
to throw back.

Saving lives.

But by the time it was over,

there were still six Marines
wounded, three killed:

Privates Howard Rane
and Yancy Bickell

and Lance Corporal Evan Cross.

In each case, cause of death
was bullet wounds.

7.62-millimeter
Soviet rounds.

AK-47. Taliban standard issue.

Entry wounds all match.
No signs of friendly fire.

Despite having shrapnel
in his arms,

Hastings still managed
to drag a man to safety.

He's a hero.

- So... there's no case?
-Sure there is.

Straight-up slander.

Attacking the face
of a veterans' bill

right before the vote?
It's not a coincidence.

But who would vote against
the veterans?

Nobody. That's the thing.

Right, but discredit Hastings

and the whole bill falls apart.

It's smart.

Politically speaking.

So we're looking for
lobbyists, political rivals...

Anyone on the Hill
with something to gain.

I'll put out some feelers.

In the meantime,
we should talk to Hastings.

I've got a call into his
motorcycle shop in Falls Church.

Ooh, custom bikes. I'm in.

Actually, uh,
maybe I should go instead.

Yeah. A political operative
might be more useful.

Wouldn't want Hastings to say
something to make things worse.

It's looking good, Paul.

Billy, double-check
the valve timing

on Ms. Caskey's Sportster.

It's running too lean.

And, Zanella, pay attention.

There's oil
all over the place.

Yes, Lieutenant, on it.

Whoa-ho-ho, watch
your step, buddy.

Wouldn't want to ruin
your fancy loafers.

Oh. I'm guessing you're
here to talk to the LT?

Good luck. He's in a mood.

Can I help you?
If you're here for a bike,

we're booked through April.

Actually, sir, we're with NCIS.

Deputy Director Laroche,
Special Agent Parker.

We'd like
to talk to you

about some recently released
book excerpts.

Have you heard?

- I think he's heard.
-
I'm done hearing.

Got so many reporters calling,
I had to unplug the phone.

We'd like to discuss
what happened that day.

During the ambush.

No need. You've got the reports.

So your official statement is
that you did everything right?

I lost three Marines.

There's nothing right
- about that.
- Sure.

But we're gonna need
more.

You are the face of
a high-profile veterans' bill.

That's not about me.

Someone thinks it is.

They want to drag you
through the mud.

You have

any idea who that might be?

Even if I did,

I don't need NCIS
to fight my battles.

Excuse me.

Hey.

Want to know

what really happened that day?

This happened.

And it would've been a lot worse
if it wasn't for the lieutenant.

He saved me out there.

And back here, too.

And not just me.

I mean, look around.

He only hires
wounded vets.

Pays fair.

Don't let the giant stick
up his butt fool you.

Zanella?

Back to work.

That man would
do anything

to protect
his people.

Where did you learn that?

Daddy desperation.

It's the only way
that Victoria would go

to sleep for the
first six months.

Now I'm forbidden in her room.

Ooh.

Double tuck and tug,
very impressive.

The cold is killing
my equipment.

Oh, well, why won't you
use that thing?

Oh, Torres brought it
down for me,

but Laroche made me unplug it

after he recited
the fire code violations.

- Yeah, of course he did.
- Speaking of Torres,

I heard he's spending Christmas
with you guys, Tim?

- That's so nice.
- What? Wait, no, he said
he was spending it with you.

No.

Why would he lie about that?

Ooh, mystery.

Maybe Torres is going
somewhere super nice,

didn't want to make you jealous.

While we're
on the topic of Christmas

mysteries, any luck IDing

our author Marley Jaggers?

Well, I was kind of hoping
it was an anagram

of the author's real name.

Kind of like our very own
Thom E. Gemcity.

Hmm, I tried all the combos.

Dead ends, all of 'em.

Well, I've been tracking
the online discussion forums

that reference the ambush
in the book.

Found a few
IP addresses.

Oh, that's
more than a few, Kasie.

Not sure
we can run all those.

We don't have to.
I cross-referenced these IPs

with ones that filed Freedom
of Information Act requests

- for the after action reports.
-Have no idea
what any of that means.

- Sounds promising, though.
-
I doubt it.

Most people use VPNs
to mask their IPs.

One person didn't.

Seriously, in 2024?

Yep, just waiting
on the tracking results.

Ooh, okay.

The IP address belongs to...

a Samuel Cross
of Herndon.

Running the name now
to see if there's--

That was fast.

Because Samuel Cross is
a former corporal.

- A fellow Marine?
- He's from the same platoon.

Yeah, not just that.

His younger brother is
one of the Marines

that died in the ambush-- Evan.

Well, if Samuel Cross
is the author,

this is not a smear campaign.

No, it's personal.

Samuel Cross? NCIS.

Yeah, door's open.

Did he just invite us in?

Be right out.

I think we found our writer.

Sorry, I forgot to leave
a tip on the app.

And you didn't bring pad thai.

Special Agents
Parker and Torres.

I know why you're here.

And I've got nothing to say.

Well, it looks like
you got plenty to say here.

It's all in the book.

And I am not retracting a word.

Hastings got my brother killed.

You served with Hastings.

You know what kind of man he is.

He threw a grenade back.

- He tried to save lives.
- Yeah.

Great story.

But I've got a different one.

And the world
is about to read it.

Samuel,

if you've got proof,

why not come to us?

So you can bury the truth?

Like they did 14 years ago?

No.

This was a government cover-up.

Whoa, whoa, what cover-up?

You'll see.

And everyone will know
what Hastings did,

and my brother
will finally get some justice.

And nobody is stopping that!

Hey. Easy, Sam.

Just here to talk, okay?

I'm not. Get out.

Samuel... Get out!

Now.

You shouldn't have met
with Cross without me.

The last thing we need is
for him to run to the press

and scream harassment.

We got out
before it escalated.

That's not the point.

He said the magic
words: "cover-up."

Exactly what SECNAV
wants to avoid.

All right, where are we?

Stuck. If Cross has
proof of wrongdoing,

we haven't found it.

And we're
pulling every report

from the two weeks before
and after the ambush.

We have patrol logs,
comms, mission briefs.

And so far, nothing.

Either Cross is sitting
on something big

or this is some kind
of personal vendetta.

It felt pretty personal.

The guy's in a bad place.

- That's not our business.
- Well, maybe it should be.

Our job is to find out
what's in that book.

How do we get our hands
on the full version?

Well, with
all the media buzz,

publisher has it
on lockdown.

Ooh, maybe
Thom E. Gemcity

could get an advance copy.

- Who?
-
It's my pen name.

I'm a published author.

At least I was.

It's been years. I don't
know, I doubt my influence

is what it was, you know?

Then it's
a waste of time.

We need real leads,
not gimmicks.

Leads aren't always
black and white.

Sometimes you have
to think in color.

- This isn't an art class.
- Well, maybe it should be.

Uh, excuse me,
this a bad time?

Uh, Brian Zanella
from the shop?

Of course.

What can we do for you?

Well, I came to drop off
letters of support

for the lieutenant,
but seeing that?

Yeah, I'm thinking
we talk about him instead.

Thanks.

- Here you go.
- Thanks.

Yeah, you were right.

Warmer out here.

So, you know Samuel Cross?

shouldn't we waitfor him?

He won't mind.

I never thought it'd be
Sam writing that book.

We didn't fight
for ourselves out there.

We fought
for each other.

- Oorah?
- Oo-right.

That's what the lieutenant
drilled into us.

We followed his lead,
even Sam.

What changed?

When his brother died,

Sam just... broke.

Finished the tour
in silence.

And that's the last any
of us ever saw him.

He claims that Hastings got
his brother killed.

Says he has proof.

Nah, I don't buy it.

That's grief talking.

Sam's got a chip
on his shoulder,

and some publisher saw
a chance to milk it.

A book tearing down
one of his own.

It sells copies.

Never mind that it's not true.

Or that Sam wasn't
even there that day.

He was in a med tent
ten miles away.

Yeah, knee injury.

We pulled his record.

It's spotless.

Sam was a good Marine.

Still is.

He's just...

lost his way.

Here, I brought this.

Video from
a combat cameraman

taken two days
before the ambush.

You'll see how
tight we were.

Like brothers?

Hey, Lance Corporal Cross,

you got something
you want to say

to the wife back home?

Uh... maybe later, sir.

My little brother

likes to keep
those messages private.

Newlyweds.

Here, that's Hastings

with the two Cross boys.

Okay.

So you're keeping those
home fires burning bright, huh?

Wow, Hastings really
cared for his guys.

What are we missing?

You know it, you know it, sir.

What happened?

Harsh weather is
rough on electronics.

Uh, scorching desert
or frozen lab.

Been meaning to ask.

What's the deal
with your Christmas plans?

What?

Come on,
Jimmy, McGee?

It's not exactly
your best cover story.

Why you lying?

Ooh, let me guess.

You dress up
like Santa

and hand out presents, right?

Seriously.

Who you spending
Christmas with?

Nobody, nobody.

I just, uh,
I just want to be alone.

You know, recharge.

I didn't want anybody
to worry about me.

Hey, I might have a way
to get that book.

- The full version.
- Oh, ask Santa?

Publisher won't hand it over,

but Cross's literary agent
might.

Out of the goodness
in his heart?

No, out of greed.

Put out the word
that Thom E. Gemcity's

looking for new representation,

and Cross's agent wants to meet.

We just need to convince him

to hand over
the full manuscript.

And who's "we"?

What are you doing?

Getting into character.

Gemcity is very worldly,
he drinks like a European.

And what about his manager?

Is she European?

No, she's all business.

Oh, good.

Thom E. Gemcity.

Martin Gates, big fan.

Deep Six is brilliant.

The words, they come to me.

Hi.

Jessica. Thom's manager.

Thank you for meeting.

Are you sure you want
to do this here?

I know the maître d'
at Renata's.

Yeah, let's just cut to it.

So, with the subject

of Thom's next novel,

we're looking for
somebody who can handle

sensitive material.

Well, that's my specialty.

I'm not afraid
to push boundaries.

Mm, right, like your work
with, uh...

Marley Jaggers.

You heard?

Those leaked excerpts?

- They're my idea.
- Hmm.

Wanted to build buzz
without spoiling the surprise.

And just in time

for people to spend

all those holiday gift cards.

Hmm. Nothing says
"Merry Christmas"

like profiting
from other people's pain.

God bless us, every one.

Jess, remember why we're here.

The money's not the point.

Right.

Thom is looking
for a true partner.

Someone to elevate his work.

We'd love to take a look
at Jaggers' full manuscript,

see how you shepherd talent.

That's tricky.

Security issues.

That is, unless you've got
something to sweeten the pot?

How about an exclusive preview

of Thom E. Gemcity's
next thriller?

Excuse me?

Full book for full book.

Well, no, that's not happening.

- So it's not written?
- It's written, but...

- Then we have a deal?
- Thom,

remember why we're here.

Deal.

Excellent.
Martini?

Martini?

I've read encyclopedias
shorter than this book.

Stop whining.
It's why we split it up.

- Has anybody finished their part?
-
Yeah, I have.

I'm onto, uh, Laroche's
and Parker's section now.

No bombshells yet.

Oh. Wait a second.

You got something?

Yeah. Page 312.

There's a mention
of a radio transmission.

A transmission about what?

"There's a radio call warning

of enemy advancement
toward the squad."

It says the warning came
from company headquarters

ten minutes before the ambush.

That was plenty of time
to get out.

- But why didn't they?
-
According to this,

Hastings blatantly
ignored the warning

and sent his men to danger.

There's no record of this
warning in any of these reports.

- Could be fake.
-
I wish it was.

But that transmission
is legit.

I just talked
to my contact at DoD.

Turns out, the original record

of that transmission was lost
due to a data corruption issue.

No wonder Cross thinks
it's a cover-up.

How did he even find out?

Special Ops team in the
same area also got that warning.

And their logs were intact,

but the op was classified
till recently.

Cross dug through
the declassified records.

His obsession paid off.

Kind of how

your coloring outside the lines
has also paid off.

Nice work

getting the full book.

There has to be a reason
Hastings ignored the warning.

Yeah, maybe he never got it.

That's the million-dollar
question.

This is all in the book?

And Sam Cross is the author?

That's right.

How's he doing?

That's not the issue here.

This warning came

via forward intelligence units,

but we don't have confirmation

that your squad
ever received it.

The radio operator died

in the ambush, and he was
the only one who could verify.

Except you.

Mr. Hastings,

this is your chance
to set the record straight

and clear your name.

It's not about me.

Then think about the bill.

The DoD can push back
on this whole thing.

All you have to do is
say you never received

that transmission.

I can't do that.

Why not?

The book's right.

The warning came in,
and I ignored it.

- Lieutenant, what are you doing?
- Stay out of it, Zanella.

Sir, if there's more
you're not telling us, then...

It was my squad, my call.

I got those men killed.

Yes, I...

I understand you are upset.

No, we don't comment
on ongoing investigations.

Hello? Hung up.

- Same here.
- More calls from the shop?

Yeah. Angry ones.

The employees are convinced
that Hastings confessed

to something that he didn't do.

They think
he's protecting someone.

- So what do we think?
- I think it's a job well done.

We might not
have got the outcome

that we wanted, but we have
enough to move forward.

With what?

Hastings' confession
gives SECNAV

and the DoD exactly
what they needed.

A chance to distance
themselves

and keep
the veterans' bill alive.

And let Hastings
take the fall?

He made his choice
loud and clear.

That wouldn't be
the first time

that he sacrificed himself
to protect his men.

You know, I'm checking
the unit radio logs,

and something's off here.

There's a history

of missed transmissions
and incomplete data.

That's not unusual
for desert operations.

That's true,
but these gaps are due

to failed handoffs,
delayed relays.

No, this suggests
a human element.

- Operator error?
- Possible.

Maybe the warning got lost.

And Hastings is covering

for his radio operator.

That doesn't make any sense.

The operator died during
the ambush. Why protect him now?

The author's

- brother was the radio operator.
-Evan Cross.

Turns out, Hastings recently
assigned him to the job.

You think inexperience explains

why that warning transmission
didn't get through?

I think it explains
Hastings' confession.

Protecting Evan's name
could be his way

of making amends for assigning
somebody unqualified.

At the cost of a veterans' bill
that could help thousands?

Marines don't usually
worry about politics.

Just my experience and

what I gleaned

from working round here.

Should I step out, Director?

I'd rather you fix the heat,
Mr. Kincaid.

Okay.
Look, if

Hastings is going to accept
responsibility publicly,

then our options are limited.

We need to accept
the facts.

We don't have
all the facts.

That's why
we need to keep digging.

Blaming a dead Marine for
an ambush that killed three men?

This will look
like scapegoating.

The last thing SECNAV wants.

- I agree.
- Thank you.

- With both of you.
- Sir?

Our job

is to find the truth.

And if Evan was
responsible

for that communication
breakdown,

then we need to prove it
- without a doubt.
- How?

Hastings won't talk,
and Evan Cross is dead.

They're the only two

who could have known
about those radio issues.

Maybe not. We know that Evan
sent messages to his wife.

If he was struggling
with the new assignment,

he could've confided in her.

You expect a Marine widow

to tarnish her husband's memory?

Marine's family wouldn't
see it as tarnishing.

More like telling the truth
to protect the unit.

I was gonna say talking
to the widow is all we got,

but I like his answer better.

It's political suicide.

Talk to her. Carefully.

Evan will always hold a place
in my heart.

That's what makes this
so surreal.

I became a grief counselor
to help others move on,

but with Sam's book,
the reporters,

I'm the one
that needs therapy.

We'd just like
to clear up a few things

about Evan's time
as a radio operator.

Such as?

Did he ever mention challenges

with the assignment?

No.

Evan was proud of it.

He loved anything
tech-related.

He was always tinkering
with gadgets,

learning everything he could
about that radio.

But it was new for him.

He wasn't some rookie.

Evan wasn't careless.

He knew exactly
what was at stake.

I-I don't normally share this.

It's one of the few things
I've held onto all these years.

Hey, babe.

Can't talk long.
We're moving out soon.

Everything's good.

I miss you,

and I can't wait to see you.

The team's leaning on me,
and I'm making sure

we all are safe, coming home.

Love you.

Evan wanted
to protect his team.

- Now I want to protect him.
-
We understand.

Sounds like Samuel

is trying to protect Evan
in his own way, too.

He's not writing this book
for his brother.

It's for him.

Another way
to bury all the grief.

After Evan died,
Sam pushed everyone away,

shut himself off.

Some people need isolation
to sort things out?

Not if they already feel alone.

Then isolation can lead
to anger, obsession,

and the bottle.

Is Sam an alcoholic?

Whatever he is,

this book isn't going
to change anything.

Sam needs help.

Something on your mind?

Old ghosts.

Hmm. Maybe you and Parker
should compare notes.

Bad joke.
You want to talk about it?

I want to talk
about the radio operator.

Sounds like
he didn't make a mistake.

Then why would Hastings feel
compelled to cover for him?

He wouldn't.

Unless they never got
that warning

in the first place.

- Better turn around.
- Hey, what's going on?

Disturbance
at Samuel Cross's apartment.

What kind of disturbance?

The kind
that attracts attention.

You dishonor Hastings,

you dishonor all of us!

Hey, federal agent.
Stand down, guys.

Open the door! Stop hiding
behind a damn book!

All right, that's enough!

Everybody, back up. Back up.

Back up, back up. There's
nothing to see here.

I've got nothing to say.

- Get out here!
- That's enough!

- Show your face!
- Hey, hey, hey, hey!

- No, no, come on, come on.
- Whoa, whoa!

Get back.

You hear me, Zanella?
I'm pressing charges!

- Stand down!
- Look at me.

Get your hands off me!
Hands off me!

Is it just me,
or is it really hot in here?

- Not just you.
- Of course.

I understand.

I warned you, Agent Parker.
This could've been prevented.

Yes, ma'am. Will do.

That was SECNAV.

She isn't thrilled
to see NCIS on the front page.

Of Hill Hype, not the Post. Doesn't matter.

She's worried about the optics
and where this case is heading.

- You briefed her on the case?
- No.

- I didn't.
- I did.

- You went behind our backs.
- Right after you and your team

decided to press your luck.

- We were just doing our job.
- And look where that got us.

That's got nothing
to do with it!

All right, that's enough. DoD
wants to contain the situation.

So they're accepting
Hastings' confession

and handing over the case
to JAG.

Leon!

has been ordered
to stand down. It's over.

I suggest your team
start their holiday break.

And be thankful
you still have one.

Laroche is still
hovering around upstairs.

Like the Ghost
of Christmas Future?

He finds out
we're still working,

we might not have a future.

Where's Torres?

Digging into
Samuel Cross's background.

Said something about the guy
"needing help."

Yeah, that's what
his sister-in-law said.

Right now we're the ones
that need help.

Hastings confessed
to ignoring the warning,

but there's no proof
he ever got it.

Radio operator
knew what he was doing,

so, most likely
wasn't human error.

So, that leaves
a technical malfunction.

A malfunction that
we still can't prove.

Um...

Password?

"Santa sent me."

Hey. I thought I'd help
heat things up.

Trying to keep
a low profile here, Jimmy, okay?

Yeah, don't worry,
I-I made sure I wasn't followed.

Figured as long
as we're ignoring

SECNAV's orders to go home,

we might as well ignore
Laroche's fire code warning.

Maybe he was right.

This thing
is malfunctioning.

Must be putting out

some kind of interference.

Hold on, hold on. You might be
onto something, Jimmy.

McGee, pull up the footage
from Afghanistan,

of Hastings' squad.

Yeah. Uh, which part?

The interference.

You know it, sir.

Okay, roll it back.

You know it, you know it, sir.

Look at that.

You know it, you know it, sir.

The static only happens when
the radio equipment is nearby.

The message Evan sent to
his wife has that same static.

Com radios are not supposed
to mess with other equipment.

So why did this one?

This is definitely
the wrong frequency.

Look.: Okay.

What does that mean?

What?
What does that mean?

- I-I can't hear you.
- Yeah, turn...

- I can't hear you.
- Okay. Thank you.

All right, you've duplicated
the faulty frequency in a lab.

What does that tell us
about the radio in Afghanistan?

That radio had
an internal flaw,

one that would not
have been obvious.

And the warning transmission?

A radio stuck on the
wrong frequency drains power,

making it nearly impossible

to receive a warning
on the correct frequency.

- So it was a technical failure?
- Exactly.

And there is no way
Evan could have known that.

No one's to blame.

That's the truth,
and we can prove it.

Ooh.
Isn't this good news?

I'm not sure the truth matters
to Hastings or the author.

Once that book hits the shelves,

the public damage is done.

You really think Cross
won't retract? Even after this?

I think he's hurting.

And I might know why.

Been digging
through his record.

Think I found something.

- Something we can use?
- Maybe,

but I'd like to take the lead
on this, if that's okay.

Alone?

Not exactly.

I don't believe this.

I'm disappointed, Em.

Didn't realize this was a setup.

Hear him out. Sam, please.

Have a seat, Marine.

I know about
the faulty radio.

My agent told me, and I told him
it doesn't change anything.

This is not about the radio

or the book or Hastings.

What's left?

You.

What are you doing
with my service record?

We know about
the knee injury.

The deeper I went in...

...the more it all
started making sense.

You don't know
anything about me.

I know you were
a radio operator

like your brother.

So what?

That knee injury kept you
off patrol, didn't it?

Hastings promoted your brother
to take your place,

and that's...

well, that's
what's eating you up.

Hastings tell you that?

No.

You just did.

I know what
it's like,

carrying guilt,
pushing people away,

thinking they can
never understand.

They can't.

Why?

What really happened?

Sam.

You've been blaming yourself

for something
you couldn't control.

You're wrong.

The knee injury...

...wasn't new.

I hid it before
I volunteered for deployment.

Thought I could
just push through.

Like a Marine.

But it got worse.

If I hadn't lied...

...I would have been out there.

I should have been out there.

And Evan should still be alive.

I am so sorry.

S... Sam, it's not
your burden to carry.

You're not alone, Sam.

It s... sure feels that way.

Well, then I think
you should check your six.

Why are they here?

They understand.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- It's not a sauna in here.
- No.

Just as cold as everywhere else
- in the building.
- Oh, here.

This should warm you up. Cross
decided to retract the book.

Pending a rewrite, I hear.
One that sticks to the facts.

Plus, a chapter
on veteran support.

The publisher's not thrilled,
but SECNAV should be happy.

She is. About that.

Not so much about
you ignoring orders.

Laroche?

But he also took the blame.

Covered for your team
by claiming

that it was all his idea.

A Christmas miracle.

My goal has always been
to uphold the integrity

of the United States military,

and I will do everything
in my power

to bring truth to light.

Wow. He really is the ghost
of Christmas future.

Yeah, his future.
He's taking all the credit.

As we face new challenges,

bold, decisive leadership

will define
the next chapter of NCIS.

Next chapter?

- What's he mean by that?
- I'm telling you,

this guys is using us.

Okay. For what?

Was that...

Can't be.

It's warm!

Guess Santa
came early this year.

Merry Christmas.

Lieutenant.

Marine.

Sir, I just wanted to apologize.

You deserve... Stop.

It's not about me.

How are you?

I miss my brother, sir.

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