NCIS

Careful, now. This is why we came in early...

so we can get it right before your inspection.

And I really appreciate it,

- Master Sergeant. - Don't kiss my ass.

Just get it right.

Now, remember your breath.

Don't tense up.

But don't be too loose either.

Firm, but gentle.

Like you're petting a baby kitten.

Guess you didn't grow up with kittens.

I had a turtle.

Well, go on.

Fuse is not gonna collect itself.

If that was live, we'd be lights-out.

I know, Master Sergeant, and I really appreciate the...

Are you kidding me, private?

Literally everything

in this room was designed to kill you.

I swear you'd lose your ass if it wasn't attached.

Sorry.

Well, is there a problem, private?

All right, all right. Relax, relax. Take a deep breath.

Let me, uh, let me see what I can find out.

Any of you hearing any chatter?

Uh, can you be a little more specific?

Yeah, 'cause if it's about the omelet bar in the cafeteria,

I think we can finally let that dream die.

No, no, not breakfast. Army CID.

You mean, NCIS in camo?

Those guys. Last time we had a joint case with the Army,

it turned into a full-blown turf war.

Yeah, I know. This is not about a case.

They're facing a RIF.

Reduction in force?

Rumor is...

they're shutting down the whole agency.

The entire Criminal Investigative Division?

- Says who? - I got my sources.

It's the whole agency we're talking about here.

Like, thousands of jobs and cases. I'm sure,

if this was real, Vance would've said something.

Yeah, assuming Vance is still saying anything to anyone.

I've barely seen him lately.

Yeah, rumor has it that

the Army CID is shutting down.

And handing their caseload to us.

Wait, NCIS is picking up CID's slack?

So you have heard something?

Same whispers, yeah.

But I've been around long enough to know

that rumors are like mold.

You give them oxygen, they spread.

Good morning. We're looking for Special Agent Jessica Knight.

Okay. Who's asking?

Army Criminal Investigative Division, ma'am.

Your assistance has been requested at Fort Belvoir.

Urgent situation.

What kind of situation?

We're not at liberty to say,

but you'll be read in once you get there.

I guess you'd better go.

Keep us posted.

CID's already asking for help with their cases?

This mean the rumors are true?

Not sure, but I think I know why they want Knight.

"Standoff at Fort Belvoir."

Remember, be the arrow.

Y'all are the tip, shaft, and fletching. I'm the bow.

And on my command, we fly.

- Go. - Major Malone?

NCIS Special Agent Knight. Hear you're looking for me.

Agent Knight. Glad you could join us. Let's get to work.

Still waiting on a sitrep.

Male suspect. Clearly agitated.

Held two men at gunpoint in the ammo warehouse.

Let them go and barricaded himself inside.

Then I'm gonna need a phone with a recorded line,

warehouse schematics, and, uh, eyes on any surveillance feeds.

Is there a problem?

Oh, I'd call it more of a misunderstanding, Agent Knight.

Well, my understanding is that I'm here for a reason.

I'm a trained negotiator.

Well, you were brought here for a reason.

Just not that one.

Negotiations are my job.

So, what then... am I here for the snacks?

Almost. Well, you are the snack.

Come again?

Some suspects ask for pizza or burgers.

But this guy is sitting

on enough munitions to level a city block,

and he only made one request.

You.

Did he say why?

Claims he's your little brother.

- Delta, stand by. - Yes, sir.

Okay.

So, you don't have a little brother.

Uh, no. Just an older brother in Houston

and a younger sister that lives at an ashram in India.

Well, this guy was very insistent, so if he's not

a relative, who the hell is he?

There's only one way to find out.

Hold up.

We still don't know who this guy is or what his endgame is.

But he's agitated, disoriented.

You're walking in cold.

So I need to be crystal clear about protocol.

I'm not here to freelance. I'm here to make contact.

Well, I get that. But in this tent,

I'm Fred, you're Ginger.

I lead. You follow.

Oh.

Well, then just don't step on my toes.

This better be Agent Knight.

It is.

Now I need to know who I'm speaking to.

Jess? Uh...

It's, um, it's me.

Ryan. Uh, Ryan Harper.

Ryan Harper?

My old informant?

Yeah.

You remember what you used to call me?

"Little brother." Your code name.

-We took down that drug ring -Yeah, and you got me out.

You know, you said I deserved a shot at something better.

Yeah, so you joined the Army.

You know, this is a pretty big production, uh,

just to get in touch with me.

Uh... Yeah, well, I, uh,

I tried calling your cell, but I guess you changed

your number, so, uh,

I just, uh... Look, uh,

I just, I really...

I really need someone that I can trust right now.

So, how about you start by telling me

what the hell is going on.

'Cause the guy I knew risked his life to wear a wire,

not to hold a warehouse hostage.

I... I don't want to hurt anyone.

You know? I just... I thought this place would be empty.

You know? Somewhere I could just

go and-and clear my head.

And then those two soldiers came,

and-and I-and I-and I pulled my gun.

And-and...

It was a mistake.

It was-it was a stupid, stupid mistake.

And you let them go. That was good.

Yeah, but then the MPs showed up

and CID right after them, which is bad.

So why is that bad?

What happened right before you got to the warehouse?

No! No. No, not-not with CID listening.

I-I can't trust them. I can't trust anyone but you.

Then come out and we will talk.

I-I can't do that. No, you have to come in.

And turn a standoff into a hostage situation?

Not happening.

Okay, how about we not take out our frustrations

- on things that go boom. - I am trying, Jess.

I am, but it's just, uh,

it's all messed-up. I-I need help.

And I'm here to help you.

So, please, just calm down and talk to me.

You say you trust me? Prove it.

Go-go see Evelyn first, then call me back.

Who's Evelyn?

That's his mother. She lives in Suffolk.

I can have an NCIS team at her house in 20 minutes.

Maybe she'll tell us something.

Uh, I doubt that.

According to Sergeant Harper's files,

his mother died last October.

If your pal

doesn't stop throwing around high-grade ordnance

and asking for dead relatives,

we may have to end this the hard way.

Okay, Alpha, head to high ground.

Major Malone, I think we should slow our roll here.

We don't have a roll.

I have a disturbed suspect in a room full of munitions.

Sergeant Harper isn't trying to hurt anyone. Let me try

and figure out why he is in full meltdown.

Who is he to you?

I told you. A former CI.

I never had a CI request me by name at a standoff.

Seven years ago,

Harper put himself in danger to do the right thing.

Ten months wearing a wire, his life on the line every day,

and he only got through that

because he trusted me to have his back.

And I owe him the same thing now.

I don't have that luxury.

To me, he's a loose flame in a powder keg.

Harper mentioned his mother. We need to follow up on that.

It could be the key to getting him out alive.

Look, you are welcome to wait by the phone