'NCIS' season 12: Donna Kauffman recaps episode 2

Welcome back! So, last week in our season 12 premiere, we went a little Hollywood with the whole movie-in-a-TV-episode high-stakes drama plot. We met our potential new Big Bad for the season and kicked things off with a bang. Lots of them, in fact.

This week, we settle back into our tried-and-true Murder of the Week routine, and I have to admit, it feels good. Like welcoming back an old friend. Relax, we're in for an evening of NCIS murder-solving goodness with Gibbs and crew!

We open in my hometown of D.C. with some lovely exterior shots of the Mall, the Washington Monument in the distance, as we zoom in on our Unsuspecting Dead Body Finders. In this case, it's a father and his young daughter, doing the tourist thing, albeit a little too cutesy-perfect, taking photos, including one of the presidential helicopter as it flies overhead (even though we know it doesn't travel solo, but hey … it's TV, we roll with it). Then Dad spies a Navy officer's hat lying under a bush. A blood stain alerts him to possible foul play, so young daughter gets moved out of eye range while he takes a peek behind the bush. And … yep. Dead Navy Guy. Cue opening credits! We're on!

We open at headquarters with Tony taking down the photo of last season's Big Bad, Benham Parsa, from the most-wanted wall and handing it to Bishop as a keepsake. She files it in the nearest trash can. And yes, this season's Big Bad, Sergei, takes his place. Enter Special Agent Tim, who appears a bit weary. Turns out the long-distance romance with sweetie Delilah, who is in Dubai, is burning Tim's … um, candle. At ends we'd rather not know about. Tony wants to know if they're only sharing faces during FaceTime chats, and Bishop's all, "Ew, who goes there?" Tony reminds her — and us — that as a single guy, he'd welcome any kind of face time at the moment. So would we, Tony. So would we.

Aaaand, cue Gibbs. "Let's go, single guy. Dead Navy officer on the Ellipse."

Ahh. My show is back.

Gibbs is chatting with a handsomely chiseled member of the park police who is telling him about a recent spate of muggings in the area, all conducted by a guy with a knife. He says they're calling him the Polite Mugger, as his victims say he's largely apologetic as he robs them. You know, at knifepoint. Young guy, Caucasian, wears a backpack. Their only photo of him is fleeing one of the muggings, but the photo isn't helpful because it shows only the back of his head. Gibbs smiles and tells him he's got a forensic tech that can work miracles. (Go, Abby!) Sgt. Chiseled is skeptical, but we all know better.

Tim finds out our dead guy is Lt. Commander Ned Wallace, who works for the Pentagon and who's missing his wallet and, apparently, his watch. Ducky says he's been dead about two hours and is sporting a number of large knife wounds, including some on his hands. Bishop discovers that the heavy tree canopy has blocked the view of any security cams. They're interrupted by a phone ringing … which turns out to belong to the victim. Tony notes the incoming number is blocked as Gibbs barks at him to answer it. Tony does, asking who is calling, then laughs and tells whoever is on the other end to stop being a wiseass. Only … yeah. Not joking. He hands the phone to Gibbs and says, "You might want to take this. It's the president. Of the United States. Of America." Heh. Gibbs looks down the Ellipse through the gate to the White House in the distance as we go to black-and-white freeze frame.

Back from commercial, enter Gibbs and Director Vance into the special agent bullpen. Gibbs has visited the president and found out Wallace shadowed him as an aide for four years during his first term in office. They still played pickup basketball together every weekend, and he'd contacted POTUS the day before, asking for a few minutes of his time. Tony is still upset that he called the leader of the free world a wiseass. I know, right? Vance is called away as Gibbs explains that when Wallace was a no-show for their meeting, POTUS called his cellphone. He had no idea what it was Wallace wanted to talk to him about.

We go to the Screen of All Knowing as the team fills Gibbs in on our dead commander. Third-generation Navy, comes from a good family, married, no kids, worked for the White House until the previous year and has been on a Navy assignment at the Pentagon since then.

Cut to the Abby Lab where she is doing some online retail shoe therapy as Bishop comes in with Park Ranger Sgt. Chiseled. And ohh! So he is going to be the Abby romance? Oh, I'm a big fan of that idea. Abby seems to be on board with that idea, too. She catches him staring at the spider web tattoo on her neck, then he immediately rolls up his sleeves to reveal his own ink. And when Abby recognizes the artist, he starts unbuttoning his shirt. Show us more, Sgt. Chiseled! (And you wondered what a romance author was doing recapping this show? Stick with me. I know things. Chiseled things.) Abby grins at Bishop, certain their little tattoo display is boring her, and though Bishop tries to be all, "Hey, I might have a tat," when her bluff is called, she directs Sgt. Chiseled to show Abby the photograph they got of the back of the Polite Mugger's head. Abby sees a reflection of the mugger's face in the granite wall of the Vietnam Memorial and is asking about getting the original digital file, but frankly, all we're interested in is whether or not Sgt. Chiseled could please move that still dangling tie of his, you know, a few inches to the right.

Oh, OK. We move over to Tony and McGee with the Wallace widow in a conference room who wants to know where her husband's body is being held. Tony tells her Ducky will contact her when he's done, then Tim asks about her husband's planned meeting with the president. She reveals she hasn't seen her husband in a couple of weeks. They were in a trial separation. She was living at home, he was staying on their yacht in the Washington Channel, within easy walking distance to the White House. McGee asks about the watch they suspect was stolen due to the tan line mark on his wrist. She tells him it was his grandfather's watch, worth a lot. Tony questions how he has a yacht and pricey watch on a Navy salary. Turns out, he had an heiress relative and a nice trust fund. Tony might have drooled a little at that while McGee asks about counseling. She says they were working things out on their own.

Moving downstairs with Ducky — who, I might add, is also looking quite lean and dapper this season — he informs us the murder weapon was a tactical knife with a 6- or 7-inch blade. Angle of the wounds proves the attacker was about the same height and probably left-handed. As Gibbs leaves, Vance enters to discuss another matter with Ducky. Gibbs spies him handing Ducky something as the elevator doors close. And we know that's not the end of that.

McGee and Tony disagree on the grieving widow's potential as a suspect, with Tony thinking she's innocent and McGee more uncertain. Bishop has found calls to and from a woman on Wallace's phone records … and the plot, it thickens. The woman works for a tech and security firm started by a former CIA guy, and McGee's all, "Ohh, he was having an affair and wife found out about it," but is surprisingly thwarted from that track by Tony, who cautions they need to know more first. Look at Tony, being all … un-Tony-like.

Back at Abby Lab, Sgt. Chiseled is singing her praises as Gibbs comes in for an update. Sadly, our handsome park ranger has buttoned up his shirt again. Abby was able to get a name for the Polite Mugger as Sgt. Chiseled is all, "She's so cool, like she does this every day." "She does," Gibbs responds, somewhat bemused. Both of those things make me happy. Go, Abs! Chiseled takes Gibbs' arm as he goes to leave, earning him a "are you really doing that right now?" look, but before Sgt. Chiseled can get his question out, Gibbs smoothly says, "She's not married. And no, she's not dating anybody." HA! Abby gives Gibbs all the info he needs on the mugger dude while he smiles at her all twinkly and knowing, then leans in and busses her on the cheek. Oh, I do love it when he plays Papa Gibbs. Gauging from her happy smile, first at Gibbs, then at Sgt. Chiseled, so does Abby.

Gibbs and McGee confront mugger dude on his practice field on his college campus, where he informs them he's a criminology major. "Oh good," Gibbs says. "Today you're going to get a practical education and see how the system works firsthand." Our boy Jethro is on fire this evening! Mugger Dude panics when Gibbs tells him there's a murder involved in their investigation and comes clean on being the mugger, but not the killer. He lets them inspect his backpack as proof. Where McGee finds a nice long tactical knife … made of rubber. So, yeah. That's going nowhere.

We come back from commercial to Gibbs in his basement and Vance coming down the stairs. Vance is all, "I had to tell the president we don't have anything yet," but we know that's not at all the real reason for this scene — er, visit. It's time to find out what he gave to Ducky. Vance declines a drink, then shrugs like a 5-year-old when a smiling Gibbs wants to know what they're really going to talk about. I'm liking this more easygoing Gibbs. Stern when needed, but a bit more humor near the surface. Keep that stuff up, Jethro. OK, so back to Vance. If he was seeing Ducky, then clearly it's a medical thing. So the only question is, how long does he have to live? As we hear about spots on Vance's lungs, Gibbs is all business now, and Vance tells us it might be lymphoma. Advanced stage. (I told you.) He showed the film to Ducky who tried to downplay the potential, but it is what it is. And though we're all sad for Vance, what's really sad is the possibility his kids will lose their other parent, after having so recently lost their mom. Gibbs cuts into Vance's pity spiral and tells him he has to stay strong even as he's clearly unsettled himself by the news. So much for happy, smiling Gibbs.

Back in the special agent bullpen, Sgt. Chiseled is there to collect confessed Mugger Dude and Abs races in and offers to take him to the holding area. And the cuteness is multiplied as they both smile. Aww, it's about time, Show!

McGee finds out there is a Wallace marital prenup, strengthening his belief it was the wife, who will come into a tidier sum now that hubby is dead. Gibbs comes in and spies the Other Woman's photo on the Screen of All Knowledge and asks where they are in getting info on her. Turns out, she and Wallace were midshipmen together, so longtime acquaintances and apparently current lovers. She's not at her apartment, and they haven't, as yet, tracked her down. Gibbs instructs Tony to take Bishop and go check out the yacht, then tells McGee to head to the Pentagon to talk to Wallace's commanding officer. Private anguish notwithstanding, I'm liking this sort of smooth and calm as always, yet quite wry and dry Gibbs.

On the yacht, Tony mulls over what it would be like to live aboard, while Bishop is all, "I'd need a bigger bathroom. And a yard." She reveals that she and her husband got into a lot of arguments looking for a house over the summer, that he was more like Tony in what he wanted, so she felt completely out of sync with him. "I think that's just called being married," Tony says. I'm liking the banter. We haven't had enough of this yet, with Bishop and the crew. Tony finds photos of his wife tucked away in a drawer and sees it as proof that he's entertaining other women. Bishop takes one look at the wifely photos and says there has definitely been another woman on board. How does she know? Scrunchies. Wife has short hair. Too short to need them, and yet they are on board. And the shampoo is for blondes, whereas Mrs. Wallace is a redhead. Other Woman Courtney Reid, however, is a blonde. Tony is admiring Bishop's burgeoning detective skills.

Back in the bullpen, Gibbs sees Vance meeting upstairs with Ducky, but McGee comes in and reports that Wallace's CO had nothing but glowing things to say, didn't know about the separation and never heard of Other Woman Courtney Reid. Then Tim's phone rings and it's a video call from Delilah. He shoves the still-ringing phone back in his pocket. Gibbs is all, "You gonna get that?" McGee, possibly blushing, stammers that he'll deal with it later. Gibbs does the knowing smile thing, and we all nod in agreement. Ohh, Timmy! Doing Nekkid FaceTime, are you? Heh.

This is what I missed the most about this show during last year's "Ziva is gone, hello, Bishop" season. I'm happy to see the easy camaraderie and blend of serious and sly, deadly but charming is back.

Bishop and Tony bring Abs lunch as she tells them she found info that Wallace was drawing up divorce papers, leading Tony to wonder if he was fooled by the grieving widow, while Bishop wants to know just how many sets of prints Courtney left on that yacht. Um … many, as it happens. So very many. Not looking good for the widow. So naturally, it can't be her. Which begs the question … who did? Tony and Bishop head out with the intent to go to Reid's apartment, but end up in MTAC instead when their BOLO for Reid's car gets a hit. We see the mangled car in the background as a Sheriff Marge tells Tony that the car went through the barrier, down the embankment, into the water. No body in the car, but Marge feels the current would have taken her downriver and that means a possible days' long search.

Back at Vance's office, he's telling Ducky that the doctors all agree it looks like lymphoma. So he's in for surgery to get a tissue sample, so he will know for sure. We find out he hasn't redone his will since his wife's death and needs to figure out who will care for his children. Fade to black-and-white screen.

We return to Gibbs and McGee talking with Courtney's boss. She hasn't been at work and they've had no calls from her, which is uncommon, according to her immediate superior. They are met by Mr. Colford, founder of the company, and after both men deny knowing anything about a Commander Wallace, Gibbs asks to see her office and computer. Colford says he'll comply, but needs to get appropriate clearance first. I'm not liking this guy. You? I knew he wasn't right when we saw his face on the Screen of All Knowledge. Something fishy … but how?

We shift to Vance's office where he's ruminating about his past, we get a clip of him and his wife and kids from a previous season, then in comes the nanny, who is worried about being called to this office. He assures her that it isn't anything bad, quite the opposite. He tells her about the biopsy and asks her to watch the kids. He'll tell them he's going out of town, not wanting to scare them until he has more information. Nanny understands and reassures him that they'll be all right … and that so will he. We like Nanny.

Cut to interrogation room with Tony and McGee … and the grieving widow. I'm torn on whether to use air quotes on the grieving part. I don't think she's all that upset that hubby is gone … but I don't think she did it. Either one of the its. Hubby or the Other Woman. Too obvious. They confront her with the revelation of the divorce papers, which seem to surprise her, but she doesn't see the connection between them and his attack. When asked about Courtney, she tells them Other Woman was an old girlfriend. They tell her the "old" part isn't so relevant any longer, then point out that a divorce wouldn't gain her nearly as much money as his death would. She has a small laugh, realizing they think she had something to do with his death. She has this odd not-really accent. What is that? Anyway, she refuses to say more until she has a lawyer present, and out she goes. McGee gives Tony a look as he escorts her out, like, "You still think she's innocent?" I don't know about Tony, but I'm hoping it's a red herring. I still think something's up with Colford.

Back in the bullpen, we get random hunky agent stopping to ask Bishop how she likes working for Gibbs. Um. OK. Don't get me wrong. I'm thoroughly enjoying the increased hunk quotient on the show this year — and that includes Ducky! — but … what? He's all, "I heard Gibbs can be a real hard ass." And, cue Gibbs. "He's standing right behind me?" Uh huh. Hunky agent is dismissed, and Bishop tells Gibbs that given Other Woman's credit cards hadn't been used, she looked into Wallace's cards. He booked a room the night before his death using the alias Regina Lambert. Tony knows its an alias, a take from the classic Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn movie Charade. A woman fitting Reid's description checked in two nights previous. Tony wonders if the wife and Reid might be in cahoots somehow, prompting Gibbs to wonder if the wife said something to make him think so. He says no, she's lawyering up, then is pulled away by McGee's ringing phone. "Oh, look, it's Delilah!" he says, picking up the phone. Oh … no, he didn't. To Gibbs' dismay and Tony's very shocked surprise, he did. And yes, she was. Very.

Tony and McGee arrive at the yacht with Tony telling McGee he hardly saw anything. Just enough to know McGee is a very lucky man. Heh. Then McGee spies Reid, and the foot race ensues. Tony wins that race. She seems convinced they are lying about being law enforcement, that they are part of whoever she thinks is after her — ah! Cue her evil bossman, Colford! I knew it!! — until Tony shares enough of what they know to make her rethink that assumption. They tell her Wallace is dead and she doesn't believe it until she sees his body. She confirms they were going to be married after his divorce.

Now upstairs with the whole team, she tells them she found a critical flaw in Colford's company computers that could make it easy for the top security documents they have access to, to be made public. McGee confirms that their firewall is laughably easy to get around. She told her boss, who wanted to fix it and cover it up. So Reid went over his head direct to Colford. He knew if word got out they had shaky security, it would ruin the company. Colford became paranoid about the news leaking and started restricting her access inside the company and she thought she was being followed outside of work. She was heading to her parents' cabin when she was run off the road. She didn't see who did it, but managed to get out of the river and to her folks' cabin. A call to Wallace got her the hotel room he booked and a promised call after his meeting with the president about the situation. A call she'd made to Wallace from her company line likely led whoever tried to kill her, to kill him. Tony privately gloats to McGee, that he hasn't lost his touch after all.

Cut to the basement of the Colford building where Courtney's boss is getting ready to do … something nefarious, for sure. But he's stopped by Gibbs and Courtney, who he is clearly surprised to see. Also? He's a lefty. And … bingo! OK, OK, so it wasn't Colford directly, but I was close!

Cut back to the bullpen where we see Tony apologizing profusely to Delilah, who is oh so much better at raking him over the inappropriate use of someone else's phone coals than McGee could ever hope to be. Lecture earned. Of course, he's already smirking when he mentions to McGee that she will call him later, so … yeah. In comes Abs, looking for Gibbs. Bishop wants to know if she's gone out with Park Ranger Sgt. Chiseled yet. She says no, that she can't put her finger on it, but … maybe it's because he's too good-looking. Causing Tony to privately wonder if maybe that's his problem, too. Oh, Tony. And oh, Abby! Come on!! We throw you a bone. A very hot, chiseled bone. With surprising levels of ink upon his person. And you reject our gift? I'm ever so bummed. Mostly because we want you to have love. But partly because we were hoping to see where else he might be inked. Hey. Just keeping it real here, in Recap Land. Her more immediate worry about not being able to find Gibbs and Ducky leads us to …

… the hospital. Where we see Ducky in talking to Vance's surgeon. Surprisingly, in comes the nanny … with Vance's daughter. Who, last we heard, wasn't supposed to know anything about the surgery. Turns out, Vance is going to be OK. Not lymphoma. We learn daughter overheard Nanny on the phone with Ducky. She tells Daddy Vance that he should have told her, that she's the woman of the house now and strong like her mom. Aw. She also tells him she didn't tell her younger brother, thinking him too young to handle it. Vance smiles, knowing his kids are maybe doing better than he gave them credit for. Enter Gibbs, who asks how he's doing. Ducky tells him he'll have to take it easy for a while, and Gibbs promises daughter he'll tell her if he's not doing as he needs to. She smiles … and so does Gibbs.

Can we end every show with him smiling? Pretty please?

Good episode! I love that my show is back. And all my favorite NCIS family along with. What say you? Thumbs up?

How about a thumbs up for some Swagapalooza Prizes as promised from last week's premiere ep giveaway? I thought that might keep the smiles going. As I mentioned, I am also celebrating the release of my most recent Bachelors of Blueberry Cove novel, and thought it might be fun to give away a copy of all three books in the series, in paperback and audio, along with some matching swag! Which means there are SIX winners this week. I know! Here we go! A copy of Pelican Point and the canvas tote go to Patricia Williams. Half Moon Harbor and the charm necklace, compliments of Joyce Taber and The Cotton Thistle, go out to Quinn Fforde. Sandpiper Island and the charm bookmark — also from The Cotton Thistle — now belong to Cathy Carruthers. Audiobooks were also up for grabs. Lynda Phillips scores Pelican Point, Shelley Rogers gets a copy of Half Moon Harbor and Leeann Achzet wins the download of Sandpiper Island.

Winners, drop me an e-mail to donna@donnakauffman.comand we'll work out getting your prizes to you. Congratulations! And thanks to everyone — and I mean everyone! — for all the enthusiastic entries and the wonderful dishy notes!

Now, just because you weren't one of the Big Six this week doesn't mean you have to end the night all mopey. When Gibbs smiles, we all smile. So, how about this? Next Tuesday marks the re-release of my Christmas anthology, The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap, coming out in mass market paperback size, with a spiffy new cover and some new recipes thrown in as well. Want a copy? I mean, it's Christmas cookies and romance. What's not to love? Well, I have three of them to hand out, so step right up! Drop me an e-mail to donna@donnakauffman.com with "Mmm. Sugar Cookies. I want!" in the subject line. And, if you care to dish about tonight's episode, please do! I'll announce the winners in next week's recap. In the meantime, if you want to know more about what I'm writing when I'm not dishing on all things Gibbs, check out my website at www.donnakauffman.com and my Facebook fan page.