When a six-year-old boy informs the NCIS team that his father was kidnapped, the team discover that the missing man is actually a lieutenant commander working on a secret project.
A boy who was killed in a collision with a train wants Melinda's help to reassure his mother that his death was not caused by her. Melinda's mother-in-law pays Melinda and Jim a visit and they have a deep conversation.
Jake's return to Jericho after a long absence coincides with a deadly explosion that catapults residents into chaos, as they wonder whether they are the only people left alive.
Stark takes on the challenging case of a prominent surgeon who stands accused of murdering his wife, but there is no body or apparent motive. Also, Stark finds himself having to explain his relationship choices to his daughter.
The team members attempt to recover a five-year-old boy, Ethan Heller, who was in the back seat of his family's SUV when it was apparently carjacked. They initially explore the possibility that kidnappers want to secure a hefty ransom from Ethan's affluent parents. However, they soon start to suspect Ethan's father, who his wife and colleagues report has been acting odd lately.
