The Best Episodes Written By Gina Lucita Monreal

As Leroy Jethro Gibbs prepares for his first Christmas without his wife and daughter, flashbacks reveal the unlikely journey that led to his first day on the job as a special agent.

After a malnourished and confused 9-year-old is found hiding in a storage unit, NCIS reopens an old missing persons case when the girl is believed to be the daughter of a Navy recruit who disappeared 10 years ago. Also, Bishop discovers notes that Special Agent Ziva David kept on the case long after NCIS officially stopped investigating.

Gibbs and the gritty ragtag team continue their investigation at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office.

The team investigates the death of a famed Marine commander's son, while a pivotal part of Franks' past involving his family is revealed.

Ziva surprises Gibbs with a cryptic warning, prompting him to question why she remained underground for years while being presumed dead by family and friends, and what led to her return.

The NCIS team investigates whether a fire on a U.S. Navy ship that served as a secret detention site for indicted terrorists was accidental or an intentional diversion for an escape. Meanwhile, Gibbs travels to his childhood home following news of his father’s passing.

After the body of a missing Navy commander is found, Vance orders Gibbs and the team to work with former FBI Agent Tobias "T.C." Fornell, the private investigator who was hired to locate him. Also, Bishop and Torres interview convicted investment advisor Albert Hathaway when the victim is linked to his highly publicized trial.

The team must rely on an irritable Vietnam War veteran to solve a Marine's murder.

The NCIS team uncovers a discrepancy with DNA remains when investigating the crash of a military plane that had been transporting caskets.

Sara Carter begs Gibbs to investigate her mother's murder; she believes the wrong man was convicted; Abby is awarded a dinner reservation for two to a new five-star restaurant in an igloo and has to decide which co-worker deserves to go with her.

Following an active shooter lockdown at a naval hospital, the team searches for a suspect who fled the scene; someone from Sloane's past is a key witness in the case.

Following a tip about smuggled weapons, Bishop and Torres engage in a shootout in a former sheriff's residence that's now a historical site, only to find themselves locked in abandoned jail cells there.

Gibbs continues to work with Captain Wescott while he retraces his steps in order to help the NCIS team track down a terrorist. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, Abby’s enthusiasm for the NCIS family dinner is building, and Tony’s curiosity is peaking when he learns Ziva is making special plans for the opera.

Ziva continues to pursue revenge against Eli's killer, Ilan Bodnar, and Vance continues to endorse her actions despite orders from Homeland Security to rein them in.

In an effort to find the terrorist Parsa, Gibbs and the NCIS team track down one of his cohorts using evidence from the drone attack. Meanwhile, an emotionally shaken McGee struggles with the ramifications of the incident.

Xavier and Robinson set their plans in motion while Sinatra works to preserve the status quo in Paradise.

After investigating the murder of a retired Master Sergeant, the NCIS team uncovers a fraudulent charity that preys on those searching for missing military personnel. Meanwhile, Bishop agonizes over the results of her probation evaluation, and Tony contemplates adopting a stray cat that followed him home.

After a 50-year-old tape recording left by a murder victim is found, the NCIS team tries to exonerate Ray Jennings, the Marine serving a life sentence for the crime.

The Batch must decide who to trust as they plan their escape.

NCIS searches for new leads after an undercover operation to apprehend a businessman who uses acts of terror to manipulate the stock market is compromised. Also, Bishop and Qasim find a break in the case together.

Gibbs and the team help Ziva with the "one thing" she said she'd take care of before returning to her family.

When the evidence room is broken into and significant cash goes missing, the team looks into a connection to a recent case. Also, Lala opens up to Gibbs, and Kowalski struggles to move forward.

The Secretary of the Navy partners Gibbs with Dr. Samantha Ryan after top secret information is leaked by someone on the inside.

The NCIS team investigates a Marine’s car accident and ignites some upsetting past memories for Abby as a young girl on the trail of her first “case”.

The team tries to verify the identity of Joe Smith, who claims he served on the U.S.S. Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and wants to be buried there upon his death.