The next day, they are closing in on their targets, as all of the information is coming together. They hear the elevator ding and McGee looks up expecting to see Abby. Seeing it's Fornell instead, he says "Heads up. We've got incoming." DiNozzo looks up and whines. "What's he doing here?" "Always a pleasure to see you too DiNutzzo," says Fornell. Martin stops typing to ask, "To what do we owe the pleasure Fornell?" He smiles at her. At least one of them pretends to be nice. "I come baring news little ones." The two teams head for the conference room and gather around to hear what he has.
The three Pakistani men under investigation are planning an attack, when the USS Virginia is in port. The men are targeting shipmen and civilians with knowledge of a newly established U.S. weapons program. Depending on the information gained from the individual, he or she will most likely be tortured for information and left for dead. The SecNav and her constitutes want Bishop to go in under cover.
They want to use her young naive looks as an asset. Bishop looks around at her team for their reactions. She is uncertain and scared, but agrees to go for the team. The team, especially Gibbs is upset. Gibbs is worried that Bishop is not ready. She hasn't been with them long enough to take on such a feat alone. He bounds up the stairs to Director Vance's office, trying to put an end to this.
His protests fall on deaf ears, as the SecNav has been the one to place the order. Seeing he is not going to get anywhere with the Director, Gibbs storms out of his office, and back to his team. With a pissed off look, he confirms the news. Martin does not agree with this situation at all. She hates the idea of sending Bishop..their probie in without back up. Before anyone else can say anything, Martin insists that she is going under too. They can pose as friends who have an interest in the sailors who will be in port. Everyone is objecting. They don't want to send their female partners into a death trap. Johnson even insists that there must be a better way.
Tony does everything he can to get on the mission. No matter how much he argues, the powers at be say no. They are willing to allow Martin into the undercover op. However, they can't risk any other agents. The plan is set. DiNozzo gets up and storms out of the conference room with everyone watching. Samantha sighs before getting up to follow him.
After a while, they both walk back into the conference room and sit down next to each other. Tony is noticeably calmer. Johnson again notices the connection between the two. As if nothing has happened, the team starts to discuss their plan of attack. Johnson looks around bewildered by the fact that no one else seems surprised. Not even Gibbs is questioning this behavior. A few hours later, everyone is sent home to prepare for the next day.
That night there is an unexpected knock at Martin's door. She opens the door and is surprised to see Johnson standing there. She sighs and stares at the floor. After a moment, she steps back to allow him into her apartment.
Once the door is closed, they stand there for what feels like an eternity. All the while, Johnson is taking in his surroundings. "What are you doing here Jeremy?" asks Samantha. He tells her he got her address from Abby. "Of course you did." She asks again. "What are you doing here?" Without responding, he sits on the couch and looks at her.
"You don't have to do this, you know." She already knows what he's referring to. "Of course I do. There is no way I'm letting Bishop go in there alone. She's too fresh." Jeremy looks at her, and simply asks "Why you?" She doesn't answer. Instead, she heads for the kitchen, and returns with two beers. Offering him one, she sits at the other end of the couch.
She sits there for a minute and then looks up at him. He is waiting patiently for an answer. His eyes watching everything about her.
"It's easier this way. This is her first time going under cover. Someone needs to show her the ropes. Plus….If McGee or DiNozzo went in, they would have to be a couple. I don't think Bishop's husband would take to kindly to that. I'm not even sure Bishop could handle that."
"So you're risking your safety to make sure some guy is ok with what his wife does for a living?" Jeremy can't believe what he's hearing. Samantha sighs. "Just drop it Jeremy."
For a while they just sit there, finishing their beers. Finally, he's daring enough to breach the subject.
"Are we ever going to talk about the elephant in the room?" Samantha refuses to make eye contact. "Come on Sam. How have you been? Are you doing ok?" Samantha looks up at him. "I'm fine. Met the guys on a case, and never looked back. What's the point?"
That stung a little. For some reason, he felt like that last part was directed strictly at him. He tried to push that away.
"How's everyone at home?" He had met her family during her time at the academy. They had come for a few demonstrations, and of course for her graduation. Samantha finally smiles. "Same as always. I talk to my mom at least once a week. Sometimes that gets difficult, but we make it work."
He smiles, and Samantha can't help but feel her heart speed up a little. Even after all these years, he still has that affect on her.
He tells her about his family, and gives her an update on his life since last time they saw each other.
They talk for a while longer until Samantha yawns. He looks at his watch, and realizes it's already 10pm. She's got a big day tomorrow. He needs to let her rest. He doesn't want to leave though. He doesn't want to be away from her…incase something should happen tomorrow.
The second time she yawns, he starts to pull himself up off the couch. She knows he is leaving, and goes to follow him to the door. As he puts his coat on, she goes to open the door.
Before she can fully open it, she hears him call her name. "I'm not going to get you to change your mind about tomorrow, am I?" She simply says, "No." He takes a step closer to her, and wants so badly to touch her. She looks up at him, not completely sure of what she wants to happen.
Finally, he breaks the trance they are both in, and takes a step towards the door. He looks at her again and says, "Sam, just please be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you….you guys." With that he is gone. She is left staring after him…Wondering what just happened.
By the time Johnson makes it to work the next morning, the team is already there. Martin and Bishop are in the process of going under. They are being handed their new credentials and getting a final briefing. Usually, the team wouldn't go over and over the intel. These guys are good though and will spot a fake a mile away.
He doesn't say anything to her, just watches as she prepares. Of course he notices when DiNozzo pulls her to the side. They stand only a few feet away from each other. He watches as Tony rubs his hands up and down both of her arms. A hint of jealously shoots through him. He wanted to touch her last night, but had to pull away. What's going on between these two? After a moment Samantha smiles and walks away.
As the two female agents are leaving Abby comes bouncing off the elevator. She hugs them both, and gives them orders of a return. They both hug her back and promise they will be ok. They say farewell to the rest of their team, including Fornell, Johnson, and Stevens.
Samantha gives Johnson a serious look before heading for the elevator. In that moment, they just look at each other. He thinks she is trying to comfort him, by showing her determination to come back safe. He won't relax until she is home though.
Just before the elevator doors close, she throws DiNozzo a coin. She smiles and says "See you on the flip side partner." DiNozzo smiles and shakes his head once the doors are closed.