ABBY: The D-link is electrolytically coated with a protective oxide. And for this mission they were further vetted by the CIA. Being buried alive. GIBBS: His death wasn't an accident. GIBBS: Is that the rest of the Lieutenant Johnson's squad? GIBBS: Who else knew Johnson was going to be rappelling last night? I thought you broke up with her. I used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry to compare the chemistry between the factory specs and the link that failed. It's a hostage rescue situation. Lieutenant Johnson's wife. Looks like murder. MCGEE: So it's insecure to want to know the status of your relationship when one of the people in that relationship can't accurately communicate her feelings? NCIS LAB - DAY
MCGEE: Abby? RAINER: I will tell you it's absolutely vital to national security. RAINER: I'll be right back. RAINER: We were on a training exercise. TONY: On it! VENGAL: He was a good SEAL, Sir. We have less than an hour. We're investigating his death. What about the two phone calls he made to you just before he died? Your investigation into Lieutenant Johnson's death is very important to us.
Plan: A: Routine training results; Q: What causes the death of a U.S. Navy SEAL lieutenant? A: a classified hostage rescue operation; Q: What was the lieutenant due to deploy on? A: an equipment malfunction; Q: What was the death of the Navy SEAL lieutenant initially dismissed as? A: Abby; Q: Who discovers that the link attaching the lieutenant to his rappelling rope was weaker than factory standard? A: Pressure; Q: What is applied by the CIA for the investigation to be wrapped up within 38 hours? A: national security importance; Q: Why is the mission scrubbed? A: a secret; Q: What did the lieutenant have that Gibbs discovers? A: his wife; Q: Who might be holding back vital information about the lieutenant's death? A: McGee; Q: Who does Abby deal with her relationship with? Summary: Routine training results in the death of a U.S. Navy SEAL lieutenant just days before he was due to deploy on a classified hostage rescue operation. The death is initially dismissed as an equipment malfunction, but Abby discovers that the link attaching the lieutenant to his rappelling rope was made of a weaker material than factory standard, suggesting sabotage and potentially murder. Pressure is applied by the CIA for the investigation to be wrapped up within 38 hours so the operation can continue or else the entire mission, which is of national security importance, will be scrubbed. As the case goes on, Gibbs discovers that the lieutenant had a secret, and that his wife might be holding back vital information about his death. Meanwhile, Abby deals with her relationship with McGee.