NCIS

Dear Dad,

Merry Christmas Eve.

Because we usually end up saying the wrong things

when we talk, in lieu of presents this year,

I'm writing a letter. Even though a blank page

and a conversation with you can be equally scary,

I am a published novelist.

I want to tell you about an unusual case

NCIS had last week,

a case that reminded me of you because it was about rules.

And, in hindsight,

it's helped me realize a few things.

About you.

Me. Us.

So here goes.

It all started with a news report last week...

WJGZ breaking news.

Good evening. I'm Guy Ross. The nation's capital tonight

is experiencing a city-wide Internet shutdown.

And WJGZ has just received word that the interruption

of service may be the result of a group of coordinated hackers.

Federal authorities say they are looking into the matter,

but there is no immediate cause for alarm,

which has many questioning: is this a coincidence

or is the city under cyber attack?

Rule 39...

== sync, corrected by elderman == @elder_man

It's no secret you ruled our house with an iron fist, Dad.

In fact, a coworker once made a comparison

to the film The Great Santini.

I won't name names,

but it was Tony.

You've always questioned my career choice at NCIS,

but I know you respect Agent Gibbs

as someone who lives by a set of rules not to be broken.

For example...

Where's McGee?

I left messages on his home phone, cell,

and BlackBerry-- no answer.

Rule number three:

“Never be unreachable.”

Boss, I'm sorry I'm late.

I couldn't hear my cell.

It won't happen again, boss.

You're right, McGee. It won't.

Ah, we were so close.

Yep, less than three hours

from being officially on holiday leave.

A miracle that would've been second only

to the birth of little baby Jesus. Mm-hmm.

Then we get a call at 9:30 on a Saturday night.

Clearly you had big plans.

Are those your pajamas?

In winter, I put my sweats in the dryer

just before bed,

so that when I get under the covers, it's warm.

And Gibbs called

and it felt like a waste not to put 'em on.

Where were you, the shooting range?

Yes. On a date.

No “Silent Night” for you.

It will be now.

Okay. What do we know?

Uh, well, that the civilian Internet

and the military Intranet are two separate things.

Yes. The wonderful laypeople of Washington, DC,

may not have their computers,

but we can still Christmas shop online.

And why we've been asked to help.

This is big, Gibbs. A DDoS attack that crashes

all of DC takes a massive coordination

of users and botnets.

Uh...

So...

pretend that this filing cabinet

is a local service provider,

and you want to access the Internet.

So...

It's pretend, boss.

Open it.

Except my computer is already pretending to use that drawer.

Try another one.

Mmm... I am also pretending to use that drawer, too.

Try another one.

I don't like this game.

Okay, so now imagine hundreds of hackers doing that

1,000 times a minute.

What is the point?

We don't know. It's the calm before the storm.

Well, what's the storm?

City infrastructure? Taking out vital transportation

or power grids?

Or it could be a targeted data breach.

Washington, DC, is chock-full of targets.

Which is why cyber divisions of the FBI, Homeland,

NSA, and Metro are all on

the highest alert. Where is McGee?

He is down in the cyber basement. Along with everyone else,

looking for answers. Or a connection.

Or a lead. Anything, really. Well, it sounds like there are

enough people working on this one right now, boss.

Yeah, uh, and my sweatpants

are getting cold.

Oh, I do hope you aren't hinting at leaving.

No, no, no. We're here to work. No, no. I think she was just talking about...

I'm not a computer person, so... Yeah.

Break... does not start until we figure out

what the hell is going on.

Find something!

Fast!

Mm-hmm.

Ooh. I'm gonna go out on a limb here

and say Abby's got something.

Hey, Abbs, you got something?

Do you think I'd call you just to chat?

So, how was your date last night?

It was good. Never got a chance to reload, though.

Okay, um, I'm sending you something right now.

Hey, Abbs. McGee.

You're back already.

Yeah, cyber division can handle this without me.

Aw, they kicked you out.

So “clique-y” down there. I know.

Besides, all they found was the username of the guy

who was trying to get all the hackers together to hit DC.

Message boards. I read them. It's Krampus.

Yep.

Involved in every major U.S. hack in the last three years,

yet no one's been able to get close enough to I.D. him.

Luckily, I have my research.

Vintage Krampus postcards.

This is terrifying. It's German.

So St. Nicholas gives gifts to the good kids,

and Krampus kidnaps the bad ones and eats them?

America watered it down to coal in a sock. Boring.

Is this your research? No.

I've been running down

Krampus's history of hacks and cracks

and phreaks and spams and smurfs

and general online mischief and identified

three people who've had past encounters

with our Christmas demon.

Person of interest A...

I.T. Kevin?

Yeah. He dealt with Krampus attacks

when he was NCIS systems administrator.

Yeah, before he tried to sell

a computer virus to terrorists.

Person of interest B, Heidi Partridge.

Kindergarten teacher turned dark webmaster.

And allegedly sold goods

to a user named-- wait for it, wait for it-- Krampus.

So who's number three?

Ajay Khan.

Former cyber terrorist.

This is the connection we've been looking for.

These three can tell us what Krampus has planned.

Abby, we either

put these people in prison or we made sure they stayed.

It's a bad idea. No, it's not.

Yes, it is.

Gibbs knows that I speak their language.

He's gonna send me to talk to 'em.

I'm gonna be in charge.

This could be the worst Christmas ever.

Come on, McGee,

let your Grinch heart grow.

Abby, listen, please, please just keep this between us.

Oof.

Listen, boss, I know we need to find this Krampus

before whatever he's planning happens.

But talking to hackers?

I mean, we're gonna go to each prison

and talk to three criminals

who aren't gonna answer the questions we ask 'em.

I just...

I think it's a waste of time.

I agree.

Really?

Yes. Which is why they're coming here.

Prison transports will be here first thing.

Oof.

What? There a problem, Tim?

No, boss. It's a great plan.

Tony's idea.

So Tony's taking lead on this?

No, you are.

You speak geek.

Anything to close this case

and open my vacation-- so go get your binary buddies

to cough up some info, will you?

Even if it means breaking rule number one?

Which one?

Both.

Never put your suspects together,

and never screw over your partner.

Merry Krampus.

We talk a lot about fathers at NCIS.

And for good reason.

As federal agents, we not only deal