2.01: "See No Evil"

by Sammie

Aww, cute little kid alert. She's going to suffer some kind of trauma, because how else will Gibbs relate to her? Oops, there we go. Sure, "at the hospital". That's how one of my relatives was kidnapped - for real. Schmuck said he'd take her to the hospital to visit her father...when she was recovered, a family friend pounded the schmuck.

Tony is mad...the AC's broken: "What about the name of the genius who invented windows that don't open? What are we, on a space ship? Windows should open!" Thank you. Mr. Bellisario, can I borrow Tony to talk to my college dorm director?

Aw, Kate noticed. "Have you been working out? ... No, I mean right now, 'cause you're sweating like a pig and it's not very attractive."

Kate doesn't know McGee's under her desk. These frat boy scenes are annoying. The only benefit is we get to see Kate scare the shiznit out of him.

Gibbs is about as impressed as Kate is after seeing Tony in a tanktop ..."disturbing". Makes him put his short back on. "This is a federal office building, not a gym."

Here it comes: technophobe Gibbs.

KATE. We've got a problem, Gibbs.
GIBBS. [BAM BAM BAM...PDA in two pieces.] D-mm-t, I hate this thing. Piece of crap.
KATE. [COMPLETELY UNFAZED] There's a secretary from the Pentagon downstairs, and she claims her boss is being held hostage. By his computer.
GIBBS. See? There's a reason I didn't trust these things. [TOSSES THE BUSTED PDA TO McGEE] Here, reboot that or something. Send her up.
McGEE. Reboot it?
KATE. Or you can do what we always do.
TONY. [PULLING OUT A DRAWER FULL OF MOTOROLA PDAs, HANDS McGEE ONE] It's his third one this month.

Capt. Watson works at the Pentagon, for the Joint Services Operational Command which funds Special Military Units. He's got to transfer $2 mil to an offshore account or his wife and his daughter die. The computer guy used some kind of trojan to get onto his computer...and is watching him through a webcam. I KNEW those things had to be bad.

Gibbs is determined to talk to Watson; Kate is positive it is a bad idea. Tony, of course, reassures her: "Relax; you think Gibbs keeps that haircut to save on shampoo?" haha. There we go. Shows up as a Gunny and gets a little camera attached to a picture frame on Watson's desk so they can see and hear what goes on his office.

Kate and McGee are at the Watson house...there's a sweater on the ground, and Kate concludes that they were taken by force - because "little girls typically aren't slobs." She's like a normal version of Comdr. Coleman's insane organization.

Abby is having a crisis of faith - she doesn't think she can hack into Watson's computer. Gibbs is about to call McGee; she says she can do it. Tony reassures her: "Relax. when's the last time Gibbs was wrong? Discounting the whole marriage thing, of course."

Kate and McGee are trying to get into the house...McGee is scared of her, from this morning. Haha. "McGee, can't you tell when someone's kidding with you?"

Tony shows up this time to deliver Watson's "lunch"...and an ear thingy to communicate with Watson. Is it really scary that...for a 30+-year-old, he can act like a college delivery boy? He's hilarious when he describes the duck the restaurant's getting.

Gibbs takes over now, talking to Watson through his receiver. "Tell him that you want your daughter returned now. Tell him if you don't get her back, you're gonna take your chances with the FBI. He'll try to intimidate you. We have to call his bluff."

Kate is hesitant and says they are taking a big risk. Gibbs is short with her: "Yeah, Kate? What happens to the little girl and her mother once this dirtbag gets the money?" Kill 'em. Come now, Kate. Even I figured on that one.

Abby and McGee have figured it out - the hacker only took over Watson's computer and actually needs Watson to transfer the money - BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO DO IT HIMSELF. Just as they figure it out, the system overheats and crashes. Since the entire building has no AC, they're not sure what to do...until Gibbs points out that there's one place that's still cool.

Autopsy.

Little Sandy (Abigail Breslin) is left at the train station, and Kate and Tony have been sent to get her. Aw, Kate wants to be a mother: "When I'm a mother, I'm never letting my kids out of my sight. GPS locator strapped to their ankle. Audio and video surveillance built into their clothes." Tony wants to know how she's even going to achieve the "mother" part. (haha. My brother says that to me, too.) Kate's so sweet with the little girl.

Ducky is, too. He bandages her wrists and gives her a chocolate bar. She's so cute! But as for information, Ducky points out, "Maybe you haven't asked the right questions."

TONY. Well, she's eight and blind, Ducky. It's not a great help in a situation like -
DUCKY. [in a whisper] Sandy - are you thirsty?
SANDY. [some distance away] A little bit. Can I have some water?

Gibbs and Kate question Sandy about the van she was driven in and anything else she can remember. Kate runs a bent finger over her cheek when Sandy begins to cry as she remembers about the kidnapper. She overhears Gibbs' phone call from Abby about getting into Watson's computer and seeing the live feed Watson is seeing and wants to help.

Ex-petty officer Kyle Grayson embezzled money from the government...Watson put him away.

Abby and Kate test out things with Sandy first; she hears like a bat and can even tell which hertz to play something at. All right, either there's a little genius out there tptb based this child on, or they made this up. She's EIGHT.

Gibbs wants her listening to the live feed; Kate protests that she's been traumatized enough. Gibbs gives Sandy her own little badge, and they begin listening to the feed - there's a train going by.

Tony gathers up the information about the train...then has trouble adding some of the minutes and miles to figure out a location. Don't worry, Tony. I flunked those stupid distance math problems, too.

Gibbs, Kate, and Tony go after Grayson and Mrs. Watson and get her back safely, and McGee we get to see think fast on his feet.

The family's reunited...Kate and Tony are watching. Kate is smiling: "Kinda makes you think. [About] Having kids someday."

TONY. "Yeah. I don't think I could handle that." Children having children? We love ya anyhow, Tony.

Grayson can't deal because he doesn't know who hired him. Either way, McGee and Abby are still tracking where all that money is going, and it's jumping around the world...and then headed back to Washington.

HIGHLIGHT BETWEEN THE ~ FOR THE ENDING: ~ Think, now. Ten characters in this episode. Couldn't be our Super Six. That leaves four: Grayson, who didn't even know who hired him and is now in custody; Mrs. Watson; Little Sandy Watson; Capt. Watson.

The sleazy bastard walks straight into Gibbs' gun. Gibbs is pissed, Kate can't believe he'd do this to his own family, and Tony makes sure the cuffs are on good and tight. Watson begins to protest that he needed the money. Gibbs slams him up against the wall: "Don't you dare tell me that there's a reason for you throwing away what you had."

I didn't see that one comin'. Sleazy bastard. ~

Ends on a happy note: McGee gets promoted to full field agent. That's the good news. The bad news...he belongs to Gibbs. Very bad news.... Tony and Kate give him the initiation head slap. To top it off, the AC comes on. (I'm all for neat and tidy endings, but that was a little TOO neat and tidy.)

______________________________________________________________

Crazy Credits

• at one point titled "In the Dark."

• Little Sandy Watson's request for water is a nod to the actress who played her, Abigail Breslin. Breslin appeared in the movie "Signs," in which she announces to her father there's an alien/monster under her bed and then asks for water.

• Coincidentally, the procedural "Without a Trace" 2004-2005 season premiere was also about a blind girl and a woman (there, her teacher) who are kidnapped. It was titled "In the Dark" and was a darker episode but no twist in the perpetrator.