Twilight (NCIS)

"Twilight" is the 23rd and last episode in the second season, and the 46th overall episode, of the American crime drama television series NCIS. It first aired on CBS in the United States on May 24, 2005. The episode is written by John Kelley and directed by Thomas J. Wright, and was seen by 14.74 million viewers.

With Ari Haswari back in the country again and out to kill Gibbs, the team find themselves attempting to stop Ari from completing the task. In the meantime, they also try to find out who killed two off-duty sailors whose deaths might be linked to an upcoming terrorist attack and the theft of a drone from a company. But in the end, it might not be enough as NCIS find themselves paying a very high price for their efforts when one of their own is brutally murdered in Gibbs and Ari's battle with each other...

The episode also marks the final regular appearance of Special Agent Kate Todd (played by Sasha Alexander), who is later replaced by Mossad Officer Ziva David (played by Cote de Pablo). Todd is later shown in Season 8, episode "A Man Walks Into a Bar..." as a memory by the rest of the team, and in the Season 9 episode "Life Before His Eyes" as the wife of DiNozzo in an alternative universe in Gibbs' mind. Both of the episodes include scenes from this episode as flashbacks.

Two men are gunned down in their car, both pilots and navy lieutenants. NCIS is called in to investigate the deaths. Both hands are missing on one of the lieutenants, making it look like a professional hit. While collecting evidence, DiNozzo discovers a bomb under the car, which explodes close to the team, making Gibbs believe someone is after them.

Abby cannot identify the C-4 used in the bomb, and Director Morrow indicates there may be other factors involved. Gibbs later meets Ari Haswari, a double agent for the FBI with whom he has had complications previously. FBI agent Fornell is called in to inform Gibbs about Ari's mission in the US, and together with Director Morrow, he tells Gibbs not to interfere with the mission.

Because of the history between Gibbs and Ari, Director Morrow places Gibbs under protective custody under the lead of ex-Secret Service agent Todd. The investigation continues, leading to the discovery of a missing target drone from the workplace of one of the dead pilots. Gibbs is sure Ari is behind the deaths and forces Fornell to locate him. Ari's location reveals he is not a double agent, but the one who runs the terrorist cell.

The team figures out Ari's location and is attacked by several terrorists. The drone is on the top of the building, and one finger from the dead pilot's hand is used to launch the drone. McGee tries to take control over the drone while Gibbs, Todd, and DiNozzo takes the terrorists down. One terrorist ambushes the team and shoots at Gibbs. Todd protects him, and she is hit by the bullet. The bullet proof vest she wears stops her from being hurt. She gets up and the team relaxes and jokes with each other. DiNozzo tells Todd that she did good, pleasantly surprising her, and she says, "Wow, I thought I'd die before I ever heard a complim–", when a lone bullet suddenly emerges from out of nowhere and rips through her head, killing her instantly. Ari is revealed to be the murderer, shown behind a sniper rifle on top of a nearby building. Gibbs and DiNozzo are absolutely stunned. DiNozzo's face is covered in a splash of Kate's blood, and Gibbs points his gun into the distance, knowing Ari was the shooter.

The episode is written by John Kelley and directed by Thomas J. Wright.