After Sam's wife, Michelle, is taken from her home, the kidnappers demand the prison release of Tahir Khaled, Sam's arch nemesis, in exchange for information on her whereabouts.

Gravely injured and unable to communicate with the team in the U.S., Callen, Sam and Kensi, with an unconscious Deeks in tow, search for a safe way home as a cartel boss places a “dead or alive” bounty on their heads. Also, Mosely and retired Navy Admiral Hollace Kilbride beseech their contacts in Mexico and D.C. for assistance with their missing colleagues

While the team investigates the theft of a computer virus, Callen and Sam consider their future at the agency, Kensi and Deeks discuss having children, and Eric and Nell analyze the impact of Eric’s undercover assignment on their relationship. Also, the team tracks Mara a crooked upscale banker

Sam, Callen and Rountree travel to Afghanistan when Marine Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie asks NCIS to help with a sensitive case after two SEALs claim their chief murdered an unarmed prisoner.

When a Naval Intelligence Officer is tortured and murdered, NCIS must work with Joelle, who informs them that other CIA operatives are being killed in the same way. Also, Kensi receives a threatening postcard from David Kessler, the sociopath who is obsessed with her.

The NCIS team must quickly find Callen after he falls for Katya’s trap using Sam’s deepfake to coordinate a weapons deal.