House Rules (episode)

House Rules is the tenth episode of NCIS Season 12 and the 268th episode of the entire NCIS series.
==Synopsis==
The NCIS team consult with three cyber-terrorists they all had dealings with the past after a citywide Internet shutdown the week before Christmas while McGee reflects on the case and Gibbs's infamous rules as he writes a heartfelt letter to his father.
==Prologue==
As a jazz version of "Jingle Bells" plays in the background, NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee opens a small area on a big Christmas card and smiles.
He then hits a key on his laptop and brings up a live-action shot of a fire.
Sitting at his typewriter, McGee places a lone sheet of paper into the main area and winds it up.
Taking a breath, McGee then types, stating "Dear Dad, Merry Christmas Eve. Because we usually end up saying the wrong things when we talk, in lieu on 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".
While typing, McGee informs his father that he wants to tell him about an unusual case NCIS had last week, a case that reminded McGee of his father because it was about rules and in hindsight, it's helped McGee realize a few things about his father, McGee himself and them before McGee types, "So here goes".
Back in the past, as McGee types that it started with a news report last week, it shows NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs cooking a steak over his fire as a Western plays on Gibbs's TV.
Once the steak's cooked, Gibbs sits down in front of the TV, watching the Western.
As he digs into his steak, an announcer states that it's WJGZ and breaking news.
Seconds later, reporter Guy Ross appears on the TV, introducing himself before stating that that the national's capital tonight is experiencing a citywide Internet shutdown.
As Gibbs looks at the TV, concerned, Ross reveals that WJGZ has just received word of the interruption of service may be the result of a coordinated attack by a group of hackers.
As Gibbs eats his steak, Ross continues to say that authorities say that they're looking into the matter but that there is no immediate cause for alarm which has many questioning is this a coincidence? Or is the city under cyber attack?
Back in the present, McGee says Rule 39.
It then cuts to the typewriter which writes "No such thing as a coincidence".
==Act One==
==Act Two==
==Act Three==
==Act Four==
==Act Five==
==Cast==
===Series Regulars===
Name 	Portrayed by 	Role
Leroy Jethro Gibbs	Mark Harmon 	Special Agent in charge of the NCIS Major Case Response Team.
Anthony DiNozzo 	Michael Weatherly 	Senior Special Agent and second-in-command of the NCIS Major Case Response Team.
Timothy McGee 	Sean Murray (actor)	Special Agent of the NCIS Major Case Response Team.
Abigail Sciuto 	Pauley Perrette 	Chief Forensic Specialist for the NCIS Major Case Response Team.
James Palmer 	Brian Dietzen 	Assistant Medical Examiner for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. Despite being credited, Dietzen does not appear in this episode.
Eleanor Bishop 	Emily Wickersham 	NCIS Probationary Agent.
Leon Vance 	Rocky Carroll 	Director of NCIS. Despite being credited, Carroll does not appear in this episode.
Donald Mallard 	David McCallum 	Chief Medical Examiner for the NCIS Major Case Response Team.
===Recurring Cast===
Name 	Portrayed by 	Role
John McGee 	Rick Deats 	A Navy Admiral who is McGee's father and who is terminally ill.
Kevin Hussein 	Ethan Rains 	A former NCIS System Administrator.
Ajay Khan 	Vik Sahay 	A cyber-terrorist.
Heidi Partridge	Erin Allin O'Reilly	A hacker.
Guy Ross 	Kent Shockneck 	A News Anchor working for WJGZ news.
===Guest Cast===
Name 	Portrayed by 	Role
Patricia Filsk 	Indira G. Wilson	An FBI Agent.
Catholic Priest 	David Bickford 	A Priest.
Douglas VonDorothy	Gregoer Boru 	A hacker known as "Krampus".
Lyle Trigget 	Chuck Lines 	Uncredited role.
  v - [ e] - dNCIS Season 12
♦ Twenty Klicks (episode) ♦ Kill the Messenger (episode) ♦ So It Goes (episode) ♦ Choke Hold (episode) ♦ The San Dominick (episode) ♦ Parental Guidance Suggested (episode) ♦ The Searchers (episode) ♦ Semper Fortis (episode) ♦ Grounded (episode) ♦ House Rules (episode) ♦ Check (episode) ♦ The Enemy Within (episode) ♦ We Build, We Fight (episode) ♦ Cadence (episode) ♦ Cabin Fever (episode) ♦ Blast from the Past (episode) ♦ The Artful Dodger (episode) ♦ Status Update (episode) ♦ Patience (episode) ♦ No Good Deed (episode) ♦ Lost in Translation (episode) ♦ Troll (episode) ♦ The Lost Boys (episode) ♦ Neverland (episode)
Category:NCIS Episodes
Category:NCIS Season 12 Episodes
Category:NCIS Christmas Episodes
Category:NCIS Episodes written by Christopher J. Waild
Category:NCIS Episodes directed by Terrence O'Hara
Category:NCIS Episodes featuring John McGee
Category:NCIS Episodes featuring Kevin Hussein
Category:NCIS Episodes featuring Ajay Khan
Category:NCIS Episodes featuring Heidi Partridge
Category:NCIS Episodes featuring Guy Ross