The episode marks the final appearance of NCIS Special agent Paula Cassidy, who is killed when she sacrifices herself to stop a suicide bomber.
The conference continues to go forward, with a special memorial for Yazid at the building that blew up held by high-ranking Muslim clerics, who Gibbs figures to be the real targets.
Cassidy jumps and tackles Malik, throwing him back behind the wall, and the door automatically closes behind them while also preventing Gibbs and DiNozzo from interfering.
The episode is written by John Kelley and directed by James Whitmore, Jr. "Grace Period" refer to earlier deaths of NCIS agents.
Gibbs told DiNozzo "it could have been us every single day and week, and sometimes it has", as shown in the episode "Twilight" when NCIS special agent Kate Todd is shot dead.
In the commentary track on the DVD, Michael Weatherly says that "the last time [Tony] put a black band across the [NCIS] badge, it was a hole in agent Todd's forehead".
According to Michael Weatherly, who portrays NCIS Special agent Tony DiNozzo, it takes about 9 days to shoot an episode like "Grace Period".