[2] The majority of the episode is told in a series of flashbacks that cover the four months in which Ziva was missing, focusing on the team attempting to replace her as Tony searches for her whereabouts.

The episode opens depicting terrorist Saleem Ulman (Omid Abtahi) interrogating a captive in the dusty room of a prison camp in Somalia.

The camera angle shifts to show that the captive is NCIS Agent Tony DiNozzo, who stubbornly refuses to give up any information.

Unable to keep quiet due to the serum's effects, Tony begins to recap the three months at NCIS since Ziva disappeared.

[3] It is shown through flashbacks that the NCIS team began working a drug case in May after Ziva's departure and that they had not received any word of her.

Vance admits that Ziva's father, Mossad Director Eli David, had not mentioned her to him and suspected that she was back in the field.

Saleem again questions the reason for his presence in Somalia, and Tony replies that he traveled to Northern Africa to seek vengeance on the parties responsible.

[3] Saleem then demands that Tony reveal the identities of all NCIS agents in the region, and threatens to kill a hostage if he does not speak.

When he admits that he and McGee deliberately allowed themselves to be captured, she brokenly responds that they should not have put their lives and wellbeing at stake for her, urging them to tell Saleem what he wants to hear and try to save themselves.

"[5] Brennan later hinted at the events that would unfold in the seventh season premiere: "You cannot miss the first minute...You'll think you know what's going on, but then you'll go, 'Am I seeing things?

"[8] Mark Harmon later remarked that viewers still worried that de Pablo would not be back, saying, "She loves the job and can’t wait to get here in the morning.

'"[9] After "Truth or Consequences" aired, de Pablo explained the purpose of the storyline and its long-term ramifications: I've never shied away from taking this character to really dark places.

[10]Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo) later cited "Truth or Consequences" as one of his favorite episodes, commenting, "In order to get that look of being dehydrated in the desert and sunburned, they put glue on my lips.

2 scripted series, enjoying a 24% ratings spike last season (averaging 18 million viewers), surprising for a show so long into its run.

Then again, we know there's got to be no way that NCIS will split this team up - although I did have a scary moment there when Abby (Pauley Perrette) said she felt that Ziva was no longer in their universe.

"[17] Allison Waldman of AOL TV wrote, "It was supremely satisfying to watch them go back month-by-month to reveal how Gibbs, Tony, McGee and Abby were undone by Ziva's absence...Nothing could top the moment, though, when Tony got to look Saleem in the eye, referred to the movie True Lies, and calmly reminded the guy that his boss was an expert sniper.

She feels undeserving of the rescue, and when she returned to the office and everyone applauded the team for their mission, the vacant look in her eyes spoke volumes.