In the aftermath of being shot in the previous episode, Gibbs finds himself fighting for his life and also drifting between life and death as he's treated on board the medical ward of the Navy ship, the U.S.S. Daniel Webster while DiNozzo and CIA officer Joanna Teague who is also the mother of deceased NCIS Special Agent Ned Dorneget both travel to Shanghai, China to take down the structure of the Calling with Tony eventually engaging in a stand-off against the Calling's leader, Daniel Budd while everyone tries to come to terms with Gibbs being shot.