Callen and Sam are kidnapped when they follow an anonymous tip about a missing NSA agent. When the team discovers they are nowhere to be found, they realize it could have been a trap set by terrorists.

While the team investigates the death of one of three Afghanistan soldiers who are training in the U.S., they discover two other soldiers are missing and must find them before they're forced to reveal classified military operations to their captors. Also, Sam is back to work but his team worries it may be too soon, and Callen realizes he has very little in common with his partner.