NCIS/Heartwarming

• Tony's making a bucket list. Okay, he wants to master art of kung fu, haha, experience a Wonder of the World "besides Gibbs," hehe--holy crap did that just say "tell Dad it's okay?!" Others, Word of God include "discuss Paris," "let friends get closer," and "tell her." Whoa.
• Ducky's "This is Your Life" for his predecessor.
• Basically any episode ending with a child involved, seeing as how Gibbs tends to flashback to his daughter.
• "A Man Walks Into A Bar..." is a crowning episode of heartwarming five plus years in coming. Especially when Gibbs brings Kate's sister to the place where Ari was killed.

Gibbs: This is closure. Everything else is memories.

• NCIS: In "Corporal Punishment", a "Poster Boy" marine escapes from a mental institution, right before he's given a Silver Star; his list of accomplishments includes breaking out of captivity after four days' torture, killing his captors, and getting his comrades to safety. It turns out he had been initially rejected for service, and he had gotten steroids, giving him 'roid rage. When one of the investigating agents asks him if he went through all that "just so [he] could be some sort of Super-Marine?" he says "No ma'am. Just a Marine."
  • Later in the same episode, the Marine loses his shot at the medal due to his drug use, and is said to be lucky if he gets an honorable discharge. Gibbs goes home, gets a box, comes back to the Marine's room and silently places the opened box on the table. It's his Silver Star. End credits.
  • Another scene the troper thinks is worth mentioning. When the marine attacks Ziva, Tony and McGee scramble to her rescue, from where they had been on surveillance. They burst through the door, guns drawn, to find Ziva cradling the marine's head in her arms, just like a mother would comfort her child.
• Pretty much any scene between Abby and Gibbs makes this troper's heart melt.
• Gibbs: You know how I feel about apologies.

Ducky: That they're a sign of weakness.
Gibbs: Not between friends.
They hug.

• When Tony is in the hospital with the plague, Gibbs tells him that he won't die, and Tony believes him... Just anytime that Tony and Gibbs act like Father and Son, really...
• The ending of "Faith" certainly qualifies: DiNozzo (doing a not-so-Secret Santa) gives a sour human-resources woman a gift she didn't get as a child, bringing her to joyful tears; McGee and Abby, via MTAC, help a little boy talk to his mother who is deployed overseas; and Gibbs and his dad reconcile and leave to deliver some hand-carved toys to a children's hospital. Merry Christmas, indeed.
• Any scene involving Shannon and/or Kelly that isn't a Tear Jerker, and a few that are.
• The ending of "Outlaws and In-Laws". Franks and the mother of his daughter in law are both just sitting on his front porch while Ducky voiceovers a story about how Civil War soldiers who fought on opposite sides of the war had to live together when their kids got married. They hated each other, but still managed by not speaking to each other for the rest of their lives. Except on Franks' porch, the Matriarch shyly looks at him like she wants to say something, but doesn't. Considering that it's one of her few moments of vulnerability, it's kinda hard not to ship them now.
• "Truth or Consequences." The premise alone ( Tony, McGee, and Gibbs go to Somalia to rescue Ziva from a terrorist camp.) is equal parts this and Crowning Moment of Awesome, but the last 2 minutes are the most heartwarming. When the team comes into the squad room, beaten, tired, and looking like hell, the entire floor applauds them, starting with Vance. And Abby, usually the embodiment of Genki Girl, silently and calmly goes over and hugs Ziva. You can't help but feel good after watching that.
• The very last scene of "Bait", when Kody is reunited with his mother.
• "In The Zone." Tony and germaphobic NCIS analyst Nikki Jardine go to Iraq to investigate a murder. At one point Nikki goes to visit the family of a man who helped save her brother's life during an ambush (and was killed by Marines who mistakenly thought he was an insurgent). Nikki brings a laptop computer for the young son, who had given her intel during the investigation. The boy is thrilled with the gift--not only for himself, but also for his little sister's sake. She is not allowed to attend school, so the laptop can provide her access to an education. When she sees the gift, and he tells her it's theirs, she shyly walks up to Nikki, wraps her arms around the woman and softly says "Thank you" over and over. Nikki freezes for a moment, but then overcomes her phobia and warmly returns the hug.
• Understated but heartwarming one in 'Baltimore,' McGee asks Ziva how she'd react if he was killed. Her answer is an immediate statement of 'I'd hunt him down and make him regret the day he was born' in a casual tone, meaning she didn't need to think about it.
• The Group Hug near the end of "Swan Song."
• When we find out that Gibbs built Mike Franks' coffin himself.
• In the episode "UnSEALed", Gibbs' relationship with the little boy is really sweet.

Boy: I'm not gonna help you catch my dad.
Gibbs: That's OK. *ruffles his hair*

• • Likewise, in "Honor Code" every scene Gibbs has with Zach, the kidnapped man's son, is a CMOH. Abby even calls Zach "Mini-Gibbs."
• A lot of the stuff involving Jackson Gibbs in "Heartland." Gibbs's clear joy at finally being able to drive and keep his dream car, and especially that hug at the end. On a broader note, pretty much anything involving hugs.
  • In that same episode "Heartland", just as Gibbs is driving out of his hometown he reminisces about the first time he met his deceased first wife Shannon. The flashback itself is incredibly heartwarming but the smile that Gibbs gives after he thinks of her is priceless
• From "Broken Arrow": DiNozzo Senior showing Tony the picture of both of them on a fishing trip, and telling him it was one of his fondest memories, right after Tony assumed he'd forgotten about it.
• The ending of Witch Hunt. They rescue the kidnapped girl, and to make it up to her for missing Halloween, let her visit their building as all the agents from their cubicles give her candy. The mother tries to express gratitude and how she could thank Gibbs, and Tony replies "He knows". That he does, even remembering his daughter (also in a princess dress before she died) with a smile.
• The ending of the episode "Safe Harbor": the team spent the episode searching for a date for Gibbs, who they is feeling lonely. In the end tells Ziv "You are never lonely when you have kids", and gives her a kiss on the forehead.
• Engaged, Part II has a couple. The first is when Gibbs and Ziva are talking to the two girls that Gabriela Flores had rescued, one of whom has grease burns on her face and may be permanently blinded, the other with cigarette burns all over her body. When they're done, Gibbs gives them both a kiss on the head and tells them never to stop smiling.
  • Then, after they find Flores alive, and capture the female insurgent who was posing as a teacher in order to destroy the school, Gibbs asks Flores what he thinks should happen to the insurgent.

Flores: She should watch those girls change the world in positive ways she never imagined.
Gibbs: That a punishment?
Flores: That's a gift, sir. Punishment's knowing she could've done the same.
Gibbs: ...You're rare, Flores. Come on, let's go home.

• Palmer finally gets one in the Christmas Episode "Newborn King." He wearily puts up with his jerkass future father-in-law's abuse all night, but when Pops implies that the team doesn't know what they're doing, Palmer snaps and rips into him. He explains that they're highly trained, his father-in-law doesn't know what he's talking about, and if Palmer's not going to get any respect then the team should. Also, he's not taking a high paying job in the private sector because he "loves NCIS" and his job there. Also, his father-in-law isn't leaving until he understands all this.

So sit down, and shut up!

• Ziva's "There's always another monster" speech in "Swan Song" is just one CMOH after another. First, she hugs Tony. Then Tony touches her face. Then they hug. Then the elevator opens to reveal Abby and McGee, also hugging. Then the whole team gets in a group hug... excuse me, there's something in my eye...
• In "Need to Know", there's something strangely heartwarming about McGee getting to call someone "Probie" for once.
• Ducky after convincing Palmer not to cancel/postpone his wedding

Ducky: Did I not say, rather poetically, that we have loved ones who should not be taken lightly?

• In early season 7 a Mossad officer came to try and bring Ziva back to Israel, despite the fact that she did not want to return, he continued to act as if she did. When Gibbs finally foils his plan at the end, the officer says "I failed you, Ziva, I'm sorry." Ziva replies with "Never apologize. It is a sign of weakness," which is Gibbs's rule #6, cementing her decision to stay with the team.

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