Scott Subiono

The rookies are really put to the test when their training officers accompany them out of uniform for Plain Clothes Day, which forces them to make all the decisions while on patrol. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan tries to prove he has been progressing faster than the other rookies to justify his desire of becoming a detective within five years.

The BAU searches inside a gated New Mexico community for a killer targeting women, and Hotchner looks to an FBI cadet with a unique past for help with the investigation.

After an explosion occurs in a hotel garage, the Jeffersonian team must research the remains found at the crime scene in order to match them to the victim. The investigation only gets trickier when they discover that the man whom they thought was dead is actually alive. Meanwhile, Booth has to take on a desk assignment to get the department’s budget approved in order to land a promotion, so Sweets is given a temporary partner, FBI Special Agent Olivia Sparling (guest star Danielle Panabaker).

When legal issues complicate matters that stall a life-saving bone marrow transplant, Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) must decide whether to disobey direct orders or stand by and put a patient's life in jeopardy. April (Yaya DaCosta) tends to a caring, homeless man who Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt) evaluates, only to come to an unusual diagnosis that explains his recent behavior. Dr. Natalie Manning's (Torrey DeVitto) parents (guest stars Michael Hendricks and Regan Rohde) come to town to see their new grandchild, much to the dismay of her mother-in-law, Helen (guest star Annie Potts). Dr. Connor Rhodes (Colin Donnell) treats a couple who are injured on their first date by a hit-and-run driver, who Dr. Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) discovers has his own reasons for causing the accident.

After the NCIS team tracks evidence from the murder of a Navy captain to Ducky's deceased mother, Ducky looks back and questions a pivotal life choice he made 37 years ago. Also, the team exchanges holiday gifts, and Gibbs spends Christmas dinner with Fornell.