'NCIS' Christmas episode has fans ‘crying’ as they find an abandoned baby ahead of the holidays

A baby brings the crime-fighters of "NCIS" closer to the spirit of the Holidays.

The end of the year brings an inevitable Christmassy theme to most TV programmes, and CBS' "NCIS" is no exception.

On December 11, 2018, season 16 of the most popular procedural series ever closed Fall with an episode “What Child is This?”

Fans loved the episode and flooded CBS and "NCIS" with heartfelt congratulations for their excellent work.

“The team’s holiday plans are put on hold when the murder investigation of a Navy veteran includes the discovery of a newborn baby who has no identification and no apparent ties to a family.”

CBS Synopsis

INVESTIGATING THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A NAVY VETERAN

In episode 10, Gibb's team is called in to investigate the death of a veteran who had had a run-in with a drug dealer.

Navy veteran Jerome Murray was volunteering at a soup kitchen and had thrown out a drug dealer who was selling to the homeless.

A DRUG DEALER DIES AND LEAVES A MYSTERY BEHIND

The NCIS team tracked down the dealer, identified by the street name "Vicious," to his lair and confronted him. In the ensuing fire-fight Vicious died, and when the team searched the premises they found a newborn baby.

For the first time since his daughter's death, Gibbs lets a child into his heart.

A DEAD DRUG DEALER'S BABY?

At first, the team thought the baby boy was Vicious', but a closer investigation revealed that he had no girlfriend or wife. When the experts tested the baby's DNA they discovered It was the child was not related to the dealer.

A KIDNAPPED OR STOLEN BABY WITHOUT A NAME

Rather than turn the baby over to Children Protection Services, Bishop and Torres decided to watch over the baby until they could find his biological parents. They went back to the homeless shelter to continue their investigation and discovered that Murray had witnessed a crime. Did it involve the baby?

SECURITY CAMERAS REVEALED VICIOUS INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The team viewed hours of security footage and saw Vicious buying a baby from a crying mother. She was identified as 17-year-old Tanya Jacobs. When Tanya saw the team, she tried to run, and they found drugs in her handbag. Tanya admitted that she was the baby's mother and that she had originally intended to give the baby up for adoption to a loving couple, but Vicious had offered to buy the child for $10,000.

She was relieved that the baby was safe and expressed a desire to keep it, but Sloane and Gibbs dissuaded her. The baby was handed over to the adoptive parents who received him as a Christmas miracle.

One of the most touching moments in the episode is when Gibbs, who had initially been against the team keeping the baby, melts. For the first time since his daughter's death, Gibbs lets a child into his heart.

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NCIS RATINGS SOAR

The latest ratings show "NCIS" is scoring higher than ever and is still one the favorite shows, as far as American viewers are concerned.

NCIS had had week-to-week gains in the 18-49 range and in total viewers, with 12.15 million viewers.

NCIS was voted America's favorite television show in 2011, and was the most-watched television series in the U.S. in 2013.

It was feared that the ratings might suffer from the exit of actress Pauley Perrette as she played on of the series' most beloved characters, but "NCIS" is going strong.

In a related story, it has been announced that veteran actor David McCallum will return to "NCIS" for its 16th season.