NCIS: Origins Episode 12 Recap—Kowalski's origins explored

Episode 12 starts with Mark Harmon’s narration, where he recalls a story his mother used to tell him about a little field mouse. Meanwhile, Kowalski, the evidence manager at NIS, begins his day early by baking sourdough bread. He arrives at the office, only to find that the evidence room has been broken into.

Kowalski is horrified to see the mess inside the room. Gibbs, who is already in the office, quickly checks if someone is still hiding inside. When Mary Jo arrives, she finds Lala and Franks investigating. The team discovers that $41,000 has been stolen from the safe.

The break-in deeply affects Kowalski. The chaos in the evidence room brings back memories of his time as a prisoner of war. He locks himself in his office, thinking about the dark days when he had only a small Korean rock to keep him going.

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Kowalski's decision to quit

Feeling overwhelmed, Kowalski finally steps out of his office with a yellow notepad containing his resignation letter. He writes about his 25 years at NIS and decides to leave. His colleagues wonder how they will manage without him. Even when Franks calls to convince him to return, Kowalski stays home, lost in his thoughts.

With Kowalski gone, his assistant, Herm, steps up. He insists that they must keep the evidence room organized. While he doesn’t bake fresh bread like Kowalski, he opens a new bag of onion chips, showing his dedication to the job.

As Kowalski listens to recordings from his time in captivity, he remembers how a simple rock gave him hope. Realizing how much he has gained over the years, he returns to NIS. He tells Herm he won’t resign and gives him the Korean rock as a sign of trust and friendship.

Lala and Gibbs have a private conversation. She confesses that she broke up with Eddie because of the mistakes she made. She also admits she is still unsure about what happened in Mexico, referring to Gibbs’ past.

Lala suggests that she and Gibbs should avoid coming to work early together, hinting that she wants to keep a distance. However, Gibbs surprises her by telling her to call Eddie if she still thinks about him. Later, Lala follows his advice.

Meanwhile, the team is shocked to learn that Roger gave away Millie’s location to a hitman. This is especially painful for Mary Jo, who saw Millie as family. She storms into an interrogation room, furious with Roger.

During questioning, Roger confesses that he has a serious gambling problem. He was drowning in debt and had no choice but to betray Millie’s location for money. Franks and the team watch in disbelief as Roger explains that he also stole from NIS to protect himself and his mother.

Flaco shares important information, linking the stolen money to the person who revealed Millie’s location. Gibbs tells Flaco that Jesse Hatcher, the hitman, is already dead. But Flaco insists they need to dig deeper into the case.

While checking the evidence room, Lala notices strange scuff marks on the floor. She realizes they were made by a ladder. This discovery changes everything; the thief wasn’t an outsider but someone from inside NIS. Now, the team must investigate their own people.

Episode 12 of NCIS: Origins is filled with emotions and surprises. Kowalski faces his past, Roger’s betrayal shocks everyone, and Lala struggles with her feelings. The break-in reveals deeper secrets, making this episode a turning point in the series. With Kowalski’s return and the investigation taking a new turn, the next episodes will surely be exciting.

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