The aftermath of Lala's accident began to show in NCIS: Origins season 2 episode 2, right after her return to the team. Lala started to worry that she's not entirely her former self anymore. So much so that she seriously considered crossing a line, helping Flaco Navarro with an off-the-books "investigation."
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS from NCIS: Origins season 2 episode 6
Lala refused to get involved and do Flaco's dirty work for him at the end of episode 2, but Flaco isn't one to let things go that easily. In NCIS: Origins season 2 episode 6, he's trying to lure her into helping him again, this time through one of his men.
Flaco's man insists Luna's victims' blood is on Lala's hands in NCIS: Origins season 2 episode 6
Episode 6 had its main focus on Randy and his birthday, but it also significantly advanced the trouble Lala landed in the middle of with Flaco. Determined to take down Rico Luna, the man who killed his cousin, Flaco sends Manuel Santiago to pressure Lala into cooperating. Manuel doesn't only intimidate her; he also tries to guilt-trip her, insisting Luna’s latest victims are dead because she refused to help.
Meanwhile, Gibbs, who was so desperately trying to convince Lala not to do something stupid before, now seems willing to help her with the off-the-record situation. After seeing her talking to Manuel and watching him speed away, he won’t let the matter drop. If only she'll trust him enough to tell him what is really going on. Instead, Lala lies to his face, claiming Manuel is just a guy she's been seeing. That gets Gibbs off her back, for now.
Late that night, Lala returns home to find her apartment broken into and photos of Luna’s new victims laid out on her table. She's immediately alerted, pulling out her gun. She fears the intruder may still be inside, only to run into Manuel in the buolding's hallway moments later.
NCIS: Origins has Lala starting to bond with Manuel
Manuel broke into Lala's apartment to leave the photos, by Flaco's orders, but didn't do anything else. What’s surprising is what comes next: a strange connection begins to form between the two. He did as much as buy a new lock for her door — one hard to pick. Manuel's level of concern doesn't go unnoticed. Even so, she still has her guard up and essentially tells him she can take care of herself.
Maybe Lala telling Gibbs that her secrecy was about a new boyfriend wasn't so far off the real path. After the case is closed, Lala goes to church and finds Manuel there. She approaches him and returns the lock, reminding him she’s perfectly capable of buying her own. When he gently asks — in Spanish — how her day went, she opens up. She admits she wishes she were more optimistic, like Randy. Manuel agrees: he wishes that too.
Will Lala finally agree to help take down Luna? Will she and Manuel actually start a relationship? Episode 7 may finally deliver some answers. Make sure to watch it Tuesday, Dec. 2, on CBS at 9/8c.
NCIS: Origins airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS.
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