Vance and Lena’s relationship, explained

(Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for NCIS Season 22, Episode 2 “Foreign Bodies.”

A murder case in the middle of diplomatic talks with Venezuela makes life complicated NCIS Team – and for some of them, personal life isn’t any easier.

First of all, the latest episode provides an update on the relationship between Knight (Katrina Law) and Palmer (Brian Dietzen) in the sense that there is no update. After McGee (Sean Murray) remarks that “working with his romantic partner can get difficult,” Knight agrees, “Preaching to the converted.” When Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) asks what’s going on between her and Palmer, she responds She: “No story. We’re friends, I think. We’re fine. We haven’t really talked about it yet.”

This fits in with what Law told us after the Episode 4 premiere. “Knight and Jimmy have been working together for weeks, if not months at this point, but they haven’t talked about anything and now all of a sudden they’re in a situation where they’re sitting next to each other with no way out and the conversation has to be had,” teased she. “There’s a very pivotal moment where Knight opens the door and says, ‘Do you want to stay like this or do you want something to possibly change?’ And Jimmy has a reaction that breaks her heart a little bit.”

Meanwhile, to Vance’s (Rocky Carroll) surprise, Lena (Marem Hassler), his “casual girlfriend,” as Knight calls her – “They meet once a year at world conferences and hang out” – is in town for diplomatic talks. Since he is hiding information about the ongoing case (so as not to jeopardize the discussions), he declines her invitation to her hotel room. She thinks he’s upset because she didn’t tell him about attending the talks. (He would have liked to know about it, he admits.) She was busy, she explains, including getting an apartment in New York, which was new to him. She wanted to tell him, but she didn’t want him to feel like she was invading his space by coming closer. They don’t tell each other everything, but they don’t agree to any terms. Of course, things get even more complicated when it’s revealed that Lena has been keeping quiet about the real reason she’s in DC related to the case.

Later, Vance comes by to visit Parker (Gary Cole) at home – I love that this friendship continues! – and asks him if anything was going through his mind as he was stuck bleeding out on the ship; Both had near-death experiences last year and never talked about it. “I had some thoughts,” Parker admits, remembering the young girl Lily. Um? “I’m not sure,” he says. “I’m still unpacking it.” (We hope he unpacks this a little quicker – we want answers about Lily!)

After he was shot, Vance thought about “time.” How much I have left. How do I want to spend it? Who do I want to spend it with?” Parker wonders if he’s thinking about making a stronger commitment to Lena. “I was, but now there’s so much baggage between us. Too many secrets. Dishonesty,” Vance admits. “To tell you the truth, Parker, I don’t really know what I want.” Parker is convinced and suggests being more honest with yourself first.

That (and Lena’s kidnapping) leads to the end of the episode, where Vance and Lena have dinner. She apologizes for keeping things from him and he gets honest with her. “I don’t want to have a casual relationship with you anymore. … I want more,” he tells her. “I want to spend more time with you, at your apartment in New York or at my house in DC when you’re here, make a proper schedule. Unless this is too much for you and I’ve just made an ass of myself.” She assures him, “No, I was hoping you’d say that.” She’s already made him a key. With this they toast “to us”.

What do you think of Vance and Lena’s relationship? Let us know in the comments section below.

NCISMondays, 9/8c, CBS