agents. And, in the season two episode "Empty Quiver", he managed to shut down the entire Internet for a few minutes. Although not as often as he likes to be, he is also seen being in the field carrying a service weapon. He has worked with Abby Sciuto, a main character from the original NCIS, and has grown quite fond of her with the two having a strong friendship. The two even went on a "date" together during "Random on Purpose", but it ended abruptly when Abby was kidnapped by a serial killer named The Phantom. In the same episode, Eric, like Abby, is shown to be skilled in sign language, beginning to learn it when he was seven years old. Near the episode's end, Eric signs to Abby that his best friend growing up was deaf. Like G. Callen, Sam Hanna, Kensi Blye and Nate Getz, he was introduced in the back-door pilot "Legend". In the opening episode of season seven, "Active Measures", Eric asks Sam to show him how to fire a weapon and how to fight, leaving open the possibility that he may want to try his hand as a field agent in the future. In season 8, Eric shows his ability as an excellent marksman during an undercover work with Nell. He is partnered with Nell Jones in season two, whom he originally disliked because of her taking over some of his technical duties and, at least once, whistling the other team members to attention, something he usually does. He seemingly has put that behind him and warmed up to her and clearly has feelings towards her, although it's assumed that Nell doesn't exactly share Eric's feelings. This, however, may be changing, as Nell is accused by Nate Getz of having feelings for Eric in the episode "Patriot Acts" and her reaction in the season three episode "Cyber Threat" when she is clearly jealous of Eric's new partner. They shared a kiss under the mistletoe during the season four Christmas episode "Free Ride" as well as Eric going home with Nell to spend Christmas with her family (with Nell throwing out Boyfriend as a possible cover for why he is joining her). In season 8, their relationship progresses, after telling the (heavily implied true) story of when he realized he was in love with her (they were undercover as a couple at a retreat for tech-oriented