The episode is written by John Kelley and directed by James Whitmore, Jr. "Grace Period" refer to earlier deaths of NCIS agents. Gibbs told DiNozzo "it could have been us every single day and week, and sometimes it has", as shown in the episode "Twilight" when NCIS special agent Kate Todd is shot dead. In the commentary track on the DVD, Michael Weatherly says that "the last time put a black band across the [NCIS badge, it was a hole in agent Todd's forehead".