Caitlin "Kate" Todd was a former Secret Service Agent who was originally assigned to the USS Presidential Protective Detail on board Air Force One. However, following the events of Yankee White (episode), she resigned from the Secret Service for good after it was revealed that she had been in a relationship with a Marine Major who was later murdered.
After resigning from the Secret Service, she almost immediately joined NCIS before being assigned as a Junior Agent to the NCIS Major Case Response Team, becoming the third member of the team and Anthony DiNozzo Junior's second partner.
Kate's position on the team which was left vacant after her murder was later taken over by Ari's control officer and half-sister and later NCIS Special Agent Ziva David and then following Ziva's departure nine years later by NSA agent Eleanor Bishop, who subsequently became an NCIS Probationary Agent and later an official NCIS Special Agent before Bishop resigned from the team in May 2021 with the newest member being NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight.
Biography
Pre-Series
Caitlin was born in Indiana of an unnamed couple, and raised in Indianapolis. She was the youngest of five children, including three brothers, whom she referred to as "practically psychotic", and an elder sister Rachel Cranston who introduced in "A Man Walks Into a Bar...", and was Catholic. She also mentioned having a cousin named Maureen Ingalls. She seems to enjoy small towns and nature.
After finishing high school, Kate then spent two years in law school from 1993 to 1995, but dropped out, presumably due to the fact that she found the work daunting. She felt like she had spent "10 years in prison". In 1994, she won a wet T-shirt contest during her Spring Break vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. Tony DiNozzo used a photograph of this as a source of amusement and possible blackmail in "Conspiracy Theory".
Some time after graduation from university or college with with forensic psychology/criminal psychology degree, FLETC and JJRTC, she joined the United States Secret Service, and was eventually assigned to the President's security detail aboard Air Force One.
Viewing her job as very demanding, she didn't have the time to meet someone outside of work, and started a romantic relationship with the Marine assigned as carrier of the presidential "Nuclear Football", Timothy Kerry, thereby breaking the Secret Service's rules which prohibit relationships between colleagues.
NCIS Season 1
She appears in every episode of the season and becomes a new team member in the pilot episode.
Kate first encounters Gibbs' team as a United States Secret Service special agent assigned to the Presidential Protection Detail on Air Force One. During "Yankee White", Kate resigns from the Secret Service before her superiors fire her for disobeying the fraternization rules; NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs recruits Todd almost immediately and assigns her to his team, pairing her with Anthony DiNozzo.
She quickly becomes a key member of the Gibbs-led Major Case Response Team (MCRT) based at the NCIS headquarters in Washington, D.C.. Todd became the team's dedicated profiler and created psychological profiles on the suspects being investigated.
She was first taken aback by NCIS' apparent disregard for the rules and protested at times, yet she came to find herself ignoring guidelines in order to obtain key information. In the episode "A Weak Link", for example, she suggests they hack into a classified database. Todd's other skills include counterfeit bill analysis and protection detail, which she acquired during her time as a USSS Agent.
NCIS Season 2
She died in the last few moments in the season finale.
Todd was assassinated during the season two episode "Twilight", after she and the team had successfully cleared a warehouse housing a known terrorist cell. After being officially relieved of the protection detail she had been assigned by Tom Morrow, Kate is shot in the head by sniper and Mossad double-agent Ari Haswari.
NCIS Season 3
She appears in the first two episode of season three as a ghost to the other team members who talk to her and come to terms with her death. She is also shown as a dead body in autopsy.
In "Kill Ari", it is revealed that he targeted and killed Kate merely because he wanted to cause Gibbs pain (even using a Bravo 51 nicknamed "Kate"). During an imagined discussion with Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the morgue, Todd, who had been shot dead in the previous episode, explained that she had not been able to kill Ari because she had looked into his eyes and that there had been something kind in them. She also expressed regret at not killing Ari when she had the chance because she did not deserve to die. Seeking vengeance, Gibbs began a manhunt for Ari, who is eventually shot by his own half-sister, Mossad officer Ziva David. Kate's funeral is held in Indiana during "Kill Ari (Part II)". She is laid to rest with civilian honors, after she is posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the behest of Gibbs and Director Jennifer Shepherd.
Legacy
Kate's tragic murder had a huge impact on her NCIS colleagues and friends as it left the NCIS Major Case Response Team greatly devastated due to the fact that her death had been completely unexpected with everyone having originally believed that Ari had intended to kill Gibbs, not Kate.
Like his colleagues, Tony was devastated by Kate's death and was left stunned at it, having been the closest to her when she had been shot dead which also meant that Tony had been splashed with blood from the impact with the blood covering the right side of his face. This later caused Tony to "grow up" in a sense and although Tony remained the same, he later developed a strong, almost fierce need to protect his NCIS colleagues from harm, presumably for the sake of ensuring that they would not suffer the same fate Kate had.
Kate's death had a far greater impact on Gibbs than any of his other NCIS colleagues as he grew to despise Ari for murdering Kate and became hellbent on avenging Kate's murder to the point of fixation, resolving to get revenge despite all the other federal agencies believing that Ari was not the sniper responsible for Kate's death. Despite the government red tape and warnings to back off, Gibbs continued to carry on in his quest for revenge, even going as far to ignore pleas from his NCIS colleagues including Ducky to stop as Gibbs swore to kill Ari, even if it meant dying in the process.
Overall, Kate died a loyal, devoted and dedicated NCIS Special Agent, willing to fight for her country and stop any threats whatsoever. She also left a strong and lasting impression on her NCIS colleagues despite Kate's career as an NCIS Special Agent lasting for only a year and a half. Her NCIS colleagues tend to remember her with fondness and her memory has also survived on in their hearts and minds.
In "Mind Games" (S0303), DiNozzo tells McGee to ask Todd whether they have knee pads or not before recalling she is dead, while suspect Kyle Boone uses Todd's death in an attempt to intimidate Gibbs. In "Probie" (S03E10), McGee states that unlike Todd, he had no previous law enforcement experience before enlisting as a NCIS Special Agent.
In "Bait" (S03E18) a teenage student held his classmates hostage inside a classroom by threatening them with a bomb strapped to his chest. Gibbs and his team arrived on scene but were unable to get audio and video of the situation inside the classroom. Gibbs put himself in danger by offering himself as a hostage. While DiNozzo took charge of the team, the boy demanded that his mother be brought to the classroom by sunset, but the team discovered that she had been dead for a year. DiNozzo let Gibbs know by saying to the student that Special Agent Caitlin Todd was looking for his mother. A marine asked how Gibbs would know that the boy's mother was deceased. DiNozzo replied, "Special Agent Todd is dead."
In "Hiatus, Part II" (S03E24) When Gibbs loses his memory Ziva reminds Gibbs of Todd's murder and of Ziva killing Ari before taking Gibbs' hand and using it to slap herself on the back of the head.
During season four, Gibbs accidentally called Ziva "Kate" after returning to NCIS following his temporary retirement. Todd is also mentioned briefly by Dr. Mallard in "Aliyah" (S06E25). During "Truth or Consequences" (S07E01), Tony states that the third member of team Gibbs is deceased, and for the past four years that position has been filled by Ziva David. In "Patriot Down" (S07E23), following the murder of SSA Lara Macy, Tony inquires as to who killed "another female NCIS agent", referencing Kate's passing.
Kate's sister, Dr Rachel Cranston, was introduced during "A Man Walks Into a Bar..." (S08E14), in which she was conducting mandatory psychological evaluation of the MCRT. Flashbacks of archive footage, alternate takes and deleted scenes including one from the Season 2 episode, "An Eye for an Eye", are used for illustrating the memories of Gibbs, DiNozzo, Sciuto, Dr. Mallard, McGee and Rachel as they remember their deceased friend and sister. A scene where Rachel sleeps behind Todd's former desk mirrors a similar scene with Todd in "Twilight". At the episode's conclusion, Rachel tearfully mentions that the team have been "better than [Rachel] at letting go", revealing her need for closure. Gibbs then takes her to his basement, showing Rachel where Ziva killed Ari, helping her to find closure.Sasha Alexander recorded voice clips for this episode. Later, in "Nature of the Beast" (S09E01) several references to Kate are made, whilst Rachel Cranston is referred to as "Doctor Kate's sister".
During "Life Before His Eyes" (S09E14), an alternate-universe version of Kate is shown in which she was never killed by Ari, is still an NCIS agent, and is married to DiNozzo with a baby girl named Kelly. Her desk is adorned with photographs of her and her husband, whilst her survival means Ziva is still a foreign national. In "Psych Out" (S09E16), Kate is mentioned when her sister returns to NCIS, and in "You Better Watch Out" (S10E10), it is revealed Tony named his goldfish after Kate. The goldfish is featured prominently until season thirteen's "Family First", and plays a significant role in "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" (S11E01), when DiNozzo has a conversation with Kate regarding Ziva's absence.
In "Gut Check" (S11E09), Abby states that Bishop is an excellent artist, but she's not "Kate good." She later tells Bishop the story of Kate's death in order to prepare her for the news of the death of her own partner. In "House Rules" (S12E10), when McGee is explaining Gibbs' rules, scenes featuring Kate were prominent, and in "Check" (S12E11), Diane Sterling is assassinated in a manner that mirrors Kate's death in order to cause Gibbs significant pain. Kate's "ghost" overlooks Dorneget's funeral procession alongside Shepard, Cassidy, Pacci, Franks, and Dorneget himself in "The Lost Boys" (S12E23). During "Scope" (S13E18), a caricature of McGee drawn by Kate is featured, while when Kate's partner DiNozzo resigns from NCIS in "Family First" (S13E24), a photograph of the two of them is seen among his personal possessions. Kate's Agency ID Photograph and her badge are shown on a memorial wall as Gibbs mourns Ziva.
Occupation
Prior to joining NCIS, Kate was a Secret Service Agent assigned to the Presidential Protection Detail on Air Force One where she worked under William Baer with her codename being "Rosefern" and as such, she was one of the many agents charged with protecting the President of the United States.
However, in September 2003, after the events of Yankee White (episode), Kate resigned from the Secret Service for good due to the fact that she'd slept with a deceased co-worker.
Mere seconds after her resignation, NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs hired her and assigned her to his team where Kate became DiNozzo's new partner and also the newest member of the team while also bypassing the rank of NCIS Probationary Agent as she reached the rank of Junior NCIS Special Agent instead.
Upon Timothy McGee joining the team and becoming the new Junior Special Agent, Kate became a Special Agent, a position she kept up until her death in the Season 2 finale episode, "Twilight".
Personality
Kate usually had a very "no nonsense" type of personality coupled with a deep belief of her Catholic upbringing and occasional hypocritical moments. Kate was usually seen wanting to get to business right away and only joking around if an opportunity presented itself, usually mocking Tony. Because she wasn't very familiar with the way the military handled things involving possible murder, she was often ruled by her emotions during some cases; becoming angry or frustrated when something she sees as "obvious" or "not right" isn't seen the same by others.
She often called out Tony on his womanizing nature, almost immediately deeming his ways and suggestions to be damning, but at times saw that his ways helped out in certain ways. She is also occaintionally flirt with Tony, but mostly just to make fun of him. She is very concerned with working out, staying in shape and eating healthy.
Kate was a devoted Catholic, but her religious beliefs sometimes hindered an investigation, such as in The Immortals when she right away wanted to believe a sailor didn't commit suicide because he too was Catholic and suicide is one of the greatest sins in the religion. Despite her religious beliefs, Kate sometimes strayed from some of the stricter rules, such as refraining from pre-marital sex.
She usually was swayed by the hardships and situations many wives or families were going through, especially if they were missing out on some of their benefits due to the questionable nature of a death. During times like this, she often questioned why the military branches involved couldn't just grant the benefits so the spouse or family wouldn't have to struggle until things were cleared up.
Physical Appearance
Kate had shoulder-length brown or blackish hair and brown eyes.
In her debut appearance, she wore a suit composed of a black jacket, black trousers and heels with first a pearl necklace and later a choker of some sort which presumably served as a uniform that she had as part of her job as a Secret Service agent assigned to the Presidential Protection detail on Air Force One.
Possibly, after resigning from the Secret Service, Kate returned that uniform.
When she first joined NCIS, Kate had her hair dyed brown with some of her hair even being cut to form a fringe of some sort and with some blonde streaks even visible as well.
In her first appearance as an NCIS Special Agent, she wore a brown-colored jacket and skirt with a red shirt underneath the jacket as well as heels.
In the field or in the office, Kate often wore t-shirts, skirts, trousers and jeans. She donned a choker of some sort in the first year of her employment at NCIS before she stopped wearing it midway through the first season.
In Season 2, however, Kate's hair became dark brown or black and she later chose to stop donning the fringe, preferring to keep it straight with the hair itself hanging down as far as her shoulders.
In the second half of Season 2, Kate began wearing silver necklaces.
In the field, Kate often wore the standard NCIS coat and wore the cap too, often keeping her hair pined up and underneath the cap as well, something her two successors would also do once they joined the NCIS team.
Kate also carried a holster with her SIG-Sauer and badge and wore both on the right side of her body, the holster wrapped around her right hip.
She also carried a Smith & Wesson Model 60 as her back-up weapon.
In addition, Kate also wore a silver watch.
Abilities
Originally an agent with the Secret Service, Kate was given the assignment of guarding the President of the United States from any and all potential threats.
She often helped her colleagues and was also skilled in composing psychological profiles of possible suspects while even displaying the skill of being able to determine which dollar was real or fake, suggesting she had been received training in money laundering.
Later, as an NCIS Special Agent, Kate was later trained to process crime scenes, interrogate and even potential or possible suspects and as such, became an asset to the NCIS team.
Psychological Profiling
Kate's primary talent was to compose profiles of suspects that her colleagues at the Secret Service and NCIS would after.
She could determine the possible M.O. of the suspect and even give a potential physical description of the suspect as well as a psychological mindset into the suspect as well.
Firearms
As a Secret Service agent, Kate was trained to use firearms. After becoming an NCIS Special Agent, Kate kept training to use firearms and as a federal officer, was trained to lethally or non-lethally incapacitate or kill a suspect that was either endangering her life or the lives of herself and her colleagues.
Interrogation
Although not a level like Gibbs, Kate was a capable interrogator.
Relationships
Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo
Timothy "Tim" McGee
Donald "Ducky" Mallard
Abigail "Abby" Sciuto
Trivia
- Tony DiNozzo named one of his fish after her.
- Cait's death was mimicked in the episode Check. This led to Diane Sterling's death by Sergei Mishnev.
Appearances
For a more detailed list, see Caitlin Todd/List of Appearances.
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