'NCIS' Season 16 finale shocks fans with surprise cameo

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SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from the Season 16 finale of "NCIS."

"NCIS" ended its sixteenth season on Tuesday night and a very special character made an unexpected cameo in the episode's last few moments.

Cote de Pablo, who played Mossad agent Ziva David from 2005 to 2013 returned — much to Gibbs' (Mark Harmon) surprise.

“This surprise moment is just the beginning,” executive producers Frank Cardea and Steven D. Binder said in a statement. “We are thrilled to share that Cote de Pablo will guest star in the 'NCIS' Season 17 premiere this fall as Ziva’s warning to Gibbs unfolds.”

"Hello, Gibbs. No time for pleasantries," Ziva says to Gibbs. "You're in danger."

The beloved character was thought to be dead after a mortar attack but her body was never found, which left fans wondering what exactly happened to her. Many thought she faked her own death and went into hiding.

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De Pablo left the series after Season 11 because she wasn't happy with the show's material. "Unfortunately, because of political things and the scripts not being good enough, I chose not to [continue]," the actress said at the time.

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"I love this character. I worked eight years in crafting this character and loving her, so when I felt or perceived the character was not being treated with the respect that she deserved, all the money in the world [couldn't make me stay]," she explained.

"NCIS" will be returning for Season 17 in the fall on CBS.