Season 11 of NCIS was filled with several unexpected twists and turns.

First, Cote de Pablo, who played Ziva David, decided to leave the show after eight years and then a new character named Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham) joined the crew. Later in the season, cast members also mourned the loss of Ralph Waite, who played Gibbs' father, Jackson, since 2008.

Despite all the changes, NCIS is coming back for season 12. While few details have been revealed about the upcoming season, below are a few things fans can probably expect.

Will Timothy McGee and Delilah Fielding continue their relationship?

The relationship between these two characters hasn't been an easy one. In a January episode, McGee's new girlfriend was hurt by a bomb that exploded at a gala. Delilah later had to undergo two surgeries in order to save her life after the incident which also left her paralyzed.

During season 11, McGee encouraged Delilah to take a job opportunity in Dubai. She responded that she'd only accept the offer if their relationship would survive the long distance. McGee then gave her a spare key to his apartment to show his commitment. According to the show's executive producer this means she will appear on season 12.

"They've got a decision to make," Gary Glasberg told TVLine about that specific episode. "And then we'll have to see where that takes us moving into Season 12."

Will there be an appearance by Ziva David?

Having de Pablo come back to the show would be a dream of many NCIS fans. While it doesn't seem likely she'll join the NCIS team again, Glasberg and de Pablo both teased Ziva's appearance in some capacticy.

"The greatest thing about this last episode is that Ziva doesn't die," de Pablo told TV Guide last September. "As long as a character doesn't die, the character can always come back. Not that it would actually matter, because we bring back characters from the dead all the time on NCIS."

During an interview with TVLine, Glasberg revealed that many people have even requested that he bring back the character somehow. "But it has to be done in a way where it feels organic to the storytelling and we're not just throwing in lines about Ziva here and there," he said.

Glasberg also explained that "If Tony's in a personal relationship or there's something significant happening for him and he wondered how she would respond, then maybe we can figure out a way to do it. It's a valid issue to bring up."

Will Tony find love again?

Ziva emotionally left the show back in October despite Tony's attempt to get her to stay. Many fans probably want the beloved character to find another woman. And, while Glasberg didn't reveal when a new love would find Tony, he teased the idea. Perhaps, it will happen next season.

"I don't think his next relationship is going to happen anytime soon," Glasberg told TVLine in January. "Part of letting Tony be Tony and letting him be flirtatious and talk to women is that these women don't really matter. They're quick encounters that he's having; it's not Ziva. They're not ones that count. Eventually, will there be another [great love]? Maybe."

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Tags: NCIS