Fans are one week away from watching the emotional season finale of NCIS, one that will pay tribute to the late Ralph Waite.

PHOTOS From The NCIS Season 11 Finale

Waite, a veteran actor whose career spanned over 50 years, died on Feb. 13 at the age of 85. He recurred on the CBS show as the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Mark Harmon.

"It goes out on an emotional note," showrunner Gary Glasberg told TVGuide.com of the finale. "Season 11 has been anything but traditional, and what appealed to me was the idea of closing it properly, on solid ground, and not feeling like we were dangling carrots and playing games in any way."

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On May 13's finale, Gibbs will find out about his father's death and will have to choose whether to continue with a case or go back home to prepare for the funeral. Gibbs receives some advice from NCIS Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll), who tragically lost his wife a year ago. Vance insists that Gibbs leaves his work at D.C. and head to Stillwater, Pa.

The episode will also travel back in time and show Gibbs as a boy spending time with his father.

"I think it will mean a lot to the audience and it's definitely meant a lot to us from a storytelling standpoint," Glasberg previously told TVFanatic.com of the flashbacks. "It's a nice episode, it's an emotional episode, it's an informative episode and it gives people some closure."

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