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'NCIS: Los Angeles' Season 11 Episode 20: Is [spoiler] leaving too? Fans say 'you can't just leave like Nell'

In the aftermath of Nell leaving the team, another agent reflects on prospects beyond the NCIS

Spoilers for 'NCIS: Los Angeles'  Season 11 Episode 20 'Knock Down'

The latest episode of 'NCIS: Los Angeles' Season 11, which was expected to be the finale for this season, ended on a positive note. Next week there's going to be a new episode to look forward to, but while fans can rest easy knowing that, here's the catch: looks like Eric Beale (Barrett Foa) is struggling in the aftermath of Nell Jones (Renée Felice Smith) leaving the team for a big adventure beyond the stress of this job and now he's considering the same. 

In the episode titled 'Knock Down', "The team assists the DOJ in the investigation of an arsonist who targets an FBI safe house that's protecting a political activist seeking asylum; Eric deals with the aftermath of Nell leaving the team." It is the last part however that has us concerned. The episode saw Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) stuck with Eric after a big toe injury thanks to Kensi Blye ( Daniela Ruah) leaving heavy boxes around, but also thanks to Kensi, we got to see one of the most hilarious team-ups ever - a relentless Deeks trying to help Eric get over Nell and a hesitant Eric trying to get away from Deeks' constant emotional support.

Eric isn't selfish, he just has his own way of coping and honestly, Deeks can get a little overbearing and come off a bit strong especially when he's bored and has nothing to keep him occupied. So after dollops of insights from 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and constant offers of hugs, at the end of the episode, Eric finally admits to Deeks that it's been helpful having him around offering emotional support. But Eric also adds that seeing Nell seeks out a vacation and big adventure has him thinking maybe he could too.

He talks about big companies who offer him a job on a weekly basis and how he was in the room when Instagram was created, so maybe a career beyond NCIS awaits him. But while Nell leaving gave him all the inspiration he needed, Deeks also points out that the reason he stuck with the NCIS is that he knows this is a job where he can make a difference - thus leaving the discussion pretty open-ended as we still aren't exactly sure if Eric is leaving at the end of this season or not. 

Fans are however begging for Eric not to leave, as they took to Twitter to express their sentiments. "No Eric can't just leave like that," wrote a fan on social media, while another cried out: "First Nell. Now Eric? Don't leave Beale." Another fan shared out of sheer worry: "I hope that Nell is just taking a leave of absence and not leaving the show completely. She and Eric really work well together and add a touch of quirky humor as well." Other fans are however happy for the computer whiz seeking out greater adventures, as they noted: "Eric, I am really impressed by you right now!" But overall, the emotion summed up was pretty much along the lines of "Not you too, Eric!"

'NCIS: Los Angeles' Season 11 airs on Sundays at 9 pm only on CBS.