NCIS' Jessica Knight was 'happy' in California to start season 22, but actress Katrina Law revealed that the pull of being “home” in Washington, D.C. was too strong to keep her there.

Warning: Spoilers for NCIS Season 22, Episode 1.

“Knight is a very ambitious person, and any person with ambition will take the job,” Law, 39, said exclusively Us weekly about her character's decision to move to Camp Pendleton, California, after a job offer at the end of season 21 and become the Chief REACT Training Officer there.

Knight ultimately took the job because she “decided to step out of the shadow of her very powerful father, whom she loves and adores,” Law explained. She noted that Knight also realized that she couldn't get her father or her then-boyfriend Jimmy Palmer to do it (Brian Dietzen) was “happy” at this point, so she moved “based solely on my wishes and needs.”

When Season 22 premiered on Monday, October 14, Knight had already been in California for six months and she and Palmer had broken up. (The two had an argument during the Season 21 finale, which aired in May, hinting at their breakup.)

“When she came to California, she was happy. She really loved the job, she loved her REACT team. She loved everything about it,” Law said. “But I think there was something that ultimately ate at her and only came to light when she saw (Alden) Parker's face as she walked into the REACT clubhouse.”

During the episode, Knight takes a villain hostage at Camp Pendleton in hopes of saving Nick Torres' life (Wilmer Valderrama) life because he works undercover with a drug team and goes missing.

Knight's former boss Parker (Gary Cole), is on location in California to help her solve the Torres mystery – and their rekindled working relationship leads Knight to discover what she really wants.

“It all became crystal clear to her. “Yeah, I love where I’m at right now, but ultimately I want to go home.” And my home is in D.C.,” Law said Us of Knight's decision at the end of the episode to forego further promotion and return to the NCIS team in DC

The actress explained that she realized she was better as a field agent when she saw Parker and the rescue of Torres (yes, he's alive and well).

Law called Knight an “adrenaline junkie” who likes “to find fulfillment on the field, chasing bad guys, taking them down and finding justice.”

“Moving forward,” Law said UsKnight is “no longer on my father's career path and I'm trying not to worry about my friend's feelings, I'm just going to do what feels right at that moment, not necessarily what's best for the career path.” .”

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Knight will ditch her “totally structured perspective” when she returns to DC after learning to embrace her lighter side in California.

“She'll just let go a little more,” Law said, noting that Knight has given up on the idea that she should make others “happy” instead of herself.

Law revealed that Knight will be a “little wild card” for the foreseeable future.

“(Knight) started playing it safe for (her) dad and started playing it even more safe for Jimmy,” Law explained, admitting, “It put a little pressure on her.” Now She's basically saying, 'I'm free, I'll just do whatever I want,' and God knows what that will be.”

When it comes to Knight and Palmer's future, Law teased that their DC reunion will be “interesting and awkward.”

NCIS airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.