We got to find out more about Patton this episode.

Patton took a rare turn in the spotlight on NCIS: New Orleans Season 5 Episode 18.

Good thing, too, because it involved differently abled people and computer stuff, so Patton was right in his element.

The first interesting development is that Pride was back to being Special Agent in Charge after being detached on NCIS: New Orleans Season 5 Episode 17 so that he could join the top-secret Apollyon task force.

Apparently, it wasn't all that top-secret since some people above Pride in the food chain had to know in order to find a substitute SAC so that he could try out Isler's task force for himself.

Related: NCIS: New Orleans Season 5 Episode 17 Review: Reckoning

Anyhoo, long story short, we're continuing with the farce that Pride has been promoted and no longer commands the New Orleans squad, even though that's what he's continued to do on most episodes this season.

We've seen Pride's assistant, Steven Thompson, what, maybe three times this season? I guess he's too busy running the office in Pride's absence.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, to quote Seinfeld, as no one is tuning in to watch Pride shuffle papers or attend boring policy meetings.

This episode was no exception, as Pride reassigned himself back to his old haunt to be there for Patton.

Understandably, Patton's sharp, analytical mind failed him when it came to recalling any details after his friend Nick Taylor was gunned down in front of him.

Nick was the one who pulled Patton back from despair after he suffered the life-changing injury which put him in a wheelchair in a drunk-driving accident.

Related: Watch NCIS: New Orleans Online: Season 5 Episode 17

So there was absolutely no way Patton was going to pay any attention to protocol when it came to catching Nick's killer. He was living at the office with only a token visit to a trauma counselor to break up the stay.

The setting for much of the episode was the real-life Crane Rehab Center, where, with Nick's guidance, Patton began to reclaim his life after his accident.

It was evident the place held a special place in Patton's heart, as he showed it off to LaSalle and Gregorio.

I enjoyed the concept of the Battle Brigade, which allowed disabled members of the military or law enforcement to contribute as analysts for various agencies.

There must be a real such group, although I was unable to quickly uncover it. If not, there certainly should be, to allow skilled individuals to continue to serve their country.

Patton knew there was no way that Nick was any kind of spy, and he soon proved that the Battle Brigade was unknowingly being used to steal classified information through bugs placed in their prostheses. 

That was certainly an ingenious twist.

It was heartening to watch how the members of the Battle Brigade, after finding out how they had been used, mostly pitched in to help sort through the mounds of stolen data to find out who might be behind the thefts.

The exception was Detective Kevin Simms, who remained angry at the world for his injury. At least Patton was able to get him to pitch in, and Simms was the one who eventually identified the culprits.

I'm skeptical that Zander Reed, with a couple of semesters of community college, really had the know-how to pull off such a complicated scheme, but sometimes you just have to roll with the narrative flow, even when it doesn't totally make sense.

Also, it's always damn convenient when forensic trace points to a suspect, such as the high-grade cocaine leading to the Marauders motorcycle gang, which Simms recalled hearing about just before his accident. Sometimes it doesn't pay to ponder such developments too long.

Simms, a former cop still coming to grips with losing his leg, and Patton quickly formed a snarky relationship. It made more sense once you realize that Daryl Mitchell, who plays Patton, and Kevin Yaegar, who portrays Simms, are actually close friends offscreen.

That relationship certainly shone through in their scenes together, as Patton helps Simms to acknowledge his new situation, trying to fill the same role that Nick had played for him in his recovery.

Related: CBS Cheat Sheet

Of course, Simms had to be a cowboy, trying to arrest Reed in a bar packed with bikers. Patton smartly figured out what he was up to and called in the cavalry, using his motormouth to stall until Pride and the team got there.

By the end, when Simms joined Patton's wheelchair-rugby game, he seemed closer to at least acceptance.

We also learned more about Pride's role in Patton's recovery and eventual move to NCIS, including that Pride almost got suspended for sneaking out Patton to a Saints game. That certainly seems like Pride, breaking the rules to help out a friend in pain.

Fortunately, there was plenty of computer stuff for Patton to do: cracking encryption of the keyboard sniffers, tracking the frequencies back to the rehab center where they discovered the breadth of the breach, tracking Simms when he went off on his own.

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Sure, Sebastian can do much of the same things on the non-Patton episodes, but Patton does them with more flair.

I understand Patton's support role, but these glimpses into his past are always fun. But at the rate he gets featured, it will require a long series run before much of his back story is unveiled. 

To find Patton's previous spotlights, watch NCIS: New Orleans online.

Did you enjoy finding out more about Patton?

Were you surprised Pride was back as SAC?

What did you think of the Battle Brigade?

Comment below.

Dale McGarrigle is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.