Ryan Chappelle refuses to trade Alexis for Jack, so Nina calls in a favor from David Palmer, who promises George Mason a promotion if he makes the trade. Sherry Palmer enlists campaign worker Patty Brooks to spy on her husband and sleep with him if necessary. The Drazens take Alexis but destroy the homing device CTU planted on him. Jack is released, but Kim is still a captive.
Jack and Kate try to break Marie's resolve so they can learn the location of the bomb. Palmer confronts his ex-wife with the information that Stanton gave them. George finally steps down as director of CTU and hands the position over to Tony. Kim discovers her host's deception.
President Palmer learns of a conflict involving one of his biggest contributors and Wayne. Kim and Michelle question Tony's ability to make decisions. Jack and the Salazars face an unexpected competitor when they go to buy the virus.
Marwan offers to trade Jack for Behrooz in order to distract CTU from possibly investigating the death of an Air Force family. Mitch Anderson runs into problems at the Air Force Base. Meanwhile, on Air Force One, President Keeler is having problems finding a suitable way to address the nation after such a trying day.
Jack is forced to interrogate Audrey when he learned that she might be connected to Bierko and the terrorists. Wayne Palmer and Aaron Pierce flee from armed men who have orders from Christopher Henderson to kill them. Vladimir Bierko and his men execute the next phase of attacks by targeting a gas company and releasing the Sentox gas throughout Los Angeles.
Upon invoking the 25th Amendment, Vice President Daniels shows he is not above perjuring himself in order to obtain the Presidency. Gredenko reluctantly helps CTU capture Fayed. President Palmer resorts to risky medical treatments to maintain consciousness.
With the help of an unlikely ally, Jack begins to piece together the connection between the Sangalan terrorism and Starkwood. After some damaging information is leaked to the media, Ethan Kanin suspects Olivia's involvement. At FBIheadquarters, Morris O'Brian, with his wife still in holding, is forced to make a difficult decision.
Kevin Wade coerces Dana into getting him into an NYPD evidence lock-up worth more than a hundred thousand dollars. PresidentOmar Hassan's harsh measures against dissenters continue to raise eyebrows at the United Nations. After a brush with death, "Renee Zadan" gets the sting operation back on track, but not without a horrifying concession to Vladimir Laitanan.
Ryan Chappelle unexpectedly passes out during a CTU briefing and is rushed to the hospital. In the prison, Jack Bauer realizes that MS-13 has placed a bounty on his head.