Jack joins Chloe, Bill, and Tony, who have been working covertly to uncover a government conspiracy; and President Taylor faces a time-sensitive decision regarding the unrest in Sangala.

At the FBI everyone scrambles to locate Tony and Jack, but Chloe's disruption of the traffic cameras accomplishes its task and conceals their getaway. Walker thinks Bauer was playing her the whole time, and apologizes profusely to Moss for putting so much faith in him. She vows to "make it right." Following up on other leads, Janis identifies Schecter's killer as Alan Tanner; she tells Walker he's out of surgery but still unconscious. Moss takes heat from the White House for allowing Tony to escape. In the Oval Office Taylor and Kanin agree that the Bureau won't recover the CIP before the imposed 1pm deadline for withdrawing troops from Sangala. While the President believes that giving in to Colonel Dubaku's demands will condemn thousands of Sangalans to death, her Chief of Staff counters that not conceding could endanger the lives of American civilians in any number of ways; including crashing one or more of the thousand airplanes still in holding patterns above the nation's airports. Bill, Jack, and Tony arrive at their makeshift CTU headquarters. Chloe says she's glad Jack has joined them. He says he hasn't joined anyone yet, and demands explanations. The first question he asks: Why is Tony not dead? Tony responds that he was dead for almost ten minutes. He goes on to explain that his body was recovered and revived by David Emmerson, who injected him with a hypothermic compound. Emmerson is an ex-military operative who works as an independent contractor, enlisting other former US military and intelligence agents who have grievances against the federal government. He then jobs them out to different clients. After Michelle's death, Emmerson figured Tony would make a good recruit. Tony admits that at first he was on board with Emmerson, leading his crew for three years, and doing "some pretty bad things." He says he turned against Emmerson when he realized that their current plan would put innocent American lives in jeopardy. Jack asks why Tony didn't go to the authorities; Bill replies that he couldn't. He says Tony learned that Emmerson's current client was Dubaku; who, using the vast wealth from the African diamond mines, was able to buy agents within the government. Not knowing who else he could trust, Tony approached Bill. Tony says getting to Dubaku before he leaves the US is the key to uncovering the conspiracy. He says he knows Emmerson's next mission will lead to Dubaku, and that is why it is so urgent that he get himself back into the fold as soon as possible. Jack is wary, but agrees to help. Tony calls Emmerson. He says Jack helped him escape the FBI, and will help on their mission if Emmerson can get him out of the country afterwards. Emmerson is dubious, but tells Tony to bring Jack to their hideout.

In the White House Henry Taylor makes plans to meet with Samantha Roth. He asks Agent Gedge to arrange transportation, and (once again) keep it off the manifest. Gedge is hesitant but Henry promises it will be the last time he asks a favor of this kind. The Secret Service agent is reluctant, but agrees. At FBI Headquarters Sean gets a call from his wife Christine, who is still on board her flight (which has been circling the airport). She says rumors are starting about problems with air-traffic control. He tries to reassure her, and calm her nerves, but his concern is starting to show through. Janis learns that Tanner is awake, and has called his lawyers; she tells Walker. Renee leaves for the hospital, and brings Janis along. Jack and Tony arrive at Emmerson's hideout, and go inside while Bill and Chloe listen via a bug Tony carries. Emmerson has his two other operatives (Morgan and Litvak) take Jack to the basement while he talks to Tony. He says Jack is an unknown factor, and can't be trusted. Tony disagrees, but Emmerson has decided: Bauer has to die, and Tony will pull the trigger. In the basement Jack can tell something is amiss. He sees Morgan and Litvak readying weapons. Jack makes a pre-emptive attack, and quickly gains the upper hand, knocking out Litvak and holding Morgan at gunpoint. Emmerson hears the scuffle, and goes downstairs. Jack makes the case that he and Emmerson need each other. Emmerson is convinced, but Morgan says if Jack stays, he's leaving. Emmerson makes his decision final, and pumps three bullets into Morgan.

At the FBI Sean calls the FAA, and posing as Moss, makes his wife's flight a priority for landing. At the White House, President Taylor and Ethan Kanin meet with Prime Minister Matobo. They play the recording of Dubaku's demands as an explanation of why US troops still have not engaged Juma's forces. Matobo wonders if Taylor is aware of Juma's latest transgression: the advancement on a refugee camp holding over two thousand women and children. Clearly this is new information to her. She asks the Prime Minister to please be patient; he begs her not to abandon his people. Later Taylor asks Kanin why he didn't tell her about the refugee camp; it becomes increasingly clear that he is trying to push her towards giving in to Dubaku's demands. At Emmerson’s hideout Tony warns Jack not to underestimate his new boss. Jack says he won't. Emmerson hangs up the phone, and lays out the new mission: kidnap Prime Minister Matobo, and deliver him to Colonel Dubaku. Chloe hears the mission, and tells Bill they need to warn Matobo. Bill says no; the team must be allowed to grab their target in order to get to Dubaku, and uncover the conspiracy. Chloe doesn't like it, but she knows he's right.

Henry Taylor and Agent Gedge drive along the Tidal Pool at the Jefferson Memorial, and the car stops. Henry gets out, and tells Gedge to leave him, but the Secret Service agent is only willing to pull back to the bridge and wait. Henry walks to the water's edge, and Samantha approaches. She tells him the suicide was staged: Roger was killed by the same people who manufactured the insider-trading accusation. She says Roger stumbled across documents at work which show a Swiss bank actively trading with firms that have business interests in Sangala. After digging deeper, Roger discovered other, similar accounts which were linked to a senior member of the President's administration. Samantha says she doesn't know who the senior official is, but Roger was about to tell his mother before he was killed. She gives Henry a flash drive, saying it contains everything; including account numbers and trading records. She tells him to do whatever he has to do, but leave her out of it. He agrees; she walks away. From a distance Agent Gedge watches the entire encounter. At the hospital Walker and Janis arrive, and find Tanner's room. Walker tells the FBI agent on duty to keep a watch for Tanner's lawyers, and to call her when they arrive. The female agents enter Tanner's room, where he is recovering from surgery and breathing through a tube. Walker questions him about Tony and Dubaku, but Tanner stays silent. Feeling the pressure, she grabs Tanner by the throat but Janis pulls her away. Walker learns that Tanner's lawyers have arrived, and she asks Janis to stall them while she continues her interrogation. Janis says what they are doing is illegal, but Walker says thousands of lives hang in the balance. Against her better judgment, Janis agrees to help. Back in Tanner's room Walker barricades the door, and continues her questioning. Having no luck, she begins to play rough. She crimps his tracheal tube, cutting off his air supply. Her gamble works, and she leaves Tanner's room with the information she came for. She calls Moss, and tells him about the plan to kidnap Matobo; he contacts the Prime Minister's security detail, and tells them of the threat. The Sangalan Secret Service rushes Matobo and his wife into a panic room just as Emmerson, Jack, and Tony commence their attack. With their target secure behind four cinderblock walls, Tony tells Jack that if they can't get to Matobo, they will lose their shot at Dubaku.