After Goss' infected body is dropped at the hospital Jack and Chase begin to trace his last known locations while CTU tries to figure out how the virus is gonna be unleashed to the public at large. Once they figure out it's gonna be spread through cocaine shipments CTU begins to track down drug dealers in East LA. President Palmer considers canceling the debate.

In order to get Ramon out of prison Jack asks for President Palmer's permission to instigate a prison riot. Michelle takes over command of CTU after Tony is injured. Chase disobeys orders and fiercely interrogates Ramon as Jack puts his plan into motion. President Palmer has Wayne call off the meeting with Anne's ex-husband. Drug dealer Kyle Singer is captured by Salazar's men.

Jack and Ramon are captured by dangerous prison inmates after trying to escape. President Palmer begins his debate with Senator Keeler. At CTU, Chloe O'Brian discovers evidence of Jack's heroin addiction.

Ramon holds Jack hostage as they fly down to Mexico. Regional Director Chappelle interrogates Gael; Tony returns prematurely to CTU to reveal Gael's true allegiance. Chase disobeys orders and heads for Mexico to rescue Jack.

Jack tries to regain the Salazars' trust when they make it to Mexico. President Palmer is angry with Tony over being left out of a secret operation. Chase is captured by Salazar's men.

Jack and Nina prepare to meet with Amador, the man selling the virus; CTU organizes an ambush. Ramon and Hector have a falling out. President Palmer asks his ex wife Sherry to help with the Milliken situation.

Jack and Nina are double-crossed when Ramon steals the virus during the exchange with Amador. Sherry gains a short-lived advantage in dealing with Alan Milliken.

Nina releases a deadly computer virus into CTU's systems after getting captured by Jack and Chase. Sherry runs out of options and decides to directly confront Alan Milliken but things go too far. Chloe and the rest of the tech crew work overtime to combat the virus.

Regional Director Chappelle forces Jack to undergo a medical evaluation for his heroin addiction. Tony interrogates Nina Meyers. Julia Milliken confronts Sherry after Alan dies while Wayne and President Palmer prepare for the fallout. Nina tries to escape custody after collapsing during the interrogation.

Amador and his people receive orders from their client to release the virus in the Chandler Plaza Hotel. Jack closes in on Amador but it's too late. Michelle and Gael alert the Chandler's Chief of Security to the dangers of the threat.

President Palmer gives into Stephen Saunders's strange demand of placing an seemingly nondescript phrase into a speech in the hopes of delaying another viral outbreak. Michelle takes control of the situation inside the hotel. Jack and Chase bring a suspect to the local branch of MI-6 as Saunders launches an attack on the building.

Jack has to comply with another one of Saunders' demands: the death of Regional Director Ryan Chappelle. Michelle discovers that one of the infected hotel patrons got out before the quarantine was enforced.

When CTU learns that Saunders has a daughter attending an LA university they must inform Jack the only match for a bait and switch operation is Kim Bauer. Chase tracks down the man who escaped the hotel quarantine. Palmer informs his cabinet on the dangers of the threat.

Jack works on using Saunders' daughter in an attempt to gain control of the virus. Michelle waits to find out if she's infected. Palmer navigates around a angry and confused press. Saunders starts making demands on Tony.

Tony works covertly to find a way to get Jane Saunders out of CTU and deliver her to Saunders before Jack and Chase find him. Senator Keeler receives some damaging information on President Palmer from a surprising source.

Jack and Tony clash as they wait for the time of hostage exchange with Saunders. Senator Keeler confronts President Palmer about the Milliken cover-up while Wayne initiates a secret operation against Sherry.

Jack and Chase try to track down the location of vials containing the virus. Wayne breaks into Sherry's house to get incriminating evidence as a paranoid Julia Milliken confronts Sherry.