Spoilers for this episode.
Jack rescues Paul from the guards at the defense contractor and retrieves the encrypted pages Paul hid before the blackout. With their communications disabled, they cannot simply call CTU for help. Conlon brings in mercenaries to kill them and recover the documents. Jack leads Paul into a sporting goods shop, where two Arab American brothers, Safa and Naji, are defending their business from looters. The brothers choose to help once Jack explains who is hunting them.
Jack plans to draw the mercenaries into a gunfight so their radio traffic will reveal his location. At CTU, Tony anticipates that move, but Michelle initially favors a perimeter around the blackout zone. Their difficult reunion also affects Tony's assignment and security clearance. Audrey urges Michelle to recognize the help Tony has already given them. Michelle eventually acknowledges his value and asks him to stay when he considers leaving.
The shop becomes a battlefield as the mercenaries close in. Jack and the others fall back through the building until CTU's tactical team arrives and takes down the attackers. Jack hands over the recovered pages for decoding and thanks the brothers. Conlon is still alive, however, and raises his weapon at Jack. Paul pushes Jack aside and takes the bullet. While medics work on Paul, Marwan coordinates with Mitch Anderson, who is preparing an operation in an Air Force uniform.