Spoilers for this episode.
CTU tries to conceal its involvement in the consulate raid while waiting for Lee to recover enough to talk. Cheng, the consulate's security chief, identifies Bern from surveillance footage and comes to question the team. Jack denies any connection and challenges the photograph. He arranges for Bern to leave Los Angeles before Cheng can interview him. In Washington, Palmer admits to authorizing the raid when Logan confronts him about the diplomatic consequences.
Lee wakes and gives Jack three possible locations for Marwan. Two are already known to CTU, so Jack and Curtis prepare to raid the third. Audrey is asked to support records placing Jack with her during the consulate operation. Despite her anger over Paul's death, she gives Cheng that account. Cheng finds a weakness when Edgar mentions Audrey being called away to the clinic, and he leaves convinced Jack led the raid.
Tony and Michelle acknowledge that they still want to be together, but their conversation is interrupted by the investigation. Jack reaches the new location without confirmation that Marwan is inside and orders the team in. He corners Marwan and shoots him in the arm. Marwan says the attack cannot be stopped. A live video feed shows a missile ready to launch, carrying the stolen warhead. CTU races to trace the transmission, but the countdown runs out before they identify its origin and the missile takes off.