Desperate they may lose her forever, Sookie and Lafayette struggle with what to do about Tara, while also cleaning up after Debbie Pelt. Meanwhile, Bill and Eric, cleaning up a mess of their own, are visited by the Vampire Authority, one of whom is Nora, a woman from Eric's past. In search of the missing Marcus, Alcide's werewolf pack comes after Sam. With Bill away, Jessica enjoys her new freedom by partying with some local college kids; Jason is visited by the recently turned Reverend Steve Newlin; Terry's PTSD is reignited by an old Iraq War buddy, Patrick; Alcide turns up at Sookie's to warn her about the recently resurfaced Russell Edgington.

Bill and Eric barter for their lives with the Authority Chancellors and their leader, Roman. Salome and Roman enlist Steve Newlin to be the "friendly face" of vampirism in the face of Russell's return. After Tara bolts into the night, Sookie goes to Fangtasia to ask for help from Pam, who is still caught up in her memories of Eric and the strange murders at the Comstock Brothel. Andy's dalliance with Holly comes back to bite him in the butt; later, he's visited by Gordon and Barbara Pelt, who are searching for Debbie. Jason bumps into an old high school teacher, but their reunion brings up conflicting feelings.