Now out of rehab, Ted and Blake discuss what Ted will do with his life now. When Ted confesses that he'd always dreamed of being an opera singer, Blake offers encourgement, motivating Ted to get a job as a singing waiter at an Italian restaurant. Michael, in an attempt to reconnect with Ted and show his support, gets the gang together for a surprise visit to the restaurant. Upset with the fact that everyone has been offering support for Ted and not him, Emmett refuses to go. As he's about to sing, Ted spots the gang at the restaurant and freezes. He becomes angry and upset that they came to see him unannounced and uninvited. Jennifer shows Brian a few upscale spaces for his new company, Kinnetik, but Brian wants a space that reflects his abstract way of thinking. When she shows him a former bathhouse space, Brian agrees that's it's perfect for Kinnetik's new headquarters.

The episode was rated 7.39 from 36 votes.

Justin finds Cody becoming too violent; Brian hires Ted at his new agency; Mel struggles with an important case; Hunter's social worker arrives unannounced.

The episode was rated 7.47 from 34 votes.

Brian returns from the hospital but leads everyone to believe he'd been in Ibiza. Justin discovers the truth when he overhears a message for Brian from the hospital's oncology department. He asks Michael if he knows anything about it, but Michael is just as shocked as Justin. Knowing that if Brian wanted anyone to know he would've told them, they decide to keep Brian's secret to themselves. Michael, however, later admits to Brian that he knows about his testicular cancer and that Justin is the one who told him. Michael and Justin meet with Brett Keller, a Hollywood producer who wants to make Rage into a feature film. Michael and Justin are pleased to learn that Brett has no intention of compromising Rage's sexuality. Later at Babylon, Ben meets Brett, who he tells he's not a fan of the ""mindless entertainment"" Brett produces. Michael is furious at Ben for insulting Brett. When Ben tells Michael he thinks Brett is a sell-out, Michael accuses him of being jealous.

The episode was rated 7.53 from 34 votes.

Brian is diagnosed with testicular cancer. The prognosis, however, is good; once the afflicted testicle is removed he'll have a 99% chance of survival. Brian is also warned that if he opts not to have surgery, the cancer will spread. Brian decides to keep the news to himself and begins to push everybody away-including Justin. Knowing Ted needs to focus on himself right now, Blake decides not to continue a physical relationship with him. Feeling dejected, Ted visits Babylon where his old crystal buddies tempt him. He discreetly purchases a vial from Dr. C, but rushes out of the club when he spots Emmett and Justin at the bar. Michael and Ben catch Hunter smoking a joint. Later, he gets into a fight with a fellow student at school. They begin to understand Hunter's self-destructive behavior after he indicates that Vic's death has confirmed his own mortality. Ben helps him understand that HIV is not a death sentence-he's going to be around for a long time.

The episode was rated 7.55 from 33 votes.

The Center has hired top fund-raiser, Jeffrey Pendergrass, to help them raise money for the 2004 Liberty Ride. The proceeds will benefit Liberty House Hospice, which is currently in danger of shutting down. After seeing money being spent frivolously at the lavish kick-off party, Brian grows skeptical of Pendergass' motives. Realizing Pendergass seems to be the only one benefiting from the proceeds, Brian does some investigative work. When Brian reveals to Pendergass that he's discovered his questionable history with other fund-raising organizations, the top fund-raiser leaves town-claiming the money raised thus far in Pittsburgh will cover his expenses--barely, leaving nothing for the hospice.

The episode was rated 7.56 from 32 votes.

Brian struggles to obtain a new list of clientelle, but discovers he can win back one of the accounts his old firm has by re-inventing their ad campaign. Justin struggles to deal with the gay-bashing of his friend, and decides to join the group of gay rebels, ""The Pink Posse"", in order to protect the citizens of libery avenue from gay bashing. Ted leaves rehab, but doesn't manage to leave Blake behind, when Blake willingly hands over his phone number, urging Ted to ""call anytime"". Blake comes over to help Ted throw out his ""triggers""- things that might cause Ted to have painful memories or things that might tempt him to use again. Blake offers to crash at Ted's place for the night to make sure Ted will be okay, and he sleeps on the couch, leaving the lingering tension between them at a standstill.

The episode was rated 7.59 from 34 votes.

Cody decides to take Justin to a firing range; while they are there, Justin tells Cody the story of Chris Hobbs and the incident surrounding Brian, himself and the assault. Cody shocks and surprises him by bringing him to the construction site where Chris Hobbs works so that Justin has the chance to confront him about what he did. Justin, however, feels unprepared, and backs down. Convinced that Justin has to confrot Chris Hobbs for what he put him through, they go to his house, where Justin demands an apology. Seeing no reason to apologize and holding no remorse, Chris refuses, until Cody hands Justin a gun, which he uses to force Chris Hobbs to his knees to make him apologize; he does, yet Cody tells Justin that it is not enough and urges him to do more than simply make him apologize. Justin says that an apology is all he needed and, realizing Cody has gone too far, hands him the gun, and leaves.

The episode was rated 7.77 from 31 votes.

Brian's oncologist gives him a clean bill of health but insists that he take it easy. However, in an attempt to repair the devastation of the fund-raiser Jeffrey Pendergrass left in his wake, Brian decides to obtain Remson Pharmaceuticals' sponsorship (in the amount of $100,000) to participate in the Liberty Ride. Against his concerned friends' wishes, Brian starts to train for the Ride but quickly becomes exhausted and has trouble keeping up with the others in his spin class. Emmett makes an attempt to forget Drew, which is no simple task now that images of him as the Brown Athletics underwear model are plastered all over town. It seems to be just as hard for Drew to forget Emmett, as his game has been off and he has trouble sleeping (among other things), and keeping Emmett off of his mind. He finds Emmett at Debbie's and tells him he misses him. Later at the motel, Emmett asks Drew when he plans on telling Sierra about them; Drew doesn't think anyone has to know.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 37 votes.

Emmett gets mixed messages from a pro-football player; Jealous over Michael's success, Ben finds sympathy from a former student; Justin discovers Brian's illness.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 34 votes.

Brian continues to deal with radiation treatment; Ben is tempted when a former student shows interest in him; Sam and Lindsay struggle with their mutual attraction.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 33 votes.

Preparations for the Liberty Ride get underway; Mel is confined to bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy; Justin is invited to Hollywood to pitch 'Rage'.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 36 votes.

This heartwarming season opener picks up more or less where the previous season left off. Having lost his job, and a pile of money keeping Stockwell away from the mayoral position, Brian finds himself falling on hard times financially, though he refuses to admit it. Though he is offered his old job back, Brian passes because of a contractural obligation that would force him not to work for a competitor. When Brian tries to start his own agency (lovingly named ""Kinnetic"" by Justin,) all his clients turn him down, forcing him to accept donations from a fund raising put together by his friends. Ted, still not able to put his life back together, leaves rehab, despite being ""clean"". A visit from Em provokes nothing but further fights between the two, partially revolving around Ted's now-rather-close-relationship to Blake. The audience is left unsure if they will ever reconcile.

The episode was rated 8.00 from 43 votes.

Michael and Justin receive a letter from a famous action film director by the name of Brett Keller, who is interested in turning ""Rage"" into a live-action feature film! Michael and Hunter are thrilled, but Ben is less than enthusiastic, stating that he's not interested in Brett Keller's ""world of mindless entertainment"". Justin and Michael, however, decide they'll consider Keller's offer, but Justin has second thoughts when Ben tells him that once Keller owns the rights to ""Rage"", he could do whatever he pleases,including making Rage a straight character. When Brian and Justin each think that a new guy they spot in Babylon is checking them out, they make a bet to see which one he's interested in. If Justin wins, Brian will take him on a trip to Ibiza. And if Brian wins, Justin will go back to school. Within a few days, Brian is winning the bet but receives shocking news when the guy, a doctor, tells Brian he has a lump on his testicle.

The episode was rated 8.09 from 33 votes.

After getting married in Canada, newlyweds Michael and Ben are stopped at the U.S. border; Mel goes into labor; The Liberty Ride enters the final stretch.

The episode was rated 8.35 from 40 votes.