In the Season 3 opener, Jackie's marriage is feeling the strain of her drug problem, and following the intervention, her relationship with Dr. O'Hara is also on shaky grounds. Meanwhile, Akalitus learns that some of the nearby hospitals may be closing, which will stretch her staff and resources to the breaking point; and Zoey comes clean about her relationship with Lenny.

Jackie is not too happy to hear that Eddie now considers Kevin a good friend and will not continue to lie to him. She is also unhappy to learn that Dr. O'Hara is seeking a new job because of her. And Mrs. Akalitus announces the hospital may receive a visit from the first lady.

Jackie discovers Kevin's younger sister sleeping off a hangover in the girls' bedroom and suspects he has brought her to the house to monitor Jackie after the unsuccessful intervention. Meanwhile, Lenny's romantic picnic lunch with Zoey hits a snag; and a Jewish Orthodox husband is at odds with his critically ill wife's parents over her treatment.

Jackie comes up with an interesting new place to stash her cache of pills, and she and O'Hara clear the air as the doctor is named ER chief. Meanwhile, Zoey works her first double shift, and Kevin invites Eddie to a family barbecue at the house.

Jackie sweats over her dwindling supply of pills from an epileptic dealer and confronts Eddie over the attention he is paying Kevin's sister. Elsewhere, Coop steps up his campaign to wrest the title of ER chief from O'Hara and also deals with a troubling personal problem involving his mothers (Judith Light, Swoosie Kurtz); Jackie and Thor help Akalitus hide a Virgin Mary statue from church officials who intend to repossess it; and Jackie and O'Hara wrestle with a moral question.

Mrs. Akalitus is in a holy uproar as workers from the archdiocese remove her religious statues. Meanwhile, a new temp nurse makes his presence known in the ER, and some people don't appreciate it; Coop deals with personal, professional and podiatric problems; and Jackie tries to deal with Kevin playing matchmaker between Eddie and his sister.

After soothing Grace's concerns about the upcoming saints pageant at school, Jackie seeks a palliative for herself and scores some drugs. Meanwhile, new nurse Kelly Slater is leaving his mark on the hospital, and Zoey shows a special interest in a boy whose mother is being treated for an overdose. Later, a Native American patient has some uplifting advice for Coop, who is depressed about his mothers' divorce, and Jackie witnesses O'Hara and Eddie leaving All Saints together in a car.

Jackie chastises Kelly for flirting in the ER with two drunk high-school girls. Meanwhile, Thor helps Mrs. Akalitus master her new, high-tech phone system and then connects with her on another level; and Jackie stops by Bill's to score drugs on her way to Grace's school pageant, but finds him down and out, literally.

Jackie is questioned about drugs that went missing from the oncology department; Coop contemplates starting his own family and contacts an old flame via Facebook; and Lenny gets put on a heart monitor, leading Zoey to question whether her heart is still in their relationship.