When Buck Winters (Eps. 301 and 302) escapes from prison and makes a B-line for Los Angeles, the team worries that he is coming to take revenge on Don for killing his lover, Crystal Hoyle (Eps. 301 and 302). While everyone works vigilantly to track Buck and his conspirators down, Don seems oddly removed from the case, leaving most of the work and decisions for his team to make. Don's history with Buck had led him to question the use and abuse of powers given to him to protect the law, and he emotionally struggles with how he will deal with Buck should they come face to face. The team worries about Don and his demeanor, but continues to track both Buck's movements and those of his accomplices, one of whom dies in a gun fight with the FBI, while the other is murdered by Buck himself. Ultimately, a face to face meeting is required to take Buck back in to custody, but Buck's plan to commit "suicide by cop" is thwarted by Don's new found sense of calm and compassion.
