Kat has been gone for months on her book tour and now returns to LA Ink. The shop has gotten more sucessful, even with Hannah and Kim gone.

With her business expanding, Kat is forced to go against her policy and hire some strangers. She brings in a new tattooist named Amy to see how she fits in around the shop.

Kat uses her new cosmetic line to make herself completely tattooless in a racy New York photo shoot promotion. Meanwhile Kat's friend, Nikko stuns everyone with a gory portrait while he guest spots.

Aubry's future at LA Ink is in jeopardy with her crazy antics and when she redecorates Kat's shop.

Aubry has been trying to fit in at the shop but her efforts are causing tension. Kat asks everyone to make her feel welcome and to show it, she sets Aubry up with one of Kat's good friends. While on the date Aubry announces she wants a baby.

When Kat finds out she must travel back to New York City to help promote her new fragrance line, she brings in tattoo artist, Dan Smith, to help out in the busy shop. Meanwhile, Aubry’s antics wear Adrienne down as the work piles up.

Kat begins a second book based on her private tattoo journals work that triggers deep emotional reactions. Aubry ponders getting a tattoo. Paulie worries about not getting any clients and his feelings hit the boiling point.

In the previous episode, Aubry was thinking about getting a tattoo and now thinks getting it at shop will earn some brownie points. However, Kat is worried that she isn't doing it for the right reason.

The shop marks Kat's two year soberity aniversery with a special surprise, while Kat celebrates the occasion by tattooing her sister Karoline. Aubry plans hitting the stage to perform stand up comedy.

Dan reminds Kat that he's taking a break to record songs with his band and she is caught off guard. Paulie's frustration with the lack of work leads to a heated blowout.

Kat gives Motorhead's Lemmy a tattoo; Hannah and her daughter bond in hopes of figuring out the past; Kat plans a celebration since her brother is coming for a visit.

Kat reaccounts how a doctor's appointment brought the anxiety of possible cancer into her life and Aubry is still trying to fit in but Corey is not buying it.

Kat has decided to have the mural in the back of shop redone and mistakelly announces that the entire shop personal will be on it. Aubry is looking forward to seeing her face as validation of the poor treatment she feels the staff have been showing her.

The argument between Corey and Aubry is now at a head and Kat must now decide what to do about it, while in the wake of Karoline leaving the shop

Liz, the new shop manager, is no-nonsense and Kat likes it. However, it is not sitting well with the rest of the crew. Paulie and Amy are trying to hookup Aubry with a job at American Electric, but they are struggling.

Kat's cat, Ludwig, is very sick and she is having a hard time dealing with it and Liz's superior attitude after she found out there are four "Shop Manager" positions and the basics of the job. While Craig questions Aubry's competence at American Electric and gets a visit from his brother.

Rap superstar, Soulja Boy, gets a tattoo from Kat and the planning of a party at the shop puts Kat in the middle of feuding Adrienne and Liz. Aubry debates about removing her LA Ink tattoo.

The tension between Adrienne and Liz is getting to be too much for Kat and she puts an end to it, while Cory's stress is showing. Paulie gets his color skills tested and Aubry decides on another tattoo at American Electric.

The war between Adrienne and Liz has gotten out of hand and Kat has had enough. Aubry crosses the line at American Electric with her plans for a makeup studio.

Amputees, Rob and Scott, get prosthetic limbs tattooed by Kat and she enforces shop policy with Corey and the rest of the team. Paulie's client invites him to work on Snoop Dogg's music video.

The tension between Kat and Corey is causing mounting pressure in the shop. Corey is disenchanted with the lack of shop support at his band performance. Aubry is furious when she finds out Paulie met with Corey.

Tension in the shop is escalating, especially when Liz reveals details about Corey's private conversation. Liz's true motivations are discovered when she seeks out Aubry.

Liz gives Corey time off without checking with Kat, while she is away at a battered woman's benefit. Liz is call out by Adrienne and Dan about it and Aubry quits.

Kat and Corey's friendship is at the breaking point when Corey is acting out against High Voltage. Liz's time at the shop comes to an end when Kat learns of her lie. Amy's Irish boyfriend comes to America.