It's been a long, hot summer but with school back in session, life doesn't cool down. Gangs are on the prowl and students are restless, resulting in a lockdown that has life altering implications for everyone in the Sutton family. Through it all, Charles stands by his girl, letting Cassie know he'll always be there for her. She neesd to look no further than him for her protector. But will that be enough to keep her loyal? Can Cassie be trusted?

Cassie and Charles's love is threatened, and someone is lost forever.

Eddie is now investigated by the police Internal Affairs unit after the shooting of Donelle. Meanwhile, an ex-con is committing violent robberies in the neighborhood.

Turmoil surrounds the Suttons as the rivalry between Tay and Nate Ray comes to a head, Lizzie must choose whether popularity is more important than what is right, the police continue closing in on Charles who begins to doubt Cassie's support, and Jenn may risk her marriage by voicing her problems with Dana and Eddie's friendship.

The Suttons, who just moved to Eddie's old neighborhood, have trouble adjusting to their new surroundings. While Tay is dealing with bullies at his new school, Eddie gets the cold shoulder from a local thug.

In the wake of an earthquake, the Suttons decide whether to move or not. Meanwhile, Eddie becomes worried when the police question Charles and Cassie about Mac's death and an ill Tay is taken to the hospital.

Eddie and Lund protect a 13 year old gang member from a rival gang, and Eddie reunites with the foster family who took care of him after his mother died.

As PCP spreads through Cassie's high school, Val, a new undercover cop, Eddie and Lund are assigned to find and take down the dealers, but when Charles sees Cassie flirting with Val he isn't happy about it – and neither is Eddie. Elsewhere, Lizzie is thrown into a predicament: does she break a promise to protect her friend from embarrassment or should she betray another friend's secret, and possibly ruin her first slumber party.

Forgiveness seems to be in short supply in Lincoln Heights, and the streets just keep getting meaner. After another gang killing, Jenn tries to organize a support group for mothers who've lost children to violence. But the moms who show up lost kids who were on opposite sides of the gang war, so the first meeting is thick with hostility and pain. Meanwhile, Lizzie is trying to forgive her grandfather for taking off with the money she was raising to help the needy. To make up for what was lost, she's organized a talent show at Revolution. Everyone's in and excited, except Cassie, who's giving out nothing but grief -- especially to Lizzie. Maybe if Sage weren't making such an obvious play for Charles, Cassie could deal. But she's nothing but mad, so she's going after Sage. Kinda like how Grandpa Spencer is going after Reuben -- only grandpa's got a gun.

Eddie and Jenn's vacation is cut short when three intruders break into the house and hold Cassie and Charles hostage

When Tay is shot during a botched robbery, it sparks a startling revelation and an act of courage

The past comes back to haunt the Suttons in a very real way when a confused old woman turns up in their kitchen, acting as if she lives there

It's Taylor's 13th birthday and Eddie and Jen's fathers pay the family a visit. However, the two men hate each other which builds tension in the home. Meanwhile, Eddie gets an opportunity he has been waiting for.

Relationships are broken. Repairs are needed. But that takes honesty and a steady heart. For Jen's parents, lies and deceit may end a forty-year marriage. While Cassie and Charles push each other to the breaking point (a place so far there may be no going back). All summer long Charles has been working on a special present for Cassie (a one-of-a-kind, built-with-love automobile just for her). But when he finds her in another man's arms, he doesn't wait for explanations. The two seem headed off a cliff and neither knows how to apply the brakes. Does disaster lie ahead?

While Eddie and Lund investigate a murder outside of a Chinese restaurant, Jenn's sister is targeted by a stalker who doesn't take no for an answer. With an obsession and desperation greater than anyone expected, a few lives could be at risk. Eddie and Jenn are forced to intervene.

Lund saves Eddie's life but gets hurt in the process. Eddie becomes obsessed in finding the driver. Jen joins the neighborhood watch program and Cassie gets a job.

When Eddie's childhood friend Dana Taylor witness a murder she becomes the killer's next target. Dana seeks Eddie's help for protection and support which fuels Jen's anger.

If pain is too depp and hatred too wide, can peace ever come to Lincoln Heights? Eddie Sutton thinks it can -- if he can just peel kids away from the gangs one by one and get them off the streets. But can Eddie's good intentions outweigh gang loyalty? Is there ever a way out? Maybe not, when feelings are hard, and hurt is left to fester. That's a lesson Cassie is learning as she watches Sage go after Charles. Seeing them together is killing her, but all Cassie ever shows him is her anger. But anger won't win Charles back, and it won't help anyone out on the streets either.

Life seems like it's spinning out of control in the Sutton household as lis and half-truths slash away at family unity. First there's Eddie who wakes up on the anniversary of his mother's murder and pushes away the truth of it like he has since he was Tay's age. The pain has always been too great, but this year the gig's up. Tay is demanding to know what happened and Eddie's efforts to keep him out will set the whole family in a downward spiral. Down to where Cassie schemes to be with Charles. Down to where Tay (like his grandfather) gets drunk to push away his pain. Into this maelstrom saunters Sage, Lund's long lost daughter. She seems to thrive on lies, manipulation, secrets and outrageous behavior and, on a weekend at the Sutton home with no parents home, she's found the perfect stage to act out.

There's baby drama on "Lincoln Heights" when Cassie thinks she might be pregnant, which means life could change drastically for her and Charles

Charles depression over his new family threatens to take over his life.

Lizzie is kidnapped and held for ransom by two of Donelle's friends, making Eddie reconsider his decision for moving his family to the Heights.

The entire family undergoes therapy to help Lizzie deal with her feelings after she was kidnapped. Meanwhile, Lund disappears and Eddie is shocked to learn that he might be a dirty cop. Meanwhile, Charles's ex girlfriend returns, thinking they're still an item and posing a threat to Cassie and Charles' relationship.

Everything seems to be changing in Lincoln Heights (some for the better, some for the worse) and the Sutton household is noexception. Jen finally sickens of pushing paper at the all-but-shuttered neighborhood hospital and leaves to work at a free clinic. That leaves Eddie in charge on the home front, but things are not going down exactly as he thinks. Lizzie is still writing to her kidnapper Boa, only now she's doing it in secret. Cassie and Charles are very close to becoming much mor eintimate friends. And even sweet, naive Tay manages to get picked up in an FBI sting. Through it all rings the voice of Reverend Hammond, calling for peace and an end to gang violence. But when his voice is stilled one question still echoes, who will step up to take his place?

Life in the Sutton neighborhood isn't getting easier when one of their neighbors takes an entire bank hostage, and Eddie has to break a promise to Jenn.