Rizzo faces a touching dilemma when he is assigned to a major investigation, but can't find anyone to cover for him to attend Ernie's open house. Jake bakes a cake but can't shake a stakeout to attend an open house at Ernie's school.

When a series of personal and professional frustrations causes Rizzo to consider quitting his job and moving to Montana, Ernie rallies the reluctant neighbors into giving Ernie a goodbye party. Rizzo responds to annoying neighbors and the city's crime problem by considering a job in a small town.

When Rizzo is framed for a crime and arrested. Ernie is moved from the home and Rizzo becomes more aware of the depths of their emotional attachment to each other. Ernie's concerns about expensive merchandise in the house and Rizzo's secrecy seem justified when Internal Affairs takes them both into custody.