In an attempt to connect with the hostage-taker, Matt Flannery (Ron Livingston), a negotiator for the FBI, reveals to him and his colleagues who are listening to his conversation, that he has been sleeping with his partner, Emily Lehman (Rosemarie DeWitt).

Each episode revolves around the main plot of a hostage situation and the subplot of Matt and Emily's relationship.

In the hostage situation, the FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit is typically called upon to deal with the hostage-taker.

[8] The show was put on hiatus in December 2006 and was scheduled to return on March 30, 2007 before being pushed back to April 6, 2007.

After it is resolved, they are sent to negotiate with the son of a state senator who takes hostages inside of a coffee shop using a home-made suicide bomber vest.