L.A. Ink

Kat returns to her beloved Los Angeles after being away for months on her book tour, the longest she's been away from LA Ink. The shop's more successful than ever, and it's even busier now that Hannah and Kim are gone.

The shop is slammed, so Kat goes against her policy of only hiring people she knows and brings in Amy Nicoletto as a possible new tattoo artist. While new shop manager Aubry does her best to learn the ropes, Amy tries to prove herself.

Kat bares it all at a New York photo shoot to promote her new cosmetic line rendering her tattoo-less. Kat convinces her good friend, Nikko Hurtado, to guest spot for a couple days and he wows everyone with a gory portrait.

Aubry's on thin ice with the shop when she tries to win the team over with her crazy antics. She finally crosses the line when she tries to redecorate Kat's station and her future as shop manager is in jeopardy.

Aubry's efforts to fit in have been causing tension in the shop, so Kat calls on everyone to make her feel welcome. In her own attempt to reach out, Kat sets Aubry up on a blind date with a good friend, and Aubry drops the "I want a baby" bomb.

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, and it triggers deep emotional reactions. Aubry ponders getting a tattoo, Paulie worries about not getting any clients and his feelings hit the boiling point.

Kat learns that Aubry's getting a tattoo and is concerned she's doing it for the wrong reasons. Aubry hopes getting one at the shop will earn her some respect, and she chooses Khoi Nguyen to do the job.

Kat has been clean and sober for two years and the shop wants to mark the occasion with a special surprise. Kat celebrates her own way by tattooing her sister Karoline. In the meantime, Aubry is planning to hit the stage and perform stand-up comedy.

Kat is caught off guard when Dan reminds her that he's taking time off from the shop to record some songs with his band. Meanwhile, Paulie's frustration with not getting any work at High Voltage builds to a head, leading to a heated confrontation.

Kat moves toward a new, positive energy in her life and celebrates by dying her hair blonde and getting a tattoo of one of her musical idols, Johnette Napolitano. However, Kat's mood quickly changes when Aubry plays hooky and leaves LA Ink shorthanded.

Breast cancer affects everyone in the shop and Kat reveals how one doctor's visit changed her life forever. Meanwhile, Aubry attempts to win over the crew, but Corey is not impressed.

Pushed to the limit, Corey finally unleashes his pent-up anger at Aubry when she does the unthinkable with one of his clients. He questions his role at LA Ink and backs Kat into a corner, forcing her to make a critical decision.