ER s08e10 Episode Script
I'll Be Home for Christmas
E.
R.
Previously on E.
R.
Do you wanna do something? - Like, go out? - Yeah.
If Mom wants to walk around in a bubble for the rest of her life, fine.
But don't let her keep holding you inside of it.
I know what won't make him happy.
A made-up life.
He's gonna figure it out.
He's not stupid.
I'm not pregnant.
The DNA analysis shows that I'm not Reece's biological father.
Reece lived under my care and my roof for most of his life.
All I'm asking for is some kind of arrangement that recognizes that.
- Do you wanna keep your son? - What do you think? That you need to start setting priorities and making some hard choices.
E.
R.
8x10 "I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" The Phoenix Suns.
Is that a crime? - You root for the Phoenix Suns? - I paid attention to basketball there.
- You grew up in Chicago.
- I dated a guy with tickets.
- You didn't pay attention to the Bulls? - Whatever.
I'm starving.
Big Diamondbacks fan too, aren't you? - I'm gonna get breakfast out of this deal.
- Sorry.
My manners.
- Roach coach? - You live in a mansion - you're buying me a doughnut? - I'll spring for the coffee too.
Hey there, big spender.
- Hello.
- John, it's Dad.
- Hey.
How was your flight? - How's Gamma doing? Yeah.
No, she was walking around a little bit yesterday.
- Great.
- I meet her for lunch.
- You wanna hook up there? - You're getting me a yogurt too.
What's that? Grab me a bagel.
- for the holiday.
- Really.
- No, that's great.
- See you at the house.
- Yeah, okay.
I'll see you there.
- Bye.
- They' re staying for the holidays.
- Your parents? First time in nine years.
- Just like sex, isn't it, Peter? - What? Vascular surgery.
Messy, fun, and when done right, you leave satisfied.
D5 half-normal, 125 cc's per hour.
- Surgery.
- Real good hands in there, Peter.
Thank you.
Which is why you get to assist me in the Millburn surgery.
Fifth District alderman wants his cardiac bypass done here.
Why? The correct response is, "Thanks, Dr.
Romano.
I'm honored.
" - I am- - Clear his calendar for Monday afternoon.
- I need to talk.
- He's on trauma call in the ER.
Dump that on Corday.
She actually likes it down there.
- I have a situation with my son.
- What else is new? - I need more flexible hours.
- In by 12, out by 4 and we all make the evening news.
I'm not just talking about this surgery.
If you're not interested, Peter, pass.
I've got 20 guys who'd kill for this gig.
- I didn't say I wasn't interested- - So are you in or out? - I'm in.
- Did I ever tell you you're my hero? Merry Christmas! - Feed the poor? Feed the poor? - Sorry.
- Hey, feed the poor? - Sorry.
Come on.
You think it's easy being a female Santa in a man's world? Sorry, no soliciting.
You have to leave the premises.
- I work for the Salvation Army.
- Oh, do you? Let me see your ID.
- Okay, I eat at the Salvation Army.
- Get out of here.
Hey! I'm gonna call the cops.
Stop ringing that damn bell! - Luka, you're late.
- Sorry.
Don't be sorry, be punctual.
This is a hospital, not a department store.
When's she going on Christmas vacation? Scrooge? Never.
Merry Christmas.
County General.
I think she thinks you were shopping.
Shopping for what? It's a joke.
What's going on? I went to the bar.
No one's heard anything.
- About Nicole? - Yeah.
They said she took money there too.
Guess you were right.
She lied about everything.
Hey, Abby.
Can you run Cynthia Cohen's sputum? I got a couple of kids with snow-related injuries! Quiet! - Freak, freak, freak, freak, freak, freak- - Hey! Shut up! Both of you, shut up! Be glad you're not sleeping in a grate or eating out of the trash! - Haleh, get them out of here.
- Stop! - You, this side.
You, over here.
- Freak, freak, freak, freak, freak Since when did Fire and Rescue start transporting pediatric walk-in cases? Since these two took headers out by the firehouse.
- You notify the parents? - Yeah, I left word.
- Hey, you didn't call.
- Sorry? About getting together.
You change your mind? - No, I was just- - Dr.
Weaver, Exam 1 has chest pains.
- Be right there.
- Dynamic changes on the EKG.
I'll let you get back to work, okay? Three nitro sprays and titrate six of morphine.
Cops found him wandering around O'Hare with a suitcase but no ticket and no ID.
He fell on the escalator trying to get away.
I'm missing my flight.
Lacerations down to the galea.
I go home for Christmas every year, I think.
- Looks intact.
No sign of fracture.
- Which doesn't explain the amnesia.
Doesn't know who he is, where he's going.
I know there's lots of kids around.
And the women make a wonderful supper.
Blood supply looks good.
Well, Plastics should be able to tack it back down.
We still need to get a head CT.
Boys and the men, they settle around the TV watching sports.
You think his memory loss is temporary? Peter? He's 4 years old.
And deaf and traumatized by the death of his mother.
- I emphasized all of that.
Thank you.
- Well, then appeal it.
- I can't.
- What am I paying you for? He denied the motion, Peter.
It's not irreparable.
The hell it isn't.
He's asking my son to decide which of us loves him more? It won't be that specific.
Will he ask who makes better macaroni and cheese? Judge Alter has a feeling that interviewing Reece will provide relevant insight.
Reece knows what's going on.
He can sense it.
How much more damage do you want to inflict on him? Hey, I agreed to represent you.
You're the one who's choosing to fight.
You can preempt this.
His attorney approached me yesterday.
- No.
- They'll make a revised visitation request.
I said, no.
And I need to be honest.
We don't have the edge here.
On paper, Roger comes across as the better father.
If I were his attorney, I would advise him to give you no more deals.
Yet you're advising me to accept one? I am advising you to at least listen to one.
- You're still here.
- I was on my way out.
Keep those kids from killing each other? Yeah.
One has a corneal abrasion the other has a strained wrist.
Look, hey - I'm not very good at this.
- What, follow-up? Want to have lunch tomorrow? - No sushi.
- What? - I don't like sushi.
- Okay.
Anything you want.
I'm gonna remember you said that.
Why is he here? Somebody finally kick his butt? - Who? - Mr.
Karaoke over there.
- How about a little "Jingle Bell Rock"? - You know him? Oh, yeah, Stan? He lives behind a dumpster on 57th and Dorchester.
- He's homeless? - Unless you count the dumpster.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Where you going? - Whatever that lady told you, it's not true.
- Your name isn't Stan? - No, no, no.
- You don't live at 57th and Dorchester? - I don't remember.
That's why I'm here.
Besides, this Stan character sounds rough.
Bet he's got a record.
- I wouldn't be surprised.
- And no family to speak of.
- No place to spend the holidays.
- You know, if he was smart he'd clean himself up, get himself a suit at the Goodwill- And go to the airport.
You mind if I stay a while? It's kind of Christmassy here.
The alderman thinks you're such a brilliant surgeon, then you operate.
- Where are they? - I don't know.
Hey.
What's going on? - Waiting for Roger and his lawyer.
- I thought we were seeing the judge.
- We're hoping that won't be necessary.
- Peter, what's going on? - They wanna talk about some kind of deal.
- Sorry we're late.
We ran into traffic.
We don't have a lot of time.
What have you got? Visitation every other weekend, plus two weeks during the summer.
- One week during the summer.
- No.
- We're only asking for 38 days a year.
-31 days.
- I said, no.
- Peter, it's only 31 days.
- I'm not doing this.
- Peter, listen to me.
No.
You listen to me, all of you.
I'm not negotiating over my son.
Rather take your chances with the judge? A martini in first class works just as well and takes less time.
Like you, I enjoy the occasional drive.
Gives you time to clear your head.
- Hey, Dad.
- John.
Did you know your father's been here since last night? Late last night.
He went straight to the hotel.
- Oh, God.
Am I dying? - Rigor mortis hasn't set in just yet.
Why else would my son deign to spend Christmas with us? Mom's coming too.
- I knew there was a catch.
- Eleanor will be here later this week.
You'll stay at the house until then? Sure, why not.
Wonderful.
Here's Helga to turn me like a pancake.
- We'll give you some privacy.
- I'd settle for a little dignity.
Believe it or not, she's thrilled.
This means the world to her.
- This year more than most.
- Well, I suppose.
Means a lot to me too.
Yeah.
It should be fun, huh? Reece, I have to make a decision.
I need you to help me by answering some questions.
Can you do that? Who's that? Daddy.
And who's that? My other daddy.
You love both your daddies very much, right? He says he doesn't know.
When you are sick, who makes you feel better? Mommy.
Which daddy gives you the best care when you get a boo-boo? He has Band-Aids with cartoons.
Right now, I'd say he needs consistency.
Reece, Carla and I.
The three of us were a family.
That's how we planned our lives.
That's how we approached every day, every week.
I've been with Reece through earaches flus, almost every scrape he's ever gotten.
If you count the hours that I've spent with my stepson it far exceeds the time Dr.
Benton has spent with the child he believed to be his.
Reece and Carla were my life.
And now Reece is my life.
He comes first.
Ahead of my personal needs, ahead of my job.
And I think that's in his best interest.
- Oh, John.
Diverse selection.
- Burgers are good.
You already know what you want? I'm still working on what to drink.
This is nice.
Haven't done this for a while.
Had lunch together? Or Christmas? Both.
So What kind of business keeps Mom in Costa Rica in December? How's the chopped salad? She broke her hip, Dad.
Mom can't spend five minutes with her? Is she gonna avoid her for the whole month? Your mother's not coming.
John, we're getting divorced.
- What? Divorced? - It's amicable.
After 30 years? - What happened? - This probably isn't the best- - Is there somebody else? - Neither of us is running off with anyone.
What is it, she's not happy? She's bored? Wants to stay in Europe? I'm the one who's leaving, John.
This can't surprise you.
You saw it before I did.
- Can I take your order? - I was suffocating.
I think we're ready.
Chopped salad, please.
Burger medium-rare, please.
I agree with Mr.
McGrath that consistency is the best thing for Reece right now.
See, I I let Carla take on a lot of the parenting while I pursued my career.
But I did that because it felt right to leave Reece in his mother's care.
But all that's changed now.
And my responsibilities have changed too.
Because of that I've made arrangements to work fewer hours so I can become Reece's full-time caretaker.
- At County General? - Yes, sir.
What sort of hour reduction are we talking about? weekends off.
You can provide proof of this new schedule? Yes, sir.
Yes, I can.
Have it in my office by day's end.
Unless there is anything else, court's adjourned.
I need to talk to him now.
Well, pull him out.
Fine.
Let him know I'm on my way.
- Going back to work? - Get out of my way.
- Got another shift? - Roger, get out of my way! Where's Reece? Let me guess: Jackie.
No, Cleo.
A nanny? - You want me to hit your car? - You lied, man.
On top of everything else, you're a liar.
And a perjurer.
You know what? You need to back off.
Whatever it takes, is that it? He's not a trophy, man! You can't win at any cost to give your sister a son! - You gotta raise him! - You know- Go ahead, get in my face.
Come on.
- Roger, you need to shut your mouth.
- Think, Peter.
You can't change who you are.
I'm sure it was on this block.
It's called Nazim.
It's got a blue awning.
- Well, I don't see it.
- We must have missed it.
- I don't like Indian food anyway.
- Why didn't you say something? - I just did.
- Why don't we go to that Italian place - across the street.
Great risotto.
- Wait a minute.
- That'd be great if it weren't closed.
- You're a pain in the ass, you know that? - Well, some say.
- I'm starting to regret this whole thing.
- Too bad.
I'm starving.
- Forget about looking for a decent place.
- Why don't we go home and order in.
- I like a take-charge kind of girl.
- My apartment? - Lead the way.
- Dr.
Romano.
- You hear something? - I need to talk to you.
- That's a doctor who breaks promises then hangs up on the guy he breaks the promises with.
- I need to talk to you now.
- Talk is cheap, Peter.
I need to scale back my hours and I need it in writing.
- "To whom it may concern: No way.
" - I'm serious.
- Is this about your kid? - Yeah.
What do you need? Every other Saturday? No nights.
No weekends.
Good one.
I like the one about the rabbi and the goldfish.
- I need to spend more time at home.
- Never needed to before.
- His mother died.
- His stepfather is still alive.
Split custody, keep doing what you do best.
I'm not asking for your advice.
News flash! This is an urban trauma center.
Until people plan their MVAs and GSWs better, you won't punch a time clock.
That's not me being a hard-ass, that's the job.
You are a surgeon.
- Are you gonna do this for me or not? - Not.
Work when I need you or not at all.
Then consider this my resignation.
All right, all right, all right.
Don't go getting dramatic.
- Weekends off.
- And what about weekdays? It's my best offer, Peter.
Take it or leave it.
I'll finish out the week.
Are you really gonna do this? Throw away your career to play Mr.
Mom? What a waste! - Hi.
- Hey.
Newborn for the nursery.
- Birth in the ER? - Marshall Field's.
Mother was last-minute shopping.
She's on her way up.
- The paramedics delivered? - No, a shoe salesman.
- Room 424, do you have a chart? - Was she an ER patient? I just have to follow up on something.
- How far along was she? - Eight weeks.
No complications.
- She's in Recovery for a few more hours.
- Thanks.
- Dr.
Finch, please.
- I'm not sure she's here.
Let me check.
All right, thanks.
- What are you doing here? - I need to meet the Surgicenter director.
- You gave him my CV, right? - Yeah, but- - I quit County.
- Romano wouldn't give you the hours? You said there's a position here.
I want it.
- I'll introduce you tomorrow.
- I gotta show proof of employment now.
- Peter, he's probably gone for the day.
- Check, please.
- I just started, he barely knows me.
- Cleo, I need to talk to him.
- Hi.
I thought you left.
- Tonight.
Luka has been looking for you.
Could you wait, please? - Do you need something? - You told him you weren't pregnant.
- I'm not.
- I don't understand.
You don't need to.
- Look, I'm sorry.
I was wrong.
- No, you were right.
He did everything he could.
I thought his kindness was love.
But it's not.
Abby, he deserves not to know.
Thanks.
Tuesday's impossible.
He's got colorectal procedures then.
Fissurectomy at 7.
Hemorrhoidectomy at 8.
Another at 9.
And it looks like he's squeezed in an inguinal hernia too.
- Maybe for lunch? - No, he's got a lunch date.
- After that? - After that, he sees patients until 5.
- How about Thursday? - Thursday might work, actually.
Judge Alter! Judge Alter! I got that employment letter for you.
- I wanted this yesterday.
- I know.
It came in after-hours.
- This is not your hospital.
- No.
- Schaumburg Surgicenter? - I worked out a better situation there than if I had stayed at County.
- All in the last 12 hours? - It was always a possibility.
- It just needed to be ironed out.
- You didn't mention it yesterday.
I know.
I said I'd cut back my hours and I did.
- True.
- I'm now working 8 to 5, no weekends.
- This letter confirms it.
- That may be so.
But you told a different story yesterday.
And I don't like being lied to.
I'm doing what I have to do for my son.
Hey, Elizabeth.
You sneaking coffee? Tea.
You look nice.
Are you going on a date? No.
Court date.
- Right.
What's the latest? - It's out of my hands now.
It's best to keep busy while you wait.
Yeah.
Well, I owe a lot of hours before I go.
- Before you go? - Yeah.
End of the week, I'm out of here.
- What? - Yeah, I had to quit.
- You're not serious.
- I need to change my life.
Romano won't cut me any slack.
Yeah, but I'm sure he'll make some accommodation.
No.
I asked.
He won't.
You'd really leave County? I gotta go.
- How'd he fall? - Hanging lights.
Parents are signing him in.
- What do we got? - Fell from a ladder.
- Parents are here.
- Is he okay? - Has he been unconscious? - His sister put the hose on him.
- He woke up for a second.
- Did he hit anything? - A bike.
- I got some involuntary guarding here.
- He's waking up.
That's good, yes? - Coming through.
- What do we have? - Possible liver or splenic lac.
- Stable, but might need to go to the O.
R.
- HemoCue? - Second is eight from 10.
- Does your belly hurt? All right.
He's stable for CT.
Control the pain.
- Watch him overnight.
- He has free fluid by ultrasound.
I won't remove the spleen before we have to.
- Remove? - He can still live without one.
- I can give him mine.
- That's not necessary.
- Someone'll match.
- We don't transplant spleens.
- I'll show you where the waiting room is.
- We can at least give blood.
- She's going down.
- Amparo! Ma'am, you okay? - Have you fainted before? - Never.
How do you serve Christmas dinner for them? Start cooking early.
No problem.
O.
R.
's got elective cases they can push.
How's she doing? Please, I'm fine.
Tell me about Ben.
His blood counts are stable, that's good.
His first CT only shows a small injury.
His school band plays in a concert on New Year's Eve.
I don't want him to miss it.
- How long have you had this node? - I don't know.
Is this tender? You don't have to examine me or run tests.
I know I'm sick.
Have you been diagnosed with something? Lymphoma.
I'm sorry.
- Don't tell them, though.
- Your family doesn't know? There will be plenty of time to talk after Christmas.
Dr.
Benton? Janice Prager called.
She wants you to meet her in court.
- Go.
I'll get another surgeon.
- Your son will be fine.
Good.
- They got me right in the store.
- It's tough to hide two pairs of skates.
The guard jumped me in front of my kids.
Can we keep the ice skates? No.
They hate getting used stuff.
I thought for Christmas- They wanna take you to the station house.
I know.
Do you have someone to stay with them? Their mother? I'll be right back.
Abby? - Are you gonna be in jail for Christmas? - I don't know.
Maybe I should post bail for him.
They have no money.
Do you know where they've been living? In a motel room.
- Probably can't pay a security deposit.
- No, he has a job.
But it's $5.
15 an hour.
He has to steal to get his kids a decent Christmas present.
Could call the food bank.
No, they help out this time of year.
What happens to them in three months? There's only so much you can do.
Yeah, I guess.
I just Miss your kids? Yeah.
Sorry.
It's worse at Christmas.
Oh, right.
- Where's the judge? - In chambers.
- Gentlemen, your counsel with you? - They're on the way.
While we wait for Ms.
Prager and Mr.
Wharton I was wondering if I could talk with Reece once more.
- Only if you both agree, of course.
- Sure.
- I don't see why not.
- Thank you.
Nancy, will you ask him to come with me? It's okay.
Go on.
It's okay.
Go, go.
Just Reece this time.
He'll have exploratory surgery.
They'll repair any injuries he might have.
- He'll be home for the holidays? - Wait and see how he does.
So we celebrate a day or two late.
It doesn't matter.
Thank you, doctor! - Did you get him upstairs? - Along with his parents, aunts, cousins Hope they all fit in the waiting room.
You ready for this? God.
I forgot.
I mean, I didn't forget.
It's at home, yours.
I don't know where my head is at, though.
Do you wanna open it anyway? - Can we wait? - Sure.
Sorry.
Is something wrong? - I'm having family problems.
- Your grandma? No, no.
It's my mother.
She's not coming home for the holidays.
She and my father are splitting up.
- Oh, no.
- I don't think it's sunk in yet.
- Maybe it's a blessing in disguise.
- How do you figure? - Did you ever meet my parents? - I met Cookie.
Right.
She and Henry aren't divorced, and they should be.
- Still, I'm sorry.
- Thanks.
I'm so self-centered.
I thought it was something to do with me.
No.
You're about the only thing going right in my life.
- You shouldn't let this happen.
- Didn't want to be defensive.
- What did he think of your new job? - He wasn't overly impressed.
There you are.
Thank you for all rushing over.
Be seated.
We are in a unique situation.
In a traditional custody case, win or lose the parents maintain the title given to them by their biology.
They're still Mommy and Daddy.
Here I'm asked to declare that one of these two men is not, in fact, Daddy.
But they both love Reece and have made sacrifices to be with him though I will say Dr.
Benton's effort was late in the game.
And I am uncomfortable about the way he handled it.
Not convinced he was exactly forthright with the court.
But the fact is that I do believe Reece would thrive in either of your households.
And that makes my decision even harder.
But based on the evidence provided by Dr.
Benton that he will be more available as a parent in the future and the fact that Reece has always believed him to be his father the court grants custody to Peter Benton.
Mr.
McGrath will be given visitation with Reece every other Saturday.
The court calls a 20-minute recess.
We might have to go get one.
- Use the angel.
- No, I always have a star.
Okay, here we go.
One, two, three.
Yes, it is pretty.
You finish your part? Hey, baby.
Come here.
Come over here.
Come lay under the tree.
- You should get going.
- I got a half an hour.
- Going to be late for your last shift.
- What are they gonna do? Fire me? - What are we doing? - It's the best way to look at a tree.
When I was Reece's age, I used to do this for hours.
- It's beautiful.
- Yeah.
Hey, how long is the commute to Schaumburg? - Depends on when you leave.
- I was thinking, if we both work there Yeah? Maybe we should relocate.
We? Yeah.
This whole thing has made me focus.
It's like all my life I've been chasing something.
That time when I can make it into the end zone and spike the ball.
It took almost losing my son to realize the end zone's not out there.
It's right here.
You're good raw material.
I can work with you.
- Oh, you can? - Yeah.
I have to get you in shape.
What kind of shape? - Hey, you found it.
- I knew it was in one of those boxes.
Want to put it up there? All right, come on.
That's good.
- I'm working New Year's Eve? - Someone has to.
- Someone else.
- Six-year-old, GSW.
- Please save him.
- What happened? .
38 caliber, right thorax, crossed the midline.
- Vitals? - BP, 70/30.
Pulse, 130.
He's so pale.
You his mother? What's his name? - What's his name? - Teddy.
Decreased breath sounds.
Full trauma panel.
He needs a chest tube.
- It's the two of us.
- How did it happen? I shot him.
Surgery.
Yes, that was Matt on the pay phone.
Peter.
I guess I should say congratulations.
Did you really get a new job? You gonna call me a liar again? - Here you are, Christmas Eve.
- Yeah, well, it's my last shift.
What's your excuse? I wanted to give you Reece's Christmas presents.
You can leave them over there.
- See you in two Saturdays.
- Yeah.
Merry Christmas.
Hey, Roger.
Come over to the house tomorrow and give them to him yourself.
Thanks.
I'm not doing it for you.
Surgery.
Dr.
Benton, the ER.
- Sux on board.
- Our tree's by the window.
-51/2 ET tube.
- There've been so many break-ins.
- O-neg's running.
Systolic's at 70.
- Call for a vent.
- I was sleeping.
I had the flu.
-10 blade.
- He was supposed to be in bed.
- Long vascular clamp.
He dropped an ornament.
I thought someone was breaking in.
I'm in.
Bag him.
- GSW? -6-year-old accidentally shot by his mom.
Heart rate's down to 30.
- Lost his pulse.
Starting compressions.
- Thoracotomy tray.
- What does that mean? - We'll open his chest, repair the damage.
- Four more units of blood.
- Scalpel.
- Oh, God! - Paula, come with me.
- Ready with the rib-spreader.
- Suction on high.
All right.
Hang on, hang on.
Crank it now.
Come on.
- Looks like two liters in there.
- Damn it.
Pericardium's filled with blood.
15 blade.
Call the O.
R.
We got a red blanket.
Page Romano.
- Who shoots a 6-year-old? - Thought he was a burglar.
- A burglar who shakes presents? -10 blade.
- I'll clamshell the chest.
- Sternal saw.
- We really going through the motions? - Knife back.
Metz.
- Guess we are.
- Pick-ups.
Come on, pick-ups! Damn it.
Here's a fragment of the slug.
- Looks weird.
- Saw.
Let's move.
- It's a Black Talon.
Fragmenting bullet.
- Fragments at the hilum.
- Looks like razor blades all over him.
- That's the point.
- Order more FFP? - On its way.
Lost cause.
Fragments in all chambers.
God knows what hit the great vessels.
- Dr.
Corday is here.
- She'll love being brought in on this.
- What do we have? - Organ donor.
- BP dropping, 60/30.
- Hang two more units packed cells.
- He'll go into DIC.
- We'll stay ahead with cryo and platelets.
We've got other surgeries.
Looks like a transverse colon injury and dead bowel.
I'm still in the chest.
Repaired defects to the left ventricle and right hilum.
- Hope you brought your magic wand.
- Help me or get the hell out.
Knock yourself out, Peter.
Either way, you're gone.
We need to rebuild the IVC from the kidneys caudally.
More 2-0 silk on a Teflon pledget.
Come on.
Keep them coming.
Elizabeth, we can do this, all right? Prep a venous cardiac snare.
Did I kill him? We don't know what his chances are.
But he does have the best surgeons I know working on him.
How could I do this? You were scared.
I keep telling God how sorry I am.
That's all you can do.
I don't even believe in God.
Teddy never gets up from bed.
I just wanted to protect our home.
I never thought he'd You want me to take you to the O.
R.
? - Turn off the damn heat.
- Another Vicryl.
- Gl stapler.
- Not much stool in the abdominal cavity.
- Good sign.
I expected more.
- Gut's done.
What's the pressure? -80/40.
- Well, that's something.
- Let me get another clip.
- Not much.
Here we go.
SMV is done.
Cut.
Shirley, take down the balloon on the Pruitt.
- Here we go.
Catheter out.
- Balloon down.
Throw in a good knot, see if he stops bleeding.
Come on, Teddy.
Come on, man.
Come on.
Look at that.
- Yeah.
- That's incredible.
Yeah.
Well, all right.
Here we go.
Releasing the clamp.
- How the hell did you do that? - I have no idea.
Let's make sure of the count.
- Is that the mother? - Yeah.
- You go tell her.
I'll close up.
- Okay.
Thanks, Elizabeth.
- Peter, that was truly remarkable.
- Little going-away present.
Despite anything Romano may say, this place is really gonna miss you.
- I wish I could say the same.
- Wasn't all that bad.
We had our moments.
Your son lost a lot of blood.
However, we were able to repair the damage.
He's got a long road ahead of him, but he's gonna make it.
I don't know how to thank you.
Just get the gun out of your house.
I guess Santa didn't buy you that bike you asked for.
- Carter, what are you doing here? - Cleo told me this was on your route.
- Come on.
You want to join me? - No.
If I wanna get my heart rate up, I'll have another cup of coffee.
Got your message.
Guess there's no way to talk you out of it, huh? Done deal.
I got you something.
- Carter- - Open it.
You're a tough guy to shop for.
An El token? Second week of my surgical internship we got 11 traumas in one night.
a girl that had been dragged under a car.
I was so tired I couldn't see straight.
I asked you if I could take a break and you kicked me out of the O.
R.
I couldn't drive home, I was so exhausted.
I started crying in the hallway.
You came out of surgery and you gave me that.
You said I could use it to go home.
Or I could commit to what I was doing and use it to come back the next day.
No Rolex, huh? If you get tired of Schaumburg, you can use it to come back.
- Carter, they don't use tokens anymore.
- Then call.
And I'll come pick you up.
- Look, I want you to know- - I know.
That I owe you.
Carter.
Getting cold.
I better move on.
- Merry Christmas.
- Same to you.
Hey, Peter.
I'm a good doctor because of you.
No, you're not.
But keep trying.
R.
Previously on E.
R.
Do you wanna do something? - Like, go out? - Yeah.
If Mom wants to walk around in a bubble for the rest of her life, fine.
But don't let her keep holding you inside of it.
I know what won't make him happy.
A made-up life.
He's gonna figure it out.
He's not stupid.
I'm not pregnant.
The DNA analysis shows that I'm not Reece's biological father.
Reece lived under my care and my roof for most of his life.
All I'm asking for is some kind of arrangement that recognizes that.
- Do you wanna keep your son? - What do you think? That you need to start setting priorities and making some hard choices.
E.
R.
8x10 "I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" The Phoenix Suns.
Is that a crime? - You root for the Phoenix Suns? - I paid attention to basketball there.
- You grew up in Chicago.
- I dated a guy with tickets.
- You didn't pay attention to the Bulls? - Whatever.
I'm starving.
Big Diamondbacks fan too, aren't you? - I'm gonna get breakfast out of this deal.
- Sorry.
My manners.
- Roach coach? - You live in a mansion - you're buying me a doughnut? - I'll spring for the coffee too.
Hey there, big spender.
- Hello.
- John, it's Dad.
- Hey.
How was your flight? - How's Gamma doing? Yeah.
No, she was walking around a little bit yesterday.
- Great.
- I meet her for lunch.
- You wanna hook up there? - You're getting me a yogurt too.
What's that? Grab me a bagel.
- for the holiday.
- Really.
- No, that's great.
- See you at the house.
- Yeah, okay.
I'll see you there.
- Bye.
- They' re staying for the holidays.
- Your parents? First time in nine years.
- Just like sex, isn't it, Peter? - What? Vascular surgery.
Messy, fun, and when done right, you leave satisfied.
D5 half-normal, 125 cc's per hour.
- Surgery.
- Real good hands in there, Peter.
Thank you.
Which is why you get to assist me in the Millburn surgery.
Fifth District alderman wants his cardiac bypass done here.
Why? The correct response is, "Thanks, Dr.
Romano.
I'm honored.
" - I am- - Clear his calendar for Monday afternoon.
- I need to talk.
- He's on trauma call in the ER.
Dump that on Corday.
She actually likes it down there.
- I have a situation with my son.
- What else is new? - I need more flexible hours.
- In by 12, out by 4 and we all make the evening news.
I'm not just talking about this surgery.
If you're not interested, Peter, pass.
I've got 20 guys who'd kill for this gig.
- I didn't say I wasn't interested- - So are you in or out? - I'm in.
- Did I ever tell you you're my hero? Merry Christmas! - Feed the poor? Feed the poor? - Sorry.
- Hey, feed the poor? - Sorry.
Come on.
You think it's easy being a female Santa in a man's world? Sorry, no soliciting.
You have to leave the premises.
- I work for the Salvation Army.
- Oh, do you? Let me see your ID.
- Okay, I eat at the Salvation Army.
- Get out of here.
Hey! I'm gonna call the cops.
Stop ringing that damn bell! - Luka, you're late.
- Sorry.
Don't be sorry, be punctual.
This is a hospital, not a department store.
When's she going on Christmas vacation? Scrooge? Never.
Merry Christmas.
County General.
I think she thinks you were shopping.
Shopping for what? It's a joke.
What's going on? I went to the bar.
No one's heard anything.
- About Nicole? - Yeah.
They said she took money there too.
Guess you were right.
She lied about everything.
Hey, Abby.
Can you run Cynthia Cohen's sputum? I got a couple of kids with snow-related injuries! Quiet! - Freak, freak, freak, freak, freak, freak- - Hey! Shut up! Both of you, shut up! Be glad you're not sleeping in a grate or eating out of the trash! - Haleh, get them out of here.
- Stop! - You, this side.
You, over here.
- Freak, freak, freak, freak, freak Since when did Fire and Rescue start transporting pediatric walk-in cases? Since these two took headers out by the firehouse.
- You notify the parents? - Yeah, I left word.
- Hey, you didn't call.
- Sorry? About getting together.
You change your mind? - No, I was just- - Dr.
Weaver, Exam 1 has chest pains.
- Be right there.
- Dynamic changes on the EKG.
I'll let you get back to work, okay? Three nitro sprays and titrate six of morphine.
Cops found him wandering around O'Hare with a suitcase but no ticket and no ID.
He fell on the escalator trying to get away.
I'm missing my flight.
Lacerations down to the galea.
I go home for Christmas every year, I think.
- Looks intact.
No sign of fracture.
- Which doesn't explain the amnesia.
Doesn't know who he is, where he's going.
I know there's lots of kids around.
And the women make a wonderful supper.
Blood supply looks good.
Well, Plastics should be able to tack it back down.
We still need to get a head CT.
Boys and the men, they settle around the TV watching sports.
You think his memory loss is temporary? Peter? He's 4 years old.
And deaf and traumatized by the death of his mother.
- I emphasized all of that.
Thank you.
- Well, then appeal it.
- I can't.
- What am I paying you for? He denied the motion, Peter.
It's not irreparable.
The hell it isn't.
He's asking my son to decide which of us loves him more? It won't be that specific.
Will he ask who makes better macaroni and cheese? Judge Alter has a feeling that interviewing Reece will provide relevant insight.
Reece knows what's going on.
He can sense it.
How much more damage do you want to inflict on him? Hey, I agreed to represent you.
You're the one who's choosing to fight.
You can preempt this.
His attorney approached me yesterday.
- No.
- They'll make a revised visitation request.
I said, no.
And I need to be honest.
We don't have the edge here.
On paper, Roger comes across as the better father.
If I were his attorney, I would advise him to give you no more deals.
Yet you're advising me to accept one? I am advising you to at least listen to one.
- You're still here.
- I was on my way out.
Keep those kids from killing each other? Yeah.
One has a corneal abrasion the other has a strained wrist.
Look, hey - I'm not very good at this.
- What, follow-up? Want to have lunch tomorrow? - No sushi.
- What? - I don't like sushi.
- Okay.
Anything you want.
I'm gonna remember you said that.
Why is he here? Somebody finally kick his butt? - Who? - Mr.
Karaoke over there.
- How about a little "Jingle Bell Rock"? - You know him? Oh, yeah, Stan? He lives behind a dumpster on 57th and Dorchester.
- He's homeless? - Unless you count the dumpster.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Where you going? - Whatever that lady told you, it's not true.
- Your name isn't Stan? - No, no, no.
- You don't live at 57th and Dorchester? - I don't remember.
That's why I'm here.
Besides, this Stan character sounds rough.
Bet he's got a record.
- I wouldn't be surprised.
- And no family to speak of.
- No place to spend the holidays.
- You know, if he was smart he'd clean himself up, get himself a suit at the Goodwill- And go to the airport.
You mind if I stay a while? It's kind of Christmassy here.
The alderman thinks you're such a brilliant surgeon, then you operate.
- Where are they? - I don't know.
Hey.
What's going on? - Waiting for Roger and his lawyer.
- I thought we were seeing the judge.
- We're hoping that won't be necessary.
- Peter, what's going on? - They wanna talk about some kind of deal.
- Sorry we're late.
We ran into traffic.
We don't have a lot of time.
What have you got? Visitation every other weekend, plus two weeks during the summer.
- One week during the summer.
- No.
- We're only asking for 38 days a year.
-31 days.
- I said, no.
- Peter, it's only 31 days.
- I'm not doing this.
- Peter, listen to me.
No.
You listen to me, all of you.
I'm not negotiating over my son.
Rather take your chances with the judge? A martini in first class works just as well and takes less time.
Like you, I enjoy the occasional drive.
Gives you time to clear your head.
- Hey, Dad.
- John.
Did you know your father's been here since last night? Late last night.
He went straight to the hotel.
- Oh, God.
Am I dying? - Rigor mortis hasn't set in just yet.
Why else would my son deign to spend Christmas with us? Mom's coming too.
- I knew there was a catch.
- Eleanor will be here later this week.
You'll stay at the house until then? Sure, why not.
Wonderful.
Here's Helga to turn me like a pancake.
- We'll give you some privacy.
- I'd settle for a little dignity.
Believe it or not, she's thrilled.
This means the world to her.
- This year more than most.
- Well, I suppose.
Means a lot to me too.
Yeah.
It should be fun, huh? Reece, I have to make a decision.
I need you to help me by answering some questions.
Can you do that? Who's that? Daddy.
And who's that? My other daddy.
You love both your daddies very much, right? He says he doesn't know.
When you are sick, who makes you feel better? Mommy.
Which daddy gives you the best care when you get a boo-boo? He has Band-Aids with cartoons.
Right now, I'd say he needs consistency.
Reece, Carla and I.
The three of us were a family.
That's how we planned our lives.
That's how we approached every day, every week.
I've been with Reece through earaches flus, almost every scrape he's ever gotten.
If you count the hours that I've spent with my stepson it far exceeds the time Dr.
Benton has spent with the child he believed to be his.
Reece and Carla were my life.
And now Reece is my life.
He comes first.
Ahead of my personal needs, ahead of my job.
And I think that's in his best interest.
- Oh, John.
Diverse selection.
- Burgers are good.
You already know what you want? I'm still working on what to drink.
This is nice.
Haven't done this for a while.
Had lunch together? Or Christmas? Both.
So What kind of business keeps Mom in Costa Rica in December? How's the chopped salad? She broke her hip, Dad.
Mom can't spend five minutes with her? Is she gonna avoid her for the whole month? Your mother's not coming.
John, we're getting divorced.
- What? Divorced? - It's amicable.
After 30 years? - What happened? - This probably isn't the best- - Is there somebody else? - Neither of us is running off with anyone.
What is it, she's not happy? She's bored? Wants to stay in Europe? I'm the one who's leaving, John.
This can't surprise you.
You saw it before I did.
- Can I take your order? - I was suffocating.
I think we're ready.
Chopped salad, please.
Burger medium-rare, please.
I agree with Mr.
McGrath that consistency is the best thing for Reece right now.
See, I I let Carla take on a lot of the parenting while I pursued my career.
But I did that because it felt right to leave Reece in his mother's care.
But all that's changed now.
And my responsibilities have changed too.
Because of that I've made arrangements to work fewer hours so I can become Reece's full-time caretaker.
- At County General? - Yes, sir.
What sort of hour reduction are we talking about? weekends off.
You can provide proof of this new schedule? Yes, sir.
Yes, I can.
Have it in my office by day's end.
Unless there is anything else, court's adjourned.
I need to talk to him now.
Well, pull him out.
Fine.
Let him know I'm on my way.
- Going back to work? - Get out of my way.
- Got another shift? - Roger, get out of my way! Where's Reece? Let me guess: Jackie.
No, Cleo.
A nanny? - You want me to hit your car? - You lied, man.
On top of everything else, you're a liar.
And a perjurer.
You know what? You need to back off.
Whatever it takes, is that it? He's not a trophy, man! You can't win at any cost to give your sister a son! - You gotta raise him! - You know- Go ahead, get in my face.
Come on.
- Roger, you need to shut your mouth.
- Think, Peter.
You can't change who you are.
I'm sure it was on this block.
It's called Nazim.
It's got a blue awning.
- Well, I don't see it.
- We must have missed it.
- I don't like Indian food anyway.
- Why didn't you say something? - I just did.
- Why don't we go to that Italian place - across the street.
Great risotto.
- Wait a minute.
- That'd be great if it weren't closed.
- You're a pain in the ass, you know that? - Well, some say.
- I'm starting to regret this whole thing.
- Too bad.
I'm starving.
- Forget about looking for a decent place.
- Why don't we go home and order in.
- I like a take-charge kind of girl.
- My apartment? - Lead the way.
- Dr.
Romano.
- You hear something? - I need to talk to you.
- That's a doctor who breaks promises then hangs up on the guy he breaks the promises with.
- I need to talk to you now.
- Talk is cheap, Peter.
I need to scale back my hours and I need it in writing.
- "To whom it may concern: No way.
" - I'm serious.
- Is this about your kid? - Yeah.
What do you need? Every other Saturday? No nights.
No weekends.
Good one.
I like the one about the rabbi and the goldfish.
- I need to spend more time at home.
- Never needed to before.
- His mother died.
- His stepfather is still alive.
Split custody, keep doing what you do best.
I'm not asking for your advice.
News flash! This is an urban trauma center.
Until people plan their MVAs and GSWs better, you won't punch a time clock.
That's not me being a hard-ass, that's the job.
You are a surgeon.
- Are you gonna do this for me or not? - Not.
Work when I need you or not at all.
Then consider this my resignation.
All right, all right, all right.
Don't go getting dramatic.
- Weekends off.
- And what about weekdays? It's my best offer, Peter.
Take it or leave it.
I'll finish out the week.
Are you really gonna do this? Throw away your career to play Mr.
Mom? What a waste! - Hi.
- Hey.
Newborn for the nursery.
- Birth in the ER? - Marshall Field's.
Mother was last-minute shopping.
She's on her way up.
- The paramedics delivered? - No, a shoe salesman.
- Room 424, do you have a chart? - Was she an ER patient? I just have to follow up on something.
- How far along was she? - Eight weeks.
No complications.
- She's in Recovery for a few more hours.
- Thanks.
- Dr.
Finch, please.
- I'm not sure she's here.
Let me check.
All right, thanks.
- What are you doing here? - I need to meet the Surgicenter director.
- You gave him my CV, right? - Yeah, but- - I quit County.
- Romano wouldn't give you the hours? You said there's a position here.
I want it.
- I'll introduce you tomorrow.
- I gotta show proof of employment now.
- Peter, he's probably gone for the day.
- Check, please.
- I just started, he barely knows me.
- Cleo, I need to talk to him.
- Hi.
I thought you left.
- Tonight.
Luka has been looking for you.
Could you wait, please? - Do you need something? - You told him you weren't pregnant.
- I'm not.
- I don't understand.
You don't need to.
- Look, I'm sorry.
I was wrong.
- No, you were right.
He did everything he could.
I thought his kindness was love.
But it's not.
Abby, he deserves not to know.
Thanks.
Tuesday's impossible.
He's got colorectal procedures then.
Fissurectomy at 7.
Hemorrhoidectomy at 8.
Another at 9.
And it looks like he's squeezed in an inguinal hernia too.
- Maybe for lunch? - No, he's got a lunch date.
- After that? - After that, he sees patients until 5.
- How about Thursday? - Thursday might work, actually.
Judge Alter! Judge Alter! I got that employment letter for you.
- I wanted this yesterday.
- I know.
It came in after-hours.
- This is not your hospital.
- No.
- Schaumburg Surgicenter? - I worked out a better situation there than if I had stayed at County.
- All in the last 12 hours? - It was always a possibility.
- It just needed to be ironed out.
- You didn't mention it yesterday.
I know.
I said I'd cut back my hours and I did.
- True.
- I'm now working 8 to 5, no weekends.
- This letter confirms it.
- That may be so.
But you told a different story yesterday.
And I don't like being lied to.
I'm doing what I have to do for my son.
Hey, Elizabeth.
You sneaking coffee? Tea.
You look nice.
Are you going on a date? No.
Court date.
- Right.
What's the latest? - It's out of my hands now.
It's best to keep busy while you wait.
Yeah.
Well, I owe a lot of hours before I go.
- Before you go? - Yeah.
End of the week, I'm out of here.
- What? - Yeah, I had to quit.
- You're not serious.
- I need to change my life.
Romano won't cut me any slack.
Yeah, but I'm sure he'll make some accommodation.
No.
I asked.
He won't.
You'd really leave County? I gotta go.
- How'd he fall? - Hanging lights.
Parents are signing him in.
- What do we got? - Fell from a ladder.
- Parents are here.
- Is he okay? - Has he been unconscious? - His sister put the hose on him.
- He woke up for a second.
- Did he hit anything? - A bike.
- I got some involuntary guarding here.
- He's waking up.
That's good, yes? - Coming through.
- What do we have? - Possible liver or splenic lac.
- Stable, but might need to go to the O.
R.
- HemoCue? - Second is eight from 10.
- Does your belly hurt? All right.
He's stable for CT.
Control the pain.
- Watch him overnight.
- He has free fluid by ultrasound.
I won't remove the spleen before we have to.
- Remove? - He can still live without one.
- I can give him mine.
- That's not necessary.
- Someone'll match.
- We don't transplant spleens.
- I'll show you where the waiting room is.
- We can at least give blood.
- She's going down.
- Amparo! Ma'am, you okay? - Have you fainted before? - Never.
How do you serve Christmas dinner for them? Start cooking early.
No problem.
O.
R.
's got elective cases they can push.
How's she doing? Please, I'm fine.
Tell me about Ben.
His blood counts are stable, that's good.
His first CT only shows a small injury.
His school band plays in a concert on New Year's Eve.
I don't want him to miss it.
- How long have you had this node? - I don't know.
Is this tender? You don't have to examine me or run tests.
I know I'm sick.
Have you been diagnosed with something? Lymphoma.
I'm sorry.
- Don't tell them, though.
- Your family doesn't know? There will be plenty of time to talk after Christmas.
Dr.
Benton? Janice Prager called.
She wants you to meet her in court.
- Go.
I'll get another surgeon.
- Your son will be fine.
Good.
- They got me right in the store.
- It's tough to hide two pairs of skates.
The guard jumped me in front of my kids.
Can we keep the ice skates? No.
They hate getting used stuff.
I thought for Christmas- They wanna take you to the station house.
I know.
Do you have someone to stay with them? Their mother? I'll be right back.
Abby? - Are you gonna be in jail for Christmas? - I don't know.
Maybe I should post bail for him.
They have no money.
Do you know where they've been living? In a motel room.
- Probably can't pay a security deposit.
- No, he has a job.
But it's $5.
15 an hour.
He has to steal to get his kids a decent Christmas present.
Could call the food bank.
No, they help out this time of year.
What happens to them in three months? There's only so much you can do.
Yeah, I guess.
I just Miss your kids? Yeah.
Sorry.
It's worse at Christmas.
Oh, right.
- Where's the judge? - In chambers.
- Gentlemen, your counsel with you? - They're on the way.
While we wait for Ms.
Prager and Mr.
Wharton I was wondering if I could talk with Reece once more.
- Only if you both agree, of course.
- Sure.
- I don't see why not.
- Thank you.
Nancy, will you ask him to come with me? It's okay.
Go on.
It's okay.
Go, go.
Just Reece this time.
He'll have exploratory surgery.
They'll repair any injuries he might have.
- He'll be home for the holidays? - Wait and see how he does.
So we celebrate a day or two late.
It doesn't matter.
Thank you, doctor! - Did you get him upstairs? - Along with his parents, aunts, cousins Hope they all fit in the waiting room.
You ready for this? God.
I forgot.
I mean, I didn't forget.
It's at home, yours.
I don't know where my head is at, though.
Do you wanna open it anyway? - Can we wait? - Sure.
Sorry.
Is something wrong? - I'm having family problems.
- Your grandma? No, no.
It's my mother.
She's not coming home for the holidays.
She and my father are splitting up.
- Oh, no.
- I don't think it's sunk in yet.
- Maybe it's a blessing in disguise.
- How do you figure? - Did you ever meet my parents? - I met Cookie.
Right.
She and Henry aren't divorced, and they should be.
- Still, I'm sorry.
- Thanks.
I'm so self-centered.
I thought it was something to do with me.
No.
You're about the only thing going right in my life.
- You shouldn't let this happen.
- Didn't want to be defensive.
- What did he think of your new job? - He wasn't overly impressed.
There you are.
Thank you for all rushing over.
Be seated.
We are in a unique situation.
In a traditional custody case, win or lose the parents maintain the title given to them by their biology.
They're still Mommy and Daddy.
Here I'm asked to declare that one of these two men is not, in fact, Daddy.
But they both love Reece and have made sacrifices to be with him though I will say Dr.
Benton's effort was late in the game.
And I am uncomfortable about the way he handled it.
Not convinced he was exactly forthright with the court.
But the fact is that I do believe Reece would thrive in either of your households.
And that makes my decision even harder.
But based on the evidence provided by Dr.
Benton that he will be more available as a parent in the future and the fact that Reece has always believed him to be his father the court grants custody to Peter Benton.
Mr.
McGrath will be given visitation with Reece every other Saturday.
The court calls a 20-minute recess.
We might have to go get one.
- Use the angel.
- No, I always have a star.
Okay, here we go.
One, two, three.
Yes, it is pretty.
You finish your part? Hey, baby.
Come here.
Come over here.
Come lay under the tree.
- You should get going.
- I got a half an hour.
- Going to be late for your last shift.
- What are they gonna do? Fire me? - What are we doing? - It's the best way to look at a tree.
When I was Reece's age, I used to do this for hours.
- It's beautiful.
- Yeah.
Hey, how long is the commute to Schaumburg? - Depends on when you leave.
- I was thinking, if we both work there Yeah? Maybe we should relocate.
We? Yeah.
This whole thing has made me focus.
It's like all my life I've been chasing something.
That time when I can make it into the end zone and spike the ball.
It took almost losing my son to realize the end zone's not out there.
It's right here.
You're good raw material.
I can work with you.
- Oh, you can? - Yeah.
I have to get you in shape.
What kind of shape? - Hey, you found it.
- I knew it was in one of those boxes.
Want to put it up there? All right, come on.
That's good.
- I'm working New Year's Eve? - Someone has to.
- Someone else.
- Six-year-old, GSW.
- Please save him.
- What happened? .
38 caliber, right thorax, crossed the midline.
- Vitals? - BP, 70/30.
Pulse, 130.
He's so pale.
You his mother? What's his name? - What's his name? - Teddy.
Decreased breath sounds.
Full trauma panel.
He needs a chest tube.
- It's the two of us.
- How did it happen? I shot him.
Surgery.
Yes, that was Matt on the pay phone.
Peter.
I guess I should say congratulations.
Did you really get a new job? You gonna call me a liar again? - Here you are, Christmas Eve.
- Yeah, well, it's my last shift.
What's your excuse? I wanted to give you Reece's Christmas presents.
You can leave them over there.
- See you in two Saturdays.
- Yeah.
Merry Christmas.
Hey, Roger.
Come over to the house tomorrow and give them to him yourself.
Thanks.
I'm not doing it for you.
Surgery.
Dr.
Benton, the ER.
- Sux on board.
- Our tree's by the window.
-51/2 ET tube.
- There've been so many break-ins.
- O-neg's running.
Systolic's at 70.
- Call for a vent.
- I was sleeping.
I had the flu.
-10 blade.
- He was supposed to be in bed.
- Long vascular clamp.
He dropped an ornament.
I thought someone was breaking in.
I'm in.
Bag him.
- GSW? -6-year-old accidentally shot by his mom.
Heart rate's down to 30.
- Lost his pulse.
Starting compressions.
- Thoracotomy tray.
- What does that mean? - We'll open his chest, repair the damage.
- Four more units of blood.
- Scalpel.
- Oh, God! - Paula, come with me.
- Ready with the rib-spreader.
- Suction on high.
All right.
Hang on, hang on.
Crank it now.
Come on.
- Looks like two liters in there.
- Damn it.
Pericardium's filled with blood.
15 blade.
Call the O.
R.
We got a red blanket.
Page Romano.
- Who shoots a 6-year-old? - Thought he was a burglar.
- A burglar who shakes presents? -10 blade.
- I'll clamshell the chest.
- Sternal saw.
- We really going through the motions? - Knife back.
Metz.
- Guess we are.
- Pick-ups.
Come on, pick-ups! Damn it.
Here's a fragment of the slug.
- Looks weird.
- Saw.
Let's move.
- It's a Black Talon.
Fragmenting bullet.
- Fragments at the hilum.
- Looks like razor blades all over him.
- That's the point.
- Order more FFP? - On its way.
Lost cause.
Fragments in all chambers.
God knows what hit the great vessels.
- Dr.
Corday is here.
- She'll love being brought in on this.
- What do we have? - Organ donor.
- BP dropping, 60/30.
- Hang two more units packed cells.
- He'll go into DIC.
- We'll stay ahead with cryo and platelets.
We've got other surgeries.
Looks like a transverse colon injury and dead bowel.
I'm still in the chest.
Repaired defects to the left ventricle and right hilum.
- Hope you brought your magic wand.
- Help me or get the hell out.
Knock yourself out, Peter.
Either way, you're gone.
We need to rebuild the IVC from the kidneys caudally.
More 2-0 silk on a Teflon pledget.
Come on.
Keep them coming.
Elizabeth, we can do this, all right? Prep a venous cardiac snare.
Did I kill him? We don't know what his chances are.
But he does have the best surgeons I know working on him.
How could I do this? You were scared.
I keep telling God how sorry I am.
That's all you can do.
I don't even believe in God.
Teddy never gets up from bed.
I just wanted to protect our home.
I never thought he'd You want me to take you to the O.
R.
? - Turn off the damn heat.
- Another Vicryl.
- Gl stapler.
- Not much stool in the abdominal cavity.
- Good sign.
I expected more.
- Gut's done.
What's the pressure? -80/40.
- Well, that's something.
- Let me get another clip.
- Not much.
Here we go.
SMV is done.
Cut.
Shirley, take down the balloon on the Pruitt.
- Here we go.
Catheter out.
- Balloon down.
Throw in a good knot, see if he stops bleeding.
Come on, Teddy.
Come on, man.
Come on.
Look at that.
- Yeah.
- That's incredible.
Yeah.
Well, all right.
Here we go.
Releasing the clamp.
- How the hell did you do that? - I have no idea.
Let's make sure of the count.
- Is that the mother? - Yeah.
- You go tell her.
I'll close up.
- Okay.
Thanks, Elizabeth.
- Peter, that was truly remarkable.
- Little going-away present.
Despite anything Romano may say, this place is really gonna miss you.
- I wish I could say the same.
- Wasn't all that bad.
We had our moments.
Your son lost a lot of blood.
However, we were able to repair the damage.
He's got a long road ahead of him, but he's gonna make it.
I don't know how to thank you.
Just get the gun out of your house.
I guess Santa didn't buy you that bike you asked for.
- Carter, what are you doing here? - Cleo told me this was on your route.
- Come on.
You want to join me? - No.
If I wanna get my heart rate up, I'll have another cup of coffee.
Got your message.
Guess there's no way to talk you out of it, huh? Done deal.
I got you something.
- Carter- - Open it.
You're a tough guy to shop for.
An El token? Second week of my surgical internship we got 11 traumas in one night.
a girl that had been dragged under a car.
I was so tired I couldn't see straight.
I asked you if I could take a break and you kicked me out of the O.
R.
I couldn't drive home, I was so exhausted.
I started crying in the hallway.
You came out of surgery and you gave me that.
You said I could use it to go home.
Or I could commit to what I was doing and use it to come back the next day.
No Rolex, huh? If you get tired of Schaumburg, you can use it to come back.
- Carter, they don't use tokens anymore.
- Then call.
And I'll come pick you up.
- Look, I want you to know- - I know.
That I owe you.
Carter.
Getting cold.
I better move on.
- Merry Christmas.
- Same to you.
Hey, Peter.
I'm a good doctor because of you.
No, you're not.
But keep trying.