ER Episode 15.06 Oh, Brother!

It's cold and snowy in Chicago. Banfield and her husband Russell walk to work while having a tense exchange. His parents are coming to visit for the weekend, and Banfield isn't up to it, claiming she's too busy. Russell is trying to make this as easy as possible for her, explaining that his parents are starting to wonder if something's wrong.

Sam's pipes have frozen and burst and her landlord's a jerk. Now she's only got two days to find a place to live. Gates thinks there's an obvious solution, and is about to voice it, when he and Sam notice homeless Max lying in the entrance to the ambulance bay with his dog Jake. Gates tells Max that he has to move, but he doesn't want anyone telling him what to do.

While waiting for Morris, Chaz, now in his first year of med school, tends to Patty, who's crashed her bike for the fourth time in three weeks. Although she's already had her morphine, Patty screams for more. Chaz suggests a test, impressing Morris. Kaya and Ryan wonder why Chaz is doing anything, since a first year student should just observe.

Gates complements Daria, making her uncomfortable. Morris showers Chaz with attention, drawing looks from Ryan and Kaya as they all escort Patty to the MRI room. When Morris turns his back, there's a loud crash. No one realized that Patty was still on a metal gurney, which has sandwiched her against the MRI machine.

Sam asks Frank if he knows a good, cheap motel. Again, Gates promises that he has a solution to Sam's problem, but Daria interrupts. Morris takes heat from Frank and Gates over the MRI incident. When Chaz tells him that Patty's foot issue resolved itself, Morris credits him with curing his first patient.

Brenner stops in with his Australian rugby teammates before a game. Frank notices that Banfield has printed out a recipe for Chicken Piccata. He's a great cook with lots of failsafe recipes, but Banfield tells him to mind his own beeswax. Banfield has a critical eye for Neela, who claims she's too busy to teach Andrew a procedure.

When boxer Derrek Taylor is brought in, Morris has Chaz help him with the vital exam, banishing Kaya and Ryan to checking extremities. Kaya discovers a septal hematoma, so Morris has Chaz do the draining. Banfield walks in as alarms sound, demanding to know why a first year med student is actually doing a procedure.

On the way back from the Jumbo Mart, Gates offers Max a coffee. If Max ever wants to come inside the ER for a shower and a hot meal, he's welcome. Banfield watches as Neela steps in to do a procedure, rather than let Andrew do it. Fed up, Banfield pulls the interns into the hall. If the upper level residents aren't letting them do stuff, they should report to her; all except for Chaz - all he's supposed to do is watch.

Banfield lectures Morris and Neela. County is a teaching hospital, and they've got to let their interns learn by doing. And even if Chaz was an EMT, he's not supposed to do anything. Neela pipes up that things are different in surgery, and she'll supervise Andrew as she sees fit. She doesn't appreciate Banfield undermining her authority. Banfield tells Neela to have Dubenko call her; she'll handle it at the attending level.

Gates finally asks Sam to move in with him. She laughs, claiming he's insane; it's way too soon. Hurt, Gates tells her to forget it, just as they discover Max lying unconscious on the street. Sam promises they'll finish their talk later, as Gates calls Daria to help. Sensing the tension, Daria gets so nervous she knocks over a stand as Max begins to seize violently.

Derrek has a broken cheekbone which will require surgery and six weeks recovery. He's just eager to get back in the ring to earn money for his father Louie, a former Golden Gloves winner. Louie needs expensive back surgery, but he wants Derrek to stop boxing. Derrek gets paid to lose, and doesn't know when to call it quits. Louie asks Morris to talk Derrek into quitting, but Morris refuses.

While tending to Max, Sam apologizes to Gates for hurting his feelings. Daria interrupts again. Sam recognizes Max's paratrooper tattoo, which is just like Gates'. Max wakes up concerned for his dog and tries to leave, but falls over. Sam helps him back to bed, promising to find his dog. Gates asks nervy Daria if she's okay; she claims she's merely busy.

Explaining that he's a great cook, Frank gives Banfield a surefire recipe for Veal Frankalini with chanterelle sauce. Russell shows up at work to talk, infuriating Banfield. When Neela interrupts, Banfield sends Russell to wait for her outside. Neela spoke to Dubenko, who told her to handle the intern issue herself. Furious, Banfield acquiesces sarcastically; they'll do it Neela's way, nice and easy.

While giving Derrek a vision test, Morris notices a problem that could be a diffuse axonal injury, caused by repetitive head injury. When Derrek's pulse plummets, they wheel him to a trauma room to insert a chest tube. Morris wants Chaz to assist. Chaz tries to resist, but caves. Gates enters to ask Morris why Chaz is working. When blood pours out of the incision, Morris admits they bagged an intercostal artery.

Russell waits on a bench outside for Banfield for half an hour. She reminds him that she's busy and he should have called. He doesn't know how she can work in the ER, but he did make dinner reservations. Banfield insists that she's going to cook; she can't have Russell's mother thinking she can't keep house. Russell tries to soothe Banfield; he's just trying to help. When her pager goes off, Banfield promises to be home in an hour.

Banfield enters Derrek's trauma room just as he stops breathing. Morris fights to control the bleeding, as Banfield demands to know how he tore the intercostal artery. Gates covers for Morris, then demands to know what's up. Morris claims that he's just trying to give Chaz a head start. Gates tells Morris that he's setting Chaz back.

Brenner's teammates invite Neela to go for a victory drink with them after work. Brenner is delighted to see her, and before he knows it, Neela is winning everyone's money at the dart board. Meanwhile, Gates questions Max, who can't seem to remember much more than where he served in the military - Tal Afar. Sam is upset that neuro wants to discharge Max, but Gates pulls some strings to get him admitted.

Alex shows up to meet Sam early, and her attempt to talk to Gates is again cut short. She says good-bye to Gates and takes Alex into the break room to discuss moving in with Gates. Gates interrupts to restate his offer. If it doesn't work out, they can move out. Sam and Alex decide to move in with Gates and Sarah.

After a successful surgery, Morris sits down with Derrek and Louie. If Derrek keeps fighting, he'll risk serious brain damage. Louie apologizes for being tough on Derrek, and leaves the choice up to his son. They'll find a way through it; they always do. As Banfield is leaving, Frank runs up with a bag, filled with all the ingredients for his Veal Frankalini. She can't accept his gift, but he insists.

Morris finds Chaz in the ambulance bay, and apologizes about the chest tube incident. Every time Morris sees Chaz, he sees Pratt, and forgets that Chaz still has a way to go before he's a doctor. Chaz thanks Morris for looking out for him. Outside her home, Banfield steels herself. Russell opens the door, and his mother Marie runs out to give Banfield a wonderful hug.