ER Episode 15.17 T Minus 6

Carter returns to the ER for his first day of work, pausing to bandage up his oozing dialysis shunt. Meanwhile, Brenner brings Neela breakfast in bed, bringing back memories of her childhood. Neela realizes she knows nothing about Brenner's past, but he's not talking. When he tries to distract her with kisses, Neela demands to know why every conversation she starts ends in sex, but succumbs anyway.

Banfield and Russell attend an information session at an adoption agency. Banfield is extremely nervous, frowning when she hears another couple, Michelle and Jeremy making jokes. Banfield demands to know if they think de-valuing children is funny. Michelle comments on the stick up Banfield's butt, and Russell decides it's time to leave. When Jeremy makes a final parting shot, Russell can't help himself and punches back.

Morris meets an ambulance containing Burt and his wife Tildie, who have driven their car into Lake Michigan because their GPS told them to. Gates eavesdrops on Sam's phone conversation with sister Kelly. While flying to Chicago to take up residence in a nursing home, their mom Mary's stats dropped. Sam plans to visit the nursing home after her shift, but she's nervous, since she hasn't seen her mom in years.

Carter approaches the desk, attempting to discharge a patient. Frank, Gates and Banfield hammer him with changes in meds and procedures that happened while he was away. Sam announces that six patients are coming in from an apartment house explosion. Banfield overlooks Carter, yelling that she needs another attending. When Carter insists he's up for it, Banfield stresses that he only do what he's comfortable with, and yells for Brenner anyway.

Brenner asks Lucy how life is with her new foster family. Lucy likes foster mom Elaine, but her husband Stanley is a little weird, flirty even. When Lucy mentions that Stanley walks around without his clothes on, Brenner appears on the verge of exploding, but his pager summons him to the ER.

Mom Annie is wheeled off an ambulance screaming for her four kids. Neighbor Norman yells reassurances from his stretcher. He heard the explosion and ran into Annie's apartment to save the kids, who are right behind them. Banfield assigns Gates to keep an eye on Carter, who tends to Norman. Norman claims he's invincible and has a gift for aiding people in distress. Gates corrects Carter: they no longer use silvadene and there's new scanner technology in place.

Morris sews up Tildie's forehead, asking how she could possibly have driven into the river? Tildie maintains that she and Burt are good people who do what they're told. Morris encourages them to live a little -- cut off a mattress tag! Scandalized at first, Tildie is liberated, making the first cut. Grady and Banfield tend to Annie, who's having difficulty breathing. When Banfield asks about Carter, Gates admits he's cool, but a little rusty.

Annie's one uninjured child James watches as Morris works on sister Breena, who needs intubation to drain the blood from her lungs. James claims he told his mom not to use the gas grill for heat. Brenner leaves a message for Stanley, then sends Annie's other son Clay off for surgery. Banfield decides to intubate Annie, who's panicking and struggling to breathe. Simultaneously, Banfield and Carter realize that both Annie and Norman have carbon monoxide poisoning. Suddenly, Norman can't feel his legs.

Neela wants to pack Norman off to surgery, but Carter insists he needs the hyperbaric chamber to get oxygen to his brain. Would Neela rather have Norman paralyzed or brain damaged? Gates steps in when Carter orders an outdated drug, and Neela puts up a fight. Carter recalls his time as a surgical resident -- the perspective can be a bit narrow. Carter insists Norman's brain is their priority - she'll thank him later. Flummoxed, Neela puts in a call to Dubenko.

Gates and Sam are at the desk when Kelly arrives with Mary, unconscious on a stretcher. The nursing home wouldn't accept Mary in her current condition. Dubenko steps in to help Banfield with Annie, who needs surgery to stop liver bleeding. Dubenko pleads Neela's case for surgery on Norman -- why won't Carter listen to reason? Pointing out that four children may be left orphans, Banfield explains that Carter has been working in the field without technology -- he's listening to his gut.

Neela demands to know why Dubenko rolled over on Norman's surgery. Dubenko tells Neela she's being dramatic; sometimes another set of eyes is valuable. Pissed off, Neela tries to talk to Brenner, but he's distracted, leaving to escort Lucy to the ambulance bay. Brenner questions Lucy's foster mom Elaine, who insists her husband Stanley is a little weird, but great with the kids. If only he would get a job.

Kelly explains that Mary was fine for most of the flight, but started having trouble breathing and stopped making sense. Gates returns with chest film; Mary has pneumonia, but she'll be stable enough to admit to the nursing home in no time. After some oxygen, Mary starts to regain consciousness, as Sam sweats what to say after so many years apart. Gates advises Sam to keep it simple, but it doesn't matter -- Mary has no idea where she is or who Sam is.

An edgy Brenner finds Stanley on the street, and asks how things have been going with Lucy -- has Stanley been crossing the line? Offended, Stanley admits that he might look like a loser, but he doesn't need a rich doctor accusing him of perversion. Realizing he's out of control, Brenner backs off. While grabbing coffee at the Jumbo Mart, Claudia introduces Morris to her new and unfriendly partner, Ed Bernstein. Morris looks up to see Tildie encouraging Burt to live a little and cross the street against the light.

Morris wheels Burt back into the ER after he's hit by a moped. When Tildie claims that Morris is the one who told them to cut off the mattress tag, Morris explains that it was a metaphor for living more fully. Brenner calls in sick mid-shift, annoying Banfield. Sam checks in with Kelly. Mary has to stay overnight, but can go to the nursing home tomorrow. Kelly has to catch a plane to Tokyo and can't stay, deserting Sam.

When Annie's condition turns desperate, Carter offers Gates and Banfield a hand. They can't stop Annie's internal bleeding to stabilize her for the move to the ER. Claiming he only had access to surgeons once a week in Darfur, Carter grabs a scalpel to pack the liver to buy some time. He instructs James to hold Annie's hand and Gates to assist. When Gates asks if they should call a surgeon, Banfield says no.

Dubenko and Neela attend Norman, who's improving in the hyperbaric chamber. After arguing over Norman's treatment, Neela pouts that Dubenko will never view her as an equal. Since he's been on the job 15 years longer, he admits she's right, just as Norman starts moving his toes. Annie dies on the table. Gates congratulates Carter -- his strategy almost worked. Claiming almost doesn't count, Carter perks up to hear that Norman moved his toes, and rushes off to check him out.

Neurosurgeon Andrews explains that Norman's blast injuries may have caused transient paralysis, but they'll need surgery to be sure. Carter's shunt starts oozing as he helps Norman out of the machine. Banfield breaks news of Annie's death to Norman, reminding him that he's a hero for saving the kids. Norman thinks it's the end of the era of everything being alright. As the elevator door shuts on Norman and Carter, Banfield notices the blooming patch of blood on Carter's sleeve.

Russell shows up early to pick up Banfield. His hand feels a little broken, so Banfield sends him for an X-ray, as Morris releases Burt and Tildie. When Gates asks Morris how things are going with Claudia, Morris admits that he wants to take it to the next level, but can't tell how Claudia feels about him. Although she doesn't like to get personal on the job, Banfield gives Morris some advice: sometimes, you just gotta cut the mattress tag.

Banfield finds Carter in the break room, washing his shirt. Carter explains it's all about bad luck. He lost the first kidney when he was stabbed in the ER, then lost the other one in Africa. He's returned to the States to get on a transplant list. Actually, he came to the ER to meet Banfield personally, because she's a match for his blood type and antigens. Will she give him her kidney? Banfield's face falls, and Carter laughs -- he was only kidding.

Dubenko tells Neela the reason they fight is that she's the only person on the job worth fighting with. The Committee is announcing appointments, and Neela should be very happy. Neela admits that she withdrew her application -- she's not staying at County. Later, Brenner shows up drunk at Neela's. When she tries to talk about Dubenko, he moves in for a kiss. Neela bats him away -- why does he always do this when it's time to talk seriously? Freaked out, Brenner leaves.

On the way out, Carter visits with Sam, who's stressed over her mom. How did such a tough broad turn into a terrified old lady? Sam takes dinner to her mother, who's still scared and confused. Can she trust Sam? Deciding to do what her mom would have done for her, Sam holds Mary's hand and sings her a song. Mary sings along and gives Sam a hug, wishing she had a daughter just like her.