Episode Report Card Niki: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT There Be Dragons
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 5 | Aired on 10.18.1999
Just then, Rick and his doctor come through the doors, and the kids rush over to him. Lily's a little slower to get up, so the three are already walking away from the doctor by the time she joins them. The doctor gives Lily extra instructions on how to care for Rick and then adds, "You've got some cute kids." Lily doesn't correct her.
Cut to Rick's living room, where everyone fusses over Rick as he settles onto the couch. The phone's ringing, and Eli figures it's his friend and makes to leave. Lily heads into the kitchen to put an ice pack in the freezer, leaving Jessie and Rick alone for a moment. Jessie leans in and tells Rick that she likes "how [Lily's] not all flustery." Rick agrees. He tells Jessie they're still on for their hike, but she solemnly insists that his "body's been through a trauma. [He] needs to rest." Lily returns from the kitchen, and Jessie gets up to make tea, leaving Rick and Lily alone for a moment. Lily tells Rick that Jessie's "just incredible." Rick says he's glad Lily's there, and she observes that it's "just the medication talking. If [she] hadn't been there, none of it would have happened." Well, that makes sense, but Rick doesn't seem to care. They kissy-kiss-kiss and then Lily says she'd better go, but not before they kiss one more time. She spins around to get up and finds Jessie standing in the doorway watching them. Lily's smile falters a little, but she decides to act like nothing happened and tells Rick that he's "in really good hands here" before telling "Jessica" that it was really nice to meet her. "Jessie," the kid says. Lily apologizes and makes her getaway.
Jessie seems shaken and glances after Lily a couple of times while dunking Rick's teabag. The wheels are turning full-speed, and you know she's thinking, "Friend, my ass." Rick starts talking about the hike again, but now the painkillers have kicked in and he's groggily slurring his words. He says the only thing she'll remember about being twelve is missing this trip. "I don't think so," Jessie says with a little smile. Right, there was that little thing about getting your first period this morning, wasn't there? I doubt you'll forget that anytime soon. Sleepily, Rick asks if it was terrible waiting for him at the hospital. He hates...hospitals...they're so...in...hospitable. And then he drifts off on that sweet, sweet cloud of drug-induced oblivion.
Cut to Jessie lying on her bed and drilling the basketball at the wall. Eli pokes his head in the door to ask if she's okay. Thump, catch, thump, catch. She's fine. "If you say so," Eli says, unconvinced. Thump, catch, thump, catch, "This is what fine looks like," she snarks, and hurls the ball for emphasis. Eli asks what she thinks of Rick's "new girlfriend." Jessie says she's okay and then asks how he knows that Lily is Rick's girlfriend. "How many of them have you met?" Eli asks, and looks at her meaningfully before leaving. Jessie continues throwing the ball at the wall.