Previously on ER: Chen pocketed some potassium and Pratt busted her. Dubenko harassed (although some would say mentored) Abby through a trauma. Carter went out with Wendall. Neela told Shane West that medicine isn't a day job.
Chen washes out her father's bedpan in the kitchen sink, which is gross. I hope she uses a lot of disinfectant. Her father calls for her from the other room, and she answers him in Chinese. There's a crashing noise, and Chen takes off. The Chens' kitchen is pretty sweet. Chen reaches her father and picks up the broken pieces of whatever off the floor. He chides her to come when he calls, and then they start arguing in Chinese. Something that he says causes Chen to get very still and sad, and he finally begs her, "Please?" Chen says that she can't, and he continues to beg her in Chinese, until Chen starts crying and agrees. She concludes, "I promise."
Carter and Wendall sit on couches in a furniture store. Carter asks Wendall why her brother is staying with her when her parents live close by. Wendall says that her brother is in the Peace Corps, and her parents keep bugging him to get a real job. Carter thinks that sounds familiar. Since his grandmother died, who ever bugs Carter about anything job-related? A salesperson tells Wendall they're checking to see if they have a sofa bed in stock. Who goes out and buys a sofa bed on Christmas Eve? Just get an air mattress. The dude's in the Peace Corps. I'm sure he's used to roughing it a bit. When Carter asks, Wendall explains that she's the oldest child, and that besides her brother, she has a sister named Tess who is the junior partner in her dad's law firm. Carter jokingly wonders who the favorite is. Wendall asks about Carter's family, and Carter says he had a brother who died when Carter was eleven. The salesperson spares any further awkward conversation by arriving to report that they only have the sofa bed in moss green, which Wendall finds adequate. Wendall wants it delivered today, and the salesperson is like, "Girl, please." Carter thinks they could tie the sofa bed to the roof of her car. What the hell kind of car is she driving that would fit a sofa on top? Carter points out that Wendall brought him along to provide brawn. Carter? Brawn? Really? And shouldn't he be worried about straining his back? Wendall takes off to pay.
Carter notices a little girl standing nearby, choking on something. He whacks her on the back a couple of times and then determines that she can't talk or breathe. Isn't this the part where you're supposed to tell someone to call 911? That's about all I remember from my CPR training a million years ago. Carter skips that part, which would save him some problems in a few minutes, and tells the girl that he's going to give her the Heimlich ("I have invented a maneuver!") really hard. Carter does, and the girl spits out a candy or something, which goes flying into a silver bowl and makes a ringing noise. The girl cries for her parents, who come running over, and the dad is a little upset that Carter appears to be hugging his little girl. They also don't speak English. Carter tries to explain that he's a doctor, and then tells Wendall that they should get out of there. Wendall asks what happened as Carter rushes her out of there, and Carter says that he saved that little girl's life. What the hell was that about? Carter is Superman? Isn't it funny when people mistakenly accuse you of child molestation? I swear, sometimes I wonder if the writers are high, and that seemed hysterically funny in the writers' room.
I'm kind of surprised that Laura Innes is still in the credits, since she's barely on the show anymore. I mean, even her custody battle storyline only got a few scenes here and there.
Sam and Luka stand in the ambulance bay, surrounded by homeless people freezing their asses off. Sam and Luka appear to be arguing about whether you are allowed to open a gift on Christmas Eve. We always circumvented that problem by celebrating with my dad's family on Christmas Eve and my mom's on Christmas day. All presents, all the time! Wendall says that they'll be back for more homeless people shortly, and explains that they're taking this batch to the library, because they'll keep opening up public buildings until everyone has a place to stay. Sam and Luka continue their argument, although it's mostly teasing. Sam thinks Alex should open one gift on Christmas Eve, which Luka thinks is cheating. Sam points out that it would let her and Luka sleep in a little on Christmas Day. Luka grins and agrees, and asks if Sam is really just trying to open her own gift that night.
The ambulance arrives, and the paramedic says that the patient is a Mr. Sanders, who fell and hit his head on a chair. The paramedic gives Sanders's vitals as Abby rushes up and offers to help. Luka says that Sanders has crackles bilaterally (which means fluid in the lungs, I think), and the paramedic says that Mrs. Sanders will be joining them shortly. Sam comments that the temperature is supposed to get down to ten below tonight.
They wheel Sanders inside and Luka yells at people to clear a pathway for them. Abby asks the paramedic for a medical history, and reads that Sanders has "systemic lupus erythematosus" as well as "dialysis-dependent renal failure." Sam and Abby share a look like, "This guy is screwed." Sanders says that he was diagnosed twenty years ago, and that he got two hours of dialysis the day before. Abby adds that he has coronary artery disease. Luka finally gets a pathway cleared through the lobby. Abby says that Sanders also has hypertension and Hepatitis C. Sanders adds, "And a partridge in a pear tree." Oh, so he's one of those patients, who knows he's dying, but at least he has a good attitude about it, so the doctors will actually want to help him.
Luka tells Malarkey to stop eating, because there are a hundred people waiting. Malarkey says that Lewis already loaded him up. Yeah, he looks really busy. Busy shoving food in his mouth. Luka asks Pratt -- who is wearing a Santa coat that says "Dr. Santa" on the back in sequins -- whether Trauma One is clear, which it is. Lewis walks by and tells Abby she has six charts, and Abby protests that she hasn't even taken off her coat yet.
Carter wanders in, and Lewis tells him to stay on the phone with DHS to get them to pick up the remaining homeless. Weaver stands nearby, opening a gift. She peeks inside one edge, and then reseals it. She asks whether Susan will be home tomorrow, and Susan says she has to work at 3, but will be home before then. Susan tells Weaver to bring Henry by, and Weaver says she will, because she has something for Cosmo. When did those two become BFF? It's nice to see them bonding, but it seems kind of sudden. Susan notices Carter popping some pills, and he says he has a backache. Relapse! Susan says that Chen should be in soon, but that she's running late. Weaver notes that it's becoming a habit with Chen, and then cheerily hands the gift she just resealed over to Carter. He laughs and asks if she just regifted it right in front of him. Weaver doesn't deny it as she takes off.
Abby tries to get in touch with one of Sanders's many doctors. Mrs. Sanders shows up and passes over a folder containing her husband's medical records. Sam says that they can order his records, but Mrs. Sanders says that hers are more concise. Sanders tells his wife to let the doctors work. Mrs. Sanders says that the doctors need her help, but that they don't know it yet. Abby is still on the phone, trying to get Sanders admitted. Mrs. Sanders says that her husband was unconscious for forty-seven seconds. Luka and Sam exchange a look like, "She timed it?" Abby breaks the news that the rheumatology doctor isn't coming in, because he thinks the primary complaint sounds cardiac in origin. Mrs. Sanders supplies the name of their cardiologist. Sanders grins at his wife, who thinks that someone should be writing this down.
Shane West tries to round up another group of homeless people. Why, hello, Eion Bailey! So good to see you. He's a med student, and Neela tells him to order a chest film on his homeless patient. Shane thinks the patient just needs food and warmth. Eion Bailey introduces himself as Jake Scanlon, which is good news because my spell check does not like the name "Eion" at all. Jake explains that he's a fourth-year student who just transferred from Creighton. Shane explains that the homeless patient knows that if he claims to have chest pain, he gets a bed and a meal. Shane announces to the assembled crowd of homeless people that a van will be taking them to the Holiday Inn on the mayor's orders. Some of the people get up and leave. Neela is disgusted that Shane is lying. Jake points out that at least only the sick people are staying. Neela yells at Shane for "trick[ing] the needy." Shane says that it's a holiday, and that they're going somewhere like an inn, so it's not really a lie.
Luka and Sam are ready to leave. Luka asks Abby whether she's calling Cardiology for Sanders. Abby is, but says that Sam and Luka can leave, and she'll present to Carter or Chen. Sam immediately skips out, but Luka asks if she's sure. Abby says he's been on since 7 AM, and that someone should get to have Christmas. Luka takes off his white coat and looks exceptionally cute as he says that Alex is pretty excited. Abby asks, "Alex or you?" Luka grins, and Abby shoos him off. Chen runs up and asks if Luka is still around. Abby points her in the right direction.
Chen runs up to Luka, who starts to tell her about Sanders's case in preparation for signing it over to her. Chen says that she can't stay, and that she just came in to pick up her dad's medication. She sighs that she knows it's a lot to ask, but she wants Luka to cover her shift. Luka says simply, "It's Christmas Eve." Chen offers to do New Year's for him. Sam runs up, all happy, and asks if Luka is ready to go. Luka glances at Sam and tells Chen, "I'm sorry. I can't cover for you." Chen desperately says it's a family emergency, and that she wouldn't ask otherwise. Sam realizes what's going on and asks, "Are you serious? For tonight? Come on." But she says that last part much less sharply than it probably looks in print. Luka explains that it's his first Christmas with Sam and Alex, and that he can't help Chen. Sam looks sort of apologetic as they turn and leave. Chen looks exhausted.
Jerry walks in with a woman he introduces to Chen as Margaret, the temporary clerk. Chen is distracted. Jerry says that Margaret isn't "a big fan of the yuletide." Chen asks if Lewis is still there. Jerry says she's on her way out, and he is too. Chen rushes off and returns Jerry's wish of "Merry Christmas." Margaret asks what that means, exactly. Well, it means that someone wants you to have a Christmas that is Merry. It's not rocket science.
Abby tells someone on the phone that he or she could at least examine the patient before blowing her off. She spits, "Happy holidays to you too," and slams down the phone before muttering, "Never get sick on Christmas." She finds Jake and asks if he called Psych, which he did. She tells him to go home, because med students don't have to work holidays. Jake says that he volunteered. Abby jokes that year she's going to invent a family so she doesn't have to work on Christmas. Except that she already has a family, nutty as they may be. So that was kind of a weird thing to have her say, when any other character could have said it as well.
Abby tells Mrs. Sanders that Cardiology thinks it's a kidney problem. Abby tries to examine Sanders while answering Mrs. Sanders's questions. Abby notices Jake nearby and reminds him that he's supposed to go home. He ignores her and rattles off Sanders's vitals. Abby orders some drugs, including one that Cardiology suggested. Malik's never heard of the drug, but Jake has. Abby says she'll double-check the dosage on that. Abby turns on her way out and asks Jake's name. He looks surprised, and from the familiar way they were talking before, I got the vibe that they already knew each other. So do they, and Abby is pretending not to know him for some reason? I don't know.
Lewis apologizes to Chen for her dad's condition, but adds that she's been cutting Chen breaks for weeks. Chen says she appreciates it, and this will be the last time. I'm surprised Lewis didn't say, "How do you know it will be the last time?" and then Chen would have been like, "Gulp." Lewis says she can't get anyone to cover. Chen begs. Susan says that she can't. Chen asks Susan to stay. Susan says that she has a baby, and a husband, and that she just worked a fourteen-hour shift, so she can't. Chen thinks Carter might be able to handle it alone, with Abby and Malarkey. Yeah, I don't think adding Malarkey in there is going to convince anyone. Susan says that they're inundated with homeless people from the city roundup. Chen, choking back tears, says that she knows. Susan says that they're already understaffed. Chen calmly says that it's okay. Susan sighs and thanks her. Chen then tosses in the punch line: "I'm sorry, Susan. I quit." Susan closes her eyes in disbelief, but Chen is already out the door.
Shane files one last chart and announces, "And so, the holiday begins." Over his shoulder, you can see a menorah, which is a nice gesture, but wouldn't Chanukah be over by Christmas Eve? He runs into some carolers singing by the Admit Desk. Braids the Paramedic wheels in a little kid, who was the victim of a hit and run and is now confused and agitated. His mom tells Carter that the kid's name is Harry. Carter calls Shane over to help, but Shane says that his shift is over, and that he'll get Neela. Carter says that Neela is backed up. Carter apparently knows more than he should be Neela's gastrointestinal health. Shane says he has a plane to catch, and Carter yells (with perhaps a little more vehemence than is strictly necessary, although he's yelling at Shane, so I fully support him), "I'm not asking!" Shane reluctantly joins them.
They wheel Harry into Trauma Green. Carter and Shane begin their exam. The mom explains that she parked the car, and that Harry was getting out when he was hit. The little sister, Maddie, starts to explain it too, and her mom shushes her. Carter makes sure Mom and Maddie are both okay, and they are. Shane finds tenderness in the chest area, which Carter explains means multiple rib fractures. Harry calls for his mother as Carter orders tests. Chuny reports that Harry's pulse is high, and Shane says that he could be anxious or bleeding out. The mom is a little anxious herself, as anyone would be by the words "bleeding out." Harry tells Maddie that it's okay. Carter suggests that Maddie leave, but the mom wants to stay. Chuny offers to set Maddie up in the family room.
Abby tries to call Sanders's kidney doctor. She leaves a message about how Sanders's "wife can be a real pain in the ass," and then turns and of course the wife is standing right there. Oops. Abby concludes that Sanders needs dialysis and hangs up. She turns back to smooth it over, but Mrs. Sanders is already gone. Pratt walks up and hands off a chart to Abby, explaining that he has a party to attend called the Player's Ball. Shut up, Pratt. A young lady with giant breasts walks up and says she's looking for a doctor. Pratt says that he's a doctor, and the lady explains that she's actually looking for Malarkey. Pratt tries to smooth-talk her, but Malarkey runs up and grabs the lady away, offering to give her a tour. She looks back at Pratt and smiles.
Lewis walks up and says that Chen just quit, and then asks where Carter is. Pratt asks, "Quit what?" Susan says that Chen quit the hospital, and asks again where Carter is. Abby asks whether Chen quit for good, and Pratt asks if she's all right. Susan says that Chen is burned out, and that they're screwed, as she rushes off to find Carter. Neela asks what's going on, and Abby fills her in. Neela hands Abby her Secret Santa gift. Abby asks if it's from Neela, and Neela says she found it in the lounge with Abby's name on it. Abby opens it. Pratt tries to call Chen, but she's not answering. Abby got a book called Rats, Lice, and History. Neela says that someone must really like her. Neela says that she got a Pez dispenser. Pratt hangs up the phone and takes off.
Abby asks Margaret the Temp Scrooge what she's doing. Margaret is removing angels, because it's a publicly funded hospital, so they shouldn't have religious artifacts. She has a point. Abby says that it's Christmas and wrestles the angel out of Margaret's hand. Instead of playing this for a joke, it would have been cool to have a non-Christian pointing out how overbearing the Christmas thing can be.
Carter is performing pericardiocentesis on Harry. Susan walks in and says that Chen just quit. Carter asks, "She quit?" but continues the procedure. Susan explains to Mom that Harry has blood around his heart, and that Carter will relieve it. Carter isn't getting any fluid out. Susan realizes that Carter is kind of busy, and tells Chuny to close to trauma and refuse to board any more homeless. Shane complains about the homeless people's stench. Hey, at least they have an excuse for looking unkempt, Goatee Boy. Susan tells Shane to use oil of wintergreen and a mask as the camera focuses on Harry's mom, who must be homeless too, or why would they be showing her face? Carter asks Susan if she's staying, and she doesn't answer. Carter says that there is definitely blood around the heart, but that he can't get it out. Shane says that if he leaves now, he can still catch his plane. Carter says he can forget it. Shane says that he promised his mother, and Susan is like, "Your mother?" Surprised that Shane has one, or surprised that she would want to spend time with him? Carter says that someone has to stay. Shane agrees, and moves to the phone to page Surgery. Abby barges in to ask Carter if he has a minute. Carter snaps off his gloves and tells Harry's mom that Harry is stable, and that Shane will be staying with them. Shane smirks, "Apparently," and then blinks fifteen times. Shut up, Shane West.
Carter checks chest X-rays on Sanders as Abby explains that his pulmonary edema is worse and his blood pressure sucks. Carter agrees, and turns to Susan, asking what they'll do about the Chen situation. Susan says that she'll go home and have dinner, and then come back. Carter tells her to go home, and that he'll call her if it gets busy, but that she should stay home. Susan thanks him profusely as she jogs off. Remember when Carter and Chen were such good friends that he was her labor coach? And now he's totally unconcerned that she quit?
Abby calls Carter over to look at Sanders, and explains that all of his doctors are shifting the blame to each other. They walk in and find Jake working on Sanders, who is having a lot of trouble breathing. Carter is concerned that Abby gave Sanders two vasodilators, which would cause the patient's pressure to "bottom out." Abby says that it's difficult to get Sanders's specialists to agree. Carter says that Abby's the doctor now. They listen to Sanders's chest and hear crackles. Carter asks whether Renal is coming in to draw off the fluid. Abby says no, because Sanders got dialysis yesterday, so they won't do it. Carter asks what Abby thinks is the problem. Abby thinks the guy didn't get the full four hours of dialysis, and then ate a salty dinner, and now his lungs are full of fluid. That happened to my father-in-law, after he ate a Reuben at Friendly's. Those things are like salt bombs. (He's fine now, thanks for asking.) Anyway, Abby is waiting to hear from McPherson, the Renal Attending. Shane announces the Dr. Agbo from Surgery is there. Carter's never heard of the guy. Shane says he's the junior fellow, and has sweaty palms. Carter tells Abby to call "Dr. Renal McWhatsisname" again, and reminds her that no one knows what her patient needs better than she does right now. Abby sees Mrs. Sanders approaching and gives Jake some instructions before heading outside.
Abby walks out, and Mrs. Sanders dumps three boxes of files on the floor, explaining that they are her husband's medical records. Abby starts to apologize for calling Mrs. Sanders a pain in the ass, but Mrs. Sanders says, "Pain in the ass that I am, I walked them down from Records myself. Otherwise, you would have received them tomorrow. Now, will you look at my file?" Abby purses her lips and takes the file. There was some controversy on the forums over whether Abby should have made a better apology, and she probably should have, but I thought her agreement to take the file and her subsequent treatment decisions were all Mrs. Sanders really wanted anyway.
Pratt walks up to Casa Chen and rings the doorbell. Chen answers and asks what he's doing there. Pratt says that he heard a crazy story about her quitting, and asks to come in. Chen says she's fine and tries to blow him off, but her father starts yelling, so she takes off and Pratt lets himself in.
Pratt finds Chen wrestling with her father and asks if he can help. She asks Pratt to get some Ativan, and gestures to the sideboard, where she keeps it. As you do. Pratt asks what happened at work today. Chen says that sometimes her father is lucid, and sometimes he's like this. Pratt calls it "sundowning," which Chen thinks is too nice a word for it. Pratt injects the Ativan into Papa Chen's IV, and he calms down. Pratt comments that Chen has a lot of Ativan and potassium on hand. Chen looks busted. Pratt asks what she's doing, and demands to know what's going on.
Dr. Agbo has arrived to perform surgery on Harry and try to remove the blood from around his heart. Shane assists while Carter looks on. It's not going well. Harry's mom prays over him. Maddie wanders in while no one is looking. Carter is like, "Uh, Dr. Agbo?" The surgeon admits that he might have nicked a vessel. Carter steps in and takes over, and it's nice to see that the writers remember that he has surgical training, and was pretty good at it. Maddie yells out that it's her fault, and her mother grabs her and starts screaming at her. Carter yells at the mom to take her daughter out. Things are still going to hell for Harry, until Carter steps in and does something to save the day. Neela comes in, and Carter tells her to take Maddie to the family room, page Social Services, and stay with Maddie until they arrive. Carter snaps off his gloves and gives Harry's mom a dirty look because she is a child abuser! A homeless child abuser! And she has bad hair! Stone her!
Abby strolls into Trauma Yellow and asks Sanders if he's feeling better. He says he is, but his wife denies it. Jake reports the vitals, which are good. Abby asks whether Sanders has had "lupus cerebritis," and his wife says he did, two years ago. Abby wants to get a head CT to rule out a return of cerebritis as well as trauma from the fall earlier that night. She promises to take Sanders up shortly, and Jake offers to take him up now. Abby raises her eyebrows and asks if he knows where it is. Jake says he does, and asks if Mrs. Sanders can join them. Abby says yes, and tells Jake to call her if he has any questions. He agrees.
Neela hangs out with Homeless Maddie in the family room. Neela falls back on the question that all adults must ask little kids on Christmas Eve: "Are you excited about Santa coming tonight?" Maddie says that Santa's not coming for her. Shane walks in. Neela says she thought he had a plane to catch. Shane ignores her and talks to Maddie instead. Shane says that, as a kid, he used to play with his brother all of the time, and that kids get hurt sometimes, but that it's no one's fault. Maddie says she threw Harry's book out of the car, and when he went to get it, he was hit. Shane assures her that it wasn't her fault. Maddie (who looks more and more like Punky Brewster, what with the long bangs in the eyes and all) says that she couldn't help Harry, and that she had to go get her mom. Neela is surprised to hear that their mom wasn't there when the accident happened. Maddie says that her mom was at work. Shane asks if they were alone in the car. Maddie replies, "We live in the car." Shocker! Maddie begs them not to tell her mom that she told them.
Chen argues with Pratt over euthanizing her father. She thinks that because her father is a doctor, he knows what he's asking. I'm amazed at how nicely decorated the house is for Christmas. Maybe they have servants or maids or something that do it, because I think Chen's probably been a little too tired to deck the halls. There's also a roaring fire going, like, when did she have time to do that? Maybe she used Duraflame. Pratt doesn't think Papa Chen is in his right mind. Chen starts crying and says that her father is lucid when he first wakes up, and that he always begs her to help him die. She adds that if she removed life support, it would take him days to die a slow, agonizing death. Pratt tries again to convince Chen to put her father in a nursing home. Chen doesn't want her father cared for by someone who doesn't know or love him, even though she does that in the ER every day. Pratt points out that Papa Chen won't even know that he's there. Chen sighs and says that Pratt isn't Chinese. Pratt asks, "So it's Chinese to euthanize your elders?" Zing! Chen says it's Chinese to respect your elders. Pratt just chews on his lip for a while in response.
Some time later, Chen stares at the roaring fire, and Pratt brings her a mug of tea. Chen tells him that he should go, and that she doesn't want him here, but there's no conviction behind it. Pratt says that Chen's been through a lot this year, and that she should "put [Papa Chen] in a home for a month, so [she] can catch her breath." Chen can't. Pratt talks about how hard they work to save lives every day, and that she can't just reverse that now. Chen talks about quality of life, and how her father is "lying in his own feces." She thinks her father knows what he's asking for, and that she can do it. Pratt asks why she hasn't done it yet, if she's so sure. Chen looks away. Pratt thinks she knows that it would haunt her for the rest of her life. Chen looks sad and says she doesn't have the courage.
Margaret the Temp Scrooge looks at her watch and says that Christmas Eve is over. Neela can't believe it's only midnight. Margaret turns off the holiday lights, and Abby yells at her. Malarkey runs through, chasing his dumb girlfriend. Abby examines a young boy who is having trouble breathing. Margaret walks up and tells Abby that Sanders is coding in the scanner. Abby takes off and gives Neela instructions on treating the little boy. Shane West walks into Admit, ready to leave this time. Neela thinks what he told Maddie was cool. Shane says he doesn't even have a brother. Neela -- who has super-fancy hair and is wearing way more makeup than usual -- rolls her eyes. She might want to think about putting that hair up. Shane says he has Carter's permission to leave, and asks to sign Harry out to her. Neela thought Shane already missed his flight, but Shane says he'll go standby, because he doesn't want to disappoint his mom on Christmas. Neela looks at him like, "I don't believe a word you say."
Abby arrives in the CT room, where Jake is performing CPR on Sanders. She asks what happened, and Jake reports that Sanders's central line was stuck on something and pulled out. Mrs. Sanders is worried that the bleeding won't stop, and Abby says it's a side effect of the lupus. Abby gets everyone to help. Mrs. Sanders prays, "Oh, God. Please don't let it be tonight. I'm not ready for him to die." Jake softly apologizes to Abby for screwing up. Abby intubates, and Sanders starts improving. Mrs. Sanders asks if he's stable, and Abby says that he needs fluid and blood, but that they're moving him to the trauma room. Mrs. Sanders wants an Attending to put in the new central line. Abby protests that she can do it, but Mrs. Sanders insists on a surgical Attending.
Carter wheels Harry into a curtain area and tells his mother that Harry is improving, and that he'll stay there until an ICU bed opens up. Neela asks Harry's mom if she was at work when this happened. She confesses that they've been living in their car since she left her husband three weeks ago, and that it kind of worked when the kids were in school, but now they're out for the holidays. Carter asks, "You left them in the car?" Carter, catch up, man! Harry's mom says she has to work, and Harry wakes up and says it's okay. Neela hesitantly asks whether Harry's dad could help. Harry's mom says that he's violent, and that she didn't mind, but he was starting to hurt the kids too. Carter says they're concerned about her stress levels. Wendall walks in with Maddie. Harry's mom says that she tried to hide her situation so that she wouldn't lose her kids. She insists that they're not homeless, because she has a job. So technically, they are homeless, but she's not unemployed. Wendall offers some support, but Harry's mom doesn't want to go to a shelter because it's not safe. Wendall says it's a house for families fleeing domestic violence, and that it is safe. Harry's mom looks like she didn't let herself believe it for a second, and then breaks and thanks Wendall. She also apologizes to Maddie for yelling. Maddie gives her mom a hug and they both cry.
Carter escorts Wendall outside and asks what she thinks. She thinks the hit-and-run driver is the bad guy here, not Harry's mom. Malarkey and his stupid girlfriend walk through with Styrofoam containers of food from the cafeteria. Seriously, has Malarkey seen any patients tonight? Carter grabs a container and demonstrates how you can hold it upside down and the food doesn't move. Carter and Wendall walk off, and he asks her if she wants to grab a bite. She says she just lost her appetite. Margaret the Temp Clerk tells Carter he has a phone call: "From Africa. Kem somebody?" Carter grabs it, and Wendall walks off, way too nonchalant. Carter says hello and seems really excited and happy to hear from Kem, even as he checks out Wendall's carb-free ass as she walks away.
Papa Chen makes some noises and wakes up Pratt, who was dozing in a chair nearby. He walks over and checks the monitors. Papa Chen wakes up and starts freaking out when he sees Pratt looming over him. Chen runs in and tells her father to calm down. Pratt restrains him while Chen grabs some drugs. Papa Chen rocks his adult diaper and screams, and Chen reports that he's yelling at them to let him go. Chen injects the drugs and starts sobbing, rubbing her father's face and saying she's sorry.
Neela overhears Malarkey making dirty talk with his stupid girlfriend. She walks over to investigate and finds Malarkey letting his stupid girlfriend staple shut a head laceration on a passed-out drunk dressed as Santa. Lawsuit! Neela looks disgusted, and Malarkey introduces them. Neela says, "HEPHA? Patient privacy?" Um, malpractice? Malarkey thinks Neela is overreacting. Neela tells him, "This is so wrong." Malarkey says that his girlfriend can just watch. Then there's a loud crash, and someone yells for Security. Neela takes off to investigate, and Malarkey hands the staple gun back to his stupid girlfriend.
Neela finds some guy trying to steal drugs from the lockup. Carter, Malik, and Margaret have already responded. Malik wrestles the guy to the ground. Carter orders Malik to have Security cuff the guy to a bed, and to put him on a monitor until they find out what he took. Margaret thinks they should have let him OD. Thanks, Mrs. Frank. Margaret thinks they should have the guy arrested. Carter dismisses her, and Margaret says, "Crap." What in the hell was that about? To show that Margaret's an asshole? Already done. To remind us that Carter is a recovering drug addict? Done and done.
Abby puts in Sanders's new central line while Jake assists and Dubenko supervises. Jake asks why Dubenko bothered coming in, if Abby is doing the procedure. Dubenko says that it's not Mrs. Sanders's decision, and that he has faith in Abby. Of course he does. Abby says that Sanders is as stable as they can expect until he gets dialysis. Dubenko compliments her technique, and Abby coldly thanks him for coming in, and asks if he can admit Sanders. Dubenko says that, legally and morally, the doctors on call have to come in when she contacts them, but that "they like to take advantage of submissive interns." Abby denies being submissive. Dubenko thinks Abby is like many interns, and many females, in that she equates popularity with success. Shove it, Archie Bunker. And the whole "submissive" thing is creeping me out. Maybe it's just because Leland Orser has played a lot of creepy characters, but the dude just isn't right. I know some people find him sexy, but he makes my skin crawl. And I usually like the quirky, nerdy types. Abby ignores Dubenko, and he offers to finish up so that she can do whatever she needs to do. He stops her and asks if she got the book he left for her. Abby seems surprised that he's her Secret Santa. Dubenko says he's excited to discuss it with her, and starts rattling off the major themes. Abby looks weirded out.
Jake follows Abby out of the room. Abby says, "Submissive," and Jake comments, "Not a word I would use to describe you." Come on. They totally already know each other. Right? No one would say that to someone he or she just met. Especially not someone in a position of power over him or her. Abby says it's time to get unpopular, and picks up the phone. Jake takes responsibility for the central line's having pulled out, and promises that it won't happen again. Abby asks what Jake learned from all this, and he replies, "Always go home when you tell me." Abby smiles and starts talking to the dialysis tech on the phone.
Papa Chen, much calmer now, talks to his daughter softly in Chinese. She smiles and tries to hold back tears. He's clearly saying something very loving and kind. Chen gathers herself, and walks over to the sideboard to start preparing an injection. Pratt asks what her father said. Chen says that her father thanked her and told her she was a good daughter. Pratt says she is. Chen silently prepares the injection. Pratt asks, "Do you want me to do it?" And as much as I've ragged on Pratt for being an ass, I think that was a true gesture of kindness. To kill her father, which kind of takes the romance out of it, but still. Chen looks at him, and then shakes her head. She walks over to her father's bed, takes a deep breath, and injects the concoction into his central line. Her father takes a deep breath in and groans softly. After a few soft breaths, he dies. The monitor flatlines. Chen turns it off, and then whispers softly in Chinese to her father before kissing his forehead. A few tears roll down her face as she holds her father's hand. Pratt watches from the other room as Chen continues crying.
Jake and Abby discuss their remaining patients. The drunk Santa with the head staples asks for a cab voucher. The dialysis guy shows up. Abby thanks him for coming in, and the tech says he gets double overtime on holidays. He comments that he just did dialysis on Sanders yesterday, and Abby says he's fluid-overloaded. The tech asks if McPherson (the Renal Attending) called in orders, and Abby plays with her hair and says she spoke to him on the phone. The tech asks what the orders are, and Abby tries to cover, but the tech says he'll call McPherson for specifics. Abby says that McPherson doesn't want to be disturbed. The tech chuckles and guesses that McPherson wouldn't come in, and calls him a prick. Abby admits that the tech is right, but the tech says that he needs orders. Abby suggests that he start dialysis and then call McPherson, and the tech agrees. Abby thanks him. Mrs. Sanders walks out of the room and asks if McPherson ordered dialysis. Abby says, "No, I did." Mrs. Sanders starts to say that Abby can't do that, and Abby nods like, "Yeah, but I did." Mrs. Sanders thanks Abby, who says, "Merry Christmas."
Carter prepares to stitch up a guy who cut his arm while assembling a sled for his kids. Carter promises that it won't take long. Wendall pops her head in and asks if Carter has a minute. Carter tells the nurse to irrigate and prep and he'll be right back. In the hall, Wendall hands Carter a present. Carter lies that he has something for Wendall at home, but she sees right through it. Carter looks at the tag on his gift, which says "Mildred." Wendall rips it off and admits that she bought it for someone who didn't show up. Carter unwraps the gift as Wendall asks about his phone call. Carter blows it off and pulls out his present: a head lamp like they use on The Amazing Race. Cool! He puts it on, and Wendall says he looks like an old-fashioned doctor. Or miner. Carter says he is an old-fashioned doctor, and gives Wendall a kiss. She immediately runs away. Not a good sign.
Malarkey and his stupid girlfriend show up at Admit with sliders. Everyone is psyched. Malarkey's stupid girlfriend totally flirts with Jake. Abby checks the chest X-rays on the little boy she examined earlier. Neela wants to treat him as an in-patient because he's homeless. They walk up to the boy and his dad, and the dad doesn't speak much English. The boy asks if they have a chimney, because he wants to be sure Santa will find him. Abby says you don't need a chimney, because Santa sees all, and Neela makes the boy promise to go to sleep so that Santa can drop off the bounty. As they walk off, Abby asks if the dad has a present for his son. Neela says she doubts he has enough money for breakfast. They brainstorm what to do, and Neela thinks they should go to Jumbo Mart, but Abby points out that neither of them has cash.
Chen sits over her father's body. Pratt points out that it's been over an hour. Chen stands as Pratt asks if she's okay. She says she'll call the mortuary in the morning. Pratt asks what she'll do . Chen says she'll go to China to bury her father to her mother, deal with the estate, and maybe visit the village where her parents were born and meet some relatives. She adds that she's pretty tired. Pratt says he'll do anything if he can. Chen starts to thank him, and breaks down. Pratt pulls her into his chest and consoles her as she sobs.
Neela and Abby sneak onto another floor. Abby points out that Sikhs don't celebrate Christmas, and Neela says she grew up in England, with a tradition of anonymous kindness. Neela produces a key she says that she got from Wendall, and unlocks a door to the Child Life department. Neela tells Abby that they'll give the toys in there to the homeless people in ER, and buy new stuff the day in the after-Christmas sales. They both grab garbage bags and start filling them with toys.
If you're old, and black, and a woman, sometimes you just got to sing. It doesn't matter if you're in the middle of an emergency room. And if you got to sing, it's going to be about Jesus. It's a law of television. I think I'm going to hire an old black woman to follow me around and sing about Jesus. Anyway, an old black woman starts singing "O Holy Night" to begin the montage. Margaret walks up and starts to say something, and then thinks better of it. Abby deposits a truck on the little homeless boy's bed. Neela gives gifts to Harry and Maddie as they sleep. Carter and Wendall place blankets on the homeless people sleeping in the lobby. Chen and Pratt cuddle on the couch as Chen stares at some candles.
Shane West returns to the ER. Abby says she thought he'd be in Miami by now, but Shane says that the airport was crazy, and that there are no seats until tomorrow. Neela says that she thought Shane's mother lived in Philadelphia. Shane dodges the statement by announcing that it's snowing, and heading outside. Neela asks if Abby knew Shane was going to Miami, and Abby says he has a girlfriend there. Neela is disgusted that she traded shifts because of his sob story.
Outside, the ER staffers enjoy the falling snow. Neela tries to catch snowflakes on her tongue. An angry man stomps up and asks for Abby. It's Dr. McPherson, pissed that she started dialysis without his approval. He wants to speak to her Attending. Abby glances at Carter, standing nearby, and he shakes his head. Abby tells McPherson that his patient was drowning, and McPherson was on call, so she covered for him. McPherson is pissed that she lied. Abby says, "If you report me for working the system, I'll report you for abandoning your patient." They walk inside. Shane cheers Abby on. Wendall and Carter walk off as well. Neela scoops up a snowball and hits Shane in the back as payback for lying. She needs to make a lot more snowballs, then.
Chen calls the mortuary and says that she woke up and found her father dead. Pratt covers Papa Chen with a blanket. Chen says that her father has been ill, and then says that his physician is there and can sign the death certificate. She looks at Pratt, and he nods. Chen gives the address and looks out the window at the snow falling. Goodbye, Ming-Na. I'm not sure why you came back to this show, but I always enjoyed your work, even when the writers gave you crap-ass storylines, which was most of the time.