17 Seconds

Well. To echo the constant refrain of the episode thread: HOLY SHIT. So Burke gets a call that there's a heart available for Denny across town at Mercy West. Cristina begs to go along with him for the ride, but he's still mad at her for falling asleep during sex and takes Alex out of spite. When they arrive, they're informed that there are two hearts available -- the dead guys are a pair of brothers who crossed the center line and ran headlong into a semi -- and the doctor getting the second heart is Burke's old med school rival. Alas! Burke's guy is already dead, so he runs into the other OR to try and steal the one good heart for Denny. Turns out the intended recipient of the good heart made the transplant list just seventeen seconds before Denny did, so other guy is technically the winner -- unless Denny's condition deteriorates dramatically within the next hour or so, that is.

And what do you imagine happens when Izzie finds out about this? Why, she comes up with a diabolically CRAZY plan to stop Denny's heart by cutting his LVAD line. It'll be okay, she says, because Burke is on his way back to the hospital any second to revive him! That way Denny can live, get the heart, and everyone will live happily ever after. And since it can never be said enough, Izzie Stevens COMPLETELY drops her basket, going so far as to drag George and Alex along for her insane little ride.

Meanwhile, a bunch of gunshot wounds arrive at the hospital, the result of a disgruntled ex-waiter attempting to shoot his overbearing manager (who didn't even get shot, just lacerated!). One of the more heartbreaking victims is a young pregnant girl who was shot in the head. She ends up brain dead, leaving her parents to decide whether to keep her alive long enough to deliver her baby.

In character relationship news, Mere, McDreamy, and Addison get the news from McVet that Doc has osteosarcoma. McDreamy is still stupidly upset with Mere for dating Finn, and he shows his ass in front of all of them. Poor Addison finally realizes what's going on -- after a particularly painful conversation with Meredith, in which she pathetically asks her husband's dirty ex-mistress if they're still sleeping together -- and confronts McDreamy. Unfortunately, she does it in front of the entire hospital. Callie is a total bitch to Meredith in re: Doc's illness, but redeems herself slightly after a little talking-to from George. Callie sadly unredeems herself by telling George she loves him -- and George, bastard that he is, leaves her hanging to go help Izzie with her "plan."

Speaking of which. Just as Izzie is getting ready to cut Denny's LVAD cord (in front of a totally stricken George), the original-target restaurant manager is released from the hospital. What nobody could have imagined is that his shooter is waiting for him outside. Shots are fired. Bailey hears them from inside the hospital and runs outside. The manager is down. And, as much as it pains me to say this, my friends, so is Burke. BURKE! Dr. Burke is on the ground and he has been shot, is what I am saying to you. Izzie doesn't know this, though, and cuts through Denny's LVAD line with a pair of scissors, saying, "It's okay, Dr. Burke will be here in a minute." Holy shit!