The whole family's at the hospital with Tripp, and the doctor tells them Tripp shouldn't have any lasting damage to his heart. Because he doesn't have one, obviously. They watch on a TV in the hospital lobby as Patrick's declared the election winner, and the new Sen. Darling. The whole family's proud of him. Even Brian manages a "Will wonders never cease?" But why is he here when his child is missing?! Speaking of, though, Jeremy walks in with Brian Jr., whom he found at election headquarters. Andrea's so happy to see him, she runs over and give him a hug, but Brian's not letting him off that easy, asking him where he's been. Brian Jr. says he didn't want to see them fight anymore. Smart kid. He says he took the subway to Coney Island, but got lost coming back when it was getting dark. Brian says the important thing is that he's safe, and he better not do that ever again. They hug. Awwww.

Patrick goes in to see Tripp, and Nick congratulates him on his win. Patrick looks at Tripp, unconscious in the hospital bed, and compares him to Freddy Krueger waiting for a chance to kill again, which makes me love Patrick even more. He's so a teenage boy in every way, down to his "film" references. He tells Nick he's not angry, because he now understands how Tripp lives, works and operates -- that victories have costs. Patrick thinks he should taken more Tripp and less Patrick to D.C., but even that won't make Tripp happy. I'm not sure what to make of this; does this mean Carmelita's gone for good, and Patrick's resigned himself to that? That's how I took it, but I love Patrick mostly for his deep affection for Carmelita, and I don't want to lose that. So I hope they wouldn't bring her back for two brief episodes and take her away again.

Brian picks up a sleeping Brian Jr. and Andrea starts to talk; but Brian interrupts to say he knows it's her night, and he knows how eager she is to have another chance to lose him. She tells him she'd rather they both take Brian Jr. home and figure out how to work this out together. You know, like parents who are putting their child before their own selfishness. They leave. Nick walks up to Jeremy pouring coffee. He apologizes for being rough on Jeremy earlier, and then tells Jeremy his phone's dead. Jeremy, being an idiotic Darling child, gives Nick his phone and tells him to keep it because he has extras. But with the same phone number? How does that work? Karen's in Tripp's room talking to him about the Simon problem. She doesn't know what to do. Letitia walks in and tells her she will have to learn to make decisions without Tripp's help. But God forbid you ask your mom, who might actually care about someone other than herself. Karen knows, and she gets up and leaves. Nick comes in and tells Letitia to go home, since her house arrest waiver ends in ten minutes. She turns on her way out and points out that Nick's the last one by Tripp's side, out of everyone. I'm not sure how to react to that, and I don't think Nick is either.