...and Chen wakes up. If I hadn't seen the previews, I would never have guessed this development, and even still it took me by surprise for a moment, so that was a very nice touch. Chen takes a moment to process...

...and then he's showing up at Nate's place. Nate asks if he can help him, but Chen responds, "Actually, I'm here to help you...help Eli." Nate's like, "He's not only a nut, he's stuck on Jerry Maguire references. Faaaabulous."

Chen, apparently not for the first time, is explaining that the dream he had about Eli makes him think part of him is still alive and trying to get a message out. Nate laughs incredulously, but Chen points out that it makes sense for the vision to have come to him, given his belief in divine occurrences -- if it happened to Nate, he'd think it was just a dream. Nate: "It happened to you and I still think it. No offense." It'd be nice if people sometimes used that expression when they actually didn't intend any offense. Like, "Nate, you're adorable and you need to be in every single episode! No offense!" Speaking of missing people, by the way, I realize she hasn't been on the show much but if she's still dating Nate, I don't know why Beth isn't around at all. Anyway, Chen tells Nate that Eli doesn't know the surgery happened yet, but he's close. Nate sighs that two weeks ago, he would have called Chen a quack and sent him away, but he can't do that now. Chen surmises that it's because Eli told him things that he couldn't have known were it not for his visions, and Nate bitterly adds that after that, Eli put him in charge of his DNR. "Even comatose, he's a tool." It's not quite as endearing if Eli isn't around to hear it -- he does love the abuse, as we've learned in this episode. Chen regards Nate intently, and Nate goes on that today, he's supposed to end Eli's life. Chen: "And I think I'm supposed to convince you otherwise."

Matt Letscher does a great job here as he tells Chen he wants to believe him, and to believe that if he waits long enough, Eli will wake up, but he can't, because medical science says that won't happen, and besides, Eli was very clear about what he wanted. "If I start to substitute my needs for his, then I'm...it's like I'm betraying him." Clear explanation of a sentiment that's difficult to verbalize; I have to give it up for the writing in this scene. Nate looks down hopelessly, but Chen, probably having anticipated the need for some proof here, holds out the picture of him and Mr. Stone that he showed Eli several episodes ago. This is almost too much for Nate as he holds the answer to his prayers in his hand, and it's almost too much for me as I try to blame the tears in my eyes on the onions my roommate is currently chopping in the kitchen. As Nate struggles to collect himself, Chen tells him that years ago, Mr. Stone foresaw that he'd help Eli, and he now thinks that this is his chance to do so. He begs Nate to give him more time, and Nate grants forty-eight hours. Chen says that Eli will wake up before then, and Nate smiles through his tears: "I'll do my best to believe in that too."