Downstairs, Lucy apologizes to BHG for not coming through. BHG tells her not to worry: "I plan on beating this thing, with or without some -- stupid device." Lucy tells her to get some rest to keep her strength up. She makes to leave, and BHG wishes her a merry Christmas. Lucy wishes her a merry Christmas back. A piano plays portentous chords.

I've seen that SonicCare ad about a hundred times, and every time the Tooth Fairy says that coffee makes him irritable, I giggle. Tee hee!

Carol bonds with Haleh over the annoyance of breast-feeding. Yeah, boo hoo. I mean, not to dis nursing mothers or anything, but you just know she gets a kick out of acting all put-upon. Luka walks in and apologizes for not knocking, but Carol says that "the kitchen is now closed." Haleh hands off the twin she's holding to Luka, who sits down and tells Carol that Kate's white count is normal: "Probably just a virus -- not too surprising, this time of year." Carol expresses relief and apologizes, and Luka asks what for: "For being a good parent?" Carol says, "I was going to say 'difficult.'" Gee, so was I. Carol then slumps in her chair and says she can't believe it's two in the morning, and then she says to her twin, "That's right, it's Christmas." Speaking of Christmas, I'd like to thank the writers for tying a red bow around the skillet this week. Nice touch.

Lizzie comes into the scrub room and greets Donald "Angels From The Realms Of Getting Written Rather Unceremoniously Off The Show" Anspaugh with surprise. He grumbles that a gastroenteritis turned into something more serious, then asks Peter if he's filled Lizzie in on his dilemma. Peter says that Elderly won't consent to surgery because he saw his dead wife waiting for him "on the other side." Lizzie says it sounds like the dilemma she has with her patient, except that her patient is "the devil incarnate." Peter laughs, "Dean Rollins?" and Lizzie makes "good riddance" noises. Anspaugh lectures her not to appoint herself judge and jury, and Lizzie tells him he has "no idea how despicable this man is," and Anspaugh says he's sure he doesn't, "but being a doctor isn't about your personal feelings." Anspaugh changes the subject back to Elderly, and Peter says he tried to convince Elderly but he wouldn't listen, and Anspaugh asks if Peter listened, and then he delivers a flat-footed, ham-handed homily on relating to the patient, who is probably frightened and confused, and addressing his concerns in an understanding way. "But ultimately it's the patient's choice," Lizzie chimes in, and Anspaugh answers, "Of course. But we must offer to do everything we can to keep them alive." He heads into the OR. Peter and Lizzie watch him go and think over what he's just said. Dear writers: Thanks for hoisting us onto the turnip truck we obviously just fell off of, because now, at last, we get it. Signed, everyone on the planet over the age of three, the shepherds, two of the three kings, Donkey #3, and a few select members of the heavenly host.