DanCam. Dan's on the move. Luka leans in to see him off to surgery. Dan expresses his surprise that Luka will not be accompanying him, but Romano explains that Dan's with the surgical team now, and instructs him to bid Luka adieu. (That goes for the rest of us, too, DAMMIT.) Luka smiles and wishes Dan good luck. Dan looks very, very alarmed.

We see the doors swing closed before Luka, and Dan chokes out that he doesn't want surgery. Romano heartily says that it's too late for Dan to make that decision. Dan, flailing, says he wants a second opinion, and Romano tells him that he'd be dead before another doctor could examine him. He then yells to everyone within earshot that he wants "to be cutting in five minutes," and offers Dan a frat-boy thumbs-up by way of reassurance. DanCam follows Romano as he heads into the scrub room to change. Dr. Babcock, the anaesthesiologist (who is played, I believe, by Laura Innes's real-life husband...speaking of whom, did anyone other than me watch the People's Choice awards this week? Did you check her out accepting the award for favourite drama series? Her hair was out of control! She was like Patty Duke in the '50s. The hell?), introduces himself and asks if Dan's allergic to any drugs, or on any meds; someone else shines a bright light directly into the DanCam. Romano comes in and angrily asks why Dan isn't "under" yet; he's accompanied by a gowned and masked Benton, who, despite his attire, Dan recognizes. Blah blah exposition blah perdiemcakes. Benton remembers the circumstances under which Dan came to County. Dan starts hysterically yelping that he has a bad feeling about the surgery, and doesn't think he'll make it. Benton perfunctorily tells him he'll be fine. Dan babbles for Benton to tell CuteDean (remember CuteDean? Me too, VAGUELY) that Dan loves and is very proud of him, and Benton dismissively says that Dan will be able to tell him that himself. DanCam out. (Because he goes under.)