Back in Trauma Yellow, Pratt's trying desperately to convince himself and others that everything's going to be okay. "Sats are up," he says. "Still no motor tone in the legs," Carter counters. Pratt points out that intubation meds can do that to a person, to which Carter replies that sux only paralyzes for ten minutes. Gutted, Pratt attempts to claim that he just broke off a bone bridge and nothing more: "Even if his neck's broken, it doesn't mean he's paralyzed." Carter figures Pratt ought to take Martin up to MRI so that they can get a definite answer on that. Pratt turns around and exits with a heavy sigh, stopping at the water fountain to gaze at his navel and wonder why these things don't happen to Malarkey. I feel for him, because Martin was dying and no Attendings could be found, but Pratt knew from the get-go that Martin had a bone condition that made intubation risky, and I wonder if he was as careful as he could've been. Basically, I think Pratt's an arrogant assbag a lot of the time, and I think that showed through in his attempts to downplay what happened, contrasted with Carter's quiet acceptance of the reality of the situation: as the Attending, in the long run Carter's probably almost as accountable for the outcome as Pratt is, yet still he didn't backpedal as Pratt did. But I also feel bad for Pratt, because he was trying to do what he thought was right, and well, that shit just sucks.

As Pratt suffers silently, Mrs. Webster creeps up behind him and coos, "It's okay, baby." Tiredly, Pratt repeats that she has to get back to bed before she has an accident. "I know you're busy. But Mama still loves you," Mrs. Webster murmurs. Pratt watches sadly as a nurse takes her away.

Sam returns to the hospital, a pouting Alex in tow. "Hi Chuny," he says gloomily. Frank gleefully tells Sam that the nursing director called, and will put her on probation if she takes another emergency break. "Perfect," she curses. Luka overhears, as is his wont, and asks if everything's okay with Alex. He ought to know by now that the answer to that question is always "No." Sam lies that it's fine, and that he just didn't have school today, and hightails it over to Carter. "I know we just met, but I wondered if you could do me a favor," she begs.

A woman with AIDS-related lymphoma is wheeled into Trauma Green. Gallant is with her, having returned to County because Malarkey went home sick. Why did they write out Coop? I don't get it. Luka joins him in treating the woman, whose name is Ruthie; Pratt ends up on the case, too. "Sorry about this morning," he says to Gallant during a quiet moment. "Yeah? You didn't look too sorry," crabs Gallant. Of course he didn't. It's called "afterglow." In the meantime, Luka is quietly attending to his patient, drawing out that she doesn't have a doctor, and revealing that her problem today is heart-related. He promises to take care of her. This means she's going to die. Everything on this show, so I've learned, more or less foreshadows some form of doom.