Fiscus gives the new residents a tour of the hospital. A nun must decide whether to disconnect life support when her fellow sister, injured in a car accident, is declared brain dead. After stalled negotiations with management, the nurse's union considers striking. Three city firefighters are rushed to the hospital after suffering serious burns. Clancy tells Jack that she is pregnant but has no plans on keeping the baby.

Sister Domenica threatens to take the hospital to court over the right to disconnect Sister Teresa's life support. Caldwell continues to treat the injured fire fighters. Fiscus treats a child whose only relative is a woman claiming to be his fairy godmother. Ehrlich teaches a sex education class to bypass patients. Westphall is forced to reinstate Peter White. Clancy decides to go to an abortion clinic without Morrison's support.

The nurses go on strike. The rapist strikes again at the hospital. The Craigs decide to see a marriage counselor. Westphall prepares as his daughter goes off to college.

The hospital continues to be hurt by the nurse's strike for which a deadline is set. Papandrao is forced to leave the picket line to help Ehrlich during an emergency operation. Martin is raped for the second time. Craig hires Luther and Warren, both unemployed due to the strike, to fix a hole in his wall.

Auschlander feels negligent when a long-term maintenance worker develops asbestosis. White desperately attempts to locate his children. A mental health patient admits to the hospital rapes. One of the firefighters develops complications in his treatment. Ehrlich's bid to meet the new nutritionist turns into a disaster.

Auschlander hires Joan Halloran as his assistant. White has a reunion with his wife and kids. A gun is stolen from the ER. Axelrod thinks there is something wrong with him. Rosenthal begins an extra-marital affair. One of the firefighters being treated is happy with the results of his plastic surgery while another cannot wait to leave the hospital.

White is shot and rushed into emergency surgery. Morrison tries to find a psychological cause for a boy's asthma. Ehrlich incurs the wrath of Craig after agreeing to appear on a television news show. Worn down by stress, Auschlander considers retirement.

Morrison is having nightmares while Westphall is unable to sleep at all. Fiscus treats a patient with a severe sleep disorder while Cavanero diagnoses another one with sleep apnea.

The last of the firemen is discharged and surrounded by family, he drives away on his squad's engine, horns blazing and Caldwell standing on the sidewalk smiling and wearing his firemen's hat. Morrison' neighbor was babysitting Pete when he had to rush his daughter to ER; in the ensuing fight to save her, Morrison gives her father options where he can be more than a spectator. Two very cantankerous brothers check in and cause many more problems than the staff anticipates. Kathy is given a document requiring trust, tact and understanding. Cavanero gets in over her head...

Auschandler considers a risky procedure for Alexis; the rumor Cavanero started comes back to haunt her; Chandler turns in a woman for illegally practicing medicine.

A woman comes home to find her ex-husband growing weaker from the procedure he's going through to help their sick daughter; Martin gives Fiscus a letter that may determine Daniels' fate.

Westphall decides his son's future; Martin leaves the psych ward to help another patient; Ehrlich helps a woman with an active libido; Rosenthal is confronted by the wife of her lover.

Auschlander's friend, a world-renown doctor who migrated to Africa 40 years ago, comes to visit the hospital. Ehrlich is advised to make his TV spots more entertaining. Craig must remove a potentially exploding bullet from a shooting victim. Rosenthal, with her 45th birthday approaching and husband walking out, has a midlife crisis.

Wyler finds himself out of his depth when he observes Tshalla's kidney transplant. A Caribbean medical school with questionable credentials that tries to recruit Luther turns out to have a "graduate" working at St. Eligius.

When Morrison loses all hope, Halloran tries to defend him; a tragedy convinces Wyler to leave Boston; Mrs. Hufnagel proposes marriage.

Caldwell takes on the case of a woman with a disfiguring disease; Craig is visited by his brother at his 30th anniversary celebration; a new doctor takes over the ER.

Dr. Woodley treats a 14-year old pregnant girl whose boyfriend is a drug dealer. Ehrlich decides to make changes to his televised health segments. Westphall's daughter returns from college homesick.

Dean heads to Florida when Maddy goes into labor; a phone repairman gets shocked in the hospital; Auschlander cancels his own tribute.

With the First Lady coming to Boston, St Eligius is chosen by the Secret Service to care for her, if needed. As the staff prepare and enter alert mode, Ehrlich reports a case of potential child abuse and Shirley Daniels returns.

Westphall puts his house up for sale; a woman operated on for disfigurement has her bandages removed; Daniels returns to the scene of the crime; Mrs. Hufnagel gets plastic surgery.

Elliot goes on a date; Caldwell tries to persuade his patient to leave her room; Mrs. Hufnagel leaves the hospital; Daniels is declared fit for work.

Chandler must try convince a clown with MS to quit the circus; Axelrod meets with a lawyer about Mrs. Hufnagel's estate; Morrison hits a low point in both his professional and personal life; Caldwell's facial surgery patient expresses her feelings for him.

Luther is rushed into surgery after losing his hearing in a boiler room explosion; Auschlander gets some very sad news while reading the paper; Axelrod puts Mrs. Hufnagel to rest; Craig gets some surprising news about his son.

Westphall, Craig and Auschlander go to the bar "where everybody knows your name," manned by a skeleton staff (Carla plus patrons Norm and Cliff). During the meeting at Cheers, Westphall announces he is quitting medicine. Craig later meets an old mentor who is suffering from advanced dementia and doesn't recognize him.