Saving Hope

The meningioma is resting between the occipital lobe

and the cerebellum.

It gives us reasonably fair access for removal.

What do you mean, "reasonably fair"?

Hey, is that a drinking bird?

Wow!

I haven't seen one of these since I was a kid.

It's actually methylene chloride that makes this thing work.

Okay, look, I've done some of my own research on this,

and the growth rate of this type of tumor

is 5% a year.

It's 5.8, but please continue.

Well, either way, that means in three years' time,

it could kill him.

Well, don't beat around the bush, doc.

Tell me how you really feel.

Take it out now. That's how I really feel.

Noted.

Well, removal is best.

But the tumor is benign, so we have time.

You know, I really, really wanted one of these

- when I was a kid. - Charlie.

- Will this affect his work? - Not necessarily.

As long as he's not feeling any effects from it...

- blurred vision, hallucinations. - No. 100%.

Relatively speaking.

Why do I get the distinct feeling you're upset?

I don't know. Maybe because I am.

Alex, you heard Shahir. There's no rush.

The thing is benign.

- That's not why I'm upset. - Okay.

You saw what happened to Kristine.

Alex, Kristine's in a coma

because she wrapped her car around a tree.

You know that's not what I mean.

We could finally have a diagnosis for your thing.

I just... I can't believe you're not jumping

at the opportunity to get rid of it.

Bec... that's because I don't believe

one has to do with the other.

You're afraid of losing your... ability, aren't you?

Alex.

Can we maybe talk about this somewhere else?

Sure, fine. I've got to get started anyway.

- Honey. - Yes?

I love you.

Me, too.

Gotta go.

Precious cargo. Coming through.

Hey, ladies.

This place is bigger than it looks.

Jackson, page psych.

No. He's supposed to look like that.

Davey Law.

Jammed his neck at a fan convention.

I'll be fine.

Okay, that hurts.

He could barely walk when we got to him.

Dr. Miller, do you know who this is?

I don't know. Dressed like a weirdo.

Possible spray tan. I'm gonna go with I don't care.

Davey Law. "Warrior squad."

You know... "Release the warrior within."

Who are you, Jackson?

Look, I know the whole series by heart. Even the TV movie.

Which wasn't that good. The script sucked.

Whatever.

Mr. Law. Davey. Davey Law, sir.

Need a cold shower, Jackson?

Ignore him.

It's always a pleasure to meet a fellow warrior.

- Warrior, huh? - Ah!

Okay, well, we're gonna need ortho.

- Let's page Charlie. - I'm on it.

Davey Law's in the house.

That's what I'm talking about.

Can someone get Jackson a girlfriend?

What have we got?

Mordecai Popler, 13.

He was admitted earlier this morning.

No one can figure it out. Severe abdominal distress,

kid's in and out of consciousness.

We've already got him on tons of fluids.

Okay. Thank you.

Are you Dr. Reid?

- Please, call me Alex. - Sarah.

- This is Mordecai. - Hi.

Did you know that wearing your hair up inhibits growth?

I'm sorry?

The follicles need oxygen.

- Oh. - Ignore him.

That's all right. I grew up with brothers.

Says that you, uh, live on the west side.

That's a long way to come to Hope Zion.

The doctors at the Gen are all quacks.

- Mm. - My mother hates them.

Ow.

Look, I know you've already been through all of this,

but I need to do a work-up for my records, all right?

Does it hurt when I press here?

No, but I... feel weird.

Mordecai? Mordecai?

Mordecai, I got you. Okay, I'm gonna roll you over.

- What's happening to him? - He's seizing.

You need to back away.

I need lorazepam over here.

I might have something in here that can help him.

Okay, you're gonna be all right.

I'm right here with you, all right?

Will any of these help him?!

Okay.

He's gonna be okay. Isn't he?

We controlled his seizure with medication,

and he's on a saline drip to balance his fluids.

Will that fix the problem?

Temporarily, but we do still need to run more tests.

Right now we're only treating the symptoms, not the cause.

- What is the cause? - Well...

Mom?

Can I have some water?

There's my guy.

Oh, I'm so glad you're awake. Can he have a drink?

- Sure. I'll page a nurse. - Don't bother.

He likes his own water bottle.

Hypoallergenic, mold resistance.

- Oh. - He doesn't drink tap.

Trace amounts of asbestos is found in tap water.

He's careful about everything.

I can see that.

You would be, too, if you were sick all the time.

I'll need a detailed list

of everything Mordecai's been taking

in case something's contraindicated.

Let's see. There's ciclesonide, pirbuterol for his asthmas,

duloxetine for his anxiety,

ramelteon for his insomnia, what else?

Methylphenidate. Helps me focus.

That is a lot for a young man to be on.

How long has he been sick?

On and off his whole life.

I guess he got worse when his dad left.

I've taken him to every specialist in the city, but...

Do you have kids?

I do.

It hurts to watch them suffer

when nobody can tell you why.

Well, take it from me, Sarah,

an answer always reveals itself.

And I won't stop until this one does.

It's him! It's him! It's really him.

Can you feel me touching you here?

Mm, yeah. You got magic fingers, doc.

Can you spread your fingers wide for me, please?

Dr. Harris is just checking for any nerve damage.

So what exactly were you doing when you hurt your neck?

I was at a fan convention.

Come on, man, don't tell me you don't recognize me.

No. Sorry.

Release the warrior within.

Release the warrior!

"Warrior squad," huh?

Bingo, bango. Whatever junior makes, double it.

Do you mind if I...

- I... - "Warrior squad"?

Uh, yeah, it was a TV show.

My roommate watched it all the time.

It was really bad.

Ass.

Uh, it is super awesome.

You're a terrible liar, kid.

But I own three houses, and one of them is really nice,

so boom.

Okay, so you're on a TV show?

I was for 11 years.

Captain Jim Gibbons,

space barbarian, at your service.

Oh.

I was doing a stunt at the convention.

I hoisted a clinger over my shoulder and...

Clinger?

Uh, half-snake, half-man.

Right. Of course. So where is the pain exactly?

It's right here.

In the T2 region?

If you say so.

Well, your mobility is limited,

but we won't know anything for sure

until we get you up to imaging, so...

Well, wait. How long is that gonna take?

Because I have to do another appearance tomorrow.

Well, I don't know for sure, but I can tell you that

the only appearance you're gonna be making

is that of a patient at Hope Zion.

Oh. Method. I like the way you think.

Another farewell bundle for your last day.

- Wow, what a beauty. - Where should I put it?

How about right there?

Or we could put them here,

where they could catch the light.

Sorry, Dr. Williams,