The Other Woman

-31-year-old woman found down at home after likely overdose.

-Minimally responsive at the scene.

-Okay. Let's get her into the trauma bay.

You two, with me! -Is that Dr. Pierce's patient?

Attention. Code Blue, 302.

-On my count. One. Two. Three.

-Getting her on the monitor. She's gonna need more access.

Alison, we are taking care of you. You are safe.

She's tachycardic to the 150s.

Make sure it's sinus. -I'll get a 12 lead.

-Should we try Narcan? -Gave it on the scene. Nothing.

Do you know what she took?

Alison, can you tell us what you took?

-She's not protecting her airway!

She needs to be intubated!

-Triage, dial 209. Triage, dial 209, please.

One patient.

In all my years of practice,

I have had one patient die by suicide,

and now it could be two.

And for it to be Alison?

Alison, who I saw because I wanted to get information

about my husband's infidelity.

I think I might have been envious of her.

For a moment... I think I even hated her.

Did I drive her to this?

Carol, no.

Alison is unwell. She is sick.

No one is at fault here, least of all you.

Wolf, I continued to see her

after I knew about her and Morris.

-You were concerned about her immediate well-being,

which clearly was prescient. -It's still not okay!

It is the biggest ethical lapse I've ever made.

-And it's something you're gonna have to make peace with, Carol,

but right now let's be grateful Alison is still alive.

And let's help her ICU team in any way we can

to keep it that way.

Wolf...

I need her to be okay.

**

I need to have a chance to fix this.

**

**

-My admit and consult lists keep getting longer and longer.

-Me too, man, and it seems like everyone in this hospital

has a confused patient and just needs Neuro to weigh in.

-Wolf never wants us to stop following any of our consults.

-My friend in medicine spent an entire pre-call day last week

with no patients to treat.

Could you imagine getting one glorious day,

even an hour, with literally nothing to do?

She won the game.

-I think I could "win the game" this week. You?

-You know it's not an actual game, right?

Just a phrase doctors use.

-Sounds like an excuse. What's wrong?

You -- You getting enough sleep?

Or are you scared that if you go up against me directly,

you'll lose?

**

You know what?

I think I could discharge my list...

..."win the game."

Alright. So we're on.

May the best man win.

May the best man win.

**

The next time you get fired,

c-could you get a gig in Manhattan?

This commute is the worst.

-Okay, Ezra. I'll keep that in mind.

Uh, the last time I saw you,

you were seeing a behavioral psychologist

to help you manage your Tourette's.

How's that been going?

-I haven't been back in six months.

I-I learned some good skills, but they only help so much.

My girlfriend agreed.

-Girlfriend? That's fantastic.

Where did you two meet?

-LSAT prep. Who would have thought a passion

for international tax law was the key to landing a woman?

I-I've been eating okay, exercising.

Uh, I take my meds, but none of them help.

Um, that urge, it's like an itch I have to scratch.

The more I hold it in, the worse it gets.

-Well, then don't hold it in. It's part of who you are.

- On that note...

I wanted to ask you about something.

I've been reading about this surgery

that could help with my tics -- Deep Brain Stimulation.

-Yeah, originally for Parkinson's.

Some centers are placing it for Tourette's, but --

I-I'd like to try it.

That's why I'm here.

I need a referral to a neurosurgeon.

Um...

I have to say I'm a bit surprised, Ezra.

It's brain surgery. There are significant risks and --

But you're doing so well.

-You're right. I get by just fine.

But what if I didn't have to be just...fine?

**

-Her labs are good. Tox was negative.

Chest X-ray is clear.

She's doing well on minimal vent settings.

It looks like she can be extubated soon.

-Have you been in touch with any family?

It would be better for her to wake up with someone here.

-We've been calling. No one's replied.

Hey.

Been here since last night? -Mm.

I can't bring myself to leave.

How is she?

-She's still on the vent, but she's gonna make it.

-Well, maybe I'll just poke my head in.

-I don't think that's a good idea, Carol.

You were right. Continuing to see her was a mistake.

Don't compound it with another.

You could risk your career.

-I just can't stop thinking about how she must have felt.

Scared.

Hopeless.

Alone.

God knows I'vebeen there.

We both have.

And we both know it wasn't our fault.

We just needed someone to lean on.

If I was your doctor,

I'd tell you to go home, rest, even if briefly.

I won't leave this hospital till you come back.

**

Okay.

I appreciate it.

**

Dr. Kinney.

-It's Alison. She just got extubated.

She's awake.

-Okay. Uh, now, we'd like to test

your lower-extremity motor strength.

Can you raise your right leg?

Ugh! I told you. I am fine!

Except for my throat.

What did you guys do to me?

You may not remember this,

but you were unconscious when you came in.

You had to be intubated. Your throat's gonna be sore.

But you're lucky.

Lucky? Okay.

I-I just need to talk to Dr. Pierce.

She's not available right now,

but our on-call psychiatrist will be happy to see you.

That won't be necessary.

I'll just come back when she's next available.

Until then, thanks for the intubation.

-Uh, Alison, we can't let you leave.

-You're on a psychiatric hold here

until we learn more about what happened.

-The good news is that your neuro exam showed no deficits,

so as soon as your medical issue's resolved,

we can transfer you to a psych bed.

-Until then, we'll have a sitter in the room

to make sure you're safe.

-Alison, do you have any questions for us?

Is there anything that we need to know to be able to help you?

Doctors, why don't you continue your rounds?

Uh, I'll meet you.

-You work with Dr. Pierce, don't you?

I do.

-She can tell you everything you need to know about me.

I'm...the villain.

I'm the "other woman."

-After years of management, Ezra wants to undergo

deep brain stimulation for his Tourette's.

-That's amazing! To treat one of those diseases

on the borderline between neurology and psychiatry

with brain surgery.

You don't seem enthused. -I'm not.

It's easy to think of Tourette's as devastating

because it's so visible, but there are surgeons

and musicians with Tourette's who say their condition

gives them the concentration,

the creativity, the resilience to succeed.

Often it's the invisible disorders, like Alison's,

that are far more debilitating and less easily understood.

Speaking of, Dr. Dang and Dr. Kinney,

I know the consult list is long,

but I want you to keep an extra eye on her.

-Of course. We're on it. -Dr. Markus,

any updates on Mrs. Holland?

-I don't think her migraines are helping hersucceed,

but, thankfully, they've resolved,

and I think she can be ready to go home.

-Okay. I'll swing by and examine her.

Dr. Nash, anything to report?

-Mr. Chau is doing great. Walking on his own.

Mrs. Garcia's LP was negative for meningitis,

so they should both be ready for discharge today.

-I'm sorry. What's the rush, Dr. Nash?