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Previously, on ER…
Season 14's cliff-hanger ending involved a bomb blast ripping apart an ambulance in the street a short distance from County General. On board was Art Masterson, a former lawyer for the mob turned informer to the FBI under witness protection.
The rig is driven by Paramedic Bardelli, accompanied by a previously unidentified member of the ER staff. Surviving but injured in the cab of the vehicle, that person is revealed to be Attending Doctor and seven year servant of the ER, Greg Pratt.
We last saw Dr Neela Rasgotra and recently recruited Australian Attending Simon Brenner exchanged heated verbal blows before engaging in some passionate 'making-up'...
They are both found dressing after the impromptu intimate session and neither seems too at ease. Brenner attempts to apologise for his earlier comments but Neela curtly tells him to "shut up" and checks a message on her pager. They are both required urgently to assist with a trauma…
The two doctors arrive as Pratt and Bardelli are wheeled in on gurneys. Greg is coughing up blood and has bone protruding from his lower leg but is alert and is still trying to direct his staff. Neela and Brenner attend to the Paramedic who has been impaled in the stomach by debris from the ambulance. She does not appear to have warmed to the 'aussie' doctors charms, despite their amorous interlude.
Pratt's condition appears to be stable as he continues to supervise the medics from the bed in the Trauma Room. Abby examines his X-Ray prints which show no fracture.
She then realizes that the protruding bone is not his own but that of one of the unfortunates who had perished in the rear of the ambulance. (urrggh!!)
Morris removes it before Greg's breathing becomes strained. They ventilate him but
quickly decide that intubation is required. Greg removes his mask and implores Morris not to "mess up". This seems to 'faze' his colleague who asks Gates to take charge of inserting the tube.
Things become fraught in the other trauma room as Bardelli begins to bleed out. Neela grows increasingly inpatient with Brenner's comments before Dr Dubenko makes a surprise appearance, having earlier tendered his resignation. He had caught news of the ambulance incident on the news and checked in to assist. The Paramedic is immediately transferred to the OR for surgery.
The sense of panic around Greg intensifies. Damage to his throat is making intubation impossible. As his heart rate slows Morris takes desperate measures and performs a tracheotomy to insert a tube and secure an airway and avert disaster.
Greg's half brother Chas is a Paramedic who is soon to start as a med student. Visiting the trauma Room he notices a large bulb which has suddenly developed on his relative's neck.
Neela runs in as blood pours from Pratt's mouth. There is an open artery in the neck and she quickly concludes that this must be tied, but this carries a risk of inducing a stroke as this will restrict the flow of blood to the brain. A tear rolls down Greg's face as the discomfort and a stark realization of his predicament hits home. She asks him if he understands and he nods. The haemorrhaging is arrested but Pratt goes in to V Fib and Gates has to commence compressions.
A life Support machine is rushed in to support his failing heart and lungs. Neela, Gates, Morris, Sam and Chaz stand around their friend's bedside. There is no brain activity and a specialist confirms that they will give it four hours before making a final judgement. Morris suggests they all return to their patients as that is what Greg would want. They will take shifts with him.
Time passes and the staff continue their work, though they are all preoccupied with their colleagues fading chances. Neela and Dubenko wheel Bardelli to the ICU. His surgery appears to have been successful.
Abby places a comforting hand on Chas's shoulder as they sit by Greg's bedside.
The regulars return as hopes fade for his recovery. Chas is in denial and pleads that they keep the machine running for longer but Morris explains the reality of the situation to him. He asks to escort the gurney for his brother's last journey through the ER. Neela and Nurse Haleh join him as they solemnly wheel Greg past the on-looking patients and staff …
A week later and the regulars return from Greg's funeral service. There is little respite from her duties as Dr Rasgotra is immediately called to action to treat a 'have-a-go' hero who scratched the wound under the cast on his leg and caused an infection. He is later reunited with the old later he had a week earlier saved.
The staff are plan a get together at Ike Ryan's Bar to celebrate Pratt's memory.
Brenner asks Neela if he should wait for her, but the response is a terse "No".
The action concludes at Ike Ryan's as the crew gather and recount anecdotes about Pratt, looked over by a large photograph of their lamented friend and colleague…
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