Teddy felt the urge to sink into her bed and drown in her sorrows, but with a raging wildfire looming, Owen's stern words snapped her out of it. Lucas had secured a position in Chicago after a successful interview, yet he hesitated to commit. Dorian, after a long ordeal, was finally on the verge of discharge. Ben ushered Theo in and laid out the gravity of his injuries, painting a grim picture of the realities in the field.
Teddy discovered, with a jolt, that her badge was no longer functional, confirming her worst fears — she had indeed been dismissed. Yet, she took charge of Theo's treatment, stepping in for Owen who was busy orchestrating evacuation plans. Levi, desperate for the PEds fellowship, clung to Beltran's heels, but his efforts fell flat as she remained unmoved.
Amelia Webber enticed Jules and Mika with the prospect of assisting in a surgery, urging them to study up. Amelia and Meredith pleaded their case to Catherine, desperate to right their wrongs and secure funding for their research. After much deliberation, Catherine agreed, offering her support and funding, but with a catch — they must hand over their work to Tom Koracick if they wished to retain their positions.
As the situation escalated, they realized they had no available operating room. Time was ticking, and Theo's condition was precarious. Suddenly, his pulse faded, and they scrambled to perform chest compressions. Teddy had to make a split-second decision and performed surgery on him, right in the hallway, as the lights flickered uncertainly. The tension was palpable, and just then, Jo fainted while conversing with Levi, adding to the chaos.
Winston's patience wore thin, and he lashed out at Webber, accusing him of allowing Yasuda and Millins to treat him carelessly. Levi revealed to Jo that she was pregnant, agitated by her failure to inform him sooner, and then astonished to learn that she herself had been unaware of the pregnancy. Webber solemnly informed Meredith that it was perhaps time for him to truly retire, putting an end to his medical journey.
Amidst the cacophony of alerts on her phone, Bailey found herself distracted in the OR, each ring assuming it was Ben. Unable to concentrate, she had to leave the surgery room. Her mind raced with worry as Ben failed to respond to her texts. Simone showed her a database tracking first responders, reassuring her that Ben was safe.
Meredith courageously posted her research on the official NIH website and tendered her resignation to Webber, desiring to embark on her own path. Catherine mirrored her sentiments, comparing her to her own mother, a sentiment Meredith interpreted as a compliment.
Levi's essays fell short of the mark for the Pediatrics fellowship, leaving him disappointed. Jo evaded Link's concern, hiding her pregnancy from him. The asthmatic patient, struggling with memory loss, locked eyes with Kwan, wondering if they had a past. He denied knowing her but confessed to Lucas that she was his former fiancée.
Mika and Jules found comfort in each other's arms, almost sharing a tender kiss. They rejoiced in their stellar essay scores, celebrating their achievement. Bailey proudly informed Lucas that he excelled in his class, earning the highest score. Theo's condition stabilized, and his leg was spared from amputation. Owen too faced the consequences of his actions, with his privileges revoked.
Upon learning that Adams had a pivotal role in establishing the system for first responders and achieved the highest test score, Bailey vowed to fight for him. As Lucas prepared for his meeting with Catherine, the interns rallied around him, standing up for him. Bailey joined their ranks, confronting Catherine when she threatened to dismiss them.
Nick appeared at the hospital, seeking Meredith. He recounted his sacrifices for her and vowed to continue if she desired. But Meredith had other plans, informing him that she had put in an offer for the city house he had admired, intending it as a home for both of them.
