Episode 13 of "The Pitt" kicks off with an intense scene as Robby and the medical team frantically attend to gunshot victims. The SWAT team's lingering presence fuels whispers about the shooter, spreading through the hospital like wildfire. Meanwhile, Javadi and Whittaker collaborate to secure the crucial blood supply, adhering to orders to stay clear of the helicopter and rushing straight to Trauma to distribute it among the desperately waiting patients. In this high-stakes environment, where everyone is in dire need of blood, the duo hastily navigates the critical demands.
The officer introduced at the close of episode 12 is urgently attended to as the night shift swells with personnel, including Bridget, who arrives for her shift and is promptly assigned by Dana to supervise the new interns managing their own cases. Among them, Whitaker focuses his efforts on Buster Poreli, a beloved children's entertainer who has also fallen victim to the gunfire. However, just as Whitaker initiates an Intraosseous (IO) infusion, Melissa interrupts, reminding him that this drastic measure is reserved for unresponsive or unconscious patients – clearly not the case with Buster. Amidst the disarray and emotion, mistakes are inevitable.
Dr. Abbot steps in heroically to save a cop critically wounded in the previous episode's shooting spree, while Kiara bears the solemn responsibility of photographing the deceased for their loved ones. Tragically, one of these individuals is Vincent Rivera, whose wife Kiara must break the heart-wrenching news to.
Amid the turmoil, a patient is discovered with a gun strapped to his ankle, sparking panic and causing everyone to freeze. It transpires that he only responds to pain, prompting the police, including SWAT, to swiftly descend to verify his identity. Later, it becomes clear that he is not the shooter. Despite this, Robby mentors Langdon in dealing with the armed patient, urging him to take charge and save the man's life.
As Robby reluctantly steps back to let Langdon take the lead, McKay's ankle monitor starts buzzing, prompting her to make a split-second decision to smash it to smithereens so she can continue her vital work. Aware of the repercussions, McKay prioritizes the patients' needs above all else in this harrowing night.
Recall the hippie from our previous episode? Whitaker makes his way to check on him and, though he initially seems lifeless, Grayson fortunately pulls through. Just then, a woman named Carmen enters, her thigh marred by a gruesome wound, prompting Whitaker to spring into action to stem her bleeding.
Robby steps outside for a moment of fresh air, where he learns that they've already seen 85 patients, and the influx continues unabated. A new batch of patients soon arrives, but Robby's attention is immediately drawn to Jake, standing nearby. His girlfriend, Leah, is in dire straits, while Jake appears to be shot as well, albeit not seriously; most of the blood on him belongs to Leah.
Leah's condition is grim, and Abbott reproaches Robby for focusing too much on her at the expense of other patients. Yet, his tone is gentle towards his comrade, and Robby clearly doesn't want to let her go. After administering over four units of blood and utilizing a cell-saver, Abbot intervenes, revealing that Leah has been shot through the heart and is beyond saving. If Robby persists in his attempts to save Leah, they could lose ten other patients due to the time he's spending on her. Eventually, Robby acknowledges his loss and steps away.
As for Grayson, he slips into unconsciousness, while Carmen also battles blood loss, flickering between consciousness and unconsciousness. The doctors are overwhelmed, and Jake finds himself bleeding heavily, prompting Whitaker to assist him into a wheelchair.
Among them is Santos, a doctor whose smarmy demeanor remains as unappealing as ever. She flits between patients, cherry-picking those she deems more intriguing, before landing on Grayson. She and the others are astounded when Dr. Mohan arrives with an IO drill, ready to bore into Grayson's skull to relieve pressure.
Everyone present is left in a state of disbelief, yet Mohan remains as serene as a still lake, calmly noting that he has read similar cases where the patient survived. It seems that his reassuring words momentarily ease the tension, but Carmen's situation rapidly deteriorates; her wound bleeds profusely, hinting that an artery has been grazed by the bullet. Her consciousness begins to fade, and it becomes evident that the blood loss is taking a dangerous toll on her.
David arrives at the hospital amidst the chaos, but his presence is swiftly met with SWAT team members tackling him to the ground upon recognizing him. Robby, still reeling from the loss of Leah, is an emotional tornado, yet his concern for David's wellbeing persists. As David is escorted to a guarded room for a medical examination, Robby seeks solitude with Jake to deliver the heart-wrenching news about Leah.
Amidst this turmoil, Santos evaluates Abbot and Robby's directives and decides to perform a REBOA on Carmen to save her life. Though clearly a novice in this setting, she is burdened with an overconfidence that borders on arrogance. Determined to prove her mettle, she proceeds with the procedure. Abbot, upon witnessing her actions, steps in and confirms the REBOA's success. Though he initially scolds her for violating protocol, he softens his tone slightly, labeling her a formidable "badass."
Elsewhere, Noah Wyle delivers an Emmy-worthy performance as he confides in Jake about the day's overwhelming hardships and expresses his profound sorrow over Leah's demise. Jake assigns some blame to him, but Robby's self-recrimination is a hundredfold more intense. The haunting memories of their past resurface, causing Robby to succumb to a panic attack, breaking down in tears as the weight of sorrow crushes his spirit.
