The ninth episode of "Watson" unfolds in 2009 with the dramatic arrival of Gigi, a young girl rushed into the emergency room following a harrowing accident. To everyone's astonishment, she is revealed to be the sister of Ingrid Derian. Gigi's condition is precarious; she teeters on the edge of a lifetime of paralysis. Desperation takes hold as Ingrid lashes out at the attending physician, accusing him of inadequacy, and ultimately enlisting the aid of Mary.
Beneath Gigi's visible injuries—bruises creeping up her arms like sinister vines—lies a harrowing truth: she has been the victim of abuse. Later revelations uncover an even darker secret—her father had propelled her down the stairs, through the banister, causing her devastating injury.
Jumping ahead to the present, Ingrid is jolted out of her routine by a desperate plea from her sister, imploring her to return home. The rest of the team watches with concern as Ingrid dashes out of the building, her heart racing towards an unknown fate. She finds Gigi in a dire state, racked with pain, yet hesitant to bring her back to UHOP. Ingrid fears the exposure; she doesn't want anyone to discover their sibling bond. But when Gigi vows to keep their connection a secret, Ingrid reluctantly agrees.
Gigi's involvement in their groundbreaking Spinal Signal Project becomes complicated by Ingrid's deceptive tactics to secure her participation. Ingrid beseeches her sister to maintain the façade, even encouraging her to revert to her Gigi persona. Somewhere along her journey, Gigi had abandoned that name, and if their relationship were to come to light, it could spell disaster for both—Gigi's expulsion from the program and Ingrid's potential job loss.
Despite the best efforts of the top specialists working under Ingrid, Gigi's condition fails to improve. In a moment of desperation, she urges Ingrid to allow Watson to examine her, hoping to uncover a definitive cure amidst the medical labyrinth.
As the rest of the group indulges in frivolities with playful dogs and swiping through dating profiles, Mary makes her entrance at the lab, determined and focused. She gently retrieves Watson from his usual post and reveals that she has a Valentine's Day reservation lined up. Acknowledging the value of good company, she jestingly declares Watson as her standby companion for the evening. After some hesitation, Watson relents, and the duo embarks on an enjoyable outing.
However, halfway through their heartfelt date, Ingrid reluctantly caves in and agrees to involve Watson, promptly phoning him to confirm her change of heart. Meanwhile, the group ponders over Gigi's mysterious behavior, oblivious to the crucial information Ingrid chooses to withhold—details pertaining to her sister's diagnosis.
Watson, ever perceptive, swiftly pieces together the puzzle and seeks the expert opinion of Dr. Derian in the lab. Recalling Ingrid's former specialization in neurology during her European studies, Watson understands the inherent conflict of interest that prevented her from participating in the research directly. To circumvent this obstacle, Ingrid masterminded an elaborate scheme, crafting an entirely new identity and pushing through her application under a disguise.
But for whom does Ingrid jeopardize everything? The answer lies in a harrowing past incident involving a surgery. Mary had spearheaded the surgical plan, which, although approved by the family, was met with disapproval from the head surgeon. Driven by an unwavering desire to help regardless of the repercussions, Mary pressed ahead.
Thus, the question looms: who is Ingrid risking her career and identity to save? The answer is entwined with the bonds forged through past trials and the unyielding spirit of medical compassion.
Regrettably, the lead surgeon, Moynihan, discovered the impending operation on Gigi, sparking an intense confrontation between him and Mary. Despite obtaining the necessary consent, the surgery was abruptly halted, leaving Gigi paralyzed as a result. Gigi suffered from an incomplete spinal cord injury, and although surgery could have offered her some relief, Moynihan was hell-bent on ruining Mary's career if she dared to disobey him.
It transpired that Gigi harbored a mutation in her RYR1 receptor. When Ingrid, in her bid to treat this condition, administered succinylcholine followed by ECT, she inadvertently rendered Gigi susceptible to malignant hyperthermia. Instead of improving her sister's condition, Ingrid exacerbated it.
Mary, prescribing dantrolene to alleviate Gigi's plight, confronted Ingrid, emphasizing her dangerous nature. She granted Ingrid a few months to secure alternative employment, or face termination. Watson, acknowledging Ingrid's competence, would not intervene to shield her from the repercussions of her actions.
Delving into the consequences, we revisit the aftermath of a surgery that haunted Ingrid's past. She had led her father to a secluded lakeside spot (where we previously witnessed her introspective conversations with Moriarty). The significance of this location now unfolds: Ingrid had stolen fentanyl from the hospital and injected it into her father, abandoning him in an unearthed grave.
