Carter decides he does not want to be a surgeon.  He doesn't feel satisfied.  Mark is coming back to work today.  It has only been a week since his attack took place.  Today is also Carol's birthday.  Carla is brought in after going in to labor.  The baby isn't due for another 2 months, but the contractions can not be stopped and her water has broke.  Mark sees Anna and wonders who she is.  She tells him that she met him last week, after he had been beaten.  He does not remember her.  Everyone seems to think that Mark has returned to work a little too early.  Peter is with Carla in the delivery room.  He is barking out orders to Carla and asking Dr. Colburn a lot of questions.  She tells Peter to come with her to the hallway.  She tells him that his job is to hold Carla's hand and to shut up.  Anna goes to help with the baby during Carla's delivery.  Maggie Doyle has brought some things for Mark to look at.  Pepper spray, brass knuckles, electric shockers, etc.  Mark is not interested in them.  She tells him that it will make him feels safer.  Nosey Carter comes to take a look and sprays himself in the eyes with the pepper spray.  Carla's baby is not doing well and he has to be taken to the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (N.I.C.U.).  Dr. Tabash tells him that the baby's lungs aren't getting enough oxygen.  He is stable, but critically ill.  He wants to know what they are naming the baby, but they have not decided yet.  Carol helps Carter by washing his eyes out.  Harry Smith is brought in to the ER after a car accident.  Carter takes care of him.  He thinks it is DUI related, but he does not smell any alcohol on his breath and it does not show up in his system.  Carter finds out that he was on his way to a job interview. Carter tells Mark that he thinks that Harry may have tried to drink massive amounts of water to clean out his system.  He tells him to do a sodium test and Carter was right.  Harry does have water intoxication.  Doug invites Carol out for her birthday, that way nobody can plan any kind of surprise party for her.  She agrees.  Jeanie goes upstairs to check on Carla and the baby.  She meets Peter in the hallway and asks how he is doing.  She tells him that he needs to be in the room with Carla and the baby and not standing around in the hallway.  Carter takes care of a man who needs surgery for an ulcer, Mr. Lensky, but he is too afraid to have surgery because of his father's death.  An investigator comes to see Mark and tells him that all the leads he had given him were clear.  None of them could have been his attacker.  He tells him that it was a random act of violence.  This upsets Mark.  Kerry talks with Mark about it.  She tells him that doctor's are just like everyone else.  They are vulnerable and can't always help themselves as they help others.  Anspaugh is upset with Carter, because his ulcer patient has not gone up to surgery.  Carter tells him that his patient does not want the surgery.  Carter has found a medical way around the problem, so that he will not need a operation.  This makes Anspaugh angry with him again.  Nina comes down to check on Mark.  Mark closes up and doesn't want to speak with her.  Doug takes Carol home to change for dinner.  When she opens the door. everyone is there to surprise her for her birthday.  Doug got this up.  He thinks it is time for her to have a happy birthday for a change.  Carter asks Kerry what is involved in switching his residency from surgery to emergency medicine.  Mark gets nervous walking to his car in the parking deck.  He is really having a hard time dealing with everything.

Reviewed by Tony Conner on 10-21-2000