Separation Anxiety

Life After Death
Another Thursday at County
The Book of Abby
Parental Guidance
Haunted
Oh, Brother!
Heal Thyself
Age of Innocence
Let It Snow
The High Holiday
Separation Anxiety
Dream Runner
Love Is A Battlefield
A Long, Strange Trip
The Family Man
The Beginning of the End
T-Minus-6
What We Do
Old Times
Shifting Equilibrium
I Feel Good
And In the End...

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Episode 320 "Separation Anxiety"
Original Air Date: January 08, 2009
Written by: Virgil Williams
Directed by: Terence Nightingall
Guest Stars:

Dorian Christian Baucum - Max Gonzalez
Courtney B. Vance - Russell Banfield
Imani A. Hakim - Anastasia Johnson
Robbie Jones - Jermaine Bennett
Sterling D. Ardrey - Quincy Bennett
Bradford Tatum - Detective Reitz
? - Detective Reitz
Moe Daniels - Mrs. Johnson
Josh Drennen - Officer Jones
Richie Parker - Richie P.
Demetrius Grosse - Officer Newkirk
Justina Machado - Officer Claudia Diaz

Starring:

Angela Bassett - Dr. Cate Banfield
Parminder Nagra - Dr. Neela Rasgotra
John Stamos - Tony Gates
Linda Cardellini - Samantha Taggart
Scott Grimes - Dr. Archie Morris

Staff:

Troy Evans - Frank Martin
Amy Aquino - Dr. Janet Coburn
Gil McKinney - Dr. Paul Grady
Shiri Appleby - Dr. Daria Wade
Emily Rose - Dr. Tracy Martin
Angel Laketa Moore - Nurse Dawn Archer
Tara Karsian - Social Worker Liz Dade
Christopher Amitrano - Officer Hollis
Elliot Durant III - Paramedic Anders
Louie Liberti - Paramedic Bardelli

Gates is just leaving work as Morris and Sam come in with a pulseless multiple gunshot victim. When Gates offers to help with the thoracotomy, Sam gives him attitude. At home, Banfield surveys another negative pregnancy test. Russell assures her that they have options, but she still wants to try the old fashioned way. Russell doesn't mind trying at all. The gunshot victim dies. Sam criticizes Gates for having the interns practice procedures on the corpse; it's a waste of time and resources, and besides there's three more patients from the shoot-out on the way: 17-year-old drug dealer Jermaine and his 10-year-old brother Quincy, and fiery Latina Serena, one of the shooters. Serena is handcuffed to the gurney and screaming at cops, not allowing anyone to touch her. Neela and Tracy tend to 13-year-old sickle cell patient Anastasia, who's complaining about abdominal pains. Anastasia knows the drill, and fears she'll be admitted, which will mess up her dream trip to New York to see Yo-Yo Ma perform. When she notices Neela struggling with her new iPhone, Anastasia offers to fix it. On the way to work, Banfield stops into Coburn's OB clinic on a whim. They discuss options; a term pregnancy for someone Banfield's age has about 1% chance of success. Coburn offers to test Banfield's FSH levels and takes blood. After learning that Alex will be released today, Gates confronts Sam while working on Jermaine. Why didn't she tell him? Serena berates Grady when he tries to examine her, and continues to refuse care.

Grady appeals to Morris, but he maintains that Grady has to learn to handle patients like Serena. Meanwhile, Banfield tends to Quincy's injured leg. Worried about Jermaine, Quincy confesses that his parents are dead. When Jermaine's alarms sound, Banfield discovers that the bullet went through his chest and gets busy saving his life. Detective Reitz wants to question Jermaine, but he refuses to talk. Banfield berates him for this choice, reminding Jermaine that he'll go to jail if he doesn't cooperate, and then what will happen to Quincy? Banfield sends Gates home, and he makes a last-ditch effort to get through to Sam, but she prefers that they go their separate ways. Max thanks Gates for his help in procuring a new apartment. Neela is just checking out a Johns Hopkins program in pediatric surgery when she gets results on Anastasia, who has gall bladder issues. Social worker Liz Dade informs Banfield that Jermaine is in a group home, and Quincy keeps running away from a succession of foster homes. His most recent foster mom asked that Quincy be given bus fare for the ride home -- she has three other kids and a full-time job. Neela gives Anastasia the bad news about her gall bladder infection. She'll have to be admitted and miss the Yo-Yo Ma concert. Anastasia has been fixing Neela's iPhone and got a text from Ray, so she made him send a picture. He's cute! Gates takes Max to buy a new suit, so he can get a job and then a girlfriend. Banfield and Sam lay into Jermaine over the example he's setting for his brother. Why not get a real job? Jermaine is saving money. When he turns 18, he intends to file for custody and find a nice place so he can put Quincy in a good school.

Banfield points out that Quincy will grow up without Jermaine if he goes to jail, encouraging him to talk to the cops. Quincy refuses to snitch. When Morris threatens to bring in the cops to hold Serena down for an exam, she tells him to look under her bra. Serena's wearing a wire and has been on a deep cover assignment for the last five months. Morris is impressed. Serena thinks Jermaine is a good kid, and would love to help him change his life, but can't in her current position. Serena tells Morris about the drug deal gone wrong. When her mark started shooting at Quincy, she shot him three times in the chest before she realized that she had her gun in her hand. She tells Morris that her real name is Claudia. Meanwhile, Jermaine has pains in his chest. When alarms sound, Banfield sticks an IV under his collarbone to insure that he's getting enough fluids. Neela tells Anastasia and her mother that Anastasia will have to undergo surgery to remove her gall bladder. Anastasia is disappointed that her disease keeps preventing her from doing what she wants. She tells Neela that she got another text from a cute guy â?" Simon. Anastasia accuses Neela of being a total player.

Banfield accosts Detective Reitz in the hallway, pleading with him to try talking to Jermaine again. She chases after Coburn, and convinces her to spill the beans on her test results. Coburn explains that Banfield's FSH levels are too low for any reputable fertility clinic to take her on -- it wouldn't be ethical. Since her chances are slightly greater than zero, Banfield wants to try, but Coburn refuses to take her case. Max thanks Gates for all his help with a present to be opened later. He asks for one more favor -- can Gates keep his dog Jake a little while longer? Banfield sits down for a serious chat with Quincy, who maintains his brother is good, and always takes care of him. Quincy maintains that the shooting was his fault; Jermaine told him to go home and he didn't. Morris clears Claudia for release, asking if she has a husband or a boyfriend. She doesn't, but she has to go. She's broken protocol by telling Morris about her undercover assignment, and he promises to take it to the grave. When her supervisor arrives to take her into custody and maintain her cover, Claudia starts screaming and spits in Morris' face for effect. Banfield visits Jermaine, who isn't bleeding internally, but will be held for a few days' observation. She instructs Jermaine to tell the police everything, even though he refuses to snitch. Banfield explains why Jermaine will snitch by opening the door and letting Quincy hobble in on his crutches.

If Jermaine wants to raise Quincy, then he should set an example Gates gets drunk at a bar while on the phone with Sarah. He finally opens the present to behold Max's Silver Star medal. Leaving, Gates calls Sam, but she doesn't answer, just as he bumps into Daria. Confessing that he's drunk, Gates moves in for a kiss, offering Daria a one-night stand with no strings. Daria pushes Gates back, but then moves in for another kiss.. Banfield calls Coburn in for a consult on herself. She wants to try in vitro fertilization and wants Coburn's help. Even it's a small chance, it's a chance. Coburn tries to impress the risk involved, but Banfield insists on giving it one last try. Coburn promises to think about it, but won't give an answer yet. Leaving work for the evening, Banfield is pleased to hear that Jermaine is talking to the cops. She's surprised to find Russell waiting outside for her with a rose and reservations at her favorite restaurant. Since they're trying for a baby, he figured he might get lucky.

Reviewed by Jocelyn on February 14, 2009

NBC Review

BLOOD BROTHERS FOR LIFE—Banfield (Angela Bassett) treats two brothers that come into the ER with serious injuries after a drug deal goes bad. Gates (John Stamos) is upset with Sam (Linda Cardellini) that she didn’t tell him that Alex (Dominic Janes) was going home from the hospital. Neela (Parminder Nagra) considers pediatric surgery after treating a young girl with sickle cell anemia. Meanwhile, Dr. Banfield and her husband (guest star Courtney B. Vance) make a critical decision about the future of their family.

TV Guide Review

January 08, 2009 : Separation Anxiety:

Banfield treats two brothers injured during a drug deal, and later makes an important decision concerning the future of her family. Elsewhere, Neela tends to a young patient with sickle-cell anemia, prompting her to consider specializing in pediatric surgery; and communication breaks down between Gates and Sam regarding Alex.