Doug's heroics earn him a second chance as Bernstein and Morgenstern ask him to stay on. Doug and Mark clash when each treats a seriously injured patient and want to use the same equipment. Benton learns that Jeanie has separated from Al. After missing an earlier diagnosis, Carter overcompensates on his next patient and catches a break when the test results reveal something. Shep gets on Carol's bad side when he makes disparaging remarks about people with botched suicide attempts. Doug gets a phone call from his estranged father. Later Doug shows up drunk for his own awards ceremony threatening an obnoxious speech, but he reconsiders and recovers nicely.

The ER staffers are in decidedly unfestive moods as Christmas arrives. Carol's spirits are lifted by a Santa-like patient. Mark is outraged when Jenn decides to stay in Dayton over Christmas. Benton and Carter score points with Vucelich when Carter convinces an older gentleman, Jules "Ruby" Rubadoux, to include his wife in Vucelich's study. Mark gives a deposition in the O'Brien case. The death of a priest threatens to start a gang war. Weaver receives a surprise visit from an African friend. A Holocaust survivor, the victim of a carjacking, brings Chanukah to the ER.