Benton encounters trouble finding a new job after Romano blacklists him across town. He considers taking a job in Philadelphia, but decides to stay with County in a no-benefits job after Carla won't agree to a visitation schedule. Benton's nephew Jesse comes to the ER after getting in a fight at school. A shooting in the ER interrupts Carter's first day of treating trauma patients. Chen treats a dying young boy whose mother wants surgery for him, no matter what the outcome. Kovac and Abby go on a date, which is interrupted when they are mugged. Luka then beats the mugger to death. Greene treats beauty pageant contestants and is also enlisted by Malucci for a hockey game. Weaver treats a dementia patient who has been AWOL for 50 years.

Luka blows Abby off, and an already-stressed Abby has to deal with an unexpected visit from her estranged mother, who isn't taking the meds prescribed for her bipolar disorder. Corday, eager to leave work for a vacation with Greene, makes a poor surgical decision; after she leaves, her patient experiences post-surgical complications. Benton's nephew is shot and dies. Benton hears Malucci refer to his late nephew as a "banger" and Benton beats him. Chen decides to put her baby up for adoption and visits the child's father, nurse Frank Bacon. Luka accuses a pregnant girl's father of beating her.