Nick discusses the upcoming operation with Hank, who can't get doom and gloom off his mind. Hank admits that even Lauri James is invading his dreams and reveals how they met when he was an intern and she a nurse at Municipal Hospital. Hank is surprised that Nick wants Hendryx to assist. He reminds Nick that Hendryx still wants to pay him back for perceived past slights. Althea talks with patient Harold Baylor. She tries to explain her theory about his pain, but he won't listen and accuses her of just attacking him because she can't diagnose what's wrong with him. Martha visits Hank to give him a pep talk about his surgery. Baylor says Althea is the one who needs a psychiatrist and stalks out. Maggie wonders if Althea is being honest with herself about her feelings for John when Althea admits that she respects him and considers him a friend. Hendryx stops by the lab to find out if Matt delivered his sarcastic congratulations. Hendryx and Nick disagree about Hank's case. Hendryx argues that Nick's too unrealistic with expectations about Hank's recovery. He believes that Hank won't regain full use of his arm. Furthermore, Nick is setting Hendryx up to be humiliated once again. However, Hendryx gives pause when he learns from Nick that Hank was shot while saving Matt's life. Armed with this new background information, Hendryx agrees to assist in the surgery. But privately, Hendryx wonders: if he didn't hear the full story, did the head of the hospital board?
—Skip Eastport