Music:
Grey's Anatomy Theme: Cosy in the Rocket by Psapp
Joy Williams, "Sunny Day"
Meredith runs into Izzie and Dr. Singer. Izzie wants Derek to treat Dr. Singer. Christina forgets the kiss from Jackson. Owen shares a surprise gift with Cristina and Jackson.
Gossip, "Vertical Rhythm"
Izzie asks Derek to operate pro bono. Derek agrees pending Richard's approval. Callie, Arizona, Mark, Owen, and Teddy discuss Cristina. Meredith, Cristina, and Alex talk about Teddy. Alex doesn't want to talk about Izzie. Mark, Callie, and Bailey talk about Richard.
Stars of Track and Field, "End of All Time"
Arizona and Jackson watch as Teddy allows Cristina to troubleshoot. Alex and Izzie discuss what she did.
Greg Laswell, "In Spite of Me"
Richard talks to Bailey. Izzie and Dr. Singer discuss Izzie's future. Cristina talks to Meredith about operating and Teddy. Bailey talks to Callie about Richard. Teddy confronts Owen. Cristina thanks Owen for the gift.
The Civil Wars, "Poison & Wine"
Meredith consoles Alex. Richards asks for another drink. Joe takes his car keys. Meredith is shocked to see Richard drinking.
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Synopsis:
Owen recruits a fellow Iraq War veteran to be the new cardiothoracic surgeon, but Cristina questions the new surgeon's abilities; Izzie returns with her high school mentor seeking treatment for dementia.
(From ABC)
When Owen recruits his fellow Iraqi War vet, Dr. Teddy Altman, as the new cardiothoracic surgeon, Cristina questions Teddy's abilities in the OR and the nature of their past relationship. Meanwhile Izzie returns to Seattle Grace with her high school mentor seeking treatment for his dementia, and the stress of Richard's responsibilities, post-merger, are taking their toll.
We can't believe it when Izzie returns to Seattle Grace, not to ask for her job back, or to hash things out with Alex, but to get a diagnosis for her high school teacher, who is suffering from dementia. She bullies Charles into doing a series of tests, including a spinal tap, telling him, "You got me fired. You owe me this, bitch." The teacher's illness ends up being treatable, but he can't afford the $10,000 surgery. Izzie marches into Richard's office and demands that he do the surgery pro bono, or she'll go to the press about how she gave the hospital $8 million for the clinic.
Of course, we're really dying to know: What will Alex say when he sees Izzie? We're shocked when he pretends he hasn't even seen her! When he finally confronts her, we can see that any reconciliation is a long way off. Izzie tells him, "You went behind my back and told the chief I wasn't ready to be here. You got me fired." She says, "I cannot forgive you for this." We can't blame him that he's furious about her disappearing act: "I am your husband and you didn't give me the benefit off the doubt, so you know what, I can't forgive you either."
When the Chief starts spending night after night at the hospital, Adele assumes the worst. We laugh at Miranda's reaction when Adele asks her, "Are you having an affair with my husband? You're more married to that man than I am." Callie helpfully explains that Richard is Miranda's "work husband" and that she's his "work wife." Adele accepts Miranda's promise that she is not the one sleeping with her husband, but now Miranda is on a mission to find out who the other woman really is. We're in disbelief when she confronts the Chief and tells him she knows it's Izzie! "It's why you ignored the DNR, it's why you fired her, it's why you two were screaming at each other in here," she says. Richard explains that he's not having an affair, he's simply got too much on his plate. In fact, he's handing over all his surgeries to her, effective immediately! This is after he's committed a serious error during surgery—one his "work wife" fixed and kept a secret.
We're assuming that Richard's just married to his job, but we're shocked when we learn the truth: He's been drinking! It explains everything: His mismanagement since the merger, the car accident, and the surgical error. We wonder what Meredith (who's back at work) will say to Derek about her suspicions.