Spoiler: ER - No more running with scissors but cut those mattress tags

This week's episode was the sixth to last, as was made evident by the title of the episode "T-minus-6," and I must say it didn't disappoint. The episodes recently are not must sees, but they are definitely entertaining. Here is a rundown of what happened on tonight's episode:

- To explain the name of this post, there was a couple who came into County tonight because they needed treatment after driving their car into Lake Michigan because they were following the directions of their GPS. After talking with them for a few minutes, Morris finds out that they are perfect citizens and always follow the rules and do as they are told - whether it be by a machine or the president. So Morris tells them they have live a little and be more free spirited. He has the wife cut the tag off a mattress, which is freeing for her because she is breaking a law. When they are discharged the wife pressures her husband to cross the street before the walk sign is illuminated, which would have been fine if he did not then get hit by a passing moped. As they are leaving a second time, Morris tells them they have to tone down their actions to which the wife asks if it would still be OK to run with scissors. This comic relief was a cute addition to the episode.
- Kate Banfield and her husband, at the start of the episode, are at an adoption agency breakfast. She gets into an argument with another couple who do not seem to be taking the idea of adoption seriously and the confrontation ends with Banfield's husband hitting the other husband. He later shows up at the ER because his hand still hurts. They further discuss adoption and decide that this experience was a sign to not go the adoption route and they choose to take some time away from the baby-trail.
- This was the first where Carter is back doing doctor-ly duties. From the very beginning it seems like everyone doubts his abilities - Banfield wants him to take things slow and won't leave him alone with patients, Tony calls him rusty and keeps correcting him, etc. It is not until Tony and Carter are working on a mom who was in a home explosion and Carter decides to perform a risky and surgical procedure that Tony give him props and says he admires his guts even though the patient died.
- Carter also gets into a fight with Neela about what procedure should be completed for a patient. Carter wins and Lucien backs him, which leads to a fight between Neela and Lucien. Neela does not think Lucien will ever truly trust her and see her as an equal. This leads Neela to pulling her name out of the running for a resident position, meaning she will not be a doctor at County forever, but is officially looking for a position elsewhere.
- Carter admits to being on dialysis. He also says the reason he is back in the states is that he needs to be on a list for a kidney transplant. I must admit that the scene where he tells Banfield that he came back to County to meet her and get her to agree to donate a kidney to him, then tells her he is kidding, was funny. I thought he was being serious, but I guess he always was a bit of a joker. This was important because at least we now know his backstory.
- Sam's mother, who she has not seen since she was 15 years old, was transferred from Texas to Chicago in this episode. Sam finds out her mother is in much worse condition than her sister let on and we see that the mother does not have much of a memory. The ending, where Sam sings to her mom as a way to comfort her, was heartwarming and sad. Her mom doesn't even realize that Sam is her daughter, instead she says she wishes she had a daughter like her. Tear.
- Simon and Neela have their first real fight as a couple in this episode. The show started with Simon dodging questions about his childhood and past. We know that he was sexually assaulted as a child, but she does not. We also see Lucy, the little girl who has been on the last few episodes, again. She tells Brenner that she feels uncomfortable in the foster home where she is living. She says the father walks around naked. This caused Brenner to take it upon himself to talk to both the foster mother and then also confront the father. He denies the action, but Brenner is too convinced. We then see Brenner realize that he is overreacting and he walks away distraught. He later shows up at Neela's door drunk. She wants to talk about her bad day, but he refuses to listen. They get into a fight because she wants him to talk to her but he refuses. I really hope they work this out and I hope they follow this storyline about Brenner's abuse. At this point they have given time during two shows to it; hopefully they don't just drop it. He also really needs to open up to Neela.

Wow! I just wrote a lot. One last thought. It was cute how Chuny said to Carter as he was walking out of the ER, "It's like you never left." I agree. I'm glad he is back.

So only five more episodes. I will be sad when it ends, but the coming weeks promise more guest appearances and hopefully an appropriate conclusion. What did you think of the episode? As the episodes wind down, are you also getting sad? Here's to five more weeks of entertainment.