Brothers & Sisters; Episode 22: "Favorite Son"

I still feel drained after this tearjerking episode. I suppose given the way last week ended, I should've known that a significant amount of drama would be in store. We pick up this week at the hospital as everyone awaits news on Julia's premature delivery. Apparently, Justin put his army medic skills to use at the vineyard where he helped in the delivery before the ambulance could arrive. Early news is that Julia is alright, but no word on the twins. Tommy sends everyone home, but asks Nora to stay.

The next morning, Robert is doing an interview in which he is once again praised for his heroics in the helicopter crash during the first Gulf War. Afterwards, Kitty walks in and is told by an assistant that a nameless man wishes to speak to her. The same assistant also gives Robert Justin's phone number, but he doesn't tell Kitty why he needs it.

Kitty meets with the mystery man, who turns out to be a general who served with Robert. Turns out he knows the truth about the helicopter crash and is going to expose Robert unless he is paid off. He overheard Robert trying to call off the POW extraction prior to the crash while he was at the base.

Back at the hospital, we learn that baby #1, a boy, is named William. Tommy and Julia are told that his kidneys aren't functioning properly and will need to be placed on dialysis or risk a transplant. The doctor mentions that since William's still unnamed sister is a perfect match, she would be the best donor candidate, which of course places Tommy and Julia in an impossible situation.

Kitty goes to Kevin for legal advice on her new situation and brings him an expensive bottle of liquor to help him make up his mind. However, Kevin is not sure he's willing to help a Republican. Can't say I blame him.

Sarah and Joe are still on the rocks. We learn that Joe left the vineyard early after all the Walkers ganged up on him and that Sarah didn't come immediately home after the hospital visit. Joe suggests that he move out and Sarah agrees.

Justin's riding in a limo with Robert and has no idea where they're going. Turns out Robert wanted to make him feel less stressed about his impeding redeployment to Iraq, so he took him to a VA Hospital so that he could see that the soldiers need good medics like him. When Justin tells Kevin about this later, it seems to thaw Kevin's heart a bit in regard to the Senator.

At the hospital, Nora comforts Tommy and tells him that the family will support whatever he and Julia decide to do.

Kevin invites Kitty and the general to his office. Turns out the general has a criminal record and has been in prison. His failed alimony payments and threatening to blackmail a U.S. Senator violate his parole, so Kevin threatens to send him back to prison should he talk to anyone about the helicopter incident. Seems Kevin's warming up to his future brother-in-law after all.

Nora goes home and breaks down at the sight of baby toys. Becca walks in and says she's leaving because she doens't want to intrude any further given everything that's going, but Nora tells her she can stay.

Sarah and Joe tell their kids that Joe is moving out.

Tommy tells Julia that he thinks they should wait for another donor for William instead of sacrificing "Elizabeth," as they've decided to name their daughter. Soon after, the doctor tells them that William has come down with a fever and gone into septic shock. He's going to die. Tommy and Julia hold him in his final moments and Tommy tells little William that his grandpa, William Sr., will take good care of him. This is about the point that I start to lose it and sob with Tommy and Julia.

Back in LA, Robert tells Kitty that he's not going to run from his past anymore with regards to the helicopter incident. He then proposes to Kitty and whips out a bigass ring. She accepts, but immediately after gets a call from Saul, who delivers the devastating news. We then cut to a montage as Saul calls everyone to tell them little William has passed.

Saul tells Tommy that he did the right thing because he did what his heart told him to do and his heart is never wrong. We end on a heartwarming note as Tommy, Julia, Nora, and Saul fawn over baby Elizabeth.