ER: Haunted (Episode #313)

It's Halloween in the ER, and Frank (a.k.a reject from Animal House) is taking the holiday very seriously. So is poor intern Blondie, who was told she had to dress up, and arrives at work as a mermaid. Banfield embarrasses her in front of the whole staff and Blondie slowly walks to change her clothes.  Turns out a mermaid costume isn't exactly conducive to the environment in the ER.

Meanwhile, an 18 year old boy, Mike, is brought into the ER with a fork stabbed into his chest.  Following him is a young boy, Danny, whose nose won't stop bleeding. It's obvious the two are some how connected.  Morris, who is bitching about how he hates Halloween in the ER, almost gets puked on by a bumble bee, just before treating Frankenstein.  Turns out, Frankenstein is our old friend Ray, who has come to Chicago for a conference.  And of coarse, to see Neela.  

Neela is shocked by seeing Ray, especially when she sees him standing up.  Ray's prosthetic legs have done wonders for him.  He has also decided to help others in his condition, such as war heroes and vets.  Seems Ray has fully turned his life around.  Has he come back to win Neela once and for all?  Not if Brenner has anything to say about it.  Upon the two meeting, a terrible awkwardness erupts.  It's apparent the two guys would fight for Neela.

While Brenner searches for Danny's mother to get consent to treat him, Gates is dealing with a sore throat and a bird.  Yes, a bird.  The younger brother of his patient refuses to talk ever since his parents split up.  His mom got him the bird to help him express himself, however, it hasn't worked.  So I guess it's a good thing the bird gets out of his cage and starts flying around the ER.  Not according to Banfield.  Anyway, while looking for the flying creature, Gates and the young boy get locked in the basement.  Gates spills his life story and the boy gives him nothing.  

Things aren't looking good for Gates and Sam, who seem to be constantly fighting.  Especially when intern Daria seems to want to get her claws into Gates.  She is following him around like a lost puppy.  Sad, really.  Anyway, Danny is telling Brenner about what he remembered from the fight.  Mike said something mean about his mom, and next thing Danny knew, all of Mike's friends jumped on top of him.  Things get worse when Danny then passes out from a blood clot in his brain.  It's off to surgery they go.

I'm really beginning to feel bad for Brenner.  All he wants is Neela, and all Neela wants is Ray.  Brenner looks heartbroken, but not defeated.  In the meantime, Morris and Ray catch up and Ray tells him how sorry he was to hear about Pratt.  Morris tells Ray that no, Neela is not seeing anybody.  Back in Danny's room, his brother calls out his mom for sleeping with 18 year old Mike and drinking too much.  Wow, talk about a shocker.  While mom tries to convince her son, who is the same age as her "boyfriend" that they are in love, the boy jumps on Mike and starts beating him for calling his mom a whore.  The boy needs stitches and Dr. Brenner offers to do them.  He is really turning around these days, seems he does have a rather big heart.  The boy tells him his mother lets him and his friends drink at their house.  Probably because she wants to sleep with all his friends.  Anyway, Brenner doesn't think this is normal and calls social services.

While Neela and Ray are running a marathon, Blondie (back in scrubs) brings in a gangster who was at a Halloween party gone bad.  A cop shot him thinking he was going to shoot him, but didn't realize the gangster had a plastic gun.  The cop sits vigil outside the boys room to make sure he is OK.  Banfield lets the cop know that for both their jobs, they do the best they can do with the information they are given.  She tells him the boy will be fine and sneaks him out a side door so he doesn't have to deal with questions from other cops.  Wow, turns out not only does Brenner have a heart, but so does Banfield.  Go figure.

Ray and Neela arrive back at her apartment to have a couple beers.  Ray tells her he tried to kill himself with Vicodin but now, is in a much better place.  Just before the two kiss, a knock is heard.  Who else but Brenner is behind the door.  Neela is extremely pissed off.  After sending Brenner away, Ray decides to go back to his hotel.  He kisses Neela, and heads out.  Neela begins to cry, realizing she may not see Ray again.  

Sam is rushing out of the ER to get to class, when Gates, who finally gets out of the basement, chases after her.  Sam is obviously pissed at Gates, and things don't get resolved before she takes off.  Uh oh, trouble in paradise.  FYI: Dr. Greene arrives back in the ER in two weeks!