And Schmidt returns to the hospital… sort of.
What a preposterous notion.
But what do I know?
It all unfolded on one of the busiest, nerve-inducing days at the hospital.
Three huge events are occurring at the exact same time.
First, the Medical Accreditation Council visits Grey Sloan Memorial to potentially shut down the residency program.
Second, David Hamilton (Peter Gallagher) and Kai (E.R.
Fightmaster) assess Richard (James Pickens Jr.) to see if he’s still got it.
And Nick (Scott Speedman) is performing a groundbreaking surgery that could change the field of transplants.
Bailey has her work cut out for her.
Does Meredith ever spend time at Grey Sloan anymore?
Why has a selection of Owen’s (Kevin McKidd) military patients died in recent months?
At least guest surgeon Nick is there to rally the troops with an interesting case.
It’s not as gross as it sounds.
Or maybe it is.
Let’s move on to Richard and his decision to invite Hamilton to perform his assessment.
Richard feels he needs someone who essentially dislikes him to manage the tests.
He doesn’t want a biased opinion.
The hospital is buzzing with activity.
In a hasty escape from the basement, Ms. Schmidt trips on a step and tumbles backward.
Schmidt’s nerves get the best of him.
Richard immediately leaves his assessment and walks Schmidt through each step, encouraging him along the way.
As he speaks, he puts everything in motion for Grey Sloan to receive Ms. Schmidt once she arrives.
Meredith comforts him just as Bailey walks in, disappointed by Meredith’s decision to move to Minnesota.
Meredith is just about to come unglued, knowing that she hasn’t even decided on the job yet.
That’s when Bailey holds her heart and starts to faint.
While Maggie is off checking Bailey, Meredith loses a bit of her calm.
(She doesn’t, but the way.
It was a panic attack.)
His name was Derek, and he was wonderful.
Richard is thankful for his opportunity to teach and nurture.
Likewise, Schmidt is grateful for Richard not giving up on him.
Naturally, the council finds Richard’s testimony moving.
The icing on the cake is that he passed his assessment with flying colors.
And Ms. Schmidt is going to be okay.
Unfortunately, that’s not enough to save the program.
The representative feels Grey Sloan is doing a fantastic job with their residents.
There’s just one problem.
They don’t have enough physicians to maintain an effective program.
McIrish moved back to Ireland.
Tom Koracick followed him.
And then there’s Meredith.
She looks at Nick and tells him she’s ready to start over.
There’s no need to be working in the same hospital where she was a resident.
There’s too much history.
It’s time to move on.
It’s time to go to Minnesota and make a new life for herself.
Again, what do I know?
