Carter arrives two-hours late to his new surgerical sub-internship with Benton. Later, he is introduced to an attractive new med student, Harper Tracy. Jeanie and Benton become intimately involved. One of Greene's first, and most unpopular decisions, as attending physician is naming Dr. Kerry Weaver as Chief Resident. Hathaway starts a paramedic rotation and is partnered wtih Shep.

Ross treats a young pyromanic for burns then leaves him to await a psych consult; however, once alone, the boy promptly starts a fire in the ER. Lewis contends with her live-in sister, who quit computer school. Carter and Harper grow closer, while Benton asks Jeanie to leave her estranged husband.

Benton allows Carter to do his first unsupervised surgery, and Carter accidentally perforates the patient's liver. Tension between Weaver and Lewis escalates, while Ross saves an AIDS baby who was given the wrong medication by a clinic resident. Shepard and Hathaway grow closer after losing a victim. Chloe abandons baby Susie with Dr. Lewis.

After Benton punches an obnoxious salesman, Hicks chooses Carter to replace him in surgery -- and asks that Benton consult with Jeanie Boulet. Greene witnesses Ross's complicated personal life first-hand while bunking with the doctor. Lewis considers putting baby Susie up for adoption. Harper and Carter share a kiss.

Weaver's day off provides welcome relief to the ER staff. With Benton's finger still healing, Carter continues to impress his superiors in the O.R. Benton and Hathaway treat a motorcycle accident victim with a severed arm, but later discover he and his wife intentionally chopped the arm in an effort to scam the insurance company. Lewis decides to adopt baby Susie.

A gang shooting leads multiple victims to the ER. Jeanie and Benton are forced to work together when she returns to the ER as a physician's assistant. Greene catches Harper and Ross together, and Harper later confesses to Carter that she slept with Ross. The ER welcomes a new admissions clerk, Randi. Ross's fellowship is terminated after he breaks the rules...again.

Before blowing out of County General Memorial Hospital, a dissatisfied Dr. Ross accepts a lucrative position in private pediatric practice, and is on his way to celebrate when he discovers an injured boy trapped in a rural storm drain during a cloudburst. Stranded far from help and with the water rising, Ross soothes the frightened child as he struggles to free him. But even if Ross pulls the victim out in time, he knows he must further improvise to get him to the emergency room and keep him alive. Elsewhere, Dr. Benton, Carter and student Harper Tracy work hard to help a young girl who is a hit-and-run victim with multiple fractures and internal bleeding.

Now that Dr. Ross is considered a hero by all of Chicago -- after saving a boy from a flooded storm drain -- Bernstein reinstates his fellowship. Feeling guilty from a misdiagnosis, Carter orders a million tests on his newest patient -- with surprising results. Benton learns that Jeanie has filed for divorce. Harper and Carter reconnect.

Just after treating a hit-and-run victim, Greene learns that his wife and daughter were involved in serious car accident back in Milwaukee. Lewis is asked to speak at a prestigious medical conference, but opts to stay with baby Susie instead. In an effort to get a break from Benton's demanding schedule, Carter encourages him to interview for Vucelich's research project.

While his estranged wife asks to keep their daughter over the holidays, Greene deals with hospital attorneys. They're anxious to settle the malpractice suit with the husband whose wife died in labor last year. A drunk zamboni driver levels a group of ice skaters -- and lands them all in the ER. Lewis treats a priest, while Hathaway treats a Kris Kringle look-a-like. Later, at a last minute caroling party at Hathaway's house, Shep proposes.

When paramedic Shepherd makes an off-color remark about a large group of neglected children, he raises the ire of Dr. Benton. Meanwhile, Greene is served divorce papers and Carter tries to impress Vucelich by taking on a terminal patient's care. Elsewhere, Jeanie feels slighted after discovering that Hathaway has given her a poor evaluation.

Unable to save an elderly cardiac patient, Carter receives the blame from the patient's grief-stricken husband. Meanwhile, Benton is humiliated when Vucelich must bail him out of a complicated surgery. Elsewhere, Ross gets into a physical altercation with a neglectful father and Greene deals with his daughter -- who is acting out in response to the divorce.

Greene finally settles the wrongful death suit, only to have his ex-wife sue for custody of their daughter, Rachel. Carter takes credit for Harper's diagnosis, which leads to an argument. Benton grows increasingly suspicious of Dr. Vucelich's research study. Weaver pressures Lewis about the Chief Resident position; Hathaway becomes a part-time worm farmer to raise extra cash.

After confronting Vucelich about the research data, Benton is forced out of the study. Benton threatens to go to the ethics board and Vucelich removes him from the surgical team all together. Greene and Lewis are spotted riding the El together and the ER is buzzing with gossip about their relationship. Ross's birthday is spoiled when his father arrives.

When a water main breaks in the maternity ward, the ER is flooded with babies and expectant mothers. During the numerous deliveries that follow, Greene is shadowed by Hicks and Boulet deals with a former crack addict who is now giving birth. Meanwhile, Lewis finalizes adopting Susie and Harper fears she may be pregnant.

When a mother of four sets her apartment building ablaze by illegally preparing methamphetamines, Shep and Raul rush in unprotected to save the children. While Hathaway is relieved when Shep shows up at the ER unharmed, they are both devastated when Raul comes in with burns over 90 percent of his body. Ross reaches out to his father, only to be disappointed yet again.

Dr. Lewis's erratic sister Chloe returns, claiming five months of sobriety. Lewis, however, refuses to trust her and refuses to turn over baby Susie. Benton ignores hospital policy and betrays Dr. Ross in the process. Carter lets his personal life interfere with proper patient care.

An especially busy night goes from bad to worse when Weaver, Lewis and Ross are all unavailable. Greene, who has been working overtime for four days in a row, works on pure adrenaline to keep up and Morgenstern refuses to cut him any slack.

Weaver allows a videographer, Iris, to document ER procedures as a study guide. Greene is initially resistant, since Iris is a former patient. Ultimately, Greene and Iris share a romantic evening together. Benton's misdiagnosis of a cancer patient lands him in hot water with his colleagues and Hicks. Carter competes with a new surgical intern, Dale Edson. Carter's childish behavior leads to Harper breaking up with him. Chloe gains visitation rights with baby Susie.

Ross and Benton put aside their differences when they work to save a little girl hurt in a water heater explosion. Lewis deals with losing custody of Susie by throwing herself into work -- and saving a few lives in the process. Greene continues to finalize his divorce, but has sex with his estranged wife in the meantime. Carter thinks working with Ross will be easy...Ross starts dating his father's boss.

Ross turns to his mother for help when his father skips town with Karen's money. Meanwhile, Weaver tells Greene she'll support Lewis as chief resident if Greene will help Weaver become an ER attending physician. Hathaway covers for Shep, who is increasingly more unstable since Raul's death. Officer Grabarsky and Nurse Wright get engaged.

Greene announces that Lewis has been selected as chief resident for next year and Weaver as the ER attending physician -- with less-than-happy reactions. Lewis ultimately refuses the offer. Jeanie and Benton are tested for the AIDS virus after Jeanie learns that her estranged husband, Al is HIV positive. Carter misses his degree ceremony while caring for a critically ill young girl. Frustrated by medical insurance red tape infringing upon patient care, Nurse Hathaway quits.