Abby's family nightmare continues when she and her mother go in search of her AWOL brother -- whom she suspects is suffering from serious mental problems -- and the two women meet at a Midwestern air force base in hopes of preventing his military court-martial. Back at the snowed-in hospital, Dr. Carter struggles to get out of Chicago to join Abby while Dr. Corday treats a family of patients who are severely struck by a truck driver while building a snowman. Meanwhile, Corday tries to help the father make a life-or-death decision while she sympathizes with the troubled Dr. Nathan as he struggles with his increasing symptoms of his physical handicap.