If You Don’t Know Me By Now - Recap

The phone rang at the bedside of Sam and Addison just after midnight. It was Addison's mother, Bizzy, asking Addison to meet her at the hospital, concerning Bizzy's lesbian lover, Susan. Susan had been stricken with what seemed like terminal cancer of the ovaries. Bizzy was intent on finding a cure for Susan, with Addison's help. Sam, quite upset at the late call, urged Addison to stand up for herself, to not allow her mother to control her life. Addison told Sam that she wanted to help calm Bizzy that night. Shrugging on her clothing, Addison kissed Sam and left for the hospital.


Once at the hospital, Bizzy, naturally a clamorous, strident woman, was even more so now that her lover's prognosis was terminal. Undaunted, Bizzy demanded that Addison find a cure. Addison instructed the nurses to wheel the pale Susan into the Xray room for further Xrays. Bizzy stood outside the room, an anxious and angry look on her face. When the Xrays came back, it showed that the cancer had progressed much further than had been suspected previously: it had metastisized to the liver and beyond. An angry Bizzy confronted her daughter and demanded that she find a cure right now! Addison, taken aback by her mother's ferocity, stammered and said that she would do what she could to save Susan. Bizzy said that that was not good enough and she slapped Addison's face hard, then stomped off to console Susan. Violet had seen the encounter and tried to comfort Addison, telling her to stand up to her mother, to not allow Bizzy to dominate her, that Addison was an adult now. Addison just shook her head and told Violet that she had to do some further research and walked off to the medical library. Addison asked a visiting physician who specialized in cancer to aid her in her research and together they worked hard into the night and the next day.


A young man, Cory Ramsay, was brought in with a skull fracture and a swelling brain due to a bad car accident. He would need surgery immediately because his brain would injure itself further if the swelling was not reduced. His wife, Patricia Ramsay, was consulted and she said that she did not want, and she was sure that Cory would not want, to have his skull removed on both sides. She mentioned that the two had met at Harvard, that he was a genius, and he would want to have his brain heal naturally, not be all cut up. Pete, the attending physician, warned Patricia that considerable brain damage had most likely already occurred but that much worse damage might happen if he did not have the surgery right away. Patricia denied the surgery and went to the visitor's lounge.


A pensive and happy Violet sat in a sunny restaurant telling Natalie about her pending book concerning her struggle to have a child. She said that she had begun keeping a journal on her computer during that time and that it had turned into a book length publication. She felt sure that by telling her story that she would be able to help other women struggling with the same issues. Natalie encouraged her to continue with her project to which Violet replied that a publication back east was slated to publish her book in a few months. That night, Violet told Pete of her impending book, but she was not sure if she wanted their son, Luke, to read it when he grew up, being that such personal information was available. Pete reassured her that it was helpful information and not to be ashamed of it.


Cooper, appearing a bit frazzled, walked into Wallace's office, stood still and said that he wanted sex. An amused smile appeared on Wallace's face and he said that he was flattered, but not in the mood just then. Cooper discussed his need for sex, Charlotte's need for no sex, and when did Wallace think that it would happen? Wallace said that it would all take time, that eventually Charlotte would want it again, and for Cooper to use his noodle in thinking up ways to entice her into it. Could he find a way? Later that day, Cooper, clutching a box, walked into his lover' s office, inviting her to have some fried chicken with him. They sat down and began to eat. Charlotte asked if this was his way of asking for sex, upon which he promptly choked on his chicken. He wanted to know, how did she know that was his motive? They both agreed to give it a try that evening. They did try, but the memories of that recent rape brought tears to Charlotte's eyes and she asked for a little more time.


Pete was in Cory's room, discussing the case with Shepherd when a tall blond woman appeared at the door, saying that she had heard about the accident and how was Cory? Pete asked who she was. She said that she was Cory's girlfriend, pregnant with his child, and wanted to be with him. Just then, Patricia, his wife, saw her in the room and demanded to know who she was. The blond told her and just then, Cory had a medical crisis that emphasized his brain's immediate need for surgery, to remove both sides of his skull. Patricia said no, but the blond said that it was her decision too, since she carried the man's child. After a brief argument, it was decided to take Cory right into surgery where both sides of his skull were removed to alleviate his brain's swelling. He was closely monitored for blood clots, etc. and after some time, it was decided that he would be alright, but there might be some future brain damage and he would need a lot of help until he recovered. Patricia was grieving because he might never be the Harvard graduate that she had known, but on the other hand, he would be alive to be with his child.


Meanwhile, Addison and her assistant had discovered a cancer treatment procedure that involved heating up chemo and injecting it straight into the cancer victim's veins. It was decided to try that on Susan and after the procedure was carried out, it was declared a success. Bizzy was beside Susan's bed when the prognosis was made to which the two women smiled through their tears. Bizzy gave Addison a tender smile but said nothing and turned back to her lover. Addison knew that was her mother's way of saying thank you and left for home.


Cooper and Charlotte tried over the ensuing week to make love and since nothing seemed to work, Cooper pulled out another box of fried chicken after the last attempt, causing Charlotte to break into delighted laughter. They agreed to keep on trying, but not to make a project of it.


Addison walked into Susan's hospital room the next day to check on her, finding Bizzy at Susan's bedside. Both women were all smiles. Addison began with saying that there was something she wanted to discuss with her mother when Bizzy cut her off, saying that she had divorced Addison's father and now intended to marry Susan, that she loved Susan. Addison's mouth snapped shut and she stood staring at the happy couple who smiled back at her.

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