Chapter Summaries

Adam stopped Bonnie’s arterial bleeding by replacing the steel pipe with his hand, then helped complete two successful surgeries. He returned to the overwhelmed emergency room, where a woman died from unnoticed internal bleeding, and began scanning for other patients in danger.

• Adam pulled Bonnie free, blocked her artery with his hand, and helped Leonard and Dr. Bailey complete her surgery while Dr. Burke and Dr. Shepherd operated on Mr. Maynard.
• Adam explained that he had freed Bonnie quickly and steadily, then replaced the pipe with his hand to stop the bleeding.
• Both surgeries succeeded, and Adam left to help treat the many injured passengers arriving from the derailed train.
• Adam and George found that a woman who had collapsed in the emergency room had died from internal bleeding, and George recorded her time of death.
• Adam sent George to check other patients and scanned the emergency room for people with unnoticed injuries.

After a day of treating accident victims at Medical Center, Adam learned that two lifelong friends had given birth to a son and daughter using Joey Tribbiani as their sperm donor. He wondered how many of Joey’s donations had led to children and resolved to urge Joey to settle down.

• Adam observed that injured people kept arriving at Medical Center as ambulances brought critical patients there.
• Liz told Adam that his nephew and niece had been born and led him to Ward Six.
• Adam met two best friends who had each given birth and realized Joey Tribbiani was the donor they had chosen.
• The mothers explained that they had selected Joey after his acting career improved and said they had written wills to keep their parents from raising the children if they died.
• Adam examined the babies, noticed they resembled Joey, and worried that Joey’s many donations might have produced children throughout New York.

Adam reflected on Joey’s unexpected chance to become a father, then told Cristina about the many languages he had learned. Their conversation ended with Cristina examining Adam’s hands after his remarkable surgery.

• Adam thought about how Barney and Tony Stark had changed after becoming fathers, and wondered how Joey would handle raising his children.
• Adam told Cristina that he knew several languages, including Klingon, and explained how he had learned them through dictionaries and conversations.
• Cristina questioned why Adam and his friends used Klingon, and Adam suggested it could let her and Meredith speak privately in front of others.
• Cristina said she had watched the recording of Adam’s surgery and examined his hands, calling them the hands of life or the hand of God.
• Adam teased Cristina about learning a divine right leg from the chief, and Cristina rolled her eyes.

Cristina recounted how Adam’s help let her find the correct severed leg for Chief of Surgery Richard’s patient, while Joey came to terms with the two children who were his. The group urged Joey to change his ways, ending with Ross recalling Joey’s old insistence that he wanted both women and jam.

• Cristina told Adam how she had mistaken two severed legs before Adam’s call helped emergency responders deliver the correct one, and she thanked him for helping her earn Chief of Surgery Richard’s praise.
• Adam went to the nursery, where Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey saw Joey’s two children through the glass.
• Joey realized that the children resembled him and accepted that he was their father, though he felt overwhelmed and unsure what to do.
• Adam warned Joey to change his womanizing ways, and everyone agreed he needed to investigate women’s backgrounds before pursuing them.
• Ross teased Joey by recalling his answer to Chandler’s choice between a beautiful woman and a jar of jam: he wanted them both.

Adam teased Joey about pursuing the mothers of his children, then went to Paige’s apartment and answered a call from Missy, who accused him of ruining her hopes that Paige and Sheldon would become a couple. The call ended with Adam asking how Sheldon had been lately.

• Joey proposed pursuing the mothers of his children, but changed his mind after looking into the hospital room and seeing their true love.
• Adam left the hospital after working until nine and drove to Paige’s apartment, where Paige handed him a phone call from Missy.
• Missy accused Adam of pursuing Paige and ruining her hopes that Paige and Sheldon would become future spouses.
• Adam defended himself and reminded Missy that Sheldon lacked romantic awareness and Georgie Jr. might not stay with Veronica.
• Adam asked Missy how Sheldon had been lately.

Adam spoke with Missy about Sheldon becoming too frightened to take the train after hearing about a derailment, though he was due to travel from Pasadena to Chicago for an academic exchange. With family unable to drive him and Sheldon distrustful of strangers, they had no immediate solution.

• Missy told Adam that Sheldon had refused to board his train to Chicago after seeing news of a derailment.
• Adam and Missy recalled Sheldon's past fear of choking and how X-Men comics helped him overcome it enough to eat solid food again.
• Missy remembered Sheldon being dismissed from a train museum after overwhelming visitors and the curator with his train knowledge.
• Adam suggested that time would ease Sheldon's fear and recommended hiring someone to drive him.
• Missy explained that Sheldon would distrust a hired driver, the family could not take him, and it was too late for the school to arrange someone.

Adam offered to arrange for someone with convincing police credentials to deliver a letter to Sheldon, then discussed Missy’s studies at Wharton and her plans to repay him. When Adam mentioned his agreement with Caroline Channing, Missy reacted with disgust.

• Adam explained to Missy that he could have someone pose as a police officer to put Sheldon at ease while delivering the letter.
• Missy thanked Adam for helping her get into the Wharton School of Business and said she planned to work for him in the future to repay her debt.
• Adam invited Missy to visit, but she mocked the idea and compared her circumstances with Caroline Channing’s wealth and privilege.
• Missy described Caroline’s status at Wharton, and Adam encouraged her by predicting Georgie Jr.’s Dr. Tire Company would succeed with their help.
• Adam said he had an agreement with Caroline Channing, and Missy responded with disgust.

Adam arranged extensive security for Paige and planned a carefully chosen escort for Sheldon’s trip from Pasadena to Chicago. After returning to Paige’s apartment, Adam was interrupted during an intimate moment when the door opened and unfamiliar voices came from inside.

• Missy accused Adam of being a playboy, and Adam changed the subject before she hung up on him.
• Adam asked Lisa to hire a male security guard and a patient female companion to escort Sheldon to Chicago.
• Lisa confirmed that six armed female bodyguards were already protecting Paige in rotating shifts, and Adam inspected their arrangements.
• Adam returned to Paige’s apartment and insisted that she stop calculating and get some sleep.
• Adam and Paige became intimate, then stiffened when the apartment door opened and unfamiliar voices reached them.

Linda and David arrived at Paige’s apartment and discovered Adam in bed with her. While Linda and David waited in the living room, Adam and Paige took so long to come out that Linda angrily called for them.

• Lisa learned that Linda and David were heading to Paige’s apartment, tried to call Adam, and watched them reach the door.
• Linda entered Paige’s bedroom and found Adam under the covers with Paige, but recognized him and told them to get dressed.
• Linda told David that Adam had helped Paige through a difficult time after her parents’ divorce, and David approved of the relationship.
• After Linda and David waited in the living room, Linda called Adam and Paige when they did not come out; Adam said they needed another moment.
• Half an hour later, the bedroom door finally unlocked.

Adam awkwardly faced Linda and David after leaving Paige’s bedroom, then connected David with Ted Mosby, whose career rose after he challenged Old Bai’s absurd skyscraper design. The chapter left Adam and David discussing Ted’s plans to fire Old Bai while Linda took Paige aside for a private conversation.

• Adam emerged from Paige’s bedroom and faced Linda’s anger and David’s awkward introduction.
• Paige drank water, greeted David, and sat quietly at her desk before Linda pulled her into the bedroom.
• Adam learned that David designed and sold furniture in Washington and offered to connect him with Ted Mosby.
• David explained how Ted became project manager after presenting a successful design when Old Bai’s skyscraper proposal appalled the client.
• Adam told David that Old Bai now worked for Ted and that Ted was preparing to fire him for continuing to act like the boss.

Linda questioned Paige about her relationship with Adam and urged her to protect herself emotionally and financially, but Paige viewed Adam as her muse and rejected marriage as a burden. Linda left worried about Paige’s choices and reminded her to take precautions.

• Linda asked Paige what was happening between her and Adam, and Paige called their relationship indescribable.
• Paige explained that Adam had helped her research and that she had chosen to approach him for inspiration.
• Linda offered to stay with Paige, but Paige said Lisa was enough and sent her mother to keep David company.
• Linda suggested marriage, and Paige rejected it, citing the time and energy relationships had cost famous scientists.
• Linda urged Paige not to accept financial gifts from Adam, but Paige insisted they were equals and owed each other nothing.
• Linda reminded Paige to take precautions and avoid having a child.

Adam hosted Linda and David at Paige’s apartment after a long shift treating victims of the New York Train Derailment Disaster, and explained his medical work and wealth. The conversation ended with David naming Emma as his favorite Jane Austen novel, prompting Adam to look strangely at Linda Watson.

• Linda reluctantly agreed to stay for dinner with Adam, David, and Lisa, while Paige returned to her work.
• David asked Adam about his writing and medical career, and Adam described treating patients after the New York Train Derailment Disaster.
• Adam explained that he had saved nine critically ill patients and six severely ill patients, and said treating people mattered more to him than earning money.
• Linda asked how much Adam had made, and Adam said his wealth came from writing and investing; David declined to seek Adam’s financial help.
• David changed the subject to Jane Austen and said he preferred Emma to Pride and Prejudice, and Adam looked strangely at Linda Watson.

Adam and Linda discussed his relationship with Paige and the precautions he had taken to protect her. After David spoke privately with Paige and received her blessing, he proposed to Linda, leaving her overwhelmed with emotion.

• Lisa served Paige an elaborate dinner, making Linda feel envious of the attentive care her daughter received.
• Adam told Linda that he and Paige were more than friends but not yet lovers, and promised he would never hurt her.
• Adam explained that he had bought apartments and arranged bodyguards to protect Paige because of her fame.
• David spoke alone with Paige, then proposed to Linda after receiving her approval and her grandfather's permission.
• David asked Linda to marry him, and she covered her mouth and cried out in shock.

Linda and David got engaged, stirring doubts in Paige about whether love could last. Adam comforted her as she revealed lingering guilt over her parents’ failed marriage.

• David proposed to Linda with a diamond ring, and she accepted excitedly while Paige and Adam congratulated them.
• After Linda and David left, Adam noticed Paige was troubled and asked what was on her mind.
• Paige said she did not believe love lasted, pointing to her mother’s engagement and failed marriage as evidence.
• Adam asked whether Paige had seen her father since college, and Paige said she had ignored his Christmas invitations.
• Paige blamed herself for her parents’ divorce because her mother had devoted so much time and energy to raising her, and Adam comforted her.

Sheldon Cooper woke from a nightmare and became convinced that the security personnel sent to escort him to the University of Chicago were impostors. After checking their identities and rejecting their explanations, he heard that Adam Duncan had hired them, but he remained suspicious.

• Sheldon Cooper woke from a nightmare about a Gorn and armed himself with a Lightsaber when someone knocked at his door.
• A middle-aged woman and Jon claimed they were Caltech security personnel escorting Sheldon to an academic exchange at the University of Chicago.
• Sheldon checked their identification, called the school security office, and still accused them of possibly being conspirators or aliens.
• The middle-aged woman admitted they were not from Caltech security and explained that Adam Duncan had hired them to escort Sheldon.
• Sheldon questioned the woman when she said Adam had arranged the security, and the situation remained unresolved.

Adam spoke with Sheldon about the security guard, but Sheldon initially suspected that Adam was an alien who had taken over his friend. After Paige proved her identity through mathematical conversation, Sheldon learned she and Adam were together and became interested in trying the same thing himself.

• Adam answered Sheldon's call and tried to prove his identity by recalling details from their past.
• Sheldon accused Adam of being an alien who had read his memories and abducted him over his rocket-recovery design.
• Paige took over the call and spoke with Sheldon in advanced mathematical language until he accepted that she was really Paige.
• Paige told Sheldon that being with Adam had given her new inspiration for her research and might help her solve Complete Conjecture within a year.
• Sheldon said he wanted to try being with someone too, leaving Adam speechless.

Adam left Paige’s apartment before dawn and joined Meredith, George, Liz, and Cristina at the New York Medical Center after a storm-related power failure. Cristina’s claim to a herniated-disc surgery led her to reveal how she had helped Mr. Lamott endure pain during the outage, and the group teased her for it.

• Adam reassured Sheldon that security guards would escort him to Chicago, then left Paige’s apartment early in the morning.
• Adam arrived at the hospital, where Cristina explained that a lightning strike had forced staff to move patients after one backup generator failed.
• Cristina warned Adam not to compete with her for Mr. Lamott’s herniated-disc surgery because she had cared for him overnight.
• Adam and the others pressed Cristina to explain what she had given up, and she recounted soothing Mr. Lamott by telling him the story of Liu Bei’s Oath of the Peach Garden.
• Adam, Liz, and George laughed at Cristina’s story, and she angrily left the locker room.

Adam learned that Dr. Shepherd had ended things with Meredith, then met medical intern John Carter in the emergency room and taught him to respect nurses. Carter hoped to learn from Adam, while a nurse advised him to master the basics first.

• Cristina told Adam that Dr. Shepherd had rejected Meredith and claimed Dr. Montgomery was his wife.
• Adam heard Mr. Rake ranting in the emergency room and learned that his uremia and rude behavior had kept other hospitals from admitting him.
• John Carter introduced himself to Adam and offered him a latte, which Adam passed to a young nurse.
• Adam advised Carter never to offend nurses, and the nurse explained that residents were already competing for a chance to learn from Adam.
• The nurse urged Carter to master basic knowledge before seeking Adam's mentorship, and Carter resolved to do so.

At the medical center, Adam treated an abusive patient and encouraged Susan not to let difficult encounters undermine her compassion. He then gave John Carter his first real suturing assignment, leaving Carter to discover that the cross-dressed patient's wounds were in awkward locations.

• Adam saw that the end-stage renal failure patient was named Gatler Rake, while Rake insulted him and the medical staff until Susan warned that he could be removed from the hospital.
• Susan arranged dialysis for Gatler Rake, and Adam reassured her that she should not let abusive patients wear her down.
• Adam examined a crash patient identified as Miss Carlton and found only localized abrasions, then asked John Carter to suture her wounds.
• John Carter began treating Miss Carlton and realized that her makeup disguised her appearance but not her identity, while the location of her wounds made the procedure awkward.
• The nurses laughed at John Carter's suturing posture, and Adam praised the young doctor's potential.

Adam treated two teenagers from a fatal street-racing crash, then led a successful emergency operation with Susan. He later watched Susan respond to an abusive patient by exposing him to the entire ward while taking his temperature.

• Adam pronounced Larry dead after a brief resuscitation attempt, then helped Susan restrain the other injured racer.
• Adam recognized the second patient’s internal bleeding and led the emergency surgery after Susan chose to assist him.
• Adam and Susan successfully operated on the patient, and Susan returned to care for Mr. Rake, the Zaun Madman.
• Mr. Rake rejected Susan’s help and insulted her, so Adam called security while Susan regained her composure.
• Susan pulled back the privacy curtains while Mr. Rake lay with his pants off for a temperature check, leaving him embarrassed as the ward laughed.