Army Wives

Outside the hospital, preparations are being made for the returning wounded soldiers. The soldiers' families are there, as well. A little girl tells Finn LeBlanc she made the sign she's holding for her father. Finn hollers at his mom, Roxy LeBlanc, asking where their sign is. Roxy says she forgot it because of all the running around she had been doing. Denise Sherwood walks up and tells Roxy the planes have landed and the bus should be there any moment. Roxy tells Denise about the forgotten sign. Denise assures her she brought what is most important. Roxy says she feels like she's been stuck in an airport the whole time waiting for the weather to clear. Denise tells her Trevor's time home will fly by. On the bus, Trevor LeBlanc is anxiously looking out the window. Outside, the cheering begins as the bus comes into view. Roxy and the boys are looking around trying to find Trevor. From inside the bus, Trevor spots them. As soon as Trevor steps off the bus, Roxy, TJ and Finn run up to him. Tight, Welcome Home hugs all around! Lieutenant Colonel Joan Burton welcomes Specialist Trevor LeBlanc home.

The LeBlanc family goes into the hospital. TJ and Finn are trying to fill Trevor in on everything that has happened while he has been gone. They are extremely happy to have their daddy home. Roxy just stands there watching them, enjoying the moment. A woman walks up to Roxy and introduces herself. Lieutenant Colonel Margaret Riley tells Roxy she is the Public Affairs Officer for Specialist Leblanc. Trevor introduces Lieutenant Colonel Riley to TJ and Finn. She compliments him on his beautiful family. Lieutenant Colonel Riley says she suspects Roxy has been filled in on what happened to Trevor in-country. She says Trevor is a hero and they are very proud of him. She wishes Trevor luck on his surgery tomorrow and leaves. One of the returning wounded soldiers is having chest pains and is short of breath. Roxy moves the boys to stand in front of a wall, out of the way. Medical personnel come running. They wheel the soldier to a trauma room. Dr. Getti says the soldier has stopped breathing and needs to be intubated. He looks at the nurse at the foot of the gurney. She stammers, freaked out because she's never done that before. Dr. Getti quickly looks at Denise and tells her to intubate him. Denise says she's never done it before. Dr. Getti says he will walk her through it. He instructs Denise to tilt the patient's head and insert the tube. He says they look like folding doors. He tells her to insert the tube between the doors. Tension mounts as Denise inserts the tube. She is able to insert the tube successfully and the patient becomes stable enough to be moved to the operating room.

In Iraq, Major Frank Sherwood is sitting outside with another soldier. Frank is opening a tin of cookies he received from Denise. He shares them with the other soldier. The soldier asks Frank if his wife had made the cookies. Frank says she did. He tells him that she's a damn good cook and a hell of a good nurse, too. Frank says she's smart and beautiful – the whole package. He shows the soldier a picture of Denise. The soldier tells Frank he's lucky. Frank looks at the picture for a moment, and then asks him if he's married. The soldier replies, "Was. I mean at first it was yoga, then it was Oprah's book club, followed closely by a guy." Frank says that must have been hard. The soldier says, "Oh yeah. But you know what was rougher? Dealing with it over here. I guess I, I shoulda tried to fix it while I was still over there." Frank sits, listens and lets what he's heard sink in.

After their shift, Denise Sherwood and Dr. Getti are walking to their motorcycles in the hospital parking garage. Denise is talking about the intubation. She says she learned about it in nursing school. This was the first time she has done it because no one had allowed her to do it before. It was an amazing experience for her. Getti compliments her on her steadiness and her ability to remain calm under intense pressure. He tells her most interns screw it up their first time – including him. The first time he intubated someone, he missed the lungs completely and was pumping air into the patient's stomach and almost killed him. Dr. Getti says Denise was flawless. He claims he knew she would be. Jokingly, he asks if he can stop being serious because it was giving him a headache. Denise tells him she likes it when he's serious. Dr. Getti claims he is a 'crier' and it wouldn't be pretty. He asks Denise if she's been taking the motorcycle lessons. She hasn't because she's been having too much fun and has been too busy. She starts describing a back road near the beach that she discovered. She lights up as she describes riding along, no other cars in sight and folding into the curves. She didn't want to stop. Getti offers to buy her breakfast. Everyone has been talking about the 'Julep' - that it's supposedly good. Denise tells him it's not good – it's amazing! The restaurant is located in a town that is hard to find. Getti asks Denise to show him. She replies, "The fun is in the finding." He says she won't tell him where it's located because she wants him to get lost. Jokingly, she tells him she knows he will! She warns him to not bother calling because they do not give out directions and it's not located on any Internet map. Getti asks her to go with him. Denise declines.

Lieutenant Colonel Burton knocks on Brigadier General Holden's door. She says she has some incredible news. The MIA remains found six months ago have been identified and his closest living relative is on post. Brigadier General Holden asks if the remains will be coming to Fort Marshall. They are. The relative is Master Sergeant Beverly Jacop. Brigadier General Holden asks if she has been notified yet. She has not. He tells Lieutenant Colonel Burton he wants to notify the Master Sergeant personally.

At the hospital, a nurse is injecting medicine into Trevor's IV as Roxy arrives. Trevor tells Roxy there was no need for her to arrive so early. Roxy says, "Look, I can't control what happens to you over there, but nothin' bad is going to happen to you on my watch!" Trevor says he's going to be laid up most of the day. Roxy tells him she can't be anywhere else. Roxy seductively tells Trevor she will take him home later and put him to 'some good use' all night long. Trevor says he's sedated and is easy prey. Roxy claims it would require some privacy. Then, she closes the curtain around his bed. With the curtain closed, the camera shows Roxy standing on her tip-toes. A few seconds later, the curtain is yanked open. Trevor laughs, embarrassed. Roxy stands up quickly, whips around to look at the nurse and says, "What? Like we're the first couple to try this!" The nurse says nothing. She takes the IV down in preparation to move Trevor to the Operating Room. They exchange I love you's as Trevor is wheeled out.

Master Sergeant Jacop is about to leave her house. She watches as a couple of sedans stop in front of her house. Brigadier General Holden gets out of one of the vehicles and marches up to her. She salutes. He tells her to stand at ease. Brigadier General Holden says she'll be happy to hear that her father has been found. Master Sergeant Jacop looks at him, puzzled. He says that JPAC has made a positive ID through dental records. Relieved, Master Sergeant Jacop says, "Oh, that father!" She thought something had happened to her 'real' dad. Brigadier General Holden asks if Ernest Flowers is her biological father. She says he is, but her mother was never married to him. She reveals her mother was pregnant for her when he died, so she never knew him. She tells Brigadier General Holden she's happy he has been found. Brigadier General Holden tells her Ernest Flowers' remains will arrive on post within a few days. He says Mrs. Holden and the F.R.G. would be happy to assist with locating any other relatives and arrange for their transportation. Master Sergeant Jacop's mother has passed on and Ernie was a foster kid. She doesn't think there are other relatives. Brigadier General Holden says, "Well, then it'll be just you in the place of honor at the memorial service." Master Sergeant Jacop says she just cannot be at the memorial service.

At the Holden residence, Claudia Joy asks Michael if Master Sergeant Jacop said why she wouldn't attend the memorial service. Michael says anything that made any real sense was she would not feel comfortable with the idea. Claudia Joy wants to give it a try. Michael is upset. He says, "Been missing for 35 years; gave his life for this country and there'll be no family to stand up for him when he is laid to rest." Claudia Joys says, "We will be there." Michael talks about his cousin that is still missing. Even though he never met him, he is family and Michael wants him home. Claudia Joy reminds Michael that Master Sergeant Jacop is not him. Michael supposes that how Master Sergeant Jacop feels about Ernest Flowers is none of his business. Claudia Joy tells him, "Her feelings aren't. Returning soldier is. Sweetheart, Ernest may not have any other relatives, but he still has family. His family is every troop who ever served in uniform." Claudia Joy is going to mobilize the F.R.G. If there is anyone for Ernest Flowers, they will find them. She reassures Michael that Ernest will not be alone even if they are unable to find someone for him.

At the hospital, Trevor is just waking up. Roxy is sitting next to the bed. Trevor asks if she's really there – wanting to make sure he wasn't dreaming. She assures him she is really there. The surgery went well. There was a little more damage than they had expected, but Trevor cleaned up nicely. Roxy shows Trevor the newspaper. The headline reads, "Local Hero Returns Home." Roxy tells him he's a celebrity. Trevor asks her if she would mind if he went back to sleep. He claims he's still feeling a little out of it.

In Lieutenant Colonel Burton's office, she's catching a power nap in her chair. There's a knock on her door. A male officer comes in. He tells her that when his wife was pregnant, she didn't just nod off at her desk, she nodded off in the middle of conversations. He claims it was his fault because he tends to run on. He introduces himself. His name is Lieutenant Colonel Evan Connor and is to be her 'backfill' replacement while she is on maternity leave. Surprised, she tells him she has only begun her second trimester. Lieutenant Colonel Connor says the sooner they get started, the easier the transition will be. He knows her reputation, which means he as some pretty big shoes to fill. Lieutenant Colonel Burton says, "At least you won't be falling asleep on the job!" She looks at his arm and notices he does not have a combat patch. Lieutenant Colonel Connor says he has never seen combat, unfortunately. If he had, he believes he would have been promoted to full Colonel by now. He is envious of Lieutenant Colonel because she has seen combat. She pauses a moment before saying, "Your commanding officer must have thought you are more valuable on post." Lieutenant Colonel says he serves where he is needed, and apparently, he is currently needed here.

At the Sherwood home, Denise and Pamela Moran are having a glass of wine and looking through a motorcycle accessory catalog. They are talking about one of the outfits in the catalog. Denise thinks it's way over the top. Pamela says it's sexy and she thinks Denise can 'pull it off.' This surprises Denise. Pamela says that she couldn't see Denise in something like that a few months ago, but she can now. Denise asks if she seems different. Pamela says she does and it's a good thing. Pamela notices a soldier checking out Denise's motorcycle. Denise goes outside. He introduces himself as Corporal Anderson. He tells Denise he wasn't expecting something that nice based on the price in the ad. This surprises Denise. She asks him what he's talking about. Corporal Anderson says Major Sherwood listed it on Military Classifieds Online. They have been e-mailing each other and have agreed on a price. Denise tells him her bike is not for sale. She goes in the house and picks up her phone. Pamela asks her what that was all about. Denise says, "That? That was nothing!"

Claudia Joy tells Michael they were able to find someone for Ernie Flowers. The F.R.G. had contacted Veteran Groups and gone through old records. They located his best friend. Michael asks what his name is and if they served together. His name is James Vayro. She knows that they enlisted together and were as close as brothers. Mr. Vayro is coming to Fort Marshall and will be standing for Ernie Flowers.

Roxy and Trevor are home. The house is a mess, but quiet. Trevor says he never thought he would miss the quiet. Betty is in the kitchen. She comes out and welcomes him home. She says, "Welcome home, Superhero!" Trevor says hello. Betty asks where his cape is. Roxy asks Betty to give him a minute to settle in before she starts with the wisecracks. Trevor tells Roxy it's ok. He's happy to see someone has a sense of humor about the whole thing. Betty plops down on the couch and turns on the television to a demolition derby. Trevor makes a comment about the quiet going away. Betty tosses a motel room key to Trevor. This pleases Roxy a lot! Trevor looks at Roxy and says, "I'm REALLY starting to like her!" Betty claims it's only to get them out of her hair. TJ, Finn and Pamela come out of the boys' room. They are packed and heading over to the Moran home for the night. The boys want to know why they can't go with them. Pamela told them Mommy and Daddy need to be alone. Finn tells them being alone isn't fun. Trevor avoids answering their questions. He promises the boys they will be able to hang out all day tomorrow. Before Pamela leaves, she welcomes Trevor home. Trevor tells Pamela she's awesome and thanks her for taking the boys. Pamela says it's nothing, but if he wants to do something to pay her back, he can be a guest on her radio show. Trevor wants to know why. Pamela tells him it's because he's a hero and callers have been asking about him. It should only be about ten minutes. Pamela asks him to say yes or…the boys can spend the night with them at the motel. Roxy quickly accepts on Trevor's behalf!

Joan tells Roland about meeting her replacement. Roland is surprised. He knows Joan isn't going anywhere. Joan says Lieutenant Colonel Connor is a transfer from Fort Bragg. She thought Michael would select one of the officers under her rather than bring in someone new. Roland asks if she asked Michael about it. She hasn't. Michael is her Commanding Officer and it's not her place to question his decisions. Roland tells her new officers come in all the time and suggests maybe she's blowing things out of proportion. Joan doesn't think she is. She has seen his kind before. He is a climber. Joan says Connor has never seen combat and probably never will. He has to find other ways to climb the ladder. Roland says Lieutenant Colonel has one major obstacle to overcome. Joan wants to know what it is. Roland says, "You. He's gotta go up against you. I almost feel sorry for the guy." Joan is not so sure about that. Roland tells her mothers are the fiercest fighters in the world when it comes to protecting their own. Roland tells Joan he's glad that Joan is on his side!

Denise is just about to leave her house, when her computer 'rings'. Frank is video calling her. Denise asks if he's ok. Frank says he doesn't know. He says he received an e-mail from Corporal Anderson. Denise tells Frank she never agreed to sell her motorcycle. Frank thought they had decided to. Denise says, "No, we didn't – you did." She asks how he could place an ad without discussing it with her. Frank asks why the motorcycle is so important to her. She counters by asking why it's so important to him that she sells it. Frank says she isn't acting like her normal self and it scares him. If he was at home, it may be different. However, it's a whole different ballgame for him being deployed. Frank says, "It feels like you're changing, Baby. Feels like you're changing and here I'm just treading water and I can't keep up. I love you. I love you and I can't keep up." Feeling bad, Denise tells him to e-mail Anderson again and she will sell her bike. Frank says he's over that. Keep it or sell it, the decision is hers. He just doesn't want to fight anymore. Denise doesn't want to fight, either.

Getti rides into the hospital parking garage. Denise has just arrived, as well. Getti asks why she drove the car instead of the bike. Denise claims she didn't feel like riding it and she's tired of it. He doesn't believe her. She's going to sell it. He tells her she can't because she promised to go riding with him. In Getti World, it's an ironclad contract. Denise continues walking, ignoring his comment.

Roxy and Trevor are at the motel. Trevor keeps telling Roxy he loves her. She instructs him to stop talking and to keep kissing. They have to try and find a position that doesn't cause Trevor pain. Roxy takes control of the situation. Later, Trevor is sitting on the floor watching the news. Roxy wakes up and sees him staring at the television. Roxy asks if he's ok. Trevor tells her he can't sleep. Trevor says he is not a hero. Roxy thinks he is. Trevor claims it was purely instinct when he shot that man. He acknowledges that the man was carrying something, but it could have been anything. Roxy says it wasn't 'anything' – it was a gun. She reminds him that he saved a lot of lives. Trevor is playing the 'what if' game. He asks what if he had been wrong. Roxy says he wasn't wrong. Trevor is upset with himself because he shot without thinking – he just acted. Roxy tells him that's what heroes do. It's what makes them heroes. He is bothered by the fact that he could have killed innocent people. Roxy says he didn't kill a lot of people – he saved a lot of people.

Brigadier General Holden is standing before the casket of Ernie Flowers. Claudia Joy has arrived along with Staff Sergeant James Vayro, (US Army Retired). Staff Sergeant Vayro asks how long Ernie has been there. Brigadier General Holden tells him it's only been a couple of hours and he's been with him the entire time. Staff Sergeant Vayro asks how much of Ernie's remains were found. Brigadier General Holden says more than most. Staff Sergeant Vayro begins to share details about Ernie Flowers. Vayro and Flowers were two young, punk kids from Brooklyn. It was Vayro's idea to join. Flowers went along because he didn't want Vayro to go alone. Flowers found out his girlfriend was pregnant about a month after arriving in Vietnam. From that point forward, he sent every paycheck home and promised to marry his girlfriend when he got home. Flowers never made it home. Vayro did. Vayro says, "Try carrying around that guilt for 35 years." Claudia Joy says, "It's hard carrying guilt for even a few months." Staff Sergeant Vayro says he waited a long time for this. He would like to talk to Flowers' daughter. Brigadier General Holden tells him that may be difficult and isn't sure if she will be attending the memorial service. Shocked, Vayro asks why. He says he has to talk to her; he has to tell her about Ernie – that he loved her before she was even born. Vayro says she has to come to the memorial because it would mean the world to Ernie – and to him. Claudia Joy tells him she's going to give it a try. The Holdens leave. Vayro places his hand on the casket and says, "Welcome home, Brother."

Trevor and Roxy have just arrived home from the motel. Trevor asks when the boys came home. Roxy tells him Pamela brought them home last night. It was their idea to be at home when Trevor got there. Trevor says, "You left them alone with Betty? Are you crazy!" Roxy laughs and says the boys are survivors and probably found a great place to hide. Inside the house, TJ and Finn are holding a sign, "Daddy Is Our Hero." They yell, "Surprise!" as soon as Trevor walks through the door. They ask if he likes the sign. Trevor says he always wanted to have green hair. Finn tells him they ran out of brown. TJ tells them their homework is done and their lunches have been made. Roxy is amazed. She comments on the house being spotless and asks if Pamela did it. TJ says it was Betty – she did everything. Finn pulls money out of his shirt pocket saying Betty paid them to be good. Betty is in the kitchen. She says, "Nice. Rat me out!" Roxy tells Betty, "Well Betty, your live long goal to strike me mute and dumb has been met!" Roxy walks over to Betty and hugs her. There's a knock on the door. TJ answers it. He turns around and tells them, "It's a soldier lady." Trevor goes outside to talk to Lieutenant Colonel Riley. She tells Trevor she stopped by to check on him – to see how he's doing. She informs him that his Brigade Commander is recommending him for the Silver Star. Trevor is honored, but feels there are soldiers out there much more deserving. Lieutenant Colonel Riley says he saved many people's lives and he deserves it. She also lets him know she is adding the medal presentation to the tour. Trevor is shocked by the word 'tour'. He will be doing television, radio and magazine interviews. A lot of people want to talk to him. Trevor tells her he's never been good at public speaking. Lieutenant Colonel Riley explains that's why she's there – to help him through it. She says he will make his unit very proud.

Denise walks over to her motorcycle, stands with her arms crossed and just looks at it. The next scene has her reading a newspaper in the restaurant, Julep. Getti arrives, sees her and says, "Ok, I'm not a stalker. I saw your bike. I was gonna turn around and leave. But, it took me three hours to find this damn place and I'm not leaving until I taste those freakin' pancakes that everybody raves about." Denise just looks at him, saying nothing. Getti sits down at a table across from Denise. He tells her he got really lost. Denise relents and says he does not have to sit all the way over there. He moves over to her table. Getti thought she was going to sell her motorcycle. Denise decided to take the bike out for one last spin. She asks him if this counts as 'some other time' in Getti World. He says it depends on how good the pancakes are. Getti's pager goes off. There's been a troop bus crash and a lot of injured will be coming in. Denise decides to go as well, because she knows they will need all hands. They hop on their respective motorcycles. Getti's starts. Denise's doesn't. She realizes the bike is out of gas. She was having too much fun and didn't want to stop. Getti tells her it happens a lot with new bike owners. He says she can ride back with him and they can come back later with a gas can, but they need to go now. She puts on her helmet, jumps on his bike and they take off.

Claudia Joy Holden is with Master Sergeant Beverly Jacop. Claudia Joy asks her why she joined the Army. Beverly says she had a bad break up and wanted to change her life. Claudia Joy tells her there are a lot of other ways to change her life. Beverly tells Claudia Joy that if she's implying she joined the Army to connect with her dead father, she's wrong. Claudia Joy asks if she's sure because part of who he was is part of who she is. Master Sergeant Jacop's mother used to tell her she looks just like him. The man her mother married – who adopted her – is African-American. There was no hiding the fact that he wasn't her real father. She couldn't have asked for a better father. When she was in school, kids would ask questions about her real father. This forced Beverly to think about Ernie – what he looked like, what it would have been like to have him hold her. Now, she's thinking about him again – what it would be like to see him with her children. Claudia Joy asks if she has told her children. Beverly hasn't. She says they are so young. She's afraid of what it might do to them. Claudia Joy says it might make them very proud of her and their grandfather. Beverly tells her it would mean the kids would know he went off to war and never came back. She wonders what will happen when she gets deployed again. They might think that if their grandfather didn't come back, their mother might not, either. She doesn't want them to go through that. Claudia Joy says, "That isn't only your father in that casket. He represents a loved one to every person who lost a family member to that war and is still missing. Now they need you to represent. They – and your father – need you there." Master Sergeant Jacop says nothing and then looks over at her children.

Denise and Getti have just ridden into the hospital parking garage. A nurse notices the two of them getting off the motorcycle. She watches as they walk by. She slams her car door closed.

Trevor walks into the building where Ernie Flowers is lying in state. James Vayro is sitting near the casket. He stands when Trevor walks over to him. Trevor says he saw the story on the news and felt he had to be there. Trevor introduces himself to Vayro. Vayro tells Trevor his name, that he's retired Army and is Ernest Flowers' best friend. Vayro says Ernie would be glad he came. He asks Trevor to stick around and help keep Ernie company. He asks Trevor if he was wounded in the war. Trevor confirms. Vayro tells him that it would have been a one-way ticket home during his time. Trevor says he wants to go back as soon as he possibly can. Mr. Vayro tells Trevor he understands how he feels. He says he was in the hospital because of snakebite when Ernie and five other men did not make it back. He tells Trevor he kept thinking if he had been there, he could possibly have done something or maybe have been different. Trevor shares that he thinks about his unit all the time. He wonders where they are and if they're ok. Mr. Vayro asks Trevor to tell him about them. This surprises Trevor. Vayro sits down, indicates Trevor should sit in the chair next to him. He says he wants to know about every one of them. Trevor sits down and begins by talking about Dalton, his best buddy over there.

At the radio station, Pamela tells her listeners her guest is someone they've been hearing a lot about – Trevor LeBlanc. She says she'll let him fill them in on the heroism details. As a friend, she's just glad he's home safe. She turns the microphone over to Trevor. Trevor is very uncomfortable and REALLY does not want to talk about himself. Trevor says, "I'm not the hero. I did what I was trained to do – what anyone would have done in my situation. Honestly. What I want to talk about is what is going to happen this afternoon – the memorial service for MIA Ernest Flowers. You know, not every hero carries a gun and runs into battle; sometimes they're scientists and archaeologists. Did you know the Army has a bunch of those people over in Hawaii? Some of them are civilians, some are soldiers and they form JPAC; and that stands for Joint Prisoners of War Missing In Action Accountability Command. And it's their job to scour the globe and find missing soldiers. They're still finding Doughboys from World War I buried under hayfields in Belgium. I can't even believe that! World War II soldiers in caves in Guadalcanal. And they are the ones responsible for finding Ernest Flowers. Lost 35 years in a mango grove in Vietnam. Now they brought him home. Now those heroes, no one's ever gonna give them a medal. No one's ever gonna throw them a parade. We'll probably never even know their names, but they will not quit until every missing soldier that fought for this country is found and returned home - for their families and for us. I mean, what's more heroic than that?" As Trevor talks, we watch as preparations are made and people arrive for the memorial service.

At the memorial service, Brigadier General Holden thanks Ernest Flowers for the life he gave for this country and welcomes him home. He tells Staff Sergeant Vayro to do roll call. Corporal Arnold Sedowski is present. Private Craig O'Neil is present. Private Ernest Flowers. No response. Private Ernest J. Flowers. No response. Private Ernest James Flowers. For the third and final time, no response. The rifle detail begins the rifle volley. The flag is folded. Taps plays in the background. Once the flag is folded, Brigadier General Holden presents it to Master Sergeant Jacop. He says, "On behalf of a grateful nation, I present this flag as a token of our appreciation for the faithful and selfless service of your loved one for this country." As Master Sergeant Jacop accepts the flag, Brigadier General Holden salutes. Master Sergeant Jacop walks over to Mr. Vayro and presents the flag to him. As he accepts it, she salutes. The camera pans to the Fallen Soldier Battle Cross display. The episode ends with an overhead camera shot of Staff Sergeant Varyo holding the folded flag.