Dr. Cox and Elliot work on a patient that forces Elliot to realize how harshly she has been judging herself. This patient makes Cox angry, he takes his anger out on JD. This causes JD to explode back at Carla later in the episode. It is also revealed that JD is one of the few people's whose opinions matter to Carla. Elliot discovers that she needs to take some time out for herself. While all of this is happening, Turk has found a new spot to have lunch. However, this spot has been previously claimed by none other than Kelso. A battle for the bench erupts with Kelso eventually crediting Turks hard will, although no real solution is ever shown.

JD has a day off but ends up needing surgery. Turk is elected to perform the appendectomy but JD seems to only see the "Frat boy" side of Turk. Meanwhile, Dr. Cox's old mentor, Dr. Benson, is in the hospital and seems to not be paying much attention to Perry. Dr. Kelso finally shows why he's chief of medicine, keeping his cool in a high stress and rather tricky emergency involving Dr. Benson. Kelso saves the man's life and Benson shows Kelso respect, which angers Cox. Each character has a trait revealed either to themselves or someone very close to them. Cox's stubbornesss and self sabotage, JD's insecurity in taking Turk seriously, Elliot realizes she has no bedside manner, and Turk understands that he needs to be a little more serious sometimes.

JD inadvertantly tattles to Kelso about a procedure being performed on a deceased patient. The said TIPS procedure was actually for a woman who couldn't afford it, the late patient was rich and his insurance was going to be fooled into helping pay for another patients care. Elliot menwhile learns the importance of caring for her patients in more than a strictly medical fashion. JD, then goes golfing with Kelso, Cox, and Steadman. While they are out golfing, JD begins to see why DRs Cox and Kelso clash so often. Kelso seems to only be conserned with money and Cox wants to help everyone who needs it. It is revealed throughout the series that although Kelso seems cold, he is the only character that never shows his feelings interfering with his medical judgement.

As each character continues to develope the time has come for another very hard trial. Dr. Cox and Laverne have erupted with an argument on whether or not God works even bad things for a good reason. Cox believes that bad things happen to everyone without reason. Laverne believes that God works all things for good and will show the way. Then a little girl is stabbed and in the hospita. Cox thinks he has won but then a potentially fatal tumor is found near the knife wound. Laverne sees this as an act of god and points out that since surgery, Cox and Jordan have been closer than ever. Dr. Cox looks like he might have "seen the light" and start to believe in god, but then a horrible realization is waiting for him at work, Laverne has been in a car accident and is in an unresponsive coma....she is probably going to die.

Another episode that has a lesson embedded. As we watch each of the characters deal with Laverne's approaching death, we see them begin to say goodbye. Carla is angered by this and, being stubborn, refuses to say goodbye. Dr. Cox has yet another problem to deal with alongside Lavernes death, his daughter is about to be born. However, he doesn't want the baby's birth to be associated with Laverne's death. Once the others find out, they reassure him that it will not happen like that. Carla eventually realizes that the time has come to say goodbye and she does. They all stand and wait, wanting to see Laverne off. They go out to celebrate her life after she passes on. Meanwhile, JD is the only one there for Jordan. Which causes her to name him godfather to the daughter and name the girl Jennifer Dillan....in other words, JD. The episode closes with a silent toast to Laverne.