GayTV Recap: Grey's Anatomy (Episode 16x3)

Grey's Anatomy recently returned for its sixteenth season. The show's resident gays were both prominently featured in Episode 3, as boyfriends Levi (played by Jake Borelli) and Nico (played by Alex Landi) found themselves facing very different circumstances revolving around Grey-Sloan Memorial patients during their shifts. Levi was assisting Dr. DeLuca (played by Giacomo Gianniotti) with a very ill patient, who was now suffering from low blood pressure due to dehydration. Levi explained to his daughter that they would be inserting a catheter into her father to help deliver fluids and medication. After seeing that she was very squeamish hearing about the procedure, DeLuca suggested she take a break from the hospital, knowing they would be done with the very simple procedure by the time she returned.

Meanwhile, doctors Shepherd and Linc came upon an elderly woman alone in a hospital hallway. They took her to the emergency room as she appeared disoriented continually repeating the word 'bird.' While in the ER, Nico overheard their discussion with the woman and realized that she was speaking Korean. Putting his native language skills to work, he quickly explained to them that she was looking for a person named Bird. He also reported that she didn't seem to be clear-headed, leading Shepherd to order some tests, as Nico agreed to stay with her until a translator arrived.

Later, Nico caught up with Dr. Shepherd, telling her that he saw the woman's passport from South Korea, and even though she claims to be fine, he feared that she might have dementia. Shepherd recommended admitting the woman until they could locate some family.

Back on Levi's side of the hospital, he worked with Dr. DeLuca on their patient's catheter. Despite DeLuca's urging for him to take his time with the guide wire, Levi lost it inside the patient, leading to a much bigger emergency than DeLuca was expecting. Levi tried to explain how the wire slipped inside the patient, as DeLuca quickly moved to triage the situation.

DeLuca & Levi found themselves in surgery, looking to remove the wire and correct the damage Levi caused. Chief Bailey arrived, furiously grilling DeLuca about what he was doing and why he hadn't informed her of the mistake he made with his patient. DeLuca didn't mention Levi and told Bailey that he didn't have time to consult her, given the patient's condition. He assured her it wouldn't happen again. After Bailey stormed off, Levi wondered why she thought DeLuca had made the mistake.

Elsewhere in the hospital, Shepherd & Nico's patient crossed paths with another patient who had been admitted into the hospital. She called him Bird and he instantly recognized her as his first love, who he had left behind in Korea while serving in the military decades before. Nico provided translation for both of them as they were reunited and filled in their doctors, Shepherd & Pierce, on their history together and how they were separated until the man's social media post about his surgery led the woman to come to America to see him after both lived lives of regret after their separation.

Meanwhile, Levi spoke with DeLuca, wondering why he hadn't told Bailey about the wire mishap being his mistake. DeLuca told him that Levi was his intern, meaning that the patient and Levi were his responsibility. He then punished Levi for his mistake by forcing him to hold a guide wire without letting go of it for an entire week, hoping it would prevent his mistake from happening again. He then told Levi that he was leaving him to explain what happened to the patient's returning daughter. Levi was petrified over the task left to him, but he faced it alone.

With their shifts ended, Levi & Nico were finally in the same place together. Nico was very curious as to why Levi was carrying around the guide wire. He couldn't fathom how Levi could have dropped it inside a patient. Levi told him that it's just the kind of thing that happens to him. He screws up sometimes. Nico told him not to dismiss himself like that. Levi knew he should be more positive, but Nico told him that wasn't what he meant. He said that Levi should be demanding more of himself.

Nico then told him that he was taking him to the skills lab where he could practice inserting a guide wire over and over until he got it right. Levi was surprised and disappointed asking what kind of a boyfriend Nico was. He told him that he didn't want to date someone who couldn't master that medical procedure. Levi prepared to leave, with wire in hand, as Nico mentioned them ordering pizza while in the lab. Levi was surprised to hear that Nico was going to stay with him the whole time. He reminded Levi that he wasn't heartless and they left smiling together.