WILL SYD AND JOE PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR RELATIONSHIP? - Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) is reluctant to accept Joe's (guest star Steven Ekholdt) invitaton to join him for an evening of romance in the public eye at a glamorous political event. Meanwhile at the clinic, Syd struggles to reconcile a patient (guest star Johnny Whitworth) who has full-blown AIDS, with his estranged father (guest star Frederick Coffin.) On the homefront, an exhausted Joanie (Paula Cale) butts heads with Jim's (Mike Farrell) new home therapist (guest star Debi Morgan). Robbie (Seth Peterson) avoids dealing with family issues by busying himself with do-it-yourself projects at Tina's (guest star Maria Pitillo) apartment. TV-PG
When Jim returns home to recuperate from a serious head injury after being shot in last season's finale, Syd, Joanie and Robbie clash over each other's reactions to the changes in their father. Syd believes Jim needs more help than they can provide at home, Joanie thinks he needs to be surrounded by loved ones in his own environment while Robbie is detached and angry over the ""loss"" of the father he knew. Besides trying to keep the peace in her family, Syd must also deal with a neurotic patient who believes television characters are real people.