Part 1, Conception 1985-1993, Chapter 6, Nicholas Summary

Nicholas is having a bad week. A patient dies on the table, another has to be told her tumor is cancer, and an intern leaves a patient because of the patient's vulgar language, and Nicholas has to take over. On top of all this, Nicholas learns that a favorite patient has returned to the hospital, in the final throes of AIDS. Nicholas goes into the ICU to check on his mentor, Alistair Fogerty's, bypass patient. The man goes into cardiac arrest while Nicholas is with him, but Nicholas manages to bring him back.

Late at night, Nicholas goes to visit his patient with AIDS, afraid to wake her but taking comfort from the feel of her hand. Nicholas thinks about her children and wonders what will happen to them when she dies. Nicholas is ashamed...