Careful What You Wish For

**"Careful What You Wish For"** is the seventeenth episode of the second season of *9-1-1*, and the twenty-seventh episode overall. It aired on May 6, 2019.

## Synopsis

The first responders deal with a calamity at a chocolate factory and a mail bomb explosion. Meanwhile, Eddie receives some surprising news from Shannon, Maddie contemplates her future in the call center and tragedy strikes the 118.

## Full Synopsis

The Golden State's lottery jackpot is impending as many citizens in Los Angeles rush to purchase lottery tickets at the last minute for a prize of $860,000,000. As Paula gets the winning ticket, she and Ray, the clerk, scream in enjoyment while the others look dismayed. As she walks to her vehicle and makes a wish, cash bills start raining from the sky, causing mass panic as citizens begin fighting while traffic becomes congested, Suddenly, Paula spots someone smashing onto her vehicle and dials the emergency services.

The LAPD had the scene cordoned off when the 118 arrive. Athena informs them the victim is Barry Johnson, 57, who jumped from a 20-story high location after throwing all his money and is somehow still alive. Buck doesn't really believe her statement, and Athena continues by adding the presence of casualties with minor injuries. When Buck cites only the captain has a say in this, Chimney, their effective captain during Bobby's absence, arrives as well. Chimney makes a subtle reference on how they still believe Bobby should be on the team, before going off to check on Barry. When he realized nobody's coming due to him being the one giving orders, he assigns Hen and Eddie with him, while Buck and John attend the remaining casualties. Hen informs Barry they will have to ease his pain with something, and refuses his demand to anesthetize him per procedures. Eddie reports a compound fracture on both of Barry's legs, and from what the team can observe, Hen determines Barry's spine is still fine. Paula reveals that Barry fell feet-first into the vehicle, and Barry laments on his failure to kill himself, though he does appreciate the morphine administered. On their way to the ambulance, Barry cites ever since he won the lottery last year, those around him betrayed him and the money only complicated his problems. As Chimney seals the ambulance, he turns around, saying "Careful what you wish for" before returning to the team. Horrified, Paula tears up her ticket while the ambulance departs from the scene.

Eddie and Shannon look on as Christopher is playing around on the beach, with Eddie comparing it to a lottery jackpot. He even declares Christopher inherited his happiness and looks, but wishes Christopher to also have intelligece. Eddie and Shannon then kiss, agreeing that Christopher is better with them both around. When Shannon asks what Eddie wants, he replies it's a relaxing trip to the beach with his wife and son. When Shannon finds he still isn't able to get the hint, she claims to Eddie she might be pregnant.

Meanwhile, Bobby, who's at his own apartment, gets a call from Athena, who claims to be jealous with Bobby off-duty while she has work. Bobby tells her he's planning on their wedding but doesn't want to make any decision against her opinions, though she grants him free choice, save for the wedding dress. Bobby then specifies the good aspect of his suspension is that he gets additional time to prepare, so it would be memorable to Athena. She jokes if he'd be able to convince the investigators on him as with her, he might be able to talk his way back to the job. The call ends when Athena enters her patrol vehicle, while Bobby responds to Buck knocking on the door. Buck is assured by Bobby that he isn't disruptive, before reiterating the suspension. Bobby, who isn't even sure if he is eligible for duty ever again, believes Buck would get more trouble than warranted if Buck tries to reason with the authorities. Buck then laments on how Bobby's absence was drastic, even though Bobby claims it was just two shifts. To Buck, he can't stand Chimney as the captain who's no longer hospitable as he instructs the crew on hose maintanience, since the firefighers don't quite enjoy his company. Hen finds it disagreeble as well and immediately departs. She believes Chimney was corrupted by his position, rather than conscientious, as claimed by Bobby, who reinforces with the weight of the captain's position. When Hen complains further on the duration of Bobby's absence as well as Chimney being a control freak to other firefighters, Bobby tells her they should not expect him from Chimney, to which she demands Chimney to hear. Chimney also proves to be a terrible cook, able to set a steak on fire, forcing Hen to eliminate the hazard. When the 118 end up ordering pizza instead, Eddie gets called upon by Chimney for walking away, and returns to the table. Eddie discusses with his dillemma on Shannon's presumed pregnancy with Bobby, who doesn't disagree with Eddie's lack of response. When Bobby inquires further, Eddie mentions he was never ready for children or marriage despite loving Shannon. Bobby praises Eddie for being a great parent, though leaving the role of a husband ambiguious, wanting Eddie to ask for himself. Harry is nervous on being invited to a dance because he's terrified of being mocked by the girl he liked. Bobby still thinks it's worth a shot, adding he's still nervous when he was dating Athena. Harry retorts with the fact that Bobby had access to some impressive firefighting equipment, and Bobby admits, though adding the fact he's suspended from them for now. Chimney complains now he's 118's public enemy, to which Bobby denies. Chimney then specifies he assumed being a captain is playfully easy and a humorous experience, when reality crushes it in his face. Bobby comforts him, aware being the leader is no easy task, and when Chimney declares he would rather work as a fellow collegue, not a leader, he is reminded that Bobby was both a good friend and a competent leader. Chimney still doesn't believe it is possible, until Bobby reminds him that he is well trusted and knows the team enough. All Chimney had to do would be placing his trust in himself, the rest of the team, while actively leading them instead of pushing.

A group of students, Harry included, pay a visit to Seymour Chocolate Factory, lead by employee Carol. Dubraunstein, one of the school faculty and social studies teacher, is poked on his former obesity by Lisa. He mentions he conquered his overweighted body by his own force rather than a shortcut. They also agree that children, especially intelligent ones, can give persistent, infamous and nasty remarks. When the students sample and taste chocolate liquor, Dubraunstein was immediately infatuated with the material and falls behind on the queue. He decides to ascend the catwalk and scoop some more. He ends up falling inside the massive vat, and Lisa dials emergency services.

Chimney, Buck, Hen and Eddie respond. They discover Dubraunstein trapped in a dense liquid body, whose heat has to left on lest it solidifies, and he's near impossible to pull out. The team decide to establish a ladder on the location, with Buck, Hen and Eddie cooperating as Dubraunstein's vital signs may drop further. The first attempt fails and Buck nearly sinks, only to be saved by Eddie. Hen figures whenever they pull, they create a pressure pocket which compresses right back in and drags Dubraunstein. Chimney orders Hen to supply Dubraunstein with oxygen via a tube while he escapes to figure a solution, eventually bringing a tank of cocoa butter. He explains it would weaken the substance's viscocity, reducing its resistance to disturbance, before asking them to stir with another large spatula. Hen and Chimney take over, which dilutes the liquor enough for Buck and Eddie to extract Dubraunsteins. As he's carted away, he admits he actually underwent gastric band surgery. Eddie and Buck simply praise Chimney, with Buck even eating some of the liquor. Chimney soon figures out that Hen didn't believe it was his own work, and admits he dialed Bobby's assistance, citing he's just using resources at his disposal. As she walks away, he adds it isn't cheating.

At the dispatch center, Maddie gets dialed by a frantic woman Nicole, who gives an address and claims her brother Sam Foster is attempting suicide. Maddie informs her police units are approaching the scene, meanwhile she is stuck in a congestion and remains anxious. Maddie tells her to remain calm and gradually acuquires more information - Sam has a bipolar condition and therefore has attempted suicide before. They also don't know what exact medication is he taking, all they are aware of is that he called to declare his suicide, and they've been arguing over this since college. When the vehicles before her wouldn't give way, Nicole panics and regrets ever leaving Sam. When Maddie tries to calm her again, Nicole cites he sometimes engages self-mutilation, but was perfectly normal this morning, and assumed the medications were functional as he rarely retains his composure. As soon as Nicole arrives, however, she finds an unusually large cluster of police units present and abruptly hangs up.

During break, Josh comes in, and Maddie brings the incident to him the exact way Abby does to Buck earlier on - Whenever emergency services successfully arrive and take over, the callers hang up, leaving the dispatchers bewildered to the outcome. Josh tells her he encounters these all the time, but recommends against searching the reports, just in case if something terrible happens, instead hoping for the best outcome. This keeps him from being victimized psychologically by such incidents. Maddie disagrees, as when she's a nurse, she gets to know everything because she has to offer physical assistance, but she can't if she's sitting at the dispatch center, directing many units around. Josh clarifies they never have to necessarily find out, hence it isn't really the task for everyone, though he did believe Maddie certainly was suited for the job. Maddie then tells him she left nursing only to escape Doug in a profession where she can only be heard, not traced. Now she is left purposeless after she killed Doug.

Ned and Miranda Filson celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary as he gives out some flowers and they kiss. Ned mentions they'll be going to Roberto's, though Miranda doesn't seem to mind where. The doorbell rings, and Ned searches for the car keys while Miranda goes to check, finding a package just as a brown sedan drives away. She assumes it was Ned's order and shakes it, only for the box to explode.

By the time 118 responded, LAPD were already present and cleared the way. Athena tells Chimney it was a mail bomb, Miranda was injured but the explosion didn't tear her apart. The bomb squad units were still on their way to the scene so authorities aren't sure if it's safe to proceed. The crew approach Miranda, and Buck tells Ned the explosion damaged her eardrums so she's temporarily deaf. Hen and Eddie take over as they attempt to relieve pressure. Chimney assumes command due to his experience as a paramedic, instructing Buck and Eddie to remove any other endangered individuals, so they usher Ned out as there are no occupants in the house. Hen makes two punctures and they apply tape before carting off Miranda in the ambulance as the bomb squad responds. Ned accompanies the vehicle with the other paramedics, and Eddie stares on as its doors slam shut.

Eddie was videocalling Shannon, Isabel and Christopher while they're dining outside. As it ends, Buck comes around, incorrectly assuming that Eddie is not married. When Eddie gets confused about marrying again. Buck suggests asking Bobby for advice before leaving.

Maddie admits to Sue that she is quitting her position at the dispatch center soon and has planned a job interview. Sue is aware as Josh mentioned it earlier, but Maddie explains she doesn't think she had any impact at all. Sue disagrees, but Maddie argues she cannot get the disclosure of actually helping people, if she's not attending her old career or something similar, and Sue nods.

Eddie hands a box of chocolates to Shannon at a bar, making an obscure reference to the factory incident earlier and *Forest Gump.* He admits he was conflicted about Shannon's return, as while Christopher is eager to see her, he doesn't their confrontation would go well after his deployment at Afghanistan. He continues by expressing his gratitude of having Christopher in their lives. He wishes for Shannon to settle here and return to their lives as a good mother and wife. Shannon tells him she was not actually pregnant, but freaked out anyway and terrified Eddie as well. She also brings up her unsent letter to Christopher, written just in case if she never returns to him, just to explain she left because she loved him. She doesn't want to fail both Christopher and Eddie again as either a mother or wife, before declaring they should get a divorce, leaving Eddie confused.

Josh invites Maddie for coffee and recalls the first incident she attended where he corrected an otherwise lethal mistake she made. He brings up how he and Sue were calling to find if they could prove Maddie was actually making a difference, but also specifies it wasn't a discussion between just the two. Suddenly, Nicole approaches and thanks Maddie, for the timely arrival of authorities prevented Sam's suicide. Ainsley and Drew Hudson also appear, and describe how her voice managed to assure them through the earthquake, while also getting their necessary medical assistance by sending the couple to the closest avaliable emergency crew with medical resources, preserving Ainsley and their child when emergency assistance would not come to them. Brandon Skinner, who was trapped on a cargo plane after stressful work, was successfully located by rescue teams and able to return home alive and well. Norman and Lola Peterson are grateful for her assistance in saving their marriage, for Maddie was the one who took Norman's call and got him to the scene with a police motorcycle patrol, eventually causing Lola to concede when the authorities fail to contain the chaos. Gloria, (who reveals she took a plea bargain to avoid prison time) Maddie's nemesis pulled out of a car wreck by the 118 and a fraudulent dispatcher, admits she was completely wrong regarding calls that abruptly end, and the operator can remain to offer assistance if they could and need to. Maddie still doesn't see the point until everyone else stands up. Josh tells Maddie her voice supplies the necessary hope and enlightenment the callers needed before they embrace.

At a road incident, the 118 crew arrive after the police. Chimney assigns John to anyone with minor injuries, Hen with himself, while Buck and Eddie attend to the driver. Buck and Eddie proceed to calm the driver who's concerned of the others, and Eddie gives her a neck collar, while Buck informs her other units are doing their work. She brings up one of the victims and Buck looks on, only to be stunned. A puzzled Eddie also takes a look and suddenly walks off, with Buck failing to stop him. Chimney attempts to also block Eddie, telling him Shannon was severely injured by the collision. They have a few moments together but Hen reports dropping vital signs and Chimney orders for immediate transport. Eddie decides to attend the ambulance and Hen declares they will have to insert a tube for her to breathe. Chimney, knowing Shannon's fate is sealed, tells Eddie it's now or never, and stops Hen so Eddie may have a word with his wife. On their way to the hospital, Shannon tearfully apologizes, aware she will certainly die. Eddie assures that he and Christopher both love her, and she affirms hers for them before she flatlines, at which point Chimney authorizes Hen.

By the time they're at the hospital, Shanon was already deceased, to Eddie's despair. Her voiceover of her letter to Christopher plays in the background. As Eddie is handed over Shannon's legacy, he exits the hospital ward, where the members of 118 on duty, as well as Bobby, also mourn for his loss, with Bobby hugging Eddie. The 118 subsequently return to the station in a terrible mood. While Bobby and Athena cuddle each other at her place, Eddie returns to Christopher and embraces him. As Eddie reads the letter on a beach, he breaks down over the tragic death of Shannon.

Chimney is surprised at Hen paying a visit as he drinks alcohol. He claims he was fine since it was Eddie's wife that died, not his, if he had one anyway, also regretting that he failed to administer medical aid, essentially allowing the death to occur. Hen counters by saying Shannon was effectively dead on arrival, and nothing could have been done. It haunts him, and he begins to wonder what would Bobby have done in his place. Hen dismisses his concerns, citing he made the best decision in a difficult situation and she approves of what he did. They agree they have been quite a thorn on each other's sides now that Bobby's suspended, but she reaffirms her confidence, instead being concerned that once Chimney became a leader, he would be consumed by the power it offers, and the life with his friends as she knew it would end. Chimney confessed that he never liked being a boss, and everything changed too much for him to handle, but Hen assures they will always remain friends, and they have a toast.

Bobby and Athena decide against planning their wedding early, as Eddie is still in grief, which Bobby understood back when he saw Marcy dying right before his eyes. They couldn't figure which kind of wedding they want anyway. They then spot a report of another bombing incident within the same week, concluding a serial bomber is on the loose.

## Cast

* Peter Krause as Robert Nash
* Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Buckley
* Oliver Stark as Evan Buckley
* Aisha Hinds as Henrietta Wilson
* Kenneth Choi as Howard Han
* Ryan Guzman as Edmundo Diaz
* Rockmond Dunbar as Michael Grant *(credit only)*
* Corinne Massiah as May Grant *(credit only)*
* Marcanthonee Jon Reis as Harry Grant

* Bryan Safi as Josh Russo
* Devin Kelley as Shannon Diaz
* Christine Estabrook as Gloria Wagner
* Romy Rosemont as Lola Peterson
* Daniel Roebuck as Norman Peterson
* Gavin McHugh as Christopher Diaz
* Ana Mercedes as Isabel Diaz
* Casey Biggs as Ned Filson
* Stephanie Erb as Miranda Filson
* Louis Lombardi as Barry
* Tangie Ambrose as Paula
* Tyler Ross as Brandon Skinner
* Steven Pritchard as Mr. Dubraunstein

Co-Starring* Kendra Chell as Ainsley
* Heather McPaul as Carol
* Burt Grinsted as Drew Hudson
* Kiva Jump as Lisa
* Sarah Adina as Nicole
* Jonathan Grebe as Paramedic John
* P.L. Brown as Ray
* Hudson Chen as Student #1
* Jaclyn Jasgur as Teen Girl

## Trivia

* Chimney becomes temporary captain of the 118 since Bobby was suspended at the end of Ocean's 9-1-1.
* Shannon Diaz dies in a road accident,
* When Josh takes Maddie to the cafe to convince her of the difference she has made during her time as a 911 operator, she finally gets to meet many people who she has helped in the past, including:
	+ Nicole (from earlier in this episode)
	+ Ainsley and Drew Hudson ("Help Is Not Coming")
	+ Brandon Skinner ("Merry Ex-Mas")
	+ Norman and Lola Peterson ("Buck, Actually")
	+ Gloria Wagner, who reveals that she took a plea deal to avoid prison time for hanging up on people. ("Awful People")
	+ Thao Van Lanh, the restaurant owner who was saved by Maddie and Athena in "Awful People" after he was shot during a robbery, also appears in the background but does not have any speaking lines.
	+ Many other unnamed people.

## References

 **Season 6** | "Let the Games Begin" • "Crash & Learn" • "The Devil You Know" • "Animal Instincts" • "Home Invasion" • "Tomorrow" • "Cursed" • "What's Your Fantasy?" • "Red Flag" • "In a Flash" • "In Another Life" • "Recovery" • "Mixed Feelings" • "Performance Anxiety" • "Death and Taxes" • "Lost & Found" • "Love Is in the Air" • "Pay It Forward"

 **Season 4** | "The New Hotness" • "The New Hot Mess" • "Cry Wolf" • "Abandoned" • "Human Resources" • "This Is Not A Drill" • "Tommy Dearest" • "Control Freaks" • "Road Kill" • "Sellouts" • "Double Trouble" • "Swipe Left" • "Open" • "Tongues Out" • "Donors" • "A House Divided" • "Best Of Men" • "In Sickness and In Health"