When severe weather causes mayhem across D.C., M&A is impacted by the effects of the storm as their search for Heather escalates. Margaret confronts a familiar face in connection to Jamie's abduction. Zeke and Lacey's relationship is tested.
Is death the only way Gabi will be able to escape Sir's influence? It doesn't matter which of them dies either. That offers an ending to their story. They will no longer have to linger on the impact the other has had on their life. It's dark. That's the thought that creeps into Gabi's head when she and Sir are trapped in a prison lockdown together. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Meanwhile, she is more concerned about the well-being of others. She thought she was being smart. She had Ethan by her side when she went to ask Sir about his sister. Margaret believes Heather is Lena. That's confirmed. Gabi wanted immediate clarity. That's why she went to the prison. She had no intention of ever seeing Sir again. His mind continues to fixate on her. Meanwhile, Lena is actively trying to help him out of the precarious situation he is currently in. He continues to romanticize his dynamic with Gabi and the future they possibly have together. Lena accepts the brutal reality of the present. She doesn't understand the fixation. She too knows this toxic bond will only end in death. Sir risked his life numerous times in pursuit of a futile goal. Gabi will never willingly go with him. Death is a better option in her mind. Lena believes that may be the only way to get her brother to face reality.
All of this showcases how the characters continue to deflect from addressing their underlying traumas. They instead redirect all of their focus and attention onto their work with M&A. They are forced to stop because of a blizzard. The roads are shut down. It's difficult for them to escape their current circumstances. They believe they only have momentary relapses of fear and panic as suggested by Zeke. That's the unprocessed pain that still plagues them. Ethan was reluctant at first to offer therapy to Gabi. She needs it but he didn't believe he could handle it. She came between his marriage with Dhan. He was still intrigued by the prospect. The team recognizes that Gabi goes quiet and insists she's fine instead of talking about how she's actually feeling. They know she must be spiraling after a day locked alongside Sir. She doesn't confide in them. When she reaches out for an emergency session with Ethan, the universe denies her that possibility. She immediately jumps into the next story. She is desperate for answers. They suddenly arrive. She must grapple with the immediate concerns before being able to reflect on all that she has faced over the years. That's unstable. It can't be maintained for a long period of time. That's essentially how each of these characters have been forced to function. It means they are always on the edge of potential disaster.
In fact, it always seems like these characters are in and out of the hospitals themselves. Their lives are in near constant peril. Part of it is attached to their past traumas. Another part is the upheaval caused by Sir and the various members of his family. Lena senses that Trent has figured out who she really is. Sir dismisses the notion. And yet, he knows Margaret could see it immediately. That's what tips him off. He boasts about helping her figure out who took Jamie. She received that clarity thanks to something he said. It wasn't planned. It wasn't a way to continue to prove his worth to the team. It was simply an opportunity he stumbled upon. He will exploit it for as long as he can. He still seeks to create divisions between Gabi and her team. Margaret found out who took Jamie and didn't tell Gabi. Sir gave Trent a note to give to Gabi and he failed to do so. Sir believes Gabi is only operating with half of the story. He has the other half as her reward. She doesn't need him in order to thrive. His instincts require him to protect her no matter what. The inmates target authority and any connections to the outside world once that idea of control is removed. Gabi reveals her lethal thoughts. She's willing to take accountability for her actions. She feels like the universe continues to torture her. That's the burden she carries. It doesn't matter how many lives she saves. She still feels the darkness of Sir everywhere she goes.
Margaret is ready to lash out at the woman responsible for taking Jamie away from her. Carrie wasn't a part of Margaret's life until the day of Jamie's disappearance. She perceived a mother being ungrateful for her son. Carrie decided that Margaret didn't deserve him. Instead, she was worthy of having a son. Hers was cruelly taken away by a fatal heart condition. She had to take control of her own destiny. She took what she couldn't have herself. She forced a new identity onto Jamie. Moreover, she kept invading Margaret's life. She presented herself as a friend. In reality, she was just trying to keep tabs on the investigation. She wanted to ensure Margaret never came close to finding the truth. She was startled by Margaret's desperation during her first suicide attempt. She only saw Margaret as continuing to be ungrateful for what she could provide. Carrie is selfish and believes everyone else should recognize her greatness. She is at the center of this narrative. She's so incredibly destructive. Jamie can't deny that reality any longer. He has to save his mom. Margaret foolishly embarked on this confrontation. She didn't exactly have a plan. An opportunity was created for Carrie to strike. As such, this story isn't resolved either. It leaves lingering doubts and uncertainties. They need to be addressed. The characters can't hide or deflect from the pain. That's the easy path. It's scary confronting the truth. That's the only way to move forward both professionally and personally.
