Both teams tend to a tense situation with so much at stake. Meanwhile, Jo convinces Hayes to bend the rules on a case, and Maggie and Winston reconnect.
As traumas and pressure mount, Grey Sloan doctors try to find a path forward, and Richard questions his faith. Meanwhile, Jo, Link and Jackson play an unconventional drinking game.
After a heart-wrenching loss, Teddy struggles to cope and it triggers memories of her past; Amelia tries to help the situation by encouraging Owen to accept and forgive Teddy.
Both a mother and daughter are in critical condition and fighting over the last ventilator. Meanwhile, Hayes' sister-in-law ends up in the hospital with a kidney stone, and the house has a few more kids join in as Amelia's the babysitter.
A newlywed couple is injured in a car accident; Jackson's generosity with COVID-positive patients goes a bit too far; Hayes works to rebuild Maggie's confidence and convince her to perform an extremely risky heart surgery.
Maggie is preoccupied with Winston while trying to treat a patient wounded in the Seattle protests. Meanwhile, Levi is tested by an emergency, and the doctors struggle to treat a patient who doesn't believe in COVID.
Amidst the need for more surgeons, Jo tries to convince Bailey to let her switch specialties. Elsewhere, Link accuses Amelia of overstepping while he is treating a patient remotely, and Winston comes up with an out-of-the-box idea.
Jackson shares his big news with his colleagues while Koracick and Levi fight to save a pregnant woman's grandfather as she goes into labor. Maggie keeps a watchful eye on Meredith as Bailey and Richard put off telling her about DeLuca.
The Grey Sloan doctors treat a patient who encountered illegal fireworks; Bailey has her sights set on hiring new doctors, but she's having trouble finding viable options; Owen and Teddy attempt to take the next step in their engagement.
Meredith seeks advice from Amelia; Richard is re-energized as he takes teaching to a new level at the hospital; Winston treats a patient suffering from kidney failure.
Seattle's favorite redhead returns and graces the Grey Sloan halls with her experience and expertise as she attempts to help Richard teach the newest crop of residents.
Richard recruits Meredith and Bailey to help him launch a new program. Meanwhile, Addison's patient has complications from a procedure, and Jo helps a woman who goes into premature labor.
The Grey Sloan doctors immediately acts after an explosion rocks Seattle. Owen experiences PTSD when hearing the news of explosion, while his sister Megan enlists help from Winston and Hayes.
Dr. Hamilton takes his frustrations out on Meredith, so Nick gives her a chance to blow off steam by scrubbing in on a surgery; Link and Jo take their kids to a fairy-tale theater performance that goes wrong.
The doctors celebrate the holidays; Hamilton and Meredith prepare for a milestone on their project; Link wants to spend the holiday with Amelia and Scout as a family; Schmitt is faced with a difficult decision during surgery.