Sometimes, you just don't know who might walk through the doors of the Gaffney emergency department, and that's one of the parts of Chicago Med that keeps us on our toes. From exciting guest stars to surprise appearances from past characters, the medical drama continues to present its main cast of doctors with reunions and relationships that are as challenging as their cases.
In Chicago Med season 12 episode 4, the Gaffney team cared for a wide range of patients, which included Dr. Abrams' ex-wife and daughter as well as a patient who presented Goodwin with an unexpected reunion with an ex. When the patient's oncologist drops by the hospital for a consult, Goodwin comes face-to-face with Dennis Washington (John Earl Jelks) for the first time since season 10.
If you recall, the dissolution of Goodwin and Washington's romantic relationship coincided with the dissolution of their professional relationship. Back in the season 10 finale, Goodwin was forced into a position to make budget cuts at the hospital, which unfortunately included Washington losing his job. He took that personally and disappeared from Goodwin's life altogether.
Naturally, we never anticipated that Washington would return to the series, especially not in the midst of this current storyline. Goodwin has been keeping rather busy after stepping down as the executive administrator of the hospital, opting to return to nursing to help take down Miranda from the inside. When you think about it, Washington's surprise return makes sense for one big reason.
As challenging as Goodwin's career has become thanks to Miranda, even with Archer trying to make her transition back to the floor as seamless as possible, the complexity of the situation called for closure for the past. She still had the dangling loose thread of her breakup with Washington in the background, and with Miranda still breathing down her neck, it's the perfect time to close the loop.
Washington's return in Chicago Med season 12 episode 4 allowed for the pair to share a brief but quiet moment to themselves in the midst of Washington's collaboration with Ripley on the medical case at hand. Washington approaches Goodwin with an apology about how he handled losing his job. He blamed her, but he realizes now that wasn't a fair position to put her in.
She accepts his apology and admits that she wishes there could have been more she could do at the time to protect his job at the hospital. But he understands now that they both ended up on the wrong side of Miranda's wrath. Washington found a new job at another hospital, which has brought him to this place of clarity and forgiveness, putting the past in the past.
That's not all, though! Goodwin and Washington's reunion also came with another confession from Washington. He isn't over losing Goodwin and seemingly admits that he still has feelings for her. Goodwin doesn't reciprocate these feelings in the moment, as she quickly gets pulled back into work, but they part on good—albeit confusing—terms.
It's unclear if Goodwin and Washington are headed back down a road toward reconciliation, but you have to admit that his admission is rather sudden. Would he have ever reached out to her if he hadn't been contacted by Ripley to consult on their shared patient? Their reunion was one of circumstance and convenience, not one that Washington actively sought out.
Chicago Med fans, are we against them getting back together or for it? Honestly, it's not the worst idea. Washington is a great character and he didn't go anything wrong. But the direction of their storyline would be more respectable if he had made the move to make an apology and closure. But at the end of the day, it's still an exciting new beginning for a familiar face we didn't expect to see again.
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