Providence

Dr. Sidney Hansen returns home to Rhode Island From Los Angeles after tragedy strikes.

Sydney helps a woman with a bad home life; Joanie names her baby. Kyle reenters Syd's Life.

A dying dog triggers Jim's greif; Syd races to save a teen whoose diagnosis is grave; Joanie gets into a lather after meeting Syd's Soap- Star patient.

In this season's opener, an out-of-control Mercedes smashes through a wall of the clinic; Molly, a mentally disturbed and dellusional young woman, holds Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) at gunpoint because she thinks she kidnapped her baby; and Helen contemplates a new career, away from the clinic. Meanwhile, Joanie hires Doug Dog Boy Boyce to help her out at the Barkery.

On the first anniversary of Lynda's death, the Hansens agree to celebrate her life with a memorial dinner until Jim causes a family uproar when he confesses that a missing secret letter that he wrote to his wife just before her fatal heart attack might have caused the calamity. Elsewhere, Sydney stays close to the athletic Kyle when he learns he must undergo a traumatic surgery. Joanie must make a painful decision when she discovers that the obedient employee in her dog store eatery has been behaving more and more like a canine.

SURPRISE PARTY -- While making preparations for baby Hannah's first birthday party, Joanie (Paula Cale) is pleased to learn that Ritchie , the baby's father, will be in town to join the celebration. What she hadn't planned on was that Ritchie would be bringing a special guest of his own to the party -- his new, very young bride, Kris. Meanwhile, Syd invites Kyle to move into the guest house while he undergoes his chemotherapy treatment.

Syd is about to go and will need therapy to help her leg heal from Encephalitis. Syd finds out her therapist is a man not big on machines. Syd begins working out and over works. Jim takes in dogs that came from Chicago because the owner wasn't found. Andi is stalking Robbie because he wouldn't cheat for her, Syd ignores her body's needs to rest while driving Izzy home and hit a tree. Joannie learns that Bert has girl friend. Syd doesn't feel normal and thinks about quitting medicine.

Syd awaits her fate on ""Survivor"" (in a dream.) Syd returns to work & Dr. Roberts's questions Syd's reason to come back so soon, She nearly kills a young girl with seizures after giving a large dose of medicine. Robbie can't seem to get rid of Andi who may have burned the ""Down on Your Luck"" Set. Syd feels Dr. Roberts may take over the clinic. Dr. Roberts wants take over the Clinic by showing Syd the plans for the clinic and something bothers Syd about the Doctor. Sarah's mom wants to sue her for malpractice. In a dream Lynda helps her daughter find the answer she needs. Doctor Roberts gave the little girl an adult dosage of the medicine to make Syd loose her job.

John Hemming asks Syd to look at former patient of his who wants to be a ballerina. Rebecca wants Syd to clear her for the Providence Ballet. Jim hires someone to train Fearless, later wishing he hadn't done it. Rebecca's problem could be more serious. Joanie finds out Burt has a problem. Syd learns that John may be in love with Rebecca, she made it up to get Syd off her back.

When Jim returns home to recuperate from a serious head injury after being shot in last season's finale, Syd, Joanie and Robbie clash over each other's reactions to the changes in their father. Syd believes Jim needs more help than they can provide at home, Joanie thinks he needs to be surrounded by loved ones in his own environment while Robbie is detached and angry over the ""loss"" of the father he knew. Besides trying to keep the peace in her family, Syd must also deal with a neurotic patient who believes television characters are real people.

WILL SYD AND JOE PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR RELATIONSHIP? - Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) is reluctant to accept Joe's (guest star Steven Ekholdt) invitaton to join him for an evening of romance in the public eye at a glamorous political event. Meanwhile at the clinic, Syd struggles to reconcile a patient (guest star Johnny Whitworth) who has full-blown AIDS, with his estranged father (guest star Frederick Coffin.) On the homefront, an exhausted Joanie (Paula Cale) butts heads with Jim's (Mike Farrell) new home therapist (guest star Debi Morgan). Robbie (Seth Peterson) avoids dealing with family issues by busying himself with do-it-yourself projects at Tina's (guest star Maria Pitillo) apartment. TV-PG

FRIENDS AND LOVERS - Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) and Joe's (guest star Steven Ekholdt) relationship is strained when Syd becomes better acquainted with his estranged wife Erica (guest star Christina Haag) and the two women discover that they like each other. Brought together through volunteer work for breast cancer research, Erica asks Syd to consult on her friend Lynn's (guest star Allison Smith, ""The West Wing"") breast reconstructive surgery. Meanwhile, Joanie (Paula Cale) struggles with financial problems caused by Jim's (Mike Farrell) HMO coverage, or lack thereof. Jim discovers the joys of home shopping on cable television which adds to Joanie's concerns. Joanie and Heather (guest star Dana Daurey) interview a temporary replacement for Jim to run the vet clinic and decide to hire Dr. Sam Magala (guest star Cress Williams). Robbie (Seth Peterson) tries to help Tina's (guest star Maria Pitillo) son Pete (guest star Alex D. Linz, ""Home Alone 3"") with a school science project but meets w

Syd must face the challenge of working with a new boss Dr. Bil Augustine at an acute care clinc while trying to rasie money to rebuild St. Clare's. Owen asks Syd an important question.

Syd gets cold feet before marrying Owen, When she sees Dr. David Baylor who is everywhere. Jim tries to stop a brother and sister from putting horses to sleep on their father's estate which they are selling.

Syd and Dr Baylor treat a suicide victim and have different views on things.