The 2009 fire marked the end of the long running nurses' station at General Hospital.
In January 2009, a storyline titled Toxic Spheres also referred to as Toxic Balls unfolded when a terrorist, carrying a biotoxin from a government-operated Equinox truck, arrived at General Hospital in need of emergency surgery. This narrative prompted a significant redesign of the renowned nurses' station at GH, which was integrated into the storyline through a plot that included an explosion causing damage to various sections of the hospital.
Storyline[]
One of the toxic spheres (2009)
In an opening montage, Dr. Monica Quartermaine, Dr. Matt Hunter, along with nurses Elizabeth Webber and Leyla Mir, were engaged in a surgical procedure on a patient, while Dr. Patrick Drake was situated on a the first floor of the hospital. Concerned after reviewing an X-ray, Patrick hurried to the elevator, urgently instructing nurse Epiphany Johnson to contact the operating room and halt the surgery. She attempted to make a call but, when the elevator doors did not open promptly, Patrick dashed to the stairwell and ascended several flights of stairs. Meanwhile, Monica and Matt were heard discussing the surgery as the scenes progressed. Nikolas Cassadine was at General Hospital, where he noticed a woman at the nurse's station who bore a striking resemblance to Emily Quartermaine as he reached for a hospital phone. Kate Howard was seen walking purposefully, pausing briefly to collect herself. The hospital clock indicated it was 7 o'clock. Dr. Robin Scorpio-Drake was experiencing post-partum depression, with the sound of her daughter Emma Scorpio-Drake crying in the background. In a moment of frustration, Robin hurled the baby monitor across the room. At the hospital's benefit gala, Carly Spencer and Sonny Corinthos stood close together; Carly's smile faded as something drew her attention, prompting her to step away from Sonny. He turned to discover Claudia Zacchara approaching him from behind, reaching for his arm. Lulu Spencer appeared distressed as she removed her necklace and exited a room. In a garage, Johnny Zacchara carried Maxie Jones to a pallet and gently laid her down, where she seemed alert. Damien Spinelli was seen at the penthouse, grabbing a briefcase before hastily exiting. Jason Morgan, in his car, wore a grim expression as he drove down the road.
At General Hospital, Matt informed his surgical team of a critical situation involving a bleeding patient. He cautioned them that there was an issue with the individual on the operating table. In a sudden turn of events, blood splattered onto Matt's face. Patrick arrived at the observation window of the operating room, where he pounded on the glass and shouted, "Stop!" to the team inside. However, his voice went unheard amidst the chaos that ensued. Monica removed her surgical mask, her eyes fluttering shut as she collapsed to the floor. The atmosphere in the operating room became frantic as everyone began to lose consciousness while desperately trying to escape the turmoil.
Subsequently, Patrick, dressed in a coat over hospital scrubs, took a seat in a dimly lit room. The identity of the person he was conversing with remained unclear until it was later disclosed to be Agent Rayner. Patrick introduced himself as a neurosurgeon trained to maintain emotional detachment. As he recounted the events leading up to "that day," the narrative began to unfold.
During a snowstorm in Port Charles, Sam McCall was admitted to the emergency room with a sprained wrist. Another vehicle collided with hers, causing her car to skid off the road. While Elizabeth assessed her vital signs, Sam mentioned that the other driver was in a more critical state, as his vehicle had crashed into a pole. Patrick was prepared to perform surgery on the driver who had struck Sam's car, but Matt advised him to return home to Robin and Emma, assuring him that he could manage the situation. The patient began to moan in agony, and his abdomen appeared distended. As Matt and Patrick examined the issue, Epiphany informed Patrick that the man's name was Earl Bragg. Earl Bragg had stolen five spheres of biotoxin from a government-owned Equinox truck, with the intention of causing mass casualties. In an attempt to smuggle the spheres to their next location, Bragg ingested them but found himself at General Hospital for emergency surgery after colliding with Sam's vehicle. As Bragg's discomfort intensified, Matt prepared to operate, but Patrick preferred to wait for the x-ray results. Patrick then attended to another patient while Matt chose to proceed with the surgery regardless. He requested Elizabeth's assistance, but during the operation, Matt inadvertently punctured one of the spheres, resulting in everyone in the operating room losing consciousness.
Agent Rayner persisted in his inquiries with Patrick regarding the circumstances that preceded the incident at the hospital. Patrick expressed his frustration over the FBI's handling of the situation. In response, Agent Rayner defended their approach, asserting that their intention was to prevent widespread panic. He then reminded Patrick that his role was to provide answers rather than critique the FBI's methods. Refocusing the interrogation, Rayner inquired about the events that transpired after Patrick had examined the X-rays. Patrick recounted that he had instructed Epiphany to contact the operating room and alert Matt to refrain from proceeding with the surgery. Upon revealing his knowledge of Matt being Patrick's brother, Rayner indicated that he possessed more information than he had initially disclosed.
Simultaneously, a benefit event in the hospital board room was attended by Claudia Zacchara, Olivia Falconeri, Anthony Zacchara, Trevor Lansing, Ric Lansing, Tracy Quartermaine, Edward Quartermaine, Kate Howard, Sonny Corinthos, and Carly Spencer. Rayner informed Patrick of the critical need to ensure that no one exited the operating room, as the toxin was airborne and posed a contamination risk to anyone exposed. Spinelli arrived at the hospital, and Jason tasked him with tracing the air ducts leading from the operating room. Patrick equipped himself with a biohazard suit to enter the operating room. The first individual he encountered was Elizabeth; a swift assessment confirmed her survival, though she was in critical condition. Medical staff promptly transported her to the Intensive Care Unit. Patrick then returned to the operating room to assist the next victim, Matt, who insisted on remaining until the others were rescued including Leyla. Patrick managed to carry Monica out, who was in a condition similar to Elizabeth's. Aside from the patient, Earl Bragg, the only other casualty was Dr. Andy Archer, the anesthesiologist.
In the meantime, Spinelli brought alarming information to light. It appeared that one of the air ducts in the operating room connected to the hospital board where the benefit was taking place. At that moment, an orderly collapsed at the nurses' station, indicating that the toxin was now airborne. Agent Rayner promptly ordered the hospital to be placed under quarantine, and Patrick announced over the intercom that no one was permitted to leave the premises by directive of the FBI. At that instant, Claudia was the first in the boardroom to be affected, falling to the floor. Trevor then pretended to collapse in an effort to separate himself from the group. Unbeknownst to the attendees, Trevor later stealthily infiltrated the operating room and made off with one of the toxic spheres, with the intention of using it for ransom. Shortly thereafter, Kate also lost consciousness, and during a conversation with Patrick, Tracy was the next to be overcome by the toxin. Meanwhile, Jason, Sam, and Spinelli convened in the lobby of the hospital. Patrick soon arrived, delivering unsettling news. Only one of the five biotoxin spheres had been located within Earl Bragg's body. The x-ray had clearly indicated the presence of five spheres prior to the surgery.
In the Intensive Care Unit, Leyla regains consciousness just as Patrick arrives. She reconciles with him before her heart rate ceases, prompting Patrick to immediately begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Other nurses, including Epiphany, entered the room to provide assistance. Despite several attempts to restore Leyla's heartbeat through defibrillation, Patrick ultimately had to concede defeat and pronounced Leyla deceased. Subsequently, Patrick chose to review his voicemail, as he had not received any communication from Robin. He listened to a message indicating that Emma was experiencing a fever and informed Spinelli and Sam that Robin was en route to General Hospital. When Robin arrives, Jasper Jacks informs her the FBI has quarantined the building.
In a separate room within the hospital, Sonny confronted Anthony about the shooting of Kate, the orchestration of a mob conflict involving Jason, and the pretense of his paralysis. In response, Anthony quickly accused Claudia of deceit, asserting that she intended for Sonny to eliminate her father. Sonny inquired about the benefits Claudia would gain from his killing Anthony. Anthony, with a shrewd demeanor, suggested that Claudia's plan was to have Sonny imprisoned for Anthony's murder, thereby allowing her to seize control of the entire organization. To support his assertion, Anthony disclosed that Claudia had betrayed Sonny by engaging in an affair with his brother, Ric. Unfazed by Anthony's fabrications and pleas, Sonny aimed his firearm at Anthony and threatened to take his life. Just as Sonny appeared ready to pull the trigger, Jason burst into the room, instructing Sonny to lower the weapon, a request Sonny declined. Sonny justified his stance by revealing Anthony's numerous crimes. Jason reminded Sonny of the necessity of keeping Anthony alive. As their dispute escalated into a physical struggle for the gun, Anthony seized the opportunity to escape, rising from his wheelchair and fleeing the room just as Sonny's gun discharged. Jason informed Sam of the urgency to locate Anthony before Sonny could kill him, emphasizing that someone needed to be handed over to the authorities. Should Sonny succeed in killing Anthony, Jason would be compelled to turn Sonny in.
Spinelli and Winifred Leeds were present in the operating room observing the clean-up crew as they prepared to transport the hazardous poison. It was at this moment that Spinelli detected an oxygen leak within the surgical suite. He urgently called out a warning, but unfortunately, it was too late. He managed to guide Winifred out of the operating room just moments before it erupted into flames. A fire ignited at General Hospital, rapidly spreading throughout the facility. Fortunately, both Winifred and Spinelli emerged unscathed. After they removed their hazmat suits, Winifred expressed her admiration for Spinelli's quick thinking and decisive actions. Spinelli, however, remained humble. They shared a poignant moment before proceeding to assist in the evacuation of the hospital.
As Nikolas traversed the corridors of General Hospital, he was taken aback by the sight of a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to his deceased wife, Emily. Approaching the enigmatic figure to engage her in conversation, he was suddenly confronted with a catastrophic event as the ceiling collapsed, engulfed in flames and debris that separated them. Nikolas urged Rebecca to move away from the fire, and she complied. Meanwhile, Lucky was in the lobby alongside Epiphany when the explosion occurred. She informed him of the urgent need to begin evacuating the hospital. He assured her he would return promptly after checking on Elizabeth. In another part of the hospital, Sam encountered Lulu, and both women, in search of Spinelli, decided to join forces in their quest to locate anyone trapped in the smoke.
Following the explosion, Carly attempted to persuade Trevor to relinquish the biotoxin, but he was entirely absorbed in his own machinations. He reveled in tormenting Claudia, expressing his venomous hatred and wishing her perpetual suffering. Carly empathized with Claudia's situation, affirming that Trevor was unhinged, to which Claudia concurred. As Trevor made his escape, Spinelli and Winifred urged Carly and Claudia to support one another in leaving the hospital so they could assist others in need.
Meanwhile, Sonny and Jason, having heard the explosion, resolved to offer their assistance. Sonny reminded Jason that Anthony was his responsibility. Jason secured Anthony to an unoccupied hospital bed, despite Anthony's fear for his safety. Jason assured him that he would return after aiding in the evacuation, prompting Anthony to ironically laugh at the notion of being under Jason's protection. Anthony, however would later manage to escape. Sonny finds Trevor with the poison and holds him at gunpoint however, before he can shoot him the oxygen tanks explode, knocking Sonny temporary unconscious.
In a separate confrontation, Jax and Rayner clashed in the police trailer, with Robin, Johnny, Maxie, and Emma observing. Jax declared his intention to go after Carly, regardless of Rayner's objections. Robin sought to communicate with Patrick, who had contacted Rayner to report the operating room explosion. Rayner omitted mentioning Robin's presence, leading Patrick to leave the call in order to prevent the fire from spreading to the oxygen tank storage area. Maxie urged Robin to take Emma to Mercy Hospital, but Robin insisted on remaining at General Hospital, sending Johnny and Maxie to the hospital with Emma instead.
Sam and Lulu convened with Jason, who shared his knowledge of the situation. They continued their search for survivors while examining the fire's trajectory. As Sam, Jason, Winifred, Spinelli, and Lulu reviewed the hospital's evacuation protocols, Nikolas and Patrick arrived. The group turned to Patrick, who instructed them to commence the evacuation of patients. Sam and Jason departed to ensure the west stairwell was unobstructed. Amidst the turmoil, Robin and Patrick managed to connect via phone. He inquired about Emma, to which Robin responded nonchalantly, informing him that she had sent Emma with Johnny and Maxie to assist with the evacuation. She ended the call before Patrick could elaborate. After Robin and Epiphany transported patients out of the hospital, Robin was prepared to return for additional patients, but Epiphany insisted that she had done enough and directed her to go to Mercy to be with her ill child.
As Carly pushed Claudia through the corridors in search of an exit, they unknowingly followed behind Olivia and Kate, who were also seeking a way out. Kate continued to persuade Olivia to return and search for the missing DVD that would implicate Claudia in Michael Corinthos's shooting. The two groups of women converged in a hallway, where a nurse instructed them to wait by the elevators, assuring them that help would arrive. Claudia grew anxious and pressed Carly to have a contingency plan in case assistance did not come.
Jason continued his search through the hallways and discovered a woman lying on the floor. He quickly lifted her just as the fire intensified and hurried her to a safer location using a gurney. As he looked at her, he was struck by her resemblance to Emily. He expressed his apologies, explaining that she reminded him of his late sister. At that moment, Sam entered the room and gasped upon seeing the woman who looked so much like Emily. Jason requested Sam to care for the woman while he proceeded to rescue others. Sam introduced herself to the young woman, who identified herself as Rebecca Shaw. Sam then guided Rebecca around the corner to where Edward and Monica were located. Edward was left speechless, while Monica exclaimed "Emily" upon seeing the young woman.
Jax entered the temporary command center for emergency personnel and inquired with commissioner Mac Scorpio for an update. Mac had just spoken with Patrick, who informed him that the only viable option for rescuing individuals above the fifth floor was a rooftop evacuation. However, Mac was hesitant to proceed due to the blizzard, which rendered helicopter flights perilous. Jax, unwilling to let the people perish in the flames, resolved to volunteer to pilot his helicopter to the hospital's rooftop. Meanwhile, Mac was on the phone attempting to obtain information from Agent Rayner, but was met with limited success. Just as Mac concluded the call, Alexis Davis entered, visibly upset by Jax's plan to land a helicopter on the hospital's roof amid the blizzard. As they conversed, a report came over the police radio indicating that the helicopter was spiraling out of control. Alexis rushed toward the door, but Mac restrained her, warning that she would not want to witness the aftermath if Jax had suffered a catastrophic accident in the crash.
Carly stood atop the hospital roof, her heart sinking as she witnessed Jax's helicopter spinning out of control. Spinelli guided Carly back inside the building. Meanwhile, Jax persevered and ultimately managed to land his helicopter on the roof. He was frustrated upon discovering that Carly had already returned indoors by the time he arrived. As Edward, Tracy, Monica and Matt boarded the helicopter, Patrick reassured Jax that they would locate Carly and ensure the safety of the others. Jax continued his efforts to evacuate, successfully bringing Lucky, Lulu, Olivia, and Ric to safety.
Nikolas encountered Rebecca, who was resistant to his help and insisted he keep his distance. As she shouted at him, a wall of flames collapsed nearby, trapping her. Nikolas rushed to her aid, vowing to protect her. With Rebecca pinned beneath a fallen beam, he found a sturdy piece of debris to use as a lever, enabling her to escape. Just as they attempted to flee, more debris fell, rendering Nikolas unconscious. Unable to rouse him, Rebecca grasped his arms and pulled him to safety. Once they were out of immediate peril, she slapped him until he regained consciousness. Initially mistaking her for Emily, Nikolas quickly grasped the situation, and together they made their way toward the roof for rescue.
In a smoke-filled corridor, Sam found Jason and urged him to ascend to the rooftop. However, he remained determined to locate Anthony Zacchara, his sole leverage to negotiate with the FBI for Spinelli's protection. Sam proceeded to the roof alone, where she encountered Trevor. She attempted to persuade him to relinquish the toxin, but he remained unconvinced, viewing it as his safeguard. In response, Sam drew her weapon, yet Trevor cautioned her not to underestimate him as others had. Jax arrived in his helicopter for another rescue attempt, accompanied by Kate, Claudia, Nikolas, and Rebecca, who were prepared to board. Patrick assured Jax that he would locate Carly, but these four individuals were the immediate priority for rescue. He provided Jax with medical details to communicate to the Mercy officials before Jax departed for the other hospital. As Sam and Trevor observed the helicopter's departure, Trevor's anger escalated. He removed the toxin from its container, threatening to discard it, thereby implicating Sam in the potential deaths of innocent individuals below. Trevor intended to inform the authorities that he had salvaged the toxin from the mobster who perished at General Hospital. Just as he was about to throw it over the edge, Sam lunged for it. Trevor lost his balance and fell over the rooftop, with Sam following suit. Jason emerged onto the rooftop, initially finding it empty, but upon hearing Sam's struggles, he quickly turned back. He discovered Sam precariously clinging to the rooftop's edge, having managed to grasp the toxin. Jason swiftly grabbed her arms, pulling her to safety just as she lost her grip on the toxin, which he was able to catch in time.
At the front entrance of General Hospital, Nurse Nadine Crowell assisted Matt in boarding an ambulance for his transport to Mercy Hospital. Patrick arrived via Jax's helicopter, and the three medical professionals engaged in a discussion regarding the potential reconstruction of General Hospital. Patrick expressed his emotions, reflecting on the significant events that had transpired in his life at the hospital, and he committed to ensuring its rebuilding. As they prepared to depart for Mercy Hospital, they were approached by Agent Rayner, who requested to speak with Patrick. Consequently, Matt would need to proceed to Mercy independently. Matt felt frustrated that Patrick was being drawn into the inquiry, believing he possessed more pertinent information than his brother, particularly since he had conducted the initial surgery that initiated the turmoil. Observing Matt's increasing agitation, Nadine determined it was time to head to Mercy Hospital. Just as she was about to close the ambulance doors, Nikolas and Rebecca approached, inquiring if there was additional space available in the ambulance.
Meanwhile, at the temporary headquarters for the rescue teams, Agent Rayner invited Claudia and Kate inside to await their ambulance transport to Mercy Hospital. Jax's helicopter had only delivered them to the ground, where they could safely wait for further transportation. Claudia promptly stated that she would not speak without her attorney present, while Kate offered to provide Agent Rayner with any information he required. The initial inquiry directed at the two women concerned the whereabouts of the missing ball of toxin, to which both Kate and Claudia replied that Trevor Lansing possessed it and intended to use it as leverage. Agent Rayner then revealed that they had just discovered Trevor's body, which appeared to have jumped from the roof in an attempt to escape a fiery demise.
Maxie was anxious about Spinelli and managed to evade the firefighters, re-entering the burning building in search of him, prompting Johnny to follow her. As he searched, Johnny discovered one of Maxie's shoes and traced the smoke until he found her unconscious from the fumes. He carried her to a stairwell and urged her to leave, explaining that the stairwells were blocked and they could not reach Spinelli. After some hesitation, she agreed.
Sam and Jason descended from the rooftop to locate Spinelli and dispose of the poison. They encountered a fierce blaze and discarded the vial into the flames. While searching for Spinelli, they discovered that the corridor was engulfed in fire. They came across a supply room with a locked door. Both were convinced that Spinelli was inside, but when Jason forced the door open, Spinelli was absent. Sam observed that a grate from one of the air vents was missing, prompting Jason to assist her in climbing into the ventilation system to look for Spinelli. They heard a noise from above and soon discovered that Spinelli had been in a been in the air ducts. He crawled into another supply closet, only to be alarmed by the sight of oxygen tanks lining the walls. As Sam and Jason approached the door to rescue him, an explosion suddenly shook the hospital. Meanwhile, Winifred entered the FBI's temporary headquarters and inquired of Maxie whether Spinelli had been rescued. Maxie expressed her frustration that Winifred had left Spinelli behind in the hospital, leading to a heated argument between the two women. They were both left speechless as they witnessed further explosions occurring within the hospital.
Jason and Sam engaged in conversation with Spinelli as he navigated through an air duct towards a utility room. Upon his descent into the room, Jason proceeded to retrieve an object to assist in breaking down the door, enabling Spinelli's escape. Concurrently, Spinelli became aware that he was surrounded by heat-sensitive canisters. Moments later, an explosion occurred within the room. The force of the blast knocked Jason and Sam to the ground as the door was blown off its hinges. Once they regained their composure, they observed that the room Spinelli had occupied was engulfed in flames. Jason instructed Sam to remain in place while he attempted to rescue Spinelli. Although Sam wished to assist, Jason insisted that she promise to wait for two minutes. Should he not return with Spinelli within that timeframe, he urged Sam to seek an exit from the hospital. Fortunately, Jason located Spinelli, who was unconscious. He carried Spinelli to a temporary safe location, where Sam successfully revived him. Once Spinelli was back on his feet, the trio made their way to the stairwell to descend to the lobby. Upon reaching the ground floor, they were met with a smoke-filled stairwell. Jason determined that their best chance for survival was to hold hands and remain together. He grasped Sam's hand while Spinelli took hold of Sam's other hand. Before exiting the stairwell, Jason instructed them to keep moving forward, regardless of the circumstances.
Maxie was deeply troubled by the thought of Spinelli being trapped within the hospital. Winifred shared her concern for Spinelli's safety. As Maxie attempted to rush into the hospital, Lucky intervened, pulling them into the police trailer and directing them to wait there. Maxie reacted with frustration to this command, reminding Lucky that all of his loved ones had safely exited the hospital, while Spinelli had no one but her to care for him. While they awaited news about Spinelli, Maxie and Winifred discussed Spinelli's admirable qualities and the significance he held in their lives. Later, as they stood outside the hospital, Maxie's patience began to wane upon realizing that the firefighters were not entering the building to conduct a search. She was on the verge of entering when Jason and Sam, intertwined in each other's hands, exited the lobby in haste. Spinelli was absent from sight. Fortunately, shortly thereafter, Spinelli emerged from the lobby, coughing. Maxie hurried to Spinelli and embraced him warmly. Winifred observed from a distance as Maxie and Spinelli shared a kiss.
The next morning, Sam found herself outside General Hospital, gazing at the charred remains of the lobby when Agent Rayner and Winifred approached her. Rayner informed Sam that while surviving the crisis had been relatively straightforward, their responsibilities were far from over. Sam pointed out that the toxin had been eliminated, but Rayner clarified that he was not referring to the poison. He reminded her that Anthony Zacchara was still unaccounted for. Rayner inquired about the last time Sam had seen Anthony. Upon realizing that she had not witnessed his death, Sam quickly reassured him that there was a significant chance he had perished in the fire. Rayner suggested that she should wish for Anthony's survival, particularly for Spinelli's benefit.
At the same time, Edward approached Jax and Carly at the Metro Court Hotel to discuss a potential business opportunity. He expressed his intention to collaborate and utilize his Quartermaine family resources not only for the reconstruction of General Hospital but also to enhance it. Jax and Carly consented to invest in the initiative, which would ultimately lead to the establishment of the Michael Corinthos Pediatric Head Trauma Unit. Nikolas Cassadine, the CEO of GH, allocates Cassadine funds to support the rebuilding initiative as well.
During the closure of General Hospital, Mercy Hospital temporarily assumes the role of the primary medical facility in the area, with numerous employees from GH taking on temporary positions there. General Hospital undergoes significant remodeling and reconstruction, culminating in a grand reopening in April 2009.
Trivia[]
- The decision to completely revamp the iconic nurses' station was made by former executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps. The renovation resulted in the repurposing of several sets originally created for Season 2 of the spinoff General Hospital: Night Shift into a new central hub for General Hospital. The change was woven into the narrative through the Toxic Spheres plot device, which featured multiple explosions that caused damage to various sections of the facility. Phelps explained: This story really became an opportunity to take a shot at revising the look of the hospital and refreshing it. It felt like the right time to update it. The style of the nurses’ station has been the same for 45 years. In daytime, space is money. This new version will incorporate a lot of usable new space. It will have a very different look. We want it to feel like you are walking into a place that feels fresh and modern. It will still be inside the same hospital. It will have the same architecture, but it will no longer be that big round nurses’ station we’ve become nostalgic about over the years. [1] The redesigned set by Chip Dox debuted on April 23, 2009.