Season 5 - Episode Guide

Tommy deals with his father's death and a new man in Janet's life. He also finds that Chief Feinberg, who has initiated a Section 8 procedure against him, is being surprisingly nice to him. Meanwhile, Sheila finds a new way to handle her problems; Colleen has a new boyfriend; and Sean, Franco and Mike devise a surefire way to gain riches and plenty of sex from the money Mike inherited from his mother.

As Tommy awaits his Section 8 hearing, he's coerced by Mickey into taking an AA sponsor and picks a fight with Janet's new boyfriend. Meanwhile, a French reporter interviews the guys about 9/11; Teddy, still grieving for his brother, goes into a funk; Sheila becomes a Big Sister; and Mike buys a bar.

After learning of Colleen's relationship with Bart, Tommy decides that it's time for a talk with his daughter about the birds and bees. Tommy also decides to meet with the French reporter who's writing a book about 9/11, and issues raised by her book lead to friction between Franco and Mike. Meanwhile, Mike hits on a new theme for his bar; Sean seeks out treatment for his bad back; and Tommy meets Sheila's psycho-dramaturge.

Lou wants to cooperate with Genevieve because he's interested in her. She's interested in Tommy, who isn't particularly interested in her, but he does watch some 9/11 footage she gives him, and what he sees is very disturbing. Meanwhile, Mike's bar opens; Sean's back still hurts; and Sheila's psycho-dramaturge tells her to "purge" herself of Tommy.

Lou sees the same thing on the 9/11 tape as Tommy did---and so does Sheila. Meanwhile, Sheila has a talk with Damien about his plan to join FDNY; Tommy gets to know Janet's boyfriend; Sean gets the results of his medical tests; and Colleen and Bart discuss the parameters of their relationship.

Tommy takes Genevieve on a tour of Ground Zero and tells her why the 9/11 footage of Jimmy Keefe was so haunting. And Franco's 9/11 conspiracy theories come under attack. Literally. Meanwhile, Mike's bar proves to be a success; Sean learns that he'll have to quickly come up with $12,000; Tommy and Lou have a falling out; and Janet tells Tommy why she sent Katy to an upstate boarding school.

Tommy and Janet drive upstate together for a weekend at Katy's boarding school, and Teddy and Maggie surface in Maryland, where they are volunteers at a VA hospital. Back in New York, Franco gives Lou love tips, and Sean has a new health issue.

Tommy is haunted by ghosts of 9/11---and other ghosts, including his dad, his brother Johnny and his cousin Jimmy. Meanwhile, Sean's health continues to deteriorate and black Shawn is still missing; Needles and Lou try to talk Franco into entering a FDNY boxing tournament; Mike befriends Damien; and a nervous young man enters the bar just after closing time.

Tommy takes heat from both Needles and Dwight, and receives offers from Janet and Sheila; Sean tells his mother about his illness; black Shawn sees Colleen again; and Franco's boxing skills are tested.

Tommy and Mike must patch up their differences at work; Sheila uses her leverage with Tommy to try to control his drinking; Lou must relive an unpleasant memory; Franco gets back into the ring; and Sean finally has his heart-to-heart talk with his mother.

Mickey learns that Tommy is drinking again; Sheila discovers that Tommy has been sleeping with Janet again; Sean tells Needles about his upcoming cancer surgery; Franco meets a gal in the gym; and Lou has another encounter with Candy.

The guys visit Sean in the hospital; Katy is home from school and wants a family dinner---one that includes Colleen and Black Shawn; and Lou and Tommy make a wager concerning the women in their lives.

After dealing with a particularly horrific accident on the job, Tommy questions his feelings in a dream sequence with his dead father, brother and son, and Jimmy Keefe. Meanwhile, Sean has an unwanted visitor at the hospital; and Lou has a very-much-wanted visitor to his apartment.

Franco has his first FDNY-tournament fight, and he and Carla have an encounter outside the gym; Candy cooks dinner for Lou; the guys have a surprise for Sean when they visit him in the hospital, and he has one for them. The guys also plan an outing for the kids in the cancer ward.

As Damien joins 62 Truck, Sheila reminds Tommy of his promise to watch out for him. Meanwhile, Janet gives Tommy guidelines for their relationship; the guys attend a memorial dedication for a firefighter who died on 9/11; and Sean is released from the hospital, vowing to live life "to the fullest."

Tommy is cleaning the firehouse as punishment for yet another antiauthoritarian outburst when a mysterious woman strolls through. Meanwhile, Tommy's family confronts him about his drinking.

A mob of women ruins a party at Mike's bar. Meanwhile, Lou and Mike make important personal decisions; Sheila and Janet give Tommy an ultimatum.

A trash-talking woman shows up at the firehouse looking for a date; Janet and Sheila lay out their terms for Tommy, who moves in with Colleen; Needles and Lou instigate a battle of the sexes; Sean has a new medical problem.

Damien receives a proposition that unsettles Tommy; Lou hashes out his wedding plans with Tommy and Needles; Tommy and Sheila rehash old memories; Franco accepts Needles' pugilistic proposal.

Tommy has rocky encounters with Janet and Sheila, and an encounter with Kelly that isn't as rocky. Meanwhile, the guys go grocery shopping with the newly domesticated Lou.

Tommy tends bar to relieve tension after a failed rescue attempt puts the guys down in the dumps. Meanwhile, Franco steps into the ring against one of Carla's friends.

Janet and Sheila's plan goes haywire; Teddy suffers a major personal loss.