When many children in a remote town fall ill to deadly muscle inflammation and joint pain, Dr. Connor and his NIH team quickly fan out and soon suspect that an economically crucial chemical plant's toxins are the likely source until Natalie discovers a common background -- all the kids were conceived through in-vitro fertilization. The case diverts the medical investigators to a local human embryo clinic run by a brilliant but obstructive doctor (guest star Susanna Thompson) with a hidden secret.