As the residents of Seattle Grace continue to freak over looming budget cuts, bigger problems made sure those were the last things on their mind - at least for this week.

Meredith's father Thatcher has played an enormous role on Grey's Anatomy, even if he seldom appears on it. Mer's daddy issues are dark, twisty and well-documented.

So when he showed up last night needing a liver transplant to survive - and unable to get a donor liver because he hasn't been sober for a year (just 90 days), you can imagine the tension in the room. It got worse when it turned out Lexie wasn't a match. Meredith was.

What decision did she make? Did he end up surviving? And what other resident let her emotions get the best of her yet again, leaving her future a bit up in the air?

Follow the link for a recap of last night's Grey's Anatomy, "Tainted Obligation."

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.