Meanwhile, as Greene copes with his beating, he and Ross travel to California to bury Ross' dad. While there, Greene visits his own parents, where he finds out that his mother is sick, and his relationship with his dad continues to be strained. Back in Chicago, he begins to date new ER desk clerk Cynthia Hooper (played by Mariska Hargitay). The relationship is purely physical, and when Greene has to visit his parents again later in the season, she comes along uninvited, only to realize that Greene does not love her. After the awkward breakup, Cynthia leaves, but Greene stays to take care of his ailing mother and begin to mend his relationship with his father.