Sarah Riley is a character on the NBC network series, ER. She is the adoptive daughter of Tony Gates after the death of her mother, Meg.
History[]
Sarah was introduced in the 13th season in the episode, Somebody to Love. It is later revealed that Tony was in a relationship with her mother, Meg.
Tony and her father, Keith were friends, serving in the Gulf War together; however, after their service ended, they came addicted to drugs and alcohol. Although Tony was able to quit, Keith didn't; at one point, he assaulted Meg in front of Sarah. Afterwards, Tony refused to help Keith out anymore and Keith ultimately died from an overdose. After Keith's death, he continued to live with Meg and Sarah.
When Meg and Sarah caught Tony making out with Neela Rasgotra during Thanksgiving, Meg became jealous and angry at him. Tony eventually left Meg to be with Neela, but managed to stay in Sarah's life.
In the episode, Murmurs of the Heart, Meg dies from an intentional overdose of medication. The last words she says to Tony was that Sarah "is yours", implying that he was Sarah's biological father; however, when Tony takes a paternity test, he learns that he isn't.
Towards the end of the 13th season, Tony fights for custody of Sarah; however, Meg's parents remove her from his care to live with them on their farm.
In the 14th season, as Tony continues to try to get custody of her back, Sarah begins exhibiting rebellious behavior which prompts her grandparents to return her to Tony.
In the 15th season, Sarah lives with Tony, Samantha Taggart, and Sam's son, Alex.
In the episode, Let It Snow, Gates allows Sarah and Alex to attend a party despite Sam telling them not to. While Alex was driving a drunk girl home from the party, they were injured in a car crash which left Sarah with a broken arm and Alex with serious injuries that left him hospitalized.
In the series finale, after Tony treats a teenage girl for alcohol poisoning, he tells Sarah that she can call him to pick her up if she's had too much to drink.