to make a long story short: noah claims he had ethical concerns about the relationship. so when he read the script for 5x14, he wrote a letter to john wells pleading for the sex scene to be cut out. they negotiated down to a kiss, which kellie martin described as “very uncomfortable” because he straight up refused to kiss her back when filming. they talk about it in this interview.

but let me also say that mr. wyle was notoriously hard on newcomers to the show, he talks about it in this interview from 2019 saying: “I was hard on people that were coming into the show, like Erik Palladino or Michael Michele. Everybody had to earn their keep, in my opinion, especially poor Kellie Martin. I owe her a big apology.” and in this video talks a little more about specifically regretting his behaviour towards kellie.

unfortunately, lucy was brought in primarily as a love interest for carter, so after noah shut it down they agreed her character wasn’t really going anywhere and thus 6x13 “be still my heart” was born.