By the time Jack gets to the Surf Club it's too late; all he finds is a frantic Martha panicking about how she shouldn't have let Rory outside (fortunately, she negates to mention to anyone but Alf that the reason for her doing this was because he was getting under her skin). While police look after Sam back at the Holden house, Jack makes it his mission to go after Shane but all he has to go on is a witness sighting of a woman dragging a boy into a green van, which the police soon discover has been reported stolen. A positive match at the boat wharf sees Jack and Fitzgerald race up there to investigate; sure enough, they clock their target. But Jacks indiscrete approach namely, his belief in giving your assailant warning you're coming by shouting at him before youre even within ten feet of him allows Shane enough time to signal to his accomplice (who's ready to leave the harbour on a cruiser) before hopping in the van and making his getaway. A dramatic chase ensues and reaches dangerously high speeds; even though Jacks only supposed to be pushing Shanes van into a police roadblock up ahead, he displays a startling case of selective hearing when ordered to back down. Its only when he discovers that Rory isn't with Shanes accomplice, and therefore may be with Shane, that Jack gives in. But it's too late. Shane loses control of the van and is killed in the crash. Nice work, Jack. A search of Shane's van fails to show any sign of Rory, despite everyone's suspicions; it's only when his accomplice, Bron, starts talking that it's revealed he jumped overboard the cruiser.
The resulting search finally gives Jack his chance to play the hero, as he battles the odds and finds Rory unharmed but at what cost?
McGrath's furious at Jack's insubordination, warning him that there'll be an official investigation into Shane's death; he's likely to face suspension, even discharge, from his job. Will Fitz hold the key to turning it all around?
Letting go
Meanwhile, a very guilty Martha is trying to console Sam, whos blaming herself for giving in to temptation by coming back to the Bay. "I let my guard down," she admits, claiming that she should have known Shane would follow.
It comes as a blow to Martha, who instinctively finishes Sam's sentence just to be sure that her own prospects with Jack really are as bleak as they seem: "...because youre in love with him."
And, of course, now that Sam has no reason to run, and Jack's played the hero by rescuing her son, we don't think she'll be in a huge rush to leave her cushy new life behind her.
It looks like Martha's well and truly been relegated to the "just friends" stage with Jack, and she knows it.
"I have to keep reminding myself that it's over," she complains to Alf, who promises to lend her a shoulder to cry on anytime she needs. Well, almost anytime.
She's barely opened her mouth to speak before Don Fisher walks in and breaks up the chat. But why is he back?
Tagged in Home And Away