Rachel’s taken to hospital following the attack – an unanticipated result of Riley’s newspaper expose on Susan. At the hospital, the clock counts down – every minute counting against Bridget’s chances of recovery. When Karl confronts Riley, Steve leaps to his guilty son’s defence, but Miranda expresses her disappointment in Riley’s actions. She takes time out from her own woes to check on Rachel’s conditions, relieved her injuries are minor. Riley apologises to Rachel but is sent packing by a protective Zeke. Once alone, Rachel sneaks in to see Bridget, begging her comatose friend to wake. She’s shocked when Bridget appears to be regaining consciousness… The police storm Nick and Laura’s caravan, hoping to free Declan. But Nick and Laura have fled, taking Declan with them. Nick’s increasing desperation scares Laura and Declan. They steal a car, but Laura later finds a moment to free Declan, her guilt too much. Faced with a ransom exchange and no hostage, furious Nick gives chase, but loses Declan in scrub. But Declan’s still in trouble, his leg trapped, a sitting duck waiting for Nick to find him… Suppressing his guilt over Rachel’s injury, Riley writes another inflammatory editorial about the failure of justice in not keeping Susan off the road, effectively excusing the vigilante action that saw Rachel injured. Elle berates him, sharing her own need for revenge in the wake of Cameron’s untimely death. Riley takes this on board, and recants his earlier stance – and their friendship is restored.

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