Episode 6596

Extended Summary

Everyone is reeling as Billie is stretchered into an ambulance. VJ and Ash plan to go with her but there’s only room for one, so Ash concedes to VJ. Leah wants to go to the hospital to support VJ, but doesn’t feel comfortable taking Luc. Alf steps up to babysit and Zac offers to drive Leah. Matt notes the hesitancy from Leah. She and Zac were about to discuss the prickly issue of Sam when Billie collapsed. Finally, Leah agrees and they head off.

Matt continues to worry about Billie as he and Alf clean up after the Baby Blessing. Alf reassures Matt – Billie will be fine, she’s young, strong. But when Alf heads off to soothe a crying Luc, it’s clear he’s just as worried as Matt.

At the hospital, Tori expresses trepidation about working with Nate for the first time since their blow-up last week. Riley claims Nate is the one with the problem, he’s mad for letting her go. Tori appreciates this but there’s no time to dwell as Billie is rushed in. Nate and Tori act swiftly, ordering a range of tests, but when they both listen to Billie’s chest, their concern spikes. Zac, Leah and Ash arrive to find VJ freaking out – he has no idea what’s going on. Ash urges Mason to follow up – they need answers. But when Mason approaches Nate about an update on Billie, Nate snaps at him. Tori is deeply unimpressed. Billie is finally returned from radiology and Nate blanches as he read her test results – they need to get Riley in immediately.

Nate meets with Zac, Leah, VJ and Ash explaining the test results were inconclusive so they’ll need to do a bronchoscopy, to be carried out by Riley. VJ is still not coping when Matt arrives. Ash is supportive, reminding VJ, his sister is a fighter. Matt offers to do a food and drink run leaving Zac and Leah to themselves. Zac takes the opportunity to try to explain about Sam but Leah shuts him down – not now. Later, exiting the Diner with takeaway, Matt is confused when Zac appears. Zac explains he needed to clear his head but then Sam turns up. Furious, Zac tells her to back off – again. But it turns out Sam’s not here for Zac, but another writer based in the Bay. So he’ll have to get used to seeing her around.

Nate offers Tori an olive branch regarding the tension between them, but Tori’s not interested – Nate’s words cut too deeply last week. While Nate briefs the family, Riley scrubs in for surgery, encouraging Mason to observe. Mason is thrilled. It’s a stark contrast to Nate’s earlier chiding of Mason and it doesn’t go unnoticed by Tori, who’s reminded why she once loved him. When the procedure is over, the doctors return to the waiting area to explain the surgery identified a mass in Billie’s airways but they won’t know what caused it until the report comes in, the next morning. Ash and VJ resolve to stay with Billie during the night. At the shift’s end, Nate tries again to reach out to Tori but she’s not moved. With Nate gone, Tori’s interest in Riley warms up – and she asks him out for a drink.

At home, Zac tries again to get Leah to hear him out. He explains that Sam made a pass, he rejected her and asked her to leave town. He didn’t mention it because it didn’t seem relevant. But Leah points out that he still lied to her. In the interest of total honesty, Zac reveals that Sam is back in the Bay – but it’s all too much for Leah and Zac feels like he can’t put a foot right.

Back at the hospital, Billie wakes up with Ash and VJ either side of her. They are interrupted by Nate, who requests to speak with Billie privately. Ash and VJ leave reluctantly. Nate is deeply distressed as he talks Billie through her prognosis – the irreparable damage to her lungs, and the ensuing organ failure… There’s no other way of putting it: Billie is dying… and she hasn’t got much time left.