Episode 6598

Extended Summary

All of Summer Bay seems to have stopped following Billie’s death. Kat speaks to VJ on the beach as an ambulance takes away his wife’s body. VJ is robotic in his answers to Kat’s questions, showing no emotion. He cradles baby Luc softly, making sure she’s comfortable. Walking onto the sand, John sees the ambulance and the conversation and puts two and two together…

Back at the hospital, everyone is frantic trying to find Billie. Ash is especially desperate to find his sister. VJ arrives. Ash and Leah question Billie’s whereabouts but his silence speaks volumes. She’s gone. Meanwhile, John breaks the same news to Alf and Marilyn. Kat goes to the hospital to check in on everyone. Ash doesn’t understand why VJ would take Billie to the beach when she was in such critical condition. Devastated by the loss of his sister, Ash blames VJ for Billie’s premature death. Kat escorts him out and VJ, Leah and Zac return to Summer Bay House. VJ is clearly in shock and Zac suggests they give him space, but Leah (who can’t seem to give the poor guy a break) snaps at him, saying she knows what’s best for her son. VJ retreats up to his and Billie’s room and throws himself into caring for Luc to avoid the reality of Billie’s death. Both Leah and Alf attempt to reach out to him but he’s not ready to face it all. Feeling rejected, Zac goes for a walk and bumps into Sam, who is able to provide the support he sought after from Leah.

Ash is also struggling. Kat tries to help in any way she can but Ash asks her to leave. Justin arrives minutes after she’s left, to find Ash racked with grief and rage over his sister’s death. Justin tries to console him, but all Ash can focus on is blaming VJ for her death. Despite Justin’s protests Ash marches up to the house to have it out with VJ. Ash punches him in the jaw and accuses him of killing Billie before being hauled off. Leah tries to tend to VJ but he dodges her attempts to go check on Luc. Leah whirls on Zac, asking how he could let this happen. Confused, Zac explains that Ash is sick with grief and there’s not much he can do. Determined to protect her son, Leah tells him that Ash is not permitted in the house. Zac explains that they can’t barre him from seeing Luc, as she’s the only family he has left. But Leah is determined to protect Luc and her son. Zac tries to help her but is rejected again. Frustrated by the coldness of his wife Zac goes for a run and bumps into Sam again, who reiterates how sorry she is for him and his family. She repeats that she’s there if he needs support. Zac, having made clear it would just be as friends and desperate for company, tells her he might give her a call.

Ash is consoling himself with a bottle of whisky when Kat comes to check on him. Ash reveals that he never got to say goodbye, or tell her that he loved her one last time. Drunk and vulnerable Ash kisses Kat, but she stops him. The next morning Kat and Justin go to visit him but he’s not in his caravan. Kat hears his wails, and finds him inconsolable in the bush.