Episode 6651

Extended Summary

Patrick is clearly having flashbacks as he stares at Ava, hearing the sounds of helicopters and gunfire and taking cover behind his vehicle. Phoebe is on the phone, telling the operator that Ava’s breathing but hasn’t come round. Patrick yells at Phoebe to get moving. Kat comes running over with Luc, who she hands to Leah who has also arrived on the scene. She explains to Phoebe that Patrick is Ash’s brother and tries to calm him down, helping him to stay focussed. Phoebe continues to look after Ava, who starts to wake up as an ambulance can be heard. At the Morgan house, Justin tells Brian there’s no sign of Ava but he’ll get more people to search. However, at that moment Phoebe rings.

Justin and Brian turn up at the hospital. Tori lets Brian in to see Ava, assuring Justin that she’s all right. Phoebe explains to Justin that she ran out behind a car. Justin asks who was driving. At the police station, Kat tells Patrick that his breathalyser and blood tests came back clear but he’ll still need to make a statement. Patrick says that he killed “her” and that he saw her lying in the dirt. Kat tells him Ava’s at the hospital and has to remind him that he was in a car accident. She decides to get him out of there.

VJ finds Leah looking after Luc at the Diner; he greets the baby tenderly but seems rather awkward, despite Leah referring to him as Daddy. Leah explains that Kat’s left her with them for the day and suggests they go to the beach for a picnic. VJ says he has an assignment to do but can spend the afternoon with them. At the hospital, Tori gives Justin, Phoebe and Brian an update: Ava has a mild concussion and a fractured arm that will need surgery. Brian notices her addressing Justin in a familiar manner and she explains she’s Justin’s sister, adding that the orthopaedic registrar will be doing the operation. Ava is brought through and they all crowd round. Brian reassures her and Tori says he can go with her. Justin looks rather left out as he and Phoebe remain behind.

Kat drives Patrick back to the Bay. As soon as she parks, he gets out of the car and walks across to the headland without a word. Ash approaches and Kat tells him what happened, adding that Patrick seemed out of it and kept thinking he’d killed Ava. She thinks he needs help. Ash approaches Patrick, who keeps repeating disconnected phrases, saying he thought it was her. He says he killed a little girl in Afghanistan. He explains that they were staying in a village near an orphanage and could hear babies crying. Ash realises that’s what Luc reminded him of. He says they came under fire and he saw a figure: Since all the civilians had fled, he thought it was an enemy sniper but it was a little girl. He breaks down in tears and Ash holds him.

Tori tells Justin, Brian and Phoebe that Ava is out of surgery: The bones have been pinned and she’ll need a cast for six weeks. Justin plans to get her a gift but Brian says he isn’t to be allowed anywhere near her. Justin insists he’s her father, not Brian. Brian says Justin’s a screw-up and it’s his fault but Justin retorts that Ava came to him because Brian screwed up by not allowing her to see him. They start jostling and Tori has to step in. Justin and Phoebe end up leaving with an orderly.

At the caravan park house, Leah tells VJ that Luc’s sleeping and notes she should have realised having Luc there would be hard for him. VJ says it’s not that but he thinks maybe he should move on. Leah is outraged at the idea of him “moving on” from his daughter, despite VJ saying it’s not that simple. He says however hard it is for Leah, it’s harder for him, and heads out the back. Leah follows and apologises. He explains he saw Luc with Ash and Kat: She seemed happy and he’s wondering if they can give her things that he can’t. Leah insists that Luc was happy with them and they’ll get her back in six months after the interim residency’s over. VJ doesn’t push it.

Justin complains to Phoebe as they walk near the surf club. He sees Ash and Patrick and storms over, shoving Patrick and saying he could have killed Ava. Ash restrains him and Justin walks away, with Phoebe following after apologising. As they arrive back at the Morgan house, Phoebe tells Justin it wasn’t Patrick’s fault, since Ava ran out behind him. Justin says he could have lost her and still could if he’s not allowed to see her. Phoebe says he needs to show Brian he can be a good father.

That evening, Tori checks on Ava, who apologises to Brian for running out without looking. She asks if they can stay in town for a few days, since Nina’s still at the conference and she wants to see Justin. Brian says he’ll think about it and Ava says she needs to get some sleep. Once out of the room, Tori pleads Justin’s case to Brian. Brian thinks trouble surrounds their family but Tori says that’s over and what happened to Ava was an accident. She adds that Ava obviously isn’t happy. Later, Justin turns up. Brian tells him he can’t see Ava. Justin says he’s grateful that Brian was there for Ava when he wasn’t and it’s obvious Ava loves him. He says he doesn’t want to get in the way of that and it’s Brian’s call.

Kat collects Luc from VJ and Leah at the Diner, giving them an update on Ava and Patrick. Luc seems somewhat restless and both Leah and VJ do their best to help her settle before Kat takes her away. When VJ expresses concern about Leah having to let Luc go again, Leah insists that she’s fine, but once she’s alone in the kitchen she starts crying. Later, Kat notices Patrick in an agitated state. He thinks he can hear crying but Kat says Luc’s asleep with Ash. She offers to get him something or talk. Patrick thanks her for her support and she says you don’t give up on family. After she’s gone to bed, Patrick can still hear crying. He writes a note to Ash, packs his bag and leaves.

Tori is at home when Justin arrives back, having been for a walk. Tori compliments him on his behaviour and he says he had to grow up some time. He notes Brian’s a decent guy but he has no idea if he’ll see Ava again and can’t contemplate not having her in his life after all this. Next morning, Ash is looking after Luc on the balcony. Kat sees Patrick’s note and hands it to Ash: He says he has to go and they’re better off without him. Kat thinks he’s in trouble.