Episode 4297

Extended Summary

Leah is amazed and thrilled that Peter is back, but Dan says nothing, then suddenly grabs Peter, pining him to the wall. Dan gives him a dark stare before storming out leaving a rattled Peter and Leah. Drew fusses over his dad as Leah apologises for what happened before heading off after Dan, leaving Drew and Peter alone. Drew looks his dad in the eye, ‘you were really willing to give up your life for me today…?’ Peter ‘Without a doubt’. Leah arrives home to find Dan and points out that he needs to see this from Peter’s perspective. She knows it’s a huge shock – but he didn’t do anything intentionally, it was out of his hands. Dan can’t let it go – he’s spent the last six months grieving and he’ll never understand it. He heads out for a walk. Later, Drew turns up with Peter close behind. Leah lets them know that Dan is still angry, as the man himself returns from his walk. He orders Peter out of the house and he quickly takes off leaving Leah glaring at Dan. She has a go at him – he has no right to be actively angry at Peter for something that was out of his control – why not be happy that his brother is alive?! She storms off as Drew lets Dan know that despite everything, he’s willing to give Peter another chance. Drew wants to make the most of this second chance. Dan lets this sink in, before heading to the Station to find Peter, sitting alone at his desk. Peter’s surprised to see him and before he gets the chance to speak, Dan apologises for his reaction – he just can’t believe it all. It’s been hell. Peter is relieved to hear it and the two brothers sit down to catch up. They soon head back to the house – Leah and Drew are pleased to see them getting along – Dan asks if it’s okay for Peter to stay for a bit until he finds his feet, but Peter doesn’t think he’ll hang around in the Bay long – probably best to move and start afresh. But after much pleading from Dan, Leah and mostly Drew, Peter decides to put the idea on hold for the moment to see how things go…

Meanwhile at the hospital, Jack begins to wake – Martha tells the others and they rush in and gather around excitedly as Rachel tends to him. Martha quietly slips away to leave the family to it. Alf clocks her exit and follows. She heads to the bar to start her shift when Alf turns up and asks her why she darted off so quickly and asks if seeing Jack in that state made her realize she’s still in love with him? Martha guitily reveals that it’s actually the opposite – she realized that she doesn’t love him anymore and that she wants a trial separation. Alf’s shocked. Jack, meanwhile, is shocked to hear that Martha saved his life by donating her blood. He wants to see her – Beth says she might be resting, she’s been sitting by Jacks’ side all night. This gives Jack renewed hope for their marriage… Rachel is about to talk to Jack about the fact that he might not be able to walk again, but Tony abruptly cuts in – the family and Rach are bemused, but Jack hasn’t noticed a thing as they all leave him to rest. Tony makes it clear that he wants the timing to be right for Jack to hear this news – he’s only just woken up and it will distress him. Looks of concern are swapped – is Tony doing the right thing? At the bar, Alf has given Martha the shift off to have a drink as a handsome stranger, Ash, sits beside her. The pair get along well as she learns he’s new to town and that she’s recently separated… Jack tells his family how he wants to get back on track with Martha, but soon clocks the awkwardness and demands to know what’s going on? Tony reluctantly tells him that he might lose the use of his legs. Jack’s face falls, his world crashing down around him. Meanwhile, Martha has accepted Ash’s offer to go back to his place for a glass of wine – it feels strange moving on, but she’s smiling for the first time in ages. The next sober morning – Martha looks over the beach trying to get her head around what she did last night. Ash appears and she has to let him know that she isn’t ready for anything right now. Ash understands as Martha heads to the hospital to visit Jack.

Jack thanks Martha for donating the blood and tells her he may never walk again and needs extensive physio. She’s stunned to hear it, feeling terrible about her night with Ash. Jack makes an emotional plea about how he wants her back and that he needs her more than ever as he goes through this terrible time. Put on the spot, she decides to have a think about it. She takes a walk on the beach and makes up her mind, but when she returns to see Jack, he has a mate ‘Chooka’ from his days in police training, who is on his way back with coffees for them. Jack really wants them to meet – he’s one of Jack’s best mates and Martha is horrified when ‘Chooka’ walks into the room – it’s Ash from last night!