Clare is feeling stressed and her work starts to suffer after an agency contacts her about Steve, the son she had adopted. Penny is finding to hard to adapt in the outback and is feeling bored. After Clare's son arrives in town though things improve.

Jackie is pleased after Jerry Davis return to Coopers Crossing but romance is the last thing on his mind. After talking with Geoff about a scar he has on his neck after being involved in a medical emergency, he has some shocking news to deal with.

When a lethal bacteria is found in the operating theatre, there is an outbreak of hysteria in the Crossing. Although Guy attempts to suppress local concerns he ends up exacerbating the situation. Meanwhile Rowie makes some life changing decisions about her relationship with Johnno.