Alex considers starting a thing with local barman, Michael. His carefree existence is abruptly shattered however by a needle stick incident. The thought of contracting Hep C from the needle and having to give up the job he loves turns Alex into an unrecognisable nervous wreck, much to everyone's surprise.
Keelin has to face up to the news about her mother's cancer. She realises that her family cannot cope and she has to give up her single lifestyle and move back home to care for Mary, a difficult woman whom Keelin has never got on with at the best of times. Fiona goes further off the rails, and Cathy is forced to dismiss her.