4844: Aden makes a decision about Nicole

Aden, having been kicked out of the house by Roman, has slept on the beach and his life is a mess. When Miles learns what’s happened, he offers him a van to stay in until he sorts things out. Aden is happy to take up the offer. Nicole learns where he’s staying and is relieved – he hadn’t been taking her calls.

Nicole pays Aden a visit, thinking that now they don’t live together under Roman’s roof they’ll be able to kick up their relationship a notch. But Aden isn’t interested – at least not at the moment. He’s full of regret at having slept with her, and believes they’ve stuffed their close friendship in the process. Nicole leaves Aden alone as he requests her to do, and heads off, dejected, as she seems to have not only lost a lover, but a good mate too.

Miles is becoming increasingly concerned about Roman. He thinks he over reacted in kicking Aden out, and that everyone around him are suffering due to his moodiness and self centeredness. Miles thinks Roman isn’t dealing with his fundamental problems. Miles tries a softly-softly approach initially, but gets nowhere.

Then, armed with Rachel’s advice, he goes in harder. He tries to convince Roman that his main problem is that he won’t confront the fact that he’s blind, and the fears that go with it, and that he needs to do that so that he can accept help. But Roman remains resistant, and it seems no one can help him through this.

Hugo and Xavier have started to clash over the way Hugo handles Brendan. Hugo believes that just because Brendan has a disability doesn’t mean that he can’t be taught boundaries of responsibility. Hugo and Martha don’t think the trauma that such lessons cause Brendan, are worth the effort, but Hugo persists.

Tony and Rachel also see Hugo’s methods as being dangerous as Brendan can become very difficult to handle. Hugo doesn’t react well to Xavier and the others’ interference, and Hugo even manages to upset Martha.

When left alone with Brendan, Hugo tries to take a stick off Brendan, who had been banned from collecting them after causing Roman’s accident. The struggle for the stick is heated and physical, and results in Brendan being hit in the face. He’s bleeding profusely before taking off out of the house.

When Martha brings Rachel, and Gina, here for a surprise visit, home for a cuppa, they find the lounge-room a mess. There’s blood on the carpet, and no sign of the boys – and alarm bells are ringing loudly.