Emily Watson and her brother Robbie are admitted for a kidney transplant. Emily is the donor as Robbie has had reflux nephropathy since he was thirteen and has been on dialysis for most of his adolescence. Steph and Connor, who are assigned to them, express how brave and selfless Emily is being by giving her brother the ultimate gift. However, Emily down plays her sacrifice, Robbie is the one that is sick not her. Steph and Connor bond with their respective patients but in Connor's case, theres more than a hint of attraction to Emily. All seems set for the transplant and then the ward is stunned when Emily walks out of the hospital leaving a distraught Robbie behind. Connor is amazed to find Emily at Cougar's later the same night. She explains the reason behind her departure was that all her life shes been the dutiful daughter who did what was expected of her. Now she is putting number one first. Connor points out, by drawing parallels with his own brother, that being the favourite sibling, isn't always the easy ride that it seems. He also tells Emily that she has to be nil-by-mouth by midnight, if she drinks her glass of wine the op will be cancelled anyway.

Rachel McMahon, an incredibly fit triathlete, is admitted with bone cancer in her upper arms. She is to have a forequarter amputation, a devastating operation for anyone but even more so, for an elite athlete. Bron is dismayed, she always seems to get the basket cases. To everyone's surprise, however, Rachel is handling things surprisingly well, using her sporting philosophy to help her cope. Peter expresses his doubts to Terri about her bravado, he realises that it's a defence mechanism. Rachel and Bron, bond and Bron attends Rachel "arm off" party. Despite initial misgivings, Bron thinks that Rachel can handle anything that is thrown at her. After the operation, however, it is a different story. Rachel is a mess, having phantom limb pains and is inconsolable about the loss of her arm. It becomes Bron's responsibility to help her.

Stephanie befriends a drug-dependent intern. A bulimic becomes attracted to Peter.

A high profile lawyer arrives for a coronary by-pass but her irresponsible attitude towards her own health, including her failure to give up smoking, make the surgeons decide to postpone the operation. Terri advocates to get an elderly patient approved for an expensive medication after he was refused a heart transplant due to his age. On the verge of leaving for a vacation with his wife, Peter is called back to the hospital by a patient. While trying to reconnect with his wife, Jenny is critically injured in a car accident. Connor is upset over Bron and Luke's relationship and Jared has a secret admirer.

Connor is horrified to learn that his rugby hero has been admitted to Ward 17 with stab wounds from his girlfriend. Connor is excited after arranging to look after his idol, but his opinion of the man changes drastically after spending time with him and learning what prompted the attack. Peter keeps vigil at his wife's bedside in ICU in hopeful anticipation of her recovery. Two women with contrasting reasons for being in hospital find themselves sharing a room. Jared reconciles with his ex-fiancée Amanda.

Terri has been up all night comforting Peter who cannot accept that his wife is braindead. She also has the difficult task of asking Peter to give consent for Jenny's organs to be donated for transplant purposes. Terri makes Connor the Team Leader for the day and the power goes to his head. Jared spots a suspicious mole as he prepares to discharge a patient. When Connor agrees to let Luke perform a biopsy on the ward, it causes a bed shortage and an elderly patient waiting to be given a bed wanders off.