Still unconscious from his drinking binge, Lucas is rushed to hospital to have his stomach pumped. "Oh good, he's responding to pain", says Dr Rachel, who takes her Hugh-related frustrations out on Lucas by twisting his nipples and repeatedly kneeing him in the groin. Although Luc will be fine, Matilda is furious with Tony. "He's in here because of you!" she shrieks. However, after some words from Kit, Matilda does manage to forgive Ric for the part he played in Tony's lies. Later, Mattie, Luc and Kit make it clear that they can't continue living under the same roof as Tony. Dejected, Tony moves out - even though we're sure it's his house - and takes refuge at Irene's place. "Beth would have me guts for garters if I left you stranded", she smiles. At least someone's on his side. For now, at least...Doctor's ordersBack at the hospital, the tension between Rachel and Hugh is beginning to spill over into their professional lives. The brush of fingers as they hand each other scalpels, not to mention all those lingering looks over the clinical waste bins, are really taking their toll. Hugh rattles Rachel's stethoscope when he goes over her head to make a diagnosis. And after she refuses to listen to his advice, a patient's life is put in jeopardy.

Hugh skilfully takes control of the situation, though, and with Rachel's help they manage to pull off an emergency tracheotomy. "We're both lucky that you were here", Rachel coos. Hugh panics at this obvious flirting, but thankfully his beeper interrupts the moment.

Love and pain

Stumbling past the news that Colleen wants to become the local rag's new history columnist, we find that Rachel's patience with Kim is starting to wear thin.

Her blood begins to boil when she realises he's not listening to her retelling of her earlier run-in with Hugh. "I've spent weeks of my life listening to Kit this and Archie that", she honks.

"I don't mind, you know I don't. But occasionally, I'd really like it if you listened to me and at least pretended you were interested." Oof. She freaks out even more when she discovers a picture of Kit and Archie in his wallet, and ends up turning to Hugh for support. For some reason, though, he's less than friendly. "Are you still angry with me?" she meeps.

Quite the opposite, in fact. "I don't believe you don't get it!" he sighs in response. "I can't hang out with you because I'm in love with you." Rachel pulls a face as if to say she didn't see that one coming. When will the woman learn?

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