(6:22pm) 17 minutes later…

Summer Bay – Pier Diner – Main Area

After Irene had discovered the teens in the Den, they were all now gathered in the Pier Diner with the adults.

"We can't just give up." Ricky said finally breaking the silence "That wasn't an option a week ago and it isn't an option now."

"That's just it Ricky, it was a week ago. Now I was all for continuing the search then too." Johnny said "Because there was still a chance, even if it was slight. Now, I'm not so sure there is."

"Oh, so we should all just throw our hands in the air because you're ready to give up?"

"That's not what I'm saying."

"Yes, it is. It's exactly what your saying." Ricky says as Morag rolls her eyes at the pair arguing.

"It's not. Look, 350 grand has already been spent so far and still we've found nothing." Johnny informed her.

"He's right Rick, we haven't even found the wreckage." Brax backed up what Johnny was trying to say.

Ignoring her boyfriend, Ricky continues arguing with Johnny: "Oh, so it's all about the money for you."

"No, it's about reality. We've all let ourselves slip into some sort of denial to help us through it, but we can't do that for ever." Johnny replied as Amanda started to wipe the tears that fell down her face away "Look, like I said I don't want to believe it any more than you do. I love my brother and I'm not ready to say goodbye to him as well. The truth is, you could go on searching for ever and you would still find nothing, there has to come a point when you put a stop to it. I think that point should be now, there's no way they are still alive out there. I'm sorry, if I honestly thought that there was a…"

"Okay, that's enough. I've heard enough Johnny, alright?" Ricky stated "What we should be doing now, is making plans and your wasting our time. So, we need to focus."

Everyone looked away from Ricky because after what Johnny had said they were all (except the teens) in agreement.

"You're not seriously listening to what he's saying." Ricky asked as she looked at them all "Oh, come on. I don't believe this."

Alf sighed as he listened to the young woman and then said: "I think Johnny might be right."

"Well, you can go to hell, all of you!" shouted Ricky as she turned and left the diner with Brax going after her.

Once she had left, Cassie begged: "Please don't stop the search Mr Stewart. I need Rocco to come home."

"I'm sorry Cassie, it's time." Alf replied as the teen just burst out sobbing into Sally's arms.

(6:47pm) 25 minutes later…

Summer Bay – Braxton House – Living Room

Cheryl was just walking out of the laundry room with some clothes for Heath when she heard her son and his girlfriend arriving home.

"I can't believe this." Ricky said as she walked towards the front door.

"Rick." Brax called after her trying to get her to stop.

"I can't believe they are willing to just give up on them!"

"Ricky will you just stop!"

"Am I the only person here seeing sense?" Ricky questioned Brax as she threw her keys down in the bowl beside the door.

"I think you just need to settle down a bit." Brax replied closing the door behind him.

"I'm not going to settle down Brax, this is Kyle and Bianca's lives we are talking about and you're all just willing to throw them away."

"That is not what they are saying!" Brax tried to tell her.

"Yes, it is. Answer me this Brax, how do you think Kyle is coping because we both know that by now his medication would have run out?" Ricky said not realising that Cheryl would hear her.

Before Brax had a chance to reply, Cheryl walked out from the hallway: "Why does Kyle need medication?"

Both Brax and Ricky just look at each other knowing they now have to tell her Kyle's secret.

(6:56pm) 9 minutes later…

"What I'm not understanding is why no one told me?" Cheryl asked, "Because I might have been able to help keep an eye on him."

"Mum, if it helps Kyle didn't even want us to know. He preferred handling it himself." Brax informed her.

"Fat load of good that did him."

"Cheryl please don't start." Ricky begged her.

"I'm not, I just don't understand how he thought he could keep it hidden."

"He said he would have told us eventually but then he passed out, so he didn't have to keep it a secret from us anymore." Brax points out.

"I get that Brax and thankfully you do know because at least someone can keep an eye on him out there." Cheryl said, "What will happen if he isn't taking the tablets?"

"A number of things which is why it's important to keep the search going." Ricky states to Brax "Because they are coming home just like they always do, no matter how much people try to deny it."

Sighing Brax says: "Ricky I don't want to believe it, but they are gone."

"They aren't!" Ricky shouts and with that goes off to the bedrooms to cry.

Watching her leave, Cheryl turns to Brax and says: "Is there really no way of keeping the search going because telling Heath that his new wife and his baby brother aren't coming home won't end well."

Brax just looks at his mum as he plays the images of telling Heath the search was off in his head.

(7:30pm) 34 minutes later…

In the Middle of the Bush – With the Group

"Come on." Rocco states as he helps Belle to stand up "We only have to walk for a couple more hours before it's too dark to continue."

"A few more hours?" Ryan questioned "Look at us."

"I know but we have to try." Rocco said then turned to Belle "Just stay on your feet okay? We are going to start moving once I help to get Kyle and Bianca up."

"There's no way either of them can do it." Belle replies as she looks at both her surrogate sister and boyfriend.

"We have to find water and as soon as we do, they can rest again." Rocco replied and with that he went to help Kyle up.

Belle started to walk just as Rocco was helping Kyle to stand up without wobbling.

"Are you okay?" Rocco checked with his best mate.

"Just pe peachy." Kyle said as he tried to smile.

"Good, now I'm going to help Bianca up so just follow Belle and same with you Ryan." Rocco states to the pilot as he goes to help Bianca who was still lying on the floor.

Kneeling down beside her, Rocco continued: "Hey, come on put your arm around my shoulder. That's it come on."

As Rocco stood up with Bianca none of them had noticed what Belle was close too until she screamed: "AHHHHHH!"

Rocco quickly sat Bianca back down as both him and Ryan ran to Belle, as Kyle slowly made his way to her as well.

"Something bit me!" Belle yelled as she put her hand on her leg.

"Really? What was it?" Rocco asked.

"I I don't know." Belle said as she started to panic "It could have been a funnel web."

With that piece of information both Rocco and Ryan looked at each then looked back at Kyle as all three knew that if Belle had been bitten by a funnel web, she was going to need help quick.

Breaking from the collective stare, Ryan and Rocco carefully picked Belle up and moved her over to where Bianca was lying back down.

"AHHHHH!" Belle continued to scream in pain which caused Kyle to grab her hand to comfort her "Rocco, am I going to die?"

"Of course not, we are just going to wrap that tightly to stop the poison travelling okay." Rocco replied as he wrapped his hoodie around her leg "Just hang in there Belle!"

Meanwhile…

Summer Bay – Braxton House – Kyle's Bedroom

Back in the Bay, Ricky was sat on Kyle's bed just staring around the room, when she felt the bed shift and felt Brax sitting down beside her.

"This time they're not coming home, are they?" Ricky said sadly as she hugged the bear that normally sits on Kyle's desk.

Brax puts his hand on her back just she starts sobbing, moving his hand he pulls Ricky into a hug as they both try to process the fact that they would never get to see Kyle, Bianca and the others again.