What do you do when lives are in danger and you have only seconds to make a decision? Tess is off duty when she and Hayley, a twelve-year-old girl she is hoping to foster, discover a serious car accident on the edge of town. The female driver is trapped and the car catches fire. Is there enough time to extinguish the fire and get away safely? Tess decides there isn't and the woman is killed when the car explodes. Her husband blames Tess and she comes under the scrutiny of the Ethical Standards Department and even begins to doubt her decision. Was she responsible for the death of the woman? Tess' application to foster Hayley is threatened. Is she capable of keeping Hayley safe from harm? Jo and Jonesy question the victim's family and fight to clear Tess' name. Even if Tess' decision was justified, has her chance to foster Hayley been lost?