Season 2, Episode 18: "Chickens, roosting" (original air date: April 24, 2002)

In the wake of Nicky's discoveries about Alistair's parentage, she gets the feeling Alistair has been avoiding her. He has. He is also warring with William, who he feels has lied to him. William feels Alistair is being childish, particularly when he lights up a joint in the kitchen and then wants to attend a patient. William tends to the patient (Arthur) instead.

Nicky meanwhile, has other problems. Cliff has accepted a dinner invitation from Amanda. Given Nicky's history with Kieran, she's not keen to go. She lies to Cliff about Kieran and the painting.

Amanda stresses about her imminent dinner party and takes it out on Kieran. Amanda's claimed reason for the party is to impress Guy, an old friend and business associate. Kieran is aware this is untrue and suffers seeing Nicky and Cliff together.

It becomes clear that Amanda's motive for inviting Alistair: to match make him with Guy who is single. Alistair is mortified that Amanda thinks he's gay and is determined to dislike Guy. When Amanda defends her gay theories on Alistair to Nicky, Nicky gets annoyed.

Things go from bad to worse when the power fails. Kieran and Cliff set off to fire up the generator. Cliff can't help needling Kieran over the painting - and finds that Nicky has lied. When Kieran makes a point of showing how well he knows Nicky and when sparks fly over a dinner party discussion, Cliff reaches a conclusion. He makes an abrupt exit from the dinner table and confronts Nicky. She can't deny that she slept with Kieran.

Dinner party conversation strays into more dangerous waters with Alistair. Alistair reveals that his birth mother committed suicide and that he blames William. When he turns on Nicky, she assumes this is because she hasn't been loyal to him, but his anger is because she doesn't see how he feels about her. In the wake of this, Alistair feels reckless. When Amanda makes apologies over the gay slur, things take an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, Kieran goes searching for Nicky. Guy goes searching for dessert - and finds Alistair and Amanda locked together on the dishwasher. Alistair escapes and ends up ill on the front lawn, with only his father for comfort.

Kieran declares his anguish to Nicky. She is torn, but leaves. She goes home to find Cliff waiting. He forgives her.

Even though he proves his worth with a patient, Louise picks up that William is extremely unpopular with Rhonda. Louise is angered to hear the story of what happened in Ward 4 in regard to the adoptions - but when William tells her the tragic circumstances surrounding the birth of his stillborn son and Alistair's adoption, she feels only empathy.