Accompanying each of her workmates as they go about their work, Tess quickly finds her attention drawn to a girl who keeps stealing to feed her brothers. Police intervention escalates the volatile situation, and Tess is forced to reveal her difficult past to save the lives of the kids.

Sgt Tess Gallagher takes on more than her job demands when she tries to help the three children of a local woman whom she believes are being abused by the latest de facto. Even when Sen Sgt Tom Croydon tells her there are no grounds for suspecting abuse, a stubborn Tess refuses to drop it. Something from her past, perhaps personal experience, tells her to persevere. When she discovers the three children; Hayley, 10, Darien, 8, and Frasier, six, have broken into her car and slept there overnight, Tess knows her instincts were right. But she is at a loss with what to do with them. She takes the kids back inside her house, feeds them breakfast and plans to take them to DHS to be placed in a safe house. But the kids get wind of her plans and flee in fear to the nearby mines. Things go from bad to worse as Tess has to confess to Tom what has occurred—the children have disappeared while they were in her careÅ  and their mother Tina doesn¹t know they are missing. At the old mines, Tess a

Tess and Jonesy investigate a domestic disturbance and Tess is reacquainted with Hayley, a troubled young girl from her past. An unpopular neighbour's portrait is discovered riddled with bullets and he is adamant that Hayley is responsible but Tess defends her. An elderly woman's dog is found shot dead and PJ discovers that the bullets from both crimes match. When the weapon is found, Hayley is implicated. Tess' faith in Hayley's innocence leads them to the truth but places Hayley's future in jeopardy. Will Tess challenge the stability of her own world for the sake of Hayley's?

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, the girl she plans to adopt (last seen in ""Strays""), discover a serious car accident on the edge of town. The female driver is trapped and the gas run 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 is also scrutinised by 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?

Things are going much better now for Tess and Hayley, until an incident at school provides Tess with something to worry about while Tom and Reverend Grace grow closer.

Meanwhile Tom suspects a retired thief guilty of burglary until he is questioned and the old man claims he was set up. The Heelers have a lead on another suspect and their hunt leads them to two teenage boys. One is the estranged son of the retired thief. Is he following in his father's footsteps? When a second robbery occurs involving a serious assault, the old man defends his son's innocence. He might not be the world's greatest father, but he's positive his son is not violent. When the Heelers locate their original suspect they discover has a watertight alibi. Does he have a hold over the retired thief's son? Tom worries for the old man's safety when he is discovered assaulted and his son cannot be found. Can the desire to protect and impress go too far?

Ben is desperate to spend Christmas with his children provided he wins the lottery in order to pay their airfare. Tom wins the church raffle but the prize is stolen. The cast of Grace's nativity pageant are suspects. Tom is far from impressed when the sponsor of the pageant forces Clancy, an intellectually disabled man, out of the lead role so his own son can take it. Everyone is thrilled when Clancy is revealed as the owner of the winning lottery ticket, but the pageant sponsor accuses him of theft. As the truth is pieced together, Ben revaluates the demands he has placed on his children. Is Ben's dogged pursuit of the perfect Christmas risking the happiness of those he loves?

For a cop, Christmas can be the hardest time of the year. Jo can't wait to eat, drink and be merry with her nearest and dearest. Tess is determined that Hayley has her best Christmas ever.

Tess worries for Hayley's safety when one of the girl's new friends is accused of attacking a girl at school. Tom's daughter, Susan, who has just moved back to Mt Thomas, teaches the accused boy and has faith in his innocence. When it is discovered that the boy has killed his classmate 2 years before, opinion is divided. He was too young to be charged, but could he snap again!? When the boy's father arrives in town, it sets off a chain of events that put Tom and Susan's life in danger

Tom discovers his daughter is pregnant when she becomes the victim of a hit and run. The accident leaves her unconscious and internally injured and Tom is faced with a terrible dilemma. If he saves his daughter's child he risks losing his own. Would Susan forgive him? Could Tom forgive himself? As Tom seeks justice, Tess fights for Hayley's love. Hayley's mother's prison release draws near as Tess struggles to understand why Hayley is pushing her away. Tom and Tess risk losing the people they love in their desire to protect them.

At the end of the day, Tom gets to keep Susan but loses her daughter, and Tess ulitmately loses Hayley to the girl's family.