In August that same year, Phoenix returns with serious injuries and is treated at the hospital, Phoenix attempts suicide when told that Tess is engaged to Prince Kimiora, and when he got better, he went on trial for the money he stole from the hospital. Phoenix is sentenced to home detention, and Chris' friend Karl (who is also Phoenix's GP) moves in. Phoenix overdoses on pills from Karl, and dies, leaving Chris devastated. When told by Karl that he gave Phoenix too many pills, he falls out with Karl. Chris has become very sensitive and insecure after Phoenix's death, leading him to see ghosts of Phoenix often, and causes him to spiral. By the Christmas cliffhanger, he has become so overwhelmed with grief that he begins to contemplate his own life, He drinks heavily and cleans the house over and over, while talking to the ghost of Phoenix. He walks down to the beach in an attempt to drown himself, but before he can do so, he is confronted by the ghost of late friend Mo Hannah, who tells him that he has family who loves him and need him, and even warns Chris that Frank is in trouble with recently bailed cop Brady Nash. Chris runs back up to the bach and finds Frank knocked out and Brady takes him and Frank down to the basement. Brady wants to kill Frank and Chris, and when asked by Brady if he is ready to die, Chris comes to terms and decides that he wants to live. Just before Brady can shoot Frank, Chris tries to draw the gun out of his hands but is shot in the chest in the process of doing so.