"How is she?" Jack's even tone couldn't disguise his worry as he stood between Billy and Summer and stared into the doctor's unreadable face.

"We're still running tests," he said calmly. "Currently, her vitals have stabilized, but given her history, a comprehensive neurological evaluation is definitely in order. I've ordered several additional scans and they'll be taking her up shortly. She's conscious, which is a great sign, but there's still some confusion and difficulty with recall."

"Is that normal?" Summer's voice trembled as she spoke.

"It can be," the doctor admitted. "It's far too soon to try and assess anything in that regard. Right now, we want to focus on ensuring there's no swelling or pressure on the brain, no bleeding, and that's what these additional scans will tell us."

"Can I see her?" Billy rocked forward on his feet, ready to head towards the door the second he was given the okay.

"They'll be taking her up for the tests, but until then …" he hesitated, looking back at the room and then to the group of them again. "If you keep it brief and very calm. Nothing stressful, nothing too intense. Early indicators are good, but this situation is still precarious and …"

Billy nodded. "I will. Brief and calm, got it."

He waited only a second, long enough for the doctor to move from the door before reaching and grabbing the handle. It was then that he felt his brother's strong hand grab his shoulder. "You really think that's the best idea?"

He jerked his arm, pulling away from Jack's grip. "Jack," he managed, the tension that seemed to creep into every joint in his body threatening to overtake him. "I'm not going to do or say anything to upset her. I just want her to know that I'm here. That's all."

"And I get that," Jack said calmly. "I just think that maybe, given all that's happened, perhaps you should let me go in and I'll tell her that you're here. I promise. I'll …"

"You know what!" The words came out sharper now, the anger that he'd been trying to quell no longer staying beneath the surface. "You're not in charge here, Jack. Just because you're the older brother, Just because you ran the show at Jabot, Just because you had her first, it doesn't give you the right to tell everyone what they can do and how they can do it. I know I've screwed up. I've done stupid things. I've been selfish and I've been reckless and I've lied and I've cheated, but the fact that you honestly think I would ever …" He drew in a long breath, forcing himself to calm down, mindful of the words the doctor had said. "I tried to convince myself that you didn't really believe the things that you said to me earlier. I know you're upset. I know you're worried and I don't blame you for that, but now, knowing that you honestly think that I would ever be capable of actually doing this, of intentionally putting her here when you know how much …"

"Wait." Summer stepped closer to them, her hand raising in an attempt to stop the words that volleyed back and forth. Her mind raced with questions and she struggled to form a coherent one. "What is he talking about?" Her eyes searched Jack's face. This was a man she'd loved and respected for years, a man she'd thought for a while was her father, and one whom she still looked up to in that same manner. "You think Billy did this? You think he was the one that caused Mom's accident?"

"Summer, I .. I didn't say that I …"

She turned around quickly, her eyes now shining with tears and fear and pain. "Billy," she spat. "You wouldn't … I know you were angry, but …" She stopped, her memories racing back to earlier, when she'd found him at the bar, how he'd refused to talk about her mother, how he'd nearly recoiled at the mere mention of her name. The breath caught in her throat.

"I didn't," he said quickly. "I wouldn't. I couldn't. No matter how angry I was. I love your mom, Summer. You know that. I …"

"I'm going in to see her," she said finally, resolving the questions she had to simply stop. "I can't deal with this right now. She felt the movement of the two men behind her and stopped. "Alone," she hissed.

Both men stood silent as the door shut behind her.

"When you say not an accident …" Mariah tried to slow her breathing as she leaned back against the door, careful to keep her voice low enough so as not to be overheard by Faith. "What exactly does that mean?"

"I don't really know," Nick admitted. "Rey didn't give us a whole lot of details He said they were investigating the case as an attempted murder." On the other of end the line he heard the sharp intake of breath and he knew, without even asking, that her mind was going to the same dark place that his currently resided.

"And that's why he wants the list of everyone at the church, because he thinks it was something that was there?"

"I'm guessing that's just one of the theories," Nick said quietly. "I mean, Phyllis isn't exactly Genoa City's sweetheart, so I'm sure he'll be looking into other leads as well, but given everything that went down today, the timing seems a little …"

"Yeah," Mariah felt her heart beat faster as the reality began to sink in. "He's going to want to question everyone that was there, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is. That's why it's so important that …"

She nodded, even though she knew he couldn't see her. "And if he comes to question her and she's not here …" She let the statement go unfinished because she knew they'd both already played out the scenario in their heads. "I'm going to take Faith up to the main house. Then I'll go see if maybe I can track her down and …"

"That's a good idea," Nick agreed. "I'd come help, but I think I should …"

"No," Mariah cut in. "You need to be there. I think it would probably be better if I look for her on my own anyway. If I can find her, I need to tell her what's going on and if … maybe she'll talk to me and …"

"Mariah," Nick said, lowering his voice even further despite the fact that no one around him seemed to be the slightest bit interested in what he had to say. "If you do find her and she … if … I mean, I'm not asking you to …."

"She's my mother," Mariah said resolutely. "I'm going to do everything I can to help her."

Nick felt a wave of relief rush over him. "Thank you," he breathed.

"Don't thank me," she said, her voice curt as she turned back towards the door and glanced inside to check on Faith. "I'm not doing any of this for you. We're here because of you and don't think I'm ever going to let you forget that."