Bo smiled sympathetically as he surveyed the waiting area. It appeared that Zach and Belle's friends had finally lost their battle and drifted into a troubled sleep. Jason Masters was slouched over on the couch with Mimi Lockhart's head resting on his lap. Her feet stretched down almost to Philip who had fallen asleep at the opposite end of the couch.

To the left of the couch, Chloe Lane had slipped off her shoes and pulled her feet under her as she dozed in the chair. Her long dark hair spilled over the arm of the chair where her head rested.

Bo found his own son slumbering in the other chair. Shawn's legs were stretched out and the young man looked as if he might slip out of his seat at any moment.

Casting his critical gaze around the room once more, Bo realized that something was wrong - someone was missing.

In response to Bo's unspoken question, Brady appeared at his side. In a whisper, he explained, "I woke up a little while ago. I tried to sneak into Belle's room to check on her, but a nurse was in there checking her vitals."

Bo offered his nephew a sympathetic nod. "Belle's a strong girl. She'll come through all of this just fine."

"Yeah," acknowledged Brady. Though his first instinct would always be to protect Belle, Brady had finally realized that his baby sister was transforming into a strong, independent young woman. Glancing at his wristwatch, Brady curiously asked, "It's still really early. Is there a reason that you came over?"

Bo shrugged as he answered, "Not really. I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep, so I thought I would drive over and make sure no one had anything to add to the statements given to the police." With a wry smile, he added, "Besides, Hope was up most of the night worrying about Shawn. I thought she would feel better if I came over to discreetly see how he was holding up."

Brady reluctantly smiled at the caring paternal gesture. Answering Bo's obscured question, he said, "I really don't think there's anything else we can tell the police. I had just gotten to my grandfather's house when that guy knocked me to the ground and ran off toward the garage. The next thing I knew, he was speeding off in Philip's car. Philip and Chloe ran out of the house and we tried to follow the guy in my jeep while Victor called the police."

"What happened when you arrived at the scene?" softly inquired Bo as he led Brady away from the others.

Brady grimaced ever so slightly as he recalled the event. "By the time we got there, the guy had already smashed into Belle and Zach. Belle had climbed up to the road and . . . I guess she was trying to go get help or something."

Again, Bo gave an understanding nod of his head. "How's the Wesley kid doing?"

"We really haven't heard anything officially," answered Brady regretfully. "But, I did see him when the paramedics first wheeled him in, and he looked pretty bad."

"I'm sorry to hear that," responded Bo.

His gaze wandering to where his wife slumbered, Brady stated, "I tried to get Chloe to go home some time after midnight, but she didn't want to leave until she knew Zach was going to be okay." Finally voicing what many feared, Brady added, "Unfortunately, I'm not completely sure Zach is going to be able to bounce back this time."

Craig frowned slightly as he entered his office. Curled up in a chair near his window, Sinclair motionlessly sat. Her dark gaze was directed toward the morning's horizon, but Craig doubted if she was really seeing any of it. It disturbed Craig to know that his sister had remained sitting there all night, foregoing sleep or true rest.

"I want you to go home," commanded Craig, softly shutting the door as he entered. "You haven't moved from that position since I left. I know you're worried about Zach, but hurting yourself won't help him."

When Sinclair gave no verbal response, Craig suggested, "At least let me take you down to the cafeteria for breakfast."

"I'm not hungry."

"I don't care if you're hungry or not," responded Craig, easily slipping into the role of protective big brother. "You're going to eat."

Replying with the legendary Wesley tenacity, Sinclair answered, "I don't want to eat. I want to see Zach."

"As soon as the doctors are through with him, I promise that you can see your brother. But, for right now, you're going to have to be patient."

Finally tearing her gaze from the window, Sinclair turned in her seat so that she could look at her older brother. "I'm really scared."

Those three words acted much like a dagger to Craig's heart. Like Zach, Sinclair had always been fearless. To hear the younger woman so weakly admit fear tore apart Craig's tough veneer. Resting against his desk, Craig truthfully responded, "So am I."

As the elevator doors opened, Jeremy stole a glance at his watch. 6:37 A.M. Stepping onto University Hospital's fourth floor, Jeremy's eyes searched the area for his friends. He quickly spotted the group in the waiting area to his right.

Jeremy approached the slumbering group with quiet footsteps and observant eyes. Hesitance tainted his usually carefree stride. Possessed by morbid fascination, Jeremy was unable to direct his gaze away from Mimi as she slept with her head resting on Jason's lap. And, Jeremy was unable to ignore Jason's left arm draped around Mimi's body. It was not the casual draping of a friend. It was, in fact, the last hint Jeremy would need.

From his very first days in Salem, Jeremy had realized that Mimi and Jason cared for each other more than they would admit. Jeremy had never been blind; merely hopeful.

Despite Jeremy's finest attempts, the hour of defeat had arrived. He viewed only two options. He could ignore the inevitable and carry on the battle until it ended even more painfully. Or, he could surrender.

As he stood there, gaze locked on his girlfriend and Jason Masters, Jeremy found himself assaulted by a favorite quotation of his high school English teacher. Unable to look away from Mimi, Jeremy felt George Orwell's words were truer than they had ever been. "The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection ... that one is prepared in the end to be defeated and broken up by life, which is the inevitable price of fastening one's love upon other human individuals."

Jeremy knew that Mimi Lockhart had the ability to truly steal his heart without trying. Though she saw herself as quirky and unimportant, Jeremy and his competition each saw Mimi for the beautiful young woman she was.

Jeremy's appreciation for Mimi would forever be able to touch the girl's heart; Jason's would touch her very soul. And, that made all the difference.

Kneeling down before the couch, Jeremy gingerly touched Mimi's arm. He smiled involuntarily as her eyes slowly fluttered open. Jeremy placed his forefinger over his lips to wordlessly signal for Mimi to be silent. Extending his hand, Jeremy helped Mimi to her feet. He was sincerely surprised that she didn't try to ask any questions as he led her away from the lobby.

After a brief elevator ride, Jeremy and Mimi silently walked into the hospital chapel. There was a stillness in the air that was both comforting and chilling. The small room held no sounds of upsetting machines beeping or hurried footsteps. No distractions; merely silence.

Jeremy sat down on the front pew and commented, "It seems like a lifetime ago that you bumped into me at Salem Place."

Mimi attempted to chuckle, but the half-hearted gesture sounded sadly hollow. "A lot has changed in the past few months. Sometimes I don't even feel like the same person."

"I don't think any of us are the same," cryptically responded Jeremy as Mimi joined him on the pew. Giving an unsolicited elaboration, he continued, "Just in the last three months, so much has happened. There's no way we couldn't all be affected and changed. Belle's really blossomed since I came to Salem in August. And, Brady has definitely mellowed a lot in the past couple months." Adding the name he least wanted to discuss, Jeremy mentioned, "Of everyone I've gotten to know, you and Jason are the ones who have changed the most."

Confusion filled Mimi's curious eyes. She was just beginning to understand that Jeremy was trying to say more than his words were really conveying. Attempting to lighten the suddenly somber mood, Mimi muttered, "If you ask me, Jason Masters is the same childish jerk he was a year ago – or even two years ago."

"No," Jeremy countered with obvious cheerlessness. "He's not. More than anyone else, Jason has really changed. When I first met him, I thought he was an arrogant kid who just wanted to cause trouble. And, maybe he was. Just like you, I assumed Jason was a bit of a jerk who was only looking out for himself."

"But, you don't feel that way anymore?"

"No, and I don't think you do, either."

Mimi parted her lips to voice an argument, but honesty kept her from speaking. Try as she may, Mimi could no longer see Jason in the negative light that once haunted him. And, after hearing him voice a declaration of love, she knew she could never again see him merely as the boy who tormented her. He was the young man who had subtly stolen her heart.

Mimi's silence gave Jeremy the answer he had expected yet feared. Placing his elbows on his knees, Jeremy dropped his head onto his hands. "I could see how you looked at him. I knew. Even then, I knew."

Tears began to slip into Mimi's eyes as she solemnly stared at Jeremy. Hating to see him in any type of pain, Mimi reached out and softly rubbed his shoulder. "I used to have a crush on Jason, but I realized a long time ago that he could never really feel that way about me. So, I had to let it go."

"Dammit, Mimi. Stop lying to me and stop lying to yourself," ordered Jeremy as he turned his face to look at her.

Mimi was taken aback by the raw emotion playing in his eyes, and she momentarily wondered if she had ever heard him curse. She decided she hadn't. In little more than a whisper, Mimi responded, "I would never lie to you."

After apologizing for his outburst, Jeremy sadly said, "You have to see the truth, Mimi. You and I both know where this conversation is going."

Looking at Jeremy as though he had physically hurt her in some way, Mimi breathed, "You're breaking up with me."

"I'm not breaking up with you," Jeremy desolately corrected. "I'm just letting you go."

Having woken up without Mimi, Jason had decided to go for a walk around the hospital. His hope had been to free himself of the restless turmoil that fiercely gripped him. Though he would not show his full suffering to his friends, Jason truly felt as if the weight of the world was upon his tiring shoulders. His best friend was playing a dangerous game at death's door, his mother was still angered about the days he spent in detention, and Mimi refused to return his affections.

Striding down the empty corridors, Jason's introspective line of thinking only fueled the anger and frustration he had been trying to control. As he determined a common link between his various sufferings, Jason realized that he had only himself to blame.

He had always had buddies, but Jason had never allowed himself to have many true friends. Yet, he had finally opened himself up to true friendships – only to be burned. Had he never become friends with Zach, Jason would not have to worry about the young man and his injuries.

Jason had always kept a barrier between himself and his parents. Then, Jason had slowly begun to relax around his mother. He allowed himself to begin to care once again. And, that's when his mother hurt him the most. She had threatened him with a transfer from Salem High – a move that would put him in closer proximity to his father.

Finally, there was Mimi Lockhart. Never had Jason exposed himself to a girl as he had done with Mimi. With immense frustration, Jason recalled confessing his love to Mimi when they were trapped together at Titan. With more frustration, Jason reminded himself that Mimi's response had been to literally run away from him.

A pair of familiar voices halted Jason in his steps. He had been about to turn the corner when he heard Belle's parents. Genuinely concerned about Belle, Jason lingered just out of sight in the hope of overhearing information.

His voice sounding terribly tired, John Black stated, "I hate seeing my baby like that, Doc."

"I know. But, I am so thankful Belle wasn't hurt worse." Forcing back her tears, Marlena continued, "If Belle had been the one with the brain injury, I don't think I would have been able to bear it."

Nodding his agreement, John said, "I think it's best if we don't tell Belle just how seriously hurt the Wesley kid is. She's already upset enough."

"You're probably right." Lowering her voice, Marlena added, "While you were outside with her doctor, Belle woke up for a few minutes . . ."

As Marlena struggled to not lose her remaining composure, John asked, "And? What happened when Belle woke up?"

"She just kept mumbling about how sorry she was. Apparently, her last conversation with Zach wasn't a pleasant one. She said she told him that she was sorry she'd ever met him or something like that." Her tears beginning to fall, Marlena added, "She's afraid he'll die thinking she hated him."

Not bothering to listen to the rest of the conversation, Jason turned away and angrily began to walk in the direction of the elevators. His last snippet of hope in loyalty, love, and friendship had just been stolen by the cynicism of his past.