When they reached the hallway Eric turned to Mr. Collins.

"You know he'll never rest until he knows she's going to be all right."

"I know," Mr. Collins answered. "But I don't know how he'll be able to handle seeing her that way."

"You'd be surprised at how strong your son really is."

"Physically maybe" Mr. Collins surmised. "But his heart is like his mother's"

"I didn't have the privilege." Eric said quietly.

"Karin was a great woman." Mr. Collins stated thoughtfully. "She had a heart that just kept giving. She gave hope to so many people. She even built the children's home and the cancer wing in this hospital. There's even a children's unit in the oncology section."

"She sounds just like Wes." Eric said thoughtfully.

"He is a lot like her. She was so happy when she found out she was pregnant with Wes. She wanted to give him the world. She spent so much time with him they went everywhere together. She even took him to the Bio Lab Christmas Gala. Karin was so proud of him and rightfully so. He picked up on everything there wasn't anything he couldn't be taught to do and do well. Then Karin got pregnant again. Wes was about two and he was so happy about the new baby. But something went terribly wrong and we lost both of them."

"I'm so sorry."

"After we lost them, I became so angry and bitter at the world and tried to push away everything that reminded me of her including Wes. I immersed myself in my work and found myself away from home more and more. It was Phillips that took care of him the next two years before I shipped him off to boarding school."

"What made you have a change of heart?" Eric asked.

"When Ransik attacked me at Bio-Lab for a brief time I died. I saw Karin again. She told me Wes needed me and that life was too fragile to be angry all the time. It was something that I'd forgotten long ago. She was right. Wes does need me. I didn't realize how much until I almost lost him."

Tears fell from Mr. Collins eyes. Eric offered him his handkerchief.

"Thank you." Mr. Collins said accepting it. "The baby, it was a boy. Wes would have had a brother."

"A brother."

"Yes, he would have had a younger brother. I wished he could have had that chance. Then he met you in prep school. He talked about you all the time when he came home. He cared about you and was really confused why you kept pushing him away when he offered you his friendship."

"I guess I was too much of a loner back then. I had my share of pain in my life and I didn't share it with anyone."

"Now it's my turn to ask." Mr. Collins said gesturing to a set of chairs by the vending machines. "What made you have a change of heart?"

"I don't know, maybe it was Wes."

"Wes, really how?" Mr. Collins asked sitting forward.

"I don't know really, maybe it was when we were fighting over the quantum morpher or over the Q-rex. Maybe it was Kirstie the little girl next door who showed me that I really do need to have friends. Whatever it was, it doesn't matter anymore."

"You think of him as a brother don't you?"

"I guess I do." Eric answered slowly. "I never thought of it that way."

"I know that is how he thinks of you. He's told me as much."

"Really." Eric said surprised.

"He would lay his life down for you."

"He already has more than once."

"He needs you now more than ever with everything that's happening."

"Is there something more?" Eric asked suddenly concerned.

"I was just talking to the doctor and Wes' injuries are more severe than they initially thought. They think there is a spinal cord injury."

"So what are you saying? Wes may not be able to walk for a while?"

"No, I'm saying he may not be able to walk again ever."

Eric felt like someone had hit him in the stomach. He hung his head down and put his hands on the back of his head and then ran them through his hair.

"When are they going to tell him?" Eric asked softly.

"When he's stronger." Mr. Collins answered "Now that he's awake they will be able to tell how bad it really is."

"But we're back to the same thing. He's not going to rest until he sees Jen."

"I know, I'm going to see about getting him out of here sooner than two weeks from now."

"What about Jen?"

"I'm Anthony Collins, I have millions of dollars and can provide better care for her at my own mansion than they could in this hospital. If I can't get them out of here, no one can."

Eric laughed. "I guess you're right."

A nurse approached them. "Mr. Collins?"

"I'm Anthony Collins." He said standing up.

"The hospital administrator said he could see you now."

"Thank-you." Mr. Collins answered.

He turned to Eric, "Keep an eye on him."

Eric nodded.

Eric went back into Wes' room. He banged into the rolling table that someone had left by the door. Wes startled awake and opened his eyes.

"Go back to sleep." Eric said rubbing his leg. "You need it."

"According to you I've been asleep for two weeks." Wes countered.

"Asleep and unconscious are two different things." Eric answered smartly. "But if you insist on staying awake then I'm going to put you to work."

"Work, what can I possibly do here?" Wes asked surprised.

Eric pulled out the communicator for the future. He set it up on the table and pulled the antennae up. Then he rolled the table over to the bed so Wes could operate the console.

"You wanted to know what happened to Jen, now you can ask."

Wes stared at Eric surprised. "Where'd you get it?"

"The back of your SUV you were supposed to send it back to the future with Jen last time."

Wes grinned sheepishly, "I guess I'm glad I didn't. Jen told me to keep it just in case anything happened."

Wes pushed the control code for the future. "Can anyone hear me? Do you read? This is Wes Collins Red Ranger Timeforce."

The screen crackled to life. There was a lot of static and interference. Wes couldn't see anything happening.

"Can anyone read me?" Wes asked again.

"Wes, is that you?" A faint shadow flickered on the screen.

"Who am I talking to? You're breaking up. I can't see you."

"Wes this is Alex. What is the status of Lieutenant Scotts?"

"Jen's in a coma. The time flier crashed and exploded. Alex what happened. They said she was hurt before she crashed."

"There was a sudden mutant attack led by an unknown rebel general. Jen was coming to get help. She was attacked before she could get into her ship. We weren't sure if she survived."

"Alex what's happening? Where are Katie, Trip, and Lucas?"

"They were out on assignment we lost contact with them months ago. They're listed as MIA presumed dead."

Wes suddenly got very pale. "Eric, there is something really wrong." Wes said calmly.

Eric saw his hands shaking and sweat was pouring down his face.

"Wes are you all right you're breaking up!" Alex called over the communicator.

"Alex it's Eric there's a problem will be in contact later. Meyers out."

He switched the communicator off and looked again at Wes who looked dazed and was losing consciousness.

"Wes, stay with me." Eric urged grabbing the nurse call button and pressing it furiously.

A nurse rushed into the room instantly and checked Wes' pulse. She pressed the intercom button on the wall and said. "I need a crash team in Mr. Collins' room stat."

"What's happening?" Eric demanded.

"We don't know yet but we can't find out with you in the way."

Mr. Collins came running down the hall. "I heard the page. What's going on?"

"I don't know." Eric answered looking in the window.

The nurse saw the two men looking in the window and closed the shade.