When Elise went into Wes' room he was dozing and she was reluctant to wake him but she knew she had to.

"Wes." She said gently shaking him. "Wake up, it's time for you to go home."

"Home." He said groggily. The pain medication was still in his system it would wear off in a few hours and then she would be able to better assess his condition.

"Your father is signing you out of the hospital, he thinks you'll be better off recovering at home."

"No, I can't," He protested trying to sit up but Elise restrained him. "I can't leave Jen here."

"Don't worry she's being released too." Elise said trying to reassure him. "Why is she so important to all of you?"

"I love her." Wes said forlornly.

"Oh, I didn't realize." She gasped. "I just thought she was someone you saved."

"She's more than that." He mumbled.

"He's really out of it, I didn't think he had that much medication." Elise thought.

Then she smiled at him and said. "When we get back to the estate you can spend as much time with her as you need."

Wes smiled at her weakly. "Thank-you."

Her warm smile gave him reassurance. He turned his attention to the hallway where his father was still speaking to the hospital administrator. His father didn't look very happy.

Wes laughed to himself. His father had a way of ruffling the feathers of the hospital administration. He knew very well that Doctor Sorenson hated his father. Ever since he came to the research department of Bio-Lab with several degrees under his belt his father had trusted him. Mr. Collins entrusted him with the viral engineering department and he seemed to be doing a great job of it. Until one night when Mr. Collins caught him with a black market racketeer. He was selling the same viruses that they were looking for cures for. Mr. Collins was devastated. The one man that he trusted in his company as much as his own son had betrayed him.

This had all happened when Wes was away at prep school. Wes had come home to visit for a weekend. When he got into the house he found his father drunk in his study. His father was waving a letter and tearing into him for a bad grade in one of his classes which turned into a knock down drag out battle about the company. Wes and his father didn't speak for the entirety of the visit even at the behest of Phillips for them to reconcile. It wasn't until he got back to school that he found out exactly what had happened. John Hicks Jr., whose father was head of the robotic engineering department of Bio-Lab told him what had happened. Wes sank to the floor shocked. John was very surprised that he didn't know.

"We had a fight, I didn't ask why." Wes said to him. "I just thought he was being a jerk."

A flurry of activity in the hallway woke Wes from his reverie.

"What's happening?" Wes asked Elise who was packing up the many cards and gifts he received from friends at Bio-Lab.

"I don't know. I'll go find out." Elise said putting down the box and rushing down the hallway.

She found a distraught Mr. Collins looking nervously down the hallway.

"What's going on?"

"It's Jen, she's having difficulty breathing."

"Oh lord no." Elise breathed running towards Jen's room.

Mr. Collins went into Wes' room and picked up where Elise had left off with the packing.

"Dad what is it? What's going on?"

Mr. Collins sighed and sunk down into a chair. "Jen's having some trouble breathing."

"Dad," Wes began.

"Wes, she's going to be all right." Mr. Collins said calmly. "Even though I don't like Sorenson he's not one to let any of his patients die to satisfy a grudge."

Elise hustled back into the room.

"Elise what's wrong?" Wes asked tears stinging his eyes.

"Jen had an infection, she was allergic to the antibiotics they gave her. They're trying t o stabilize her right now."

"What does that mean?" Wes asked.

"When she's stable it's going to mean one, maybe two more weeks in here. But right now Eric is bringing the car around so we can get you home."

Wes looked to his father who put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. So much had happened already. All Wes wanted to do was be at Jen's side.

Mr. Collins pulled Elise aside. "Can you stay here and look after Jen? I know having her near him will speed Wes' recovery."

"You can count on me sir."

"I knew I could."

Mr. Collins walked over to Wes. "Elise is going to stay here and care for Jen."

Wes was overwhelmed by everything that was happening. He nodded but Mr. Collins wasn't sure of the mental status of his son.

A few minutes later Eric rolled a wheelchair into the room. "You ready?" he asked.

The stark look on Wes' face told Eric something was going on and there were going to be some hard times ahead.

"Something happened to Jen." Eric whispered to Mr. Collins.

"She's taken a turn for the worse. But they're attempting to stabilize her condition."

Eric looked at Wes and saw a tear slip down his cheek. "Don't worry old friend you're not alone." Eric thought.