As Pat Ryan pulled into the hospital visitor's lot he was still reeling from the news that the man who had collapsed at the track garage was none other than his friend Jake Russell. He stepped out of his office just in time to see the ambulance as it sped out of the large gate. On instinct he went to investigate what it had been doing there only to find out that Jason Morgan's crew chief had collapsed of an apparent heart attack. Pat was noticeably stunned by the news.

He found himself reaching for the first thing closest to him to steady his stance. Jake wasn't much older than he was and suddenly Pat was questioning his own mortality. Immediately he cared very little about the disagreement that had driven them apart so many years before. All Pat Ryan thought about was the possibility of losing his friend without making true peace with the man who had be so instrumental in getting him to where he was today. With that thought the head of Ryan racing darted for his car with his star driver sprinting after him.

The day that Jake had explained he had taken on a new challenge and would be leaving his position as Pat's right hand mechanic was something that he would never forget. To say he was stunned was an understatement. He was hurt, betrayed and mostly angry. So much so that Pat did almost everything in his power to blackball his one time friend from an industry that they both lived and breathed. Pat closed his eyes and gripped the steering wheel tightly trying to recall what his need for such vindictiveness had been all about. He had lost so many years of friendship with Jake because of his own arrogance. Even when he tried to mend fences with the master mechanic by asking him to join Ryan Racing, it had been on Pat's terms and his alone. He was kicking himself now for it all. He wanted to believe that he and Jake had come to terms with one another and would consider the other a friend but now with the thought of Jake's possible demise looming over his head Pat couldn't take any chances. He had to set things right.

Billy sat in the passenger seat and waited for Pat to exit the car. With a sideways glance he saw him starring intently straight-ahead eyes fixed on the overhead hospital sign. He wasn't sure if he should just get out himself and figure that Pat would follow or wait until the older man made the first move. He decided the latter was the better idea. He had tagged along as a way of staying in the man's good graces. Billy knew he was walking a fine line with Pat Ryan – especially when it came to his break-up with his daughter that he didn't want to take the chance of pissing the man who held his career in the palm of his hand.

Billy could have cared less about Jake Russell. For him the crew chief wasn't even a blip on his radar except that Russell seemed to be able to turn anyone into a winner – even the likes of Jason Morgan. Billy felt the hairs on his arm stand on end at just the thought of Morgan and his smug smile as he stood accepting congratulations on his winning pole position for the upcoming race. Inwardly Billy sneered at the thoughts of Jake Russell's current condition keeping Morgan out of the running. "You all right Pat?" Billy finally asked when he started getting antsy.

"Huh?" the older man mumbled his own thoughts still focused on his memories of his friendship with Jake.

"I know how tough this must be for you. It's okay if you are having second thoughts about going in," Billy said laying on his concern quite thick.

"No, no I need to check on Jake," Pat commented as he pocketed his keys and opened his door.

"Damn," Billy whispered under his breath before he ran to catch up with Pat.

Obediently the young driver followed behind Pat as he made his way to the round patient information desk to check on Jake's condition. Billy's eyes scanned his surroundings only half listening to the woman behind the counter as she spoke with Pat. He was trying to find some way to slip away unnoticed. The last thing he wanted to do was come face to face with Jason Morgan. Billy knew his charade of concern would soon crack if that were to happen. "So how is he?" Billy asked when Pat walked away from the desk.

"No one seems to know anything," Pat said with exasperation in his voice. He hated hospital politics and all the new laws that made finding out anything almost impossible. "I wish Elizabeth was here. She'd get me some answers."

"I'm sure Mr. Russell is going to fine." Billy rested his hand on Pat's shoulder.

"I'm going to see if anyone in Elizabeth's office is around. Maybe they can help me get some information." Pat walked toward the bank of elevators in his pursuit of answers.

"Alone at last," Billy said as the shiny steel elevator doors slid closed carrying Pat Ryan away.

Elizabeth phoned the operating suite several more times that evening looking for information on Jake Russell. Something inside of her wouldn't let herself leave until she knew that his surgery had been successful. She wanted to believe that it was her professionalism that kept her there but deep down she feared that it was something entirely different. The haunted look on young man's face she left starring out the window seeped into areas of her that she had thought she'd been successful at walling off. She had never felt as helpless standing before a patient's family as she had just hours ago – nor had ever had the strongest urge to reach out and hug them as she had when she looked at the young blonde man. There was a pain in his eyes that ran deeper than just what was taking place right then and Elizabeth suddenly wanted to know what it was.

She squared her shoulders as she forced her mind to think about anything other than the handsome man with the piercing blue eyes but somehow Elizabeth couldn't stop her thoughts from centering on him. She toyed with the idea of heading back to the surgical waiting area. She had a desire to be close in case he might need her for something.

"What the hell am I doing?" she groaned to herself and leaned against the cool white wall. She tried to convince herself that she was it was just concern for a patient's family that was driving her urges – that staying for hours awaiting the outcome of a surgery was just part of her job. But if she was truly honest with herself Elizabeth knew she was going above and beyond the call of duty. Again the intensity of her need to be there frightened her immensely.

Elizabeth felt her shoulders slump as she closed her eyes. She was tired both mentally and physically. For the last six months her well ordered life had been turned upside and she still hadn't been able to seem to right herself yet. She hated feeling this way. It was like everything that she once knew about herself and the person she was was in question. How had one simple act that she hadn't even be responsible for caused so much destruction? She looked down at her watch and tried not to think about any of it. Not Billy Weston, not her father and especially not the handsome man she had left behind waiting for news on his friend. All those things were beyond her control. One was over, one would never change and the last was much better left alone. With that thought Elizabeth pushed her heavy body away from the wall and rounded the corner on her way to the cafeteria for a strong cup of coffee. She didn't make it far before running head long into of all people Billy Weston.

"Excuse me," he said before realizing whom he nearly knocked to the floor.

The minute his voice invaded her ears Elizabeth felt her body go rigid yet her heart still fluttered. She hated herself for that reaction. She wanted the man standing in front of her never to effect her in that way again but she had her doubts that would happen. She had spent several years thinking that her life would be spent on Billy's arm, as his wife and those dreams weren't easily forgotten. "Excuse me," she echoed his words as she stepped around him.

"Elizabeth wait," he said to her quickly retreating back.

"What?" She turned and glared at him with her deep ocean blue eyes.

"Nothing," he answered not sure why he stopped her in the first place. He felt a familiar tug at his heart when he looked at her. There was still something about her spirit that spoke to him. If he could have turned back the hands of time maybe things would have been different and maybe not but there were still times when he missed what they had.

"What?"

"Nothing, forget it." Billy knew that with Pat Ryan lurking the hospital halls the last thing he needed was to have a confrontation with his daughter that the old man could happen upon.

Elizabeth let out an angry sigh. Billy standing before her in his racing jacket brought back her conversation with Leo earlier that day. More importantly it conjured up the images of Leo's mangled car and who had been responsible for her friend's inability to finish the qualifier. "Are you proud of yourself?" she asked.

"Huh?"

"Are you proud of your behavior today?" she questioned again.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he remarked.

"Like you don't know," she quipped.

"Apparently I don't."

"I'm talking about what you did to Leo this afternoon."

"It's not my fault Jorgenson doesn't know how the hell to drive," Billy countered with a smug grin now understanding what she was referring to. He knew how close Elizabeth and Leo were and how she felt the need to defend the mediocre driver every chance she got. "I'm lucky his inept driving didn't cost me the race," he said incredulously.

"What?" she shot back.

"If it hadn't been for Leo I would have won the damn qualifier but no cause he can't control his own car I ended up coming in third."

If she hadn't already been so angry Elizabeth would have laughed at him. His arrogance was palpable. "You came in third cause you thought playing dirty would help you win!"

"Play dirty? What are you talking about Elizabeth?"

"Like you don't know. I can't believe my father puts up with your shit. You're lucky Leo hasn't rung your neck yet." Elizabeth knew what a quick temper her friend had and she had seen it flame on more than one occasion. She believed that when it came to Billy Leo held his tongue mainly for her.

"Your dad knows a star when he sees one. He's pretty much told me he sees a younger version of himself in me." Elizabeth nearly gagged at that. "And as for Jorgenson well he knows there wouldn't be a Ryan Racing without me."

Finally Elizabeth laughed yet it wasn't laughter filled with humor but rather disgust. "You are one arrogant prick – you know that? Ryan Racing existed long before it ever heard the name Billy Weston and it will survive long after you are gone!" Elizabeth suddenly felt the need to defend what her father had built. She couldn't stand there and allow someone she considered as insignificant as Billy Weston believe that without him it would all have been nothing.

"Believe what you want to Elizabeth but I know better and so does Pat." Before she could retort his comment Billy turned on a dime laughing as he left her behind him sputtering in anger.

Elizabeth clenched her fists in tight balls at her sides, as her face grew crimson. She watched Billy saunter away from her with his conceited posture enraging her all the more. What had she ever seen in him? How had she missed all the signs of his true personality? She had always thought she was a good judge of character. How could she have been so wrong? She knew the answer – she led with her heart instead of her good sense. A frustrated sigh escaped passed her lips as she groaned thinking what a mess everything was.

"Elizabeth." The sound of her father's voice from behind her stopped her cold. Given the mood she was in this was last thing she needed or wanted. All she desired at the moment was a hot cup of coffee and the dark solace of her office.

"What?" she barked turning to face him. She was so lost in her own ire that she totally missed the concern etched on his face. "I don't really have time for this. I have a patient to check on." She was hoping to make a hasty exit avoiding their inevitable confrontation given her mood.

Pat Ryan immediately got his back up at the tone his daughter's voice held. "I need you to check on something for me. I can't get a straight answer out of anyone."

""I'm busy daddy. Can't this wait. You know there are some people here with real troubles." The image of the young blonde man again invaded her thoughts adding to her confusion and anger. Why couldn't she stop thinking about him already?

"Elizabeth!" Pat said unable to believe his daughter's rude behavior. "All I am asking is for a little assistance," he huffed.

"And I bet Leo would like the same thing from you!"

"What?" The sudden change in direction of this conversation was enough to give him whiplash. "What does Leo have to do with any of this?"

"Don't you think it's time you started looking out for all your drivers not just Billy?" She knew that she wasn't making much sense and to her father this was all coming out of the blue but she didn't care. All she could think about was Billy's self-assured smile and Leo's talk about looking for another racing team.

"Elizabeth?

"If you don't keep Billy in check you are going to lose all your other drivers!" That was an exaggeration and she knew it but right now she didn't care. "He's a menace who thinks he's a young Pat Ryan incarnate!"

"What I do with my racing team is my business. What I do or don't do isn't any concern of yours. Especially when you thought that you could use Billy's feelings for you to make him choose between his career and you!" Pat spat unsure of where the words had even come from.

"WHAT!? Like anyone has ever chosen me!" Elizabeth felt the tears welling in her cerulean eyes. She refused to let her father see her cry so before they could spill onto her checks she stormed off in the opposite direction.

Pat stood silently watching his daughter scurrying away. He shook his head trying to figure out how he had gone from needing information on his friend's condition to having an argument about Billy Weston.