Jason anxiously looked at the clock hanging above the door of his hospital room for what felt like the millionth time absently drumming his fingers against the stiff white sheets of his bed. This was nearing the end of the third day he had been stuck in what felt like a prison and he was about to lose his mind if he wasn't released soon. He had never been one to sit still for long and being held in one spot was driving him stir crazy.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed clenching his jaw absorbing the pain that passed through his ribcage. Giving himself a minute to recover, Jason stared out the window allowing his breathing to even.

"What do you think you are doing?" Elizabeth's voice startled him.

"Getting the hell out of here," Jason returned with a serious tone.

"Not until Dr. Bennett gives you the all clear and releases you."

"You've been telling me that for 2 days now," he scoffed.

Elizabeth looked at the man she loved and could see how ill at ease he was and how much he wanted to go home. Part of her wanted that too, for him to go home, but another larger part was just as happy to keep him safely tucked in his hospital room where the world couldn't bring any more harm to him. She knew how silly that was, but every time she closed her eyes the sight of Jason's car crisscrossing the track and smashing head on into the wall assaulted her. She couldn't stop thinking how lucky Jason had been to come away from that crash with as little injuries as he had. As much as she tried not to think how he could have been paralyzed or worse those thoughts overtook her more than she cared to admit. "I know," she finally said as she sat on the bed beside him.

"I just want to go home." She heard the defeat in his voice. "There's nothing more that they can do for me. My ribs have to heal and a concussion," he paused, "you know as well as I do that will that there's nothing more that they can do for that either. Keeping me here isn't going to change any of that."

"True," she agreed. "But Dr. Bennett is a good doctor and he's just covering all of his bases before sending you home." Elizabeth reached over taking his large hand in hers and kissed his check.

"Is this how you treat all of your patients, Miss Ryan?" Jason joked.

"Only the ones I really like," she teased with a wink.

The door swung open just as Jason leaned in to kiss Elizabeth playfully. Dr. Bennett cleared his throat to get the pair's attention. "Dr. Bennett," Elizabeth said feeling a bit unnerved at the doctor's sudden presence. She struggled with her role as a patient advocate at the hospital and as a woman who was in love with Jason. She was having difficulty aligning the two especially in the eyes of her many colleagues.

"Feeling better, Mr. Morgan?" the doctor asked hiding a bit of a smile.

"Definitely," Jason confirmed reaching for Elizabeth's delicate hand. "Please tell me I can go home."

"I think that can be arranged. I just would like to do one more test before I release you."

"Seriously," Jason groaned.

"Yes. I would like to do an impact test. It will gauge the severity of your concussion and allow for me to put together a treatment plan for you."

"And then I can go?" Jason pressed.

"Yes, I promise."

"Fine. Anything that gets me out of here."

"Okay. Someone will be in to take you for the test in a few minutes. Elizabeth, can I see you outside for a moment?" Dr. Bennett asked.

"Sure," she said reluctantly dropping Jason's hand trying not to show her apprehension. "Is something wrong?" Elizabeth questioned when they were alone in the corridor.

"No," the doctor said. She let out the heavy sigh of relief. "I just wanted to speak with you privately. Mr. Morgan impresses me as a man with little patience and you know as well as I do injuries like his take time to heal. If he doesn't allow his body to rest properly it will only prolong his recovery."

"I know," she agreed. In fact, she was worried about that herself. She wasn't sure how she was going to keep Jason from jumping back into it all full throttle.

"I can see that you mean a great deal to him," Elizabeth felt her cheeks flush as a crimson hue spread over them, "and I was hoping that you might have enough influence over him, to get him to give himself the time he needs to rest and recuperate."

"I'll definitely do what I can. But you said so yourself, Jason isn't very patient."

"Just try to make him understand, the more he tries to do too soon the longer it will take for him to get back to full strength."

"I'll try," she said. "And Dr. Bennett, thank you."

"I'm just doing my job."

"Thank you just the same."

Jake and Alison had spent the past three days in strained silence and this afternoon was no different. Jake was at a loss not sure what he could or couldn't say when it came to Jason. He knew that the young man wanted to move forward starting fresh in his relationship with his mother, yet Jake wasn't sure if Alison could actually do what she had to do to make that truly happen. Jake was well aware of how badly Jason wanted to get back on the track and no matter what Alison may or may not have said that was the total opposite of what she wanted.

"Thanks," Jake said as the server sat the plates of food in front of them.

"Yes, thank you," Alison echoed.

"Have you decided when you are heading back to Texas?" Jake finally asked. He was almost certain staying is North Carolina wasn't something that Alison wanted to do. He knew that the state and Charlotte especially held too many bad memories.

Alison took a sip of coffee and pondered the thought. She honestly didn't know the answer to that question. If she were honest with herself heading back to Texas would have been the simplest thing for her. She could return to the life she created for herself that was void of anything that had to do with NASCAR. Before Jason's accident it had been easy for her to pretend that the life he led wasn't happening. She could delude herself into thinking everything was fine. However, since that fateful phone call she could no longer pretend that Jason wasn't slipping behind the wheel of a racecar and that he could lose his life. Yet Alison didn't know if she could actually stay and live that truth.

"I don't know," she finally answered.

"You know you are welcome to stay with me as long as you like. I can certainly return the hospitality you expended me."

"Thank you."

Before their conversation could continue, Jake's phone rang inside his jacket pocket. "Hello. That's wonderful news. Of course. See you soon," he said placing the phone on the table. "That was Elizabeth. It looks like Jason should be released later today." The news had Jake as excited as a kid on Christmas morning standing in front of a pile of presents.

Alison remained silent unsure of what to say. She was relieved to know that Jason was well enough to be released yet that realization only forced her to have to deal with what his continued recovery would mean; that eventually he would be racing again. She knew that she told him she would try to understand and respect his decisions but honestly, she didn't know how she would do it.

"Ali, did you hear me? Jason's probably coming home today."

"Yes."

"That's it? That's all you can say?" Jake was certainly puzzled.

"I'm glad, really I am."

"But?" Jake interjected knowing that there was definitely something bothering her.

"But I don't know. I want so badly to be what Jason needs me to be as his mother, yet I don't know. I just don't know if I can do that."

"Are you willing to deal with the consequences if you don't?" Jake asked bluntly.

"I wish I knew."

"Alison, I can't tell you what to do now any more than I could all those years ago. But what I can tell you is if you walk away again, there will be no coming back from that."

"I know," she said averting her gaze from Jake's intense eyes.

"Hey, Jason's not in his room," Leo's sudden appearance at the nurse's station startled Melanie who had been pouring over a stack of patient charts.

"Well, hello to you too," she said.

"Sorry," he grinned sheepishly. "Hello."

"He's getting another test."

"Why, what's wrong?" Leo was still uneasy about the status of Jason's condition. He would feel so much better when his friend was finally released.

"Nothing, just routine stuff before Dr. Bennett releases him this afternoon."

"So, he's really going home today?" Leo had trouble hiding his delight.

"Yes."

"I bet he's thrilled to be getting out of here."

"Not any more than the staff," Melanie countered. "Jason Morgan is not the most cooperative patient," she said slyly.

Leo knew how true that was. Every time he came to see his friend all he heard was one scheme or another to spring him from the hospital. He could only imagine the torture Jason had put the rest of the staff through.

"Do you know when he will be back in his room?"

"Probably in a half hour or so. Then you can spring him," she joked.

"Have you had lunch yet?" Leo asked.

"No."

"Would you like to join me in the cafeteria?"

Melanie looked at the work that was piling up around her and back into Leo's blue eyes as deep as the ocean and couldn't refuse him. "I'd like that."

Taking her hand across the counter, Leo led her to the elevator. He liked the way their hands fit together and the content feeling he felt having her by his side.

Jason struggled to raise his arms attempting to pull this t-shirt over his head. He knew the pain would eventually lessen with time but at the moment it hurt like hell, but he was willing to deal with it if it meant he could finally get out of the hospital.

Dr. Bennett told him his ribs would heal much faster than his concussion based on the impact test results, it would be a least a few weeks before the dizziness and bouts of nausea he was experiencing would subside. Jason didn't care though. He would push through like he always did when it was something he wanted badly enough and getting back out on the track as soon as he could was definitely something he wanted. Finishing the season was a top priority, more importantly was making sure Weston wasn't the one standing on the winner's podium.

The sound of the door swishing open caused Jason to turn his head too quickly causing the room to spin a bit as he reached for the bed rail. Elizabeth rushed to his side. "Hey, easy, sit down," she said guiding him to the edge of the bed. "Maybe you aren't so ready to leave here after all."

"I'm fine," he lied as a wave of nausea passed through his midsection.

"Jason don't lie. The look on your face tells me you are anything but."

"Elizabeth," he said softly as he draped his arm across her shoulder careful to hold the pain it elicited from her knowledge. "I'm fine. Dr. Bennett gave me my instructions."

"But will you follow them?" she countered quickly.

"I have feeling you are going to make me," he laughed.

"Damn right I am! You do understand that if you don't rest and let your body heal it's only going to make matters worse."

"Dr. Bennett said as much. Please stop worrying. I really am okay," he whispered pulling her against him. Jason could sense her anxiety and see the fear etched across her delicate features. He hated to see her like that especially over him.

"I can't lose you," she declared faintly.

"You won't. I promise." Jason buried his lips in her deep chestnut curls and kissed her softly.

"I'm here for the jailbreak!", Leo shouted as he entered Jason's hospital room startling the pair who had been just sitting silently.

"It's about time," Jason returned eager to put as much distance between himself and this room as possible. "Hell, no I'm not riding in one of those, no way," Jason announced the minute he saw Melanie pushing a wheelchair into the room.

"Oh yes you are," she countered. "Unless of course you would like to stay here," Melanie added know full well that wouldn't be an option.

"Oh no," he scoffed.

Jake stopped short at the goings on before him and stifled a chuckle. The sight of Jason arguing with Melanie reminded him of much of himself when he was released from the hospital so many months ago. He recalled putting up the same fight Jason was when it came to being pushed out in a wheelchair of all things.

"Well then?" She pushed the chair in his direction.

"Stop giving the girl such a hard time boy," Jake's voice boomed as he entered the room grinning from ear to ear at Jason's predicament.

"Fine," Jason groaned.

"Thank you," Melanie said glancing in the older man's direction as Jason eased himself into the wheelchair.

Alison stood back surveying the scene. She envied the easy nature of the interactions taking place in front of her. She wondered if she would ever feel that relaxed around her son.

"I'm in the chair," Jason said sarcastically. "Can we go now," he spoke with emphasis.

"Here, let me," Jake announced stepping between Melanie and the wheelchair with a laugh.

Elizabeth watched the easy banter between the two men and the smile on Jason's face. She knew how much having Jake back in North Carolina meant to him. She was happy as well. The older man treated her more like a daughter than her own father did.

The instant the front wheels crossed the threshold of the hospital doors Jason stood up like he had just been shot out of a rocket. "Slow down there," Jake said sensing that the quick movement caused the young man a bit of a head rush. "If you're not careful," he leaned down and whispered in Jason's ear, "You are going to wind up back a hospital bed." Jake knew that was the last thing Jason wanted.

"Jason?" Elizabeth questioned anxiously coming up behind the pair.

"I'm fine," he said before she could let her question roll off the tip of her tongue. "Please, stop worrying about me." Jason reached for her hand giving it a gently squeeze.

"Like that's ever going to happen," she countered.

"I can go get the car unless you'd rather Elizabeth takes you home," Jake commented.

"Takes him home?" Alison chimed in. "He certainly can't be left alone. He has a concussion for heaven sakes."

Jason did his best not to roll his eyes at his mother's comment however the look wasn't lost on Elizabeth. She knew he wasn't going to like what she was about to say but went ahead with it anyway. "Your mom is right. You shouldn't be alone right now. At least not for the next few days."

"I can stay with him," Leo offered.

"Nonsense Jason will stay with me," Jake chimed in.

"Would everyone please stop talking about me as if I wasn't standing right here!" Jason's voice was gruff. "I am a grown man who can certainly take care of himself. Besides I'm not going anywhere until I see my car!" he announced.

"You can't be serious?" Alison squawked. "That's the last place you need to go!"

Jake turned around and looked Jason's mother square in the eye sorry she hadn't heeded his earlier words. Alison Morgan was certainly her own worst enemy.

"There will be plenty of time for that," Elizabeth said for once completely agreeing with Jason's mother. She knew the minute Jason was at the garage any hopes of her getting him to rest like Dr. Bennett has instructed would be out the window.

"One of you can either take me to the garage or I will get a cab." Jason wasn't about to change his stance on the matter.

"Jason, please," Elizabeth said. "You were just released from the hospital. Can't that wait at least a day?"

"Leo?" Jason looked at his friend.

"Jase, man I don't know," Leo answered as both Melanie and Elizabeth shot him the evil eye.

"Fine, if not one will take me, I'll get there on my own!" Jason retorted pulling out his cell phone from his back pocket.

"I'll take you," Jake relented know that Jason was getting to the Ryan garage one way or another.

"Jake, please," Alison pleaded.

"Alison," Jake's use of her name finally silenced her.

"Thank you," Jason declared.

"We'll meet you at the garage," Leo said as he squeezed Elizabeth's hand sensing her uneasiness about what Jason wanted to do. He knew his friend would take one look at his car and want to jump right into trying to determine what had caused the crash. Part of him understood Jason's need to do that but he also sympathized with Elizabeth's fear.