Again, Alison found herself staring out the kitchen window watching as Jason's metallic blue racecar gleamed under the bright North Carolina sunshine. The flatbed with the Ryan Racing logo sprawled across the doors had just arrived to take the car away. It hadn't been more than two days since Jason got his medical release from Dr. Bennett and he was already prepping for a race that was less than two weeks away.

She surveyed the scene as the car was slowly winched onto the truck all the while Jason and Jake never once taking their eyes off the precious cargo. Easily Jason climbed up onto the bed and carefully strapped the front end to the tie downs near the cab of the flatbed while Jake did the same at the rear.

Alison stood mesmerized gazing as they worked to secure the racecar for its journey yet all she could think about was the phone call she received telling of her Jason's accident a mere few weeks before. The words still echoed in her ears as the devastating memory of Erik's death played out before her eyes while she listened expecting to hear the same fate had taken her son, however; that hadn't been the case. In fact, Jason was alive and well and getting ready to go back to the very thing that could have stolen him from her in the first place.

She willed herself to remind where she was. Her instinct was to run to Jason and beg him to never climb behind the wheel of that car again, to bestow on him all the things that could go wrong, how he had cheated death once and maybe next time he wouldn't be so lucky, but she didn't. Alison stood in front of the window holding her breath as she watched Jason kiss Elizabeth on the cheek and climb into the cab of Jake's truck following the flatbed out the long dusty driveway.

Alison once more marveled at the young girl she watched making her way to her car. How could Elizabeth be so calm when Alison knew that on the inside she was as frightened as she was for Jason to race again? Before she knew it her feet were carrying her out of the kitchen hoping to reach Elizabeth before she got in her car to leave. "Elizabeth wait," she called out.

Elizabeth turned pushing her chestnut curls away from her eyes as the wind whipped them around to see Alison approaching her. She waited for Jason's mother to speak unsure of what might come next. The day that Jason has gotten his release from Dr. Bennett while Alison hadn't said anything Elizabeth knew by the look on her face that she was disappointed and could only imagine what the women before might have to say.

"Can I ask you something?" Alison finally began.

"Sure," she returned tentatively.

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?" Elizabeth did little to hide her confusion.

"How do you not let your fear consume you and turn you into someone you don't recognize?" she asked speaking about how she saw herself in this situation.

"I don't think I understand."

"I didn't mean to ease drop on you and Jason the other night, really I didn't," she stuttered, "but I heard you tell him how him getting back behind the wheel of his racecar scares you."

"Yes, it does," Elizabeth confirmed.

"So how can you do it? How can you be so calm, sit in those stands and watch him without thinking the worst?"

Elizabeth remained quiet for a moment mulling over Alison's words unsure of how to answer her honestly. Up until Jason's accident, she didn't much think about the what ifs of racing. It wasn't as though she didn't understand the risks or hadn't lived them her entire life, but she had come to take them as part of the sport she loved. However, now she knew that while she'd be in the stands cheering Jason on as she always had been, it would definitely be a little different, her nerves and fears would be heightened but Elizabeth knew that wouldn't stop her from being the just the same.

"Because I could never ask Jason to be someone he isn't," Elizabeth finally said. The simplicity of Elizabeth's answer caught Alison off guard. "I love him too much to ask him to change for me especially since it's my fear not his. It's something that I have to learn to come to terms with and I'm not willing to lose him over it."

"But that's just it you could lose him."

"Yes, I could," Elizabeth agreed, "but not because I'm making him choose."

Alison stared wide eyed at the younger woman before her unable to wrap her mind around Elizabeth's remarks.

"Why don't we sit?" Elizabeth motioned toward the bench that sat against the large metal garage. Alison complied with the request still unsure of what to say next. "I can only speak for myself," Elizabeth continued. "I love Jason. All of him, which includes him being a NASCAR driver and all that entails."

"How?" Alison asked again, "How can you do that?"

"I don't know. Maybe because racing is all I know. I have lived with the danger all my life. I have watched the track ruin careers and take lives of people close to me. I'm not going to lie the thought of losing Jason to the track petrifies me, but the thought of him not being able to do what he loves because of my fear scares me more."

"How can that be? He'd be alive."

"Yes, but not really living. Jason has racing in his blood, much like I am sure your husband did. Up until the time of his accident could you have seen him doing anything but driving a racecar?"

Alison remained silent allowing Elizabeth's question to truly sink in.

"I know you're scared and you have every right to be. No one can fault you for how you feel but they can for how you choose to deal with those feelings. Alison, you lost your husband and from the little I know he was the love of your life. How can that not change you? But your son is still here and think of all the time you've lost with him because you let your fear of losing him rob you of a relationship. He might as well have died that day along with husband."

Alison felt a tear slip down her cheek as Elizabeth's poignant words pricked at her heart.

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth apologized. "I don't mean to sound harsh. It's just how I see it. For me it's an easy choice. I will love Jason, all of him, for as long as the world allows it. You are the only one who can decide if that's something you can or can't do." Elizabeth rested her hand on Jason's mother's shoulder before getting up from the bench and heading towards her car. She wasn't sure if her words had made a difference, but she spoke from her heart and could only hope that it had given Alison Morgan something to think about.

Billy picked his head up out of the engine compartment of his stock car just in time to see one of the many Ryan Racing flatbed trucks rolling into the compound with Jason Morgan's newly rebuilt racecar strapped to it. Instantly he chucked the wrench he had been holding to the ground his anger immediately was all consuming. Following close behind was Jason and his former crew chief Jake Russell. Billy had heard the rumors that Russell would be back heading the pit crew. That certainly put a kink in his future plans.

"Damn," he murmured

"What was that?" Theresa Kennedy's sultry voice came up from behind him.

Billy hadn't realized he wasn't alone. "Nothing," he said shrugging off her question.

Theresa leaned against the front fender of Billy's car watching him closely. He stood extremely still like a wolf stalking its prey never once taking his eyes off Jason in the distance. She watched his body language closely and saw his muscles tense as he watched Jason climb through the window of his car once it was off the bed of the truck. She heard the engine thunder to life and looked on as Jason navigated the car towards the practice track. Billy's clenched jaw and white knuckles gripping the fiberglass fender spoke volumes to her.

"Hey," she said stroking his arm.

"What?" he returned gruffly shaking off her touch.

"I haven't seen around," she began in an effort to distract him.

"I've been busy," he answered not paying her much attention.

"I guess. How about we go grab a drink later?" she suggested seductively.

"I don't think so. I have things I need to get done," he announced eyes still trained on Jason's racecar fading into the distance.

"Ah come on, it seems like you need to blow off a little steam," she whispered her tongue teasing his earlobe. "You're so tense, baby." Theresa rubbed her hands against the plains of his chest.

For a second Billy let himself get lost in Theresa's touch when her fingers grazed across his nipples through the thin fabric of his black t-shirt but the sight of Elizabeth's Chevelle crossing the compound and stopping at the practice track brought him back to his senses. Theresa was a distraction he didn't need and certainly couldn't afford. "I said I have things to do," he barked.

"Come on baby, you know I know how to take away all that stress," she purred reaching from behind him resting her hand on his crouch.

"Get the fuck off of me!" he snapped.

"Fine," she relented throwing her hands up in the air as she watched him storm away from her.

Elizabeth leaned against the chain link fence and watched as Jason circled the track. His bright blue machine whizzed by her time and time again. She could see Jake in the infield headset on almost certain the pair had fallen back into their easy rhythm as if Jake had never been gone. Even on the deserted practice track, Elizabeth could easily see Jason's prowess behind the wheel. She knew he was where he belonged.

She continued watching him until Jake called him into the infield. Scaling the fence Elizabeth made her way to what the pair stood talking. "Hey," she reached for Jason's hand.

"Hey," he returned pulling her body tightly against his.

"Looking good out there," she commented.

"I'm getting there."

"Is something wrong?" she questioned looking between Jason and Jake.

"No," Jake offered, "He just needs to get his 'sea legs' back is all." Jake slapped Jason on the back.

"You sure that's all it is?" Elizabeth asked eyeing Jason cautiously.

"Jake's right. I'm just over thinking it."

"If something was wrong, you'd tell me, right?" she questioned.

"Of course. Hey look," Jason said pointing at Leo and Melanie holding hands as they approached the group.

"Nice," Elizabeth grinned. "Hi, you two," she smirked eyes averted towards their entangled fingers. "Something you'd like to share?" Elizabeth giggled.

The pair looked at one another before saying in unison "Nope." Yet neither let go of the others hand.

"Looking good out there," Leo announced. "You are so ready to dominate again. The rest of us better look out."

"It's getting there," Jason said.

"Humble as ever," Leo joked playfully shoving at Jason's shoulder

"So seriously, the two of you have nothing to say?" Elizabeth wasn't about to drop the fact that it finally seemed as though her two best friends had come to realize what she had known all along, that they were meant to be together.

"About?" Leo enjoyed making his friend work for it.

"This!" Elizabeth reached for their clasped hands.

"No. You?" He turned and looked at Melanie for a reply.

"I don't think so," she smiled coyly.

"UGH!" Elizabeth groaned. At that sound the whole group, including Jake, began to laugh at Elizabeth's obvious frustration.

"You didn't really think we would cave to you that easy did you?" Leo mocked her.

"I knew it! I knew it!"

"And this is exactly why we made you work for it," Melanie chimed in. "Like we needed to hear your 'I told you so' lecture."

"Well, I, didn't I?" Elizabeth shot back proudly.

"I'm happy for you both," Jason cut in hoping to put a stop to Elizabeth's delight at being right about her friends.

"Thank you," Leo and Melanie returned.

"I'm happy for you too," Elizabeth added. "I just don't know why it took you both so long to realize what I have known all along."

"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Melanie remarked pointedly giving her friend that all knowing look.

"Fine," Elizabeth relented knowing that if she continued to push Melanie would follow suit and showcase Elizabeth and her own stubborn ways. That was definitely something she wanted to avoid.

"Congratulations," Jake offered. "How about I worry about getting the car back to the garage and the four of you go celebrate?" Jake knew that Jason needed a distraction before the upcoming race and spending the evening with Elizabeth and his friends was exactly what he needed.

"I'd be up for a rematch at the dart board," Leo said.

"Like you really think you are going to beat us?" Elizabeth asked as she took Melanie's hand in hers raising them in the air as a sign of their champion status.

"Oh, hell it's on!" Leo announced. "Come on Jason, these girls they are going DOWN!"

Melanie and Elizabeth looked at one another and just smiled knowing full well they would be victorious once more. "What ever you say," Elizabeth laughed.

"Enjoy yourself. And Elizabeth, play nice," Jake said with a smile.

"Always," she laughed reaching for Jason's hand as the foursome headed away from the practice track.

Theresa couldn't shake the ominous feeling she had since leaving Billy earlier that day. The way he was hyper focused on Jason combined with what she already knew had her rattled. So as dusk fell over the Ryan Racing Compound, she found herself trolling between the variety of garages eyes peeled for any sight of Billy Weston.

She stopped short as the sight of Jason's metallic blue racecar came into view, yet it was the sight of Billy walking towards it that had Theresa quicken her pace. "So, you get done what you needed to?" she questioned linking her arm with his. "You ready to buy a lady a drink?"

Billy turned and eyed her curiously. "Lady?" he scoffed. "You're kidding right?"

Theresa ignored his obvious dig and continued. "Come on, it's been forever since we've been out. Just one drink," she pressed.

"I told you I've got things to do. Go whore yourself out to someone who's actually interested."

Before Theresa could respond Billy broke free of her grasp and walked away. She watched as he made his way passed Jason's car and headed in the direction of his own garage on the compound. She had a sinking feeling that Billy wasn't going to be stop unless someone stopped him.