SOPHIE ALLOWED ELI to take on the daunting task of convincing Aubrey. She did take it upon herself to tag along, however. Just to make sure that she would be able to step in and protect her man if things went south.

"This is not going to be fun," Eli muttered under his breath as they made their way through the infirmary. "Aubrey is not going to be happy, at all."

"You've got this," she encouraged him.

He huffed. They slowed to a stop in front of the door to Wolfe's room. She watched him suck in a deep breath and roll his shoulders back -- almost as if he were bracing himself. He reached out, his fingers curling around the doorknob. He slowly opened the door and then stepped aside, allowing enough space that Sophie could enter first.

She ducked inside the room, her gaze instantly landing on Wolfe's sleeping form. He laid atop the hospital bed, thin blue sheets pulled up to the base of his neck. His face was turned away from her -- toward the chair that Aubrey sat in.

"Hello," Sophie greeted Aubrey.

Aubrey lifted her gaze from the laptop balanced atop her lap. She smiled a little weakly at Sophie. "Hey there. How are you feeling? I heard that you almost got attacked?"Sophie eased into one of the chairs across from Aubrey. "Somewhat. I managed to scare off one of the creatures before it could kill our new friend Finn."

"Wow," Aubrey said, shaking her head. "I'm glad that you are okay."

Eli moved closer to his sister. He smiled widely and gestured toward Wolfe. He opened his mouth and the words that escaped came out fast. "He seems to be very peaceful today. I'm so glad that he is getting his rest. I'm sure that he needs it."

He took a breath and then hastily added, "Also Finn wants to come and examine Wolfe. By the way, have you been outside yet? The weather is honestly fantastic today."

The warmth faded from Aubrey's expression as she shifted her gaze from Sophie to her brother. "What was that?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

"What do you mean?" Eli asked, feigning complete confusion.

Aubrey stared at him for a moment. Her expression was stoic and void of any emotion. "What did you just say?" she reiterated.

"About the weather?" Eli chirped, hopeful.

"No, before that."

Eli hesitated. That was all Aubrey needed. Her gaze dropped away from her brother, attention now focused on the laptop in her lap again. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, typing furiously. Her gaze did not leave the screen as she snapped, "I don't think so."

"So hear me out," Eli interjected quickly. His hands made exaggerated motions as he talked. "I know that we don't know much about this guy -- but he has been around a lot longer than we have. He said that he knows people who have been brainwashed before, just like Wolfe was. There is a chance that he might actually be able to help."

Aubrey slammed the laptop shut. "I am not exposing him to any further danger," she growled at Eli. "The risk is far too great."

"But we don't know that," Eli countered. "There may not be a risk at all. Finn could take one look at Wolfe and know exactly what to do."

"I am not allowing some random stranger play mad-scientist on Wolfe. He has been through enough!" Aubrey's voice did not raise, but poisonous anger dripped from each word. She glared daggers at Eli.

Eli scowled at her. "What if Finn is able to completely bring him back?"

"I said no, Eli!" Aubrey snarled. She shoved the laptop aside and stood. "Now get out!"

"You said that you would do anything to help him," Eli said, his voice low. "And now that you've been given the opportunity to do that, you are refusing."

Even Sophie flinched at that one.

Aubrey's jaw clenched tight. A fresh coat of tears glossed over her eyes, making her irises glimmer against the fluorescent lights that illuminated the room. "That was a low blow," she said. Her voice cracked.

Her gaze dropped to Wolfe's sleeping form. She reached out, her fingertips lightly touching the light blue sheet that covered his feet. "I've done everything in my power to help bring him back," she said. Her voice was merely a whisper. "I haven't left his side. I have done everything that the doctors have asked of me. Talked to him, sang to him, researched everything I could about his situation. I even help him exercise in bed, moving his arms and legs for twenty minutes a day."

Eli grimaced. "I am not invalidating that," he said carefully. "I know that you have done a lot. But we don't know what Finn has seen and he may know exactly how to fix Wolfe. It doesn't hurt to let him take a look."

Aubrey tore her gaze away to glare at Eli again. Her anger had returned. "Fine," she hissed through her teeth. She jabbed her index finger at Eli. "But if anything bad happens, your head will be on my mantle."

His expression brightened. "It's a good thing then that you don't have a mantle."

"I'll build one just for you," she snapped.

Eli ignored her. He turned toward Sophie, a brilliant smile plastered to his face. "My love, please go see if Finn is able visit now. I will wait here."

Aubrey sunk back down into her chair, slumped back slightly with her arms crossed over her chest.

Sophie quickly left Wolfe's room. She made her way through the halls, returning to the main lobby of the infirmary. It did not take long to track down one of the nurses. It hadn't been more than twenty-four hours since she'd dropped Finn off to be treated, and she wanted to make sure that it would be okay for him to leave his room.

The nurse granted her blessing -- expressing with a hint of surprise that Finn had almost completely healed since Sophie had last visited. Sophie thanked the nurse and then rushed to Finn's room.

She knocked on the door and waited, listening until she heard a soft, "You may enter."Cracking open the door, she peered inside. The room was darker, with the lights turned down very low. She spotted Finn seated on his bed.

A massive smile immediately appeared on Finn's face. "Hello Sophie."

She smiled at him. "How would you like to take a field trip?" she asked him.

"I am always ready for an adventure," he answered, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

The sudden movement made Sophie panic. She rushed forward, reaching out to grab his arms in an attempt to help him. Finn, however, stood without issue. One hand grasped the back of his thin hospital gown. The other snatched a pair of white sweatpants and a matching sweatshirt that had been folded atop his bedside table. He held them up and grinned. "I knew your mother brought these for a reason," he said. A chuckle escaped him. "Please excuse me for a moment."He disappeared into the bathroom that was attached to his room. Sophie waited by the door, her arms folded across her chest. Finn emerged from the bathroom only seconds later, dressed in the sweats. He smiled at her. "Where are we going?" he asked.

"You said that you'd be interested in seeing my friend, Wolfe," Sophie said.

His entire expression lit up. "Yes, absolutely."

Finn followed Sophie out the door. She cautiously walked beside him, watching him from the corners of her eyes. Like the nurse had said, however, Finn seemed to be healing very fast. He had managed to dress all by himself in mere seconds. It seemed as though he was able to move his arm without much trouble now.

It did not take long to find Wolfe's room again. Sophie opened the door and held it for Finn. The older vampire stepped into the room. Sophie moved to stand beside Eli, her hand quickly finding his. Eli's hand squeezed hers.

"Hello!" Finn greeted Aubrey cheerfully, his lips stretched around a massive grin. His eyes scanned over Wolfe's sleeping form.

Aubrey seemed hesitant. She answered him with a small, forced smile and a curt nod. Finn sat down across from Aubrey, his full and undivided attention focused on her. He asked her an endless stream of questions -- questioning things that Sophie would have never expected to hear. Aubrey answered to the best of her ability. Some questions revolved around her relationship to Wolfe -- their history, how they met, how much he meant to her. Other questions were more medical in nature.

Finally the onslaught of questions ended. Finn shifted his gaze to Wolfe's sleeping form, an unhealthy amount of curiosity swimming within his eyes. He stared for a moment, simply watching as Wolfe's chest rose and fell with each shallow breath.

Then, without tearing his gaze away, he asked Aubrey, "May I try something?"