the days after-Wednesday

Over the next couple of days. Steven was thinking about his new found abilities. His thoughts also drifting to Ellen too. The voices had also returned. They were in agreement that Steven had a lot to come to terms with, and told him that they would be on hand to guide him. In the lab. Ellen and her staff still couldn't find the answers to Steven's remarkable health.

Now Wednesday, it was Jade's birthday. She bounced through Steven's door and jumped on him. "Hiya bro. How you doing?"

"Ok I guess. Still not sure what I'm going to do with myself. But I'm getting used to having what I have. Still seems really weird though." He then paused. "Oh shit. Sorry Jade. Happy birthday." He reached over into his bedside drawer and pulled out her birthday card.

"You remembered. Even with all you've had to deal with recently and you still remembered." She hugged him close. "I love you bro." She kissed him on the cheek "Thank you. I'm going out tonight with the girls. Now that I'm officially an adult I can have a night out and drink it away."

"Don't get carried away Jade. John and I snuck a load when we was 16. I felt rough as fuck the next morning, and I woke up on the floor in the bathroom. Just don't ask me how I got there cause I really don't know."

"You worry too much Stevie. I'll be fine. I saw what Mel was like on her birthday bash. Throwing up all over the pavement. Not a pretty sight. So I don't intend to get that bad. Just a bit pissed."

"Ok Sis. Just don't over do it. I'll be on hand tonight if you need me to come and get you. I take it that was what you was looking to ask me?"

"Can't hide anything from you can I?"

"Nope" They both smiled at each other. "Go on Jade, Go and enjoy your day."

"I will. But I wanted to spend some time with you." Jade was now twiddling her hair. "Maybe you can help me decide what to wear tonight." Fluttering her eye lids to persuade him."

"Alright Jade. When you're ready, let me know and I'll help you out." Jade then got up and left to get on with the rest of her daytime activities. "She's mental. But I love her."

Come the late afternoon. Ellen and her staff still had been unable to come up with answers. All readings from the mainframe had not revealed any reasons for the apparent programme break the nanobots displayed in Steven's body. Ellen's feelings for Steven were growing stronger. She couldn't forget the kiss. It sent shivers down her spine every time she thought about it. "What's wrong with me. He was my patient, and I'm 5 years older than he is." She thought to herself. "I must be losing the plot." Walking back into the lab, she asked everyone if anything had turned up. No one answered. "Damn. There's got to be a reason for this." Sitting at the main terminal. Ellen decided to try something different. But waited until she was alone after everyone had gone home. Placing her head in her hands and rubbing her temples with her thumbs.

Bill then came up behind her. "You feeling ok Ellen?" She turned to look at him and shook her head.

"I just want to know what's going on. There has to be something we can find. 3 days now and nothing. Maybe tomorrow we'll have better luck."

"Yeah. It's getting late now." He turned to face the rest of the room. "Ok guys. We're not gonna get anything today. Lets call it a night and pick it up again tomorrow." Turning back to Ellen. He noted how tired she looked. "You really need to get some sleep Ellen. You look like you're running on adrenaline alone."

"I know. Just got a lot to think about." She replied looking up at him.

"Look. Ellen. I'm not just your colleague. We've been friends for while now and I'm pretty good at reading people. You sure there's something not telling me."

"Yeah. But it's not important. I just haven't slept well since I met Steven and found all this out." Still not prepared to admit to her feelings.

"He's really got you going over this hasn't he."

"You have no idea." She thought. "Oh yeah. I just can't help but wonder. Have we opened Pandora's box.

"That thought crossed my mind too. Let's call it a day Ellen. You really need to get some sleep. Pick it up again tomorrow."

"Probably a good idea. I'll stay in my bunk here tonight. You go home. Give Cathy my love. She's probably been sitting in the car waiting for you for the last 5 minutes."

"See you tomorrow Ellen. Goodnight."

"You too Bill. Night."

When Bill exited, Ellen waited until she knew he was in the car with his wife and then turned to the mainframe terminal. Everyone else had been studying the nanobots trying to figure out if there was something wrong in there construction. Ellen instead decided to access the main terminal and simply typed one word. "Why." She received no answer.