Deacon reached over to the other side of the bed, but it was empty. He got up and walked into the bathroom. Rayna wasn't there either.
He walked downstairs, but the house was empty. He pushed open the door but no one was there.
He found himself walking down the street, until he came up to the cemetery. There was a large group of people standing under a large tree. As he walked up, he could see that the group was gathered around an open grave.
He stepped to the edge of the group. He looked over at the row closest to the grave and felt a cold wave wash over him. Rayna, Daphne, Maddie and Scarlett stood there, their heads bowed. His eyes followed theirs to the coffin sitting over the grave and he knew that it must be his body inside the box.
"No," he found himself saying. "No."
He felt an arm on his. "No!"
"Deacon, wake up."
He sat up, a cold sweat dripping down his face. Rayna was holding him.
"Babe, are you okay?" she asked.
He stared at her and shook his head.
"What were you dreaming about?"
Deacon got out of bed and walked over to the window. Rayna got up and followed him, slipping her arms around him.
"What was the dream about, babe?" she asked.
He stared out the window, not answering her.
She leaned her head against his back. "Babe."
"You were at the cemetery," he replied. "I was...I was…"
She turned him to face her. He was crying and she raised her hand up to wipe away his tears. "You're here. You're here with me."
"It was so real, Ray," he said through his tears. "I...I don't want to leave you."
She pulled him close. "You aren't leaving me, you aren't leaving any of us. You're here."
She held him for several minutes, then as he began to relax, led him back to her bed. "C'mon, babe, you need to rest. I'm worried how you're driving yourself."
Deacon laid back down into the bed. "I'm okay, Ray."
She smoothed her hand over his hair, down the edge of his face. "I love you so much, babe." She leaned in and kissed him deeply.
"I don't think I can," Deacon said as she continued to minister to him. She slowed her kisses, finally, resting her head on his chest, lying next to him.
"It's okay," she replied. "I just want to be here, with you. With you in my bed."
Rayna woke up the next morning. She looked over to find Deacon sound asleep next to her, exhausted after his nightmare the night before. She slid carefully from the bed so as to not disturb him and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
"Hey, honey," she greeted Maddie who sat at the kitchen counter with her laptop. "Homework?"
Maddie nodded. "I thought I'd get it done at dad's last night, but he and Daphne wanted to go bowling."
Rayna poured water into the coffee maker and turned back to her daughter. "How are you doing, sweetie? You've been pretty quiet since Deacon told us his news."
Maddie looked up from her computer, a sad look on her face. "I just don't really know what to say to him."
"I don't think there has to be a right thing or a wrong thing," Rayna replied. "He just wants to spend time with you, to play music or write songs. The stuff you used to do."
Maddie shook her head. "I can't, Mom. I'm sorry, I just can't."
"You have to try, Maddie, please. For him. For me," Rayna asked.
Maddie started to cry and Rayna moved over to her, taking her in her arms. "It's okay, honey," she soothed her daughter.
Maddie looked up at her. "Is he going to die?"
Rayna pulled her close to her. "I don't know, honey. I know we're doing everything we can and he wants to live."
"I don't want him to die," Maddie cried.
Rayna pulled her even closer. "Me neither, honey. Me neither."
Rayna dropped the girls off as school and returned to the house. Deacon's truck was still in the driveway. She opened the door to the kitchen and found it empty, so she headed upstairs to the bedroom.
The bed was empty, but Deacon's boots were at the end of the bed and his clothes lay across the bench.
"Deacon?" she asked as she headed back toward the bathroom.
"Give me a minute," he replied.
She paused, then stepped toward the bathroom. "I'm coming in, babe."
"Ray," he cautioned.
"I'm coming in there," she said again and pushed the door open.
Deacon sat on the floor next to the toilet. His face looked pale. She crossed to him and knelt down.
"Are you okay?" she asked, putting her hand on his arm.
He nodded. "I thought I was going to be sick, but when I came in, I was dizzy. I just...I just sat down, but then I couldn't get up."
"Let me call the doctor," Rayna said. "Make sure this isn't something serious."
"Can you just help me up?" he asked.
She looked at him, then nodded. She moved so she was squatting next to him, her hand under his armpit. "Okay, let me help on this side, and you use the toilet on the other."
He put his hand on the toilet lid and between their efforts, got him standing up again.
"Okay, let's get you back into bed," Rayna said. "Okay?"
Deacon nodded and she helped him back into the bedroom.
Deacon laid back down and she pulled the covers back up over him.
"Do you need something? Are you still feeling sick?" she asked.
Deacon was silent.
"Babe," Rayna started. "Let me call the doctor.
Deacon nodded as Rayna pulled out her phone and dialed Dr. Rand's office.
"He's feeling nauseous," Rayna said as Deacon nodded. "And he's light-headed." She listened for a moment.
"When did you eat last?" she asked him.
Deacon thought for a moment. "Yesterday, uh, afternoon."
Rayna relayed it and then listened again. "Okay, sounds good."
She ended the call. "Do you think you can eat some soup?" she asked.
He nodded again.
"Okay, let's try that and if it doesn't work, then they want us to come in and give you an IV."
"Okay," Deacon answered. He rolled onto his side. "I hate having you see me like this."
Rayna sat down next to him. "You're sick, Deacon. This is going to happen. Let me go get you some soup and then we'll take it from there."
Rayna was sitting in the family room when Bucky came in.
"Hey, Ray," he said as he came over and sat on the chair across from where she sat on the couch.
"Thanks, Buck," she replied. "I know I was supposed to come in, but Deacon's having a bad day."
"Anything I can do to help?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No, he's asleep now and I don't think it's anything too serious."
"Good," Bucky replied. "So, I've got a few more demos for you to listen to if you have time and I wanted to talk to you about the Triple Xs."
Rayna reached to pull over the stack of demos Bucky had pulled out of his bag. "Gunnar and Scarlett, huh?"
"And Avery Barkley," Bucky replied. "They're getting some great reviews from that short tour they did and I think we should try to sign them."
"Sounds good to me," Rayna said as she pulled her legs up underneath her. "I know how magical Scarlett can be, when she's on her game."
"Well, this seems like a better set-up for her," Bucky replied. "She's been great on stage, dealt with some stuff on social media and came out fighting at their Chicago show."
"Sounds great," Rayna said. "I'll take a listen to the others and let you know what I think."
Bucky stood up. "And call me, if you need anything, Ray. Anything at all."
Deacon woke up in the quiet room and reached for his phone. He scrolled through his contacts and dialed.
"Hey, Coleman," he said when the call connected. "Got your message about being in town. I'm hoping maybe we could meet...at my house."
"Sure, Deacon," Coleman replied. "I'm headed back first thing in the morning. Would it work to meet in an hour or so?"
Deacon took in a deep breathe. "Yeah, I'll see you there."
"What are you doing?" Rayna said as Deacon walked into the kitchen holding his overnight bag.
"I'm going home for a bit," he replied.
She got up from the couch and came over. "I think you should stay here."
Deacon shook his head. "I'm feelin' a lot better, Ray, and I gotta do some stuff. I'll call you tonight, okay?"
She looked at him, then nodded. "You sure?"
"I'm sure," he replied, then leaned in to kiss her. "Thanks for taking such good care of me, babe."
Coleman was sitting on Deacon's porch when he drove up. He got out of the truck and headed up the sidewalk.
"Deacon, don't take this the wrong way, but you look like hell," Coleman said as Deacon walked slowly onto the porch. He got up and walked toward the door.
Deacon crossed to him and gave him a hug. "Well, I gotta be honest, I've been better."
Deacon unlocked the door and they walked in. He dropped his bag next to the door and went directly to the couch and sat down.
Coleman closed the door and went over to take a seat across from Deacon. "You gonna tell me what's going on?"
Deacon looked at him and shook his head. "It's not a pretty story."
"You drinking?" Coleman asked.
Deacon shook his head again. "No, but I am in the market for a new liver."
Coleman's head dropped. "No, Deacon."
"Yep."
"Anything I can do?" he asked.
Deacon looked over at him. "I'm hopin' I can beat this and Rayna's with me on it, but I need some help makin' some plans...in case it don't work out like we hoped."
"Of course," Coleman replied. "I'll do whatever you need."