A/N - Many thanks to everyone who has been reading and following the story. Many thanks to Beth Pryor for her extra eyes and to everyone who has left such lovely reviews. I deeply appreciate them. - Rachel

Scarlett, Rayna and Beverly all followed Caleb as he rushed up to Deacon's floor. As they got to the room the code team was leaving.

"Deacon!" Rayna called as she pushed past the young doctor to get into the room.

"It was time for him to wake up, so we could leave," Beverly said as she joined Rayna near the bed.

"What did you do, Bev?" Rayna asked, turning to Deacon's sister.

"He was never going to wake up with that thing breathing for him," Beverly replied. "So I turned it off."

"You turned it off!" Rayna shouted. She moved toward Beverly. "How could you do this. How could you…"

"Ray…"

She turned at the sound of her name to see Deacon looking at her, his face pale and his eyes barely open, but he wasn't dead...he was alive. She moved over to the bed and put her arms around him, her head buried in his chest.

"Oh god, Deacon," was all she could manage.

Dr. Rand stepped in the room with Scarlett following. "Rayna, can you give me a moment to examine Deacon?"

Rayna kissed Deacon quickly on the lips and then stepped back as the doctor began to examine him. She turned at the sound of Beverly's voice, now ranting at Scarlett.

"Mama," Scarlett pleaded with her. Beverly was now raising her hands to strike her daughter.

"Bev!" Rayna called out as Deacon's sister turned from her daughter to Rayna. She raised her hand again when a nurse called for her. She turned and a second nurse pressed an injection into Beverly.

"What did you give me!" she called out as she sank back into the wheelchair they had brought into the hall.

"Let's help you back to you room," the nurse said as they began to push a now quietly sobbing Beverly back down toward the surgical ward.

Rayna turned to find Scarlett on the floor, sitting against the wall.

"Are you okay, honey?" she asked, dropping down next to Deacon's niece.

"I thought-I thought she was better," Scarlett said quietly. "I shouldn't have left her alone with him. I knew she wasn't okay-but I also, I just…"

"You didn't want to be here, either," Rayna answered. "It's okay, honey. It looks like she didn't do any harm."

"This time," Scarlett replied. "And now she's gonna be back in some hospital, when you said she was doing so well and working in a diner, playing her music."

"Your mom needs to be responsible for herself," Rayna replied. "We can help her and we will, but ultimately, she is the one who needs to make those good decisions for herself."

"Rayna. Scarlett," Caleb said as he walked out of Deacon's room. "You can come in now."

They walked into the room to find Deacon lying in his bed, the tube in his mouth replaced by a cannula in his nose. Rayna walked over, leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

"It's good to see your eyes, babe," she said as she stood back up.

Deacon's mouth moved into a small smile and he nodded slowly.

"He's still pretty weak," Caleb said, "but as you can see, he is awake and breathing on his own. And that's a very good thing."

"Did she hurt him? My mama?" Scarlett asked.

Caleb shrugged. "We would not recommend this process of removing a patient from ventilation, but your uncle is strong and it doesn't seem to have adversely affected him."

Deacon reached his hand out to Scarlett. She moved over and took it in her own hand.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Deacon. I should have known she wasn't doin' so good," Scarlett apologized. Deacon shook his head and tightened his hand around hers.

"I want to keep Deacon here in the ICU for at least 12 more hours so we can keep monitoring him. They checked blood levels again this morning and the liver is doing really well. We need to get the cardiologist back in here and get the heart checked out and I want respiratory to make sure you're getting all the oxygen you need, but all in all, you're doing pretty well, Deacon."

Rayna moved to his other side and took his free hand. "And maybe we can get some paperwork drawn up about medical decisions to have him sign?"

"What?" Deacon whispered.

Rayna smiled at him. "We'll talk about it later. Don't worry, babe."

"Maddie?"

"Absolutely. I'm gonna call my sister and get those girls up here to see you. They've been so worried. We've all been so worried."

She kissed Deacon again and followed Caleb out into the hall.

"So, is he really okay?" she asked.

He shrugged. "He's stable and he's strong, but I wouldn't say he's out of the woods. I'm going to go to my office right now to get the power of attorney documents. Let's at least get that signed now while he's able."

"Because he might not be later?" Rayna asked, her voice dropping.

Caleb put his hand on her arm. "I just feel foolish we missed it before the surgery. Let's not take our chances again."

"Mom?"

Rayna stepped forward toward the door to the hospital where Tandy had dropped her eldest off.

"Is it Dad? Has something happened?" Maddie asked.

"Come with me, sweet girl," Rayna said as she held out her hand. "Let's go up and check on him."

She hadn't meant to unduly worry Maddie, but she also had wanted to save the surprise that Deacon was awake until Maddie was there in the room. They rode the elevator up in silence.

"Is he okay?" Maddie asked as they walked down to the room, her steps slowing slightly.

"Yes, he's okay," Rayna replied as she opened the door.

As Maddie stepped into the room, Deacon turned his head, smiled at her and held out his arm. She ran from Rayna's side to his, throwing her arms around him.

"Dad!" she exclaimed. "I was so worried."

"No worries," Deacon rasped and patted the bed next to him. Maddie looked over at her mom and Rayna nodded. She dropped the rail and crawled onto the bed next to him.

"I was so worried," she repeated. "I just found you. I was so afraid I'd lose you now." Maddie put her head on Deacon's chest and began to cry.

Rayna moved over and put her hand on Maddie's back. "It's okay, baby. It's okay." She continued to soothe Maddie as the tears began to flow from her own eyes. She looked down to find Deacon crying as well. She let out a short laugh. "Well, we're kind of a sorry mess!"

Deacon also tried to laugh, then coughed. Rayna reached for the glass of ice chips the nurse had brought in earlier. She moved to the other side of the bed and helped Deacon sit up slightly so she could give him some.

"Thanks," he said, his voice rough.

"Hon, please don't talk. I know it's hard, but you really need to take it easy with your voice," Rayna said as she lifted the spoonful of ice chips to his lips. "As you might remember, I know what I'm talking about."

Deacon nodded and put a finger to his lips. He leaned down and kissed Maddie on the head and rubbed his hand across her hair, smoothing it down to comfort her. She looked up at him and smiled, her tears disappearing now.

"I'm just so glad you're here and back," Maddie said.

"Me too," Deacon mouthed to her.

Rayna pulled the blanket up over her body. Maddie had gone home with Tandy and Daphne. Without too many questions, Deacon had signed the medical power of attorney. She should feel relieved, but for some reason, sleep was very slow to come.

"Ray?"

She looked up to see Deacon holding his hand out to her. He had been asleep earlier when she had come back in and had not wanted to disturb him. She got up and came over to the bed. Deacon awkwardly slid over toward the edge of the bed. She pulled the bed rail down and crawled into bed next to him.

"Don't go away again," she said quietly, her head against his shoulder. "You made me an offer and if you remember, I accepted. I want to marry you, Deacon. I want to start the life we've always dreamed of having-we deserve that life, Deacon."

He slid his hand in hers and tightened his grip around her fingers. He tried to adjust his position in bed and groaned.

"What happened?" he asked. "Hospital?"

Rayna sat up so she could see his face. "Do you remember why you're here?" she asked.

Deacon shook his head. "Hurts," he said as he moved his hands down toward his abdomen.

"You had your transplant. Bev donated part of her liver to you. Do you remember that?"

Deacon shook his head slowly, then stopped and nodded. "Yes, remember that." He frowned. "Is she okay?"

Rayna nodded her head. "For the most part. Physically."

"What else?" Deacon asked.

Rayna reached over and took his hand in hers. "Hon, your heart stopped during the surgery. They had to resuscitate you and we've been keeping you asleep to help you recover."

Deacon turned his head away from her. She reached for him, seeing that he was crying.

"It's okay. You're okay. You've been doing great. It's just...it's just going to take a while."

"Scared," Deacon said slowly. "Scared you?"

Rayna nodded. "Yes. Definitely scared me. But, you're getting better and that is the best medicine in the world for me."

"Stay," Deacon replied.

Rayna laid back down next to him, her body hugging his. "Forever."

TBC