-- 16 --

Reba rested her head on the side of his body with one hand holding his. Sometimes she would be so tired, she fell asleep: just like this time. The nurse gave her a blanket to wrap around her shoulder. Reba was holding his hand and had her eyes closed with tears still visible on her cheeks. She had been crying a lot for the past six days. Nevertheless, she never stopped believing that he would regain his consciousness and tell her he loved her again. Reba felt a hand weakly pat her head. She opened her eyes and met with his. Brock tried to say something to her but he started to cough. The nurse rushed in to check on him. Reba gasped, she covered her mouth with her hand. Her prayers had been answered. Brock woke up. As he continued to cough, he locked his eyes on hers, begging her to stay. Reba was speechless. They silently communicated with eye contact. The nurse called the doctor to come in and check on Brock. The doctor was pleased with the results. The moisture in his lungs was greatly reduced. When Brock stopped coughing and the nurse left them alone, Brock smiled weakly at the love of his life.

"Honey, why are you crying?"

"I'm afraid to lose you. I don't want to lose you. I love you, Brock." Reba made sure he knew how exactly she felt, just in case this would be the last time he would ever heard. Brock smiled and parted his arms; Reba threw herself between them. He hugged her again.

"I'm glad to finally hear you say you love me again. I love you." Brock kissed her on the top of her head. Reba couldn't say one more word. She remained in his arms, soaked his hospital gown with her tears again, but this time it was happy tears. "You look tired, did you rest well?" Even with the feeding tube and oxygen tube still attached to him, he worried about her.

"I do have some rest."

"Falling asleep on a chair is not resting," said Brock with a grin. "Honey, why don't you go home and have a good night sleep? I'm fine now."

"No Brock, I'm not going anywhere. I pray every day for you to wake up, I'm not about to leave you the moment I have you back." Reba protested. Brock gently rubbed her back.

"I was here with you all these times. I heard everything you said. I tried to answer, but I can't move my lips. And I'm looking forward to collect the payments for all those meals you had." Reba chuckled with tears. She spread a smile the first time since the moment he fell. She kissed at the corner of his lips, Brock tried to deepen the kiss without success, the oxygen tube was in their way. "And my favorite one is 'Reba loves Brock'." He smiled, they both smiled. "If I had known that by going into a coma, would make you admit that you still love me, I would have done that seven years ago."

"You never know the value of what you have, until you almost lose it, I guess." Reba stared into his eyes cupping his face. She almost lost him. "The kids are gonna be happy that you woke up. They're here every day, taking turns to keep me company. Barbra Jean was here too as often as she could. She and Cheyenne took turns looking after Elizabeth and Henry. Van helped me with all my paperwork that I should have done but couldn't find the strength to do so. We may be a dysfunctional family, but who would have thought, in a time like this, we stood up for one another." Reba told him what was going on when he was asleep for six days. Reba spread the news that he woke up to her family; they all came to visit the moment they heard. They all told Brock how worried Reba was; they wanted Brock to know how much she loved him.

Reba still paid him a regular visit after he moved out from ICU to regular room. He was able to breathe and eat without the assistance of life support, he only had to stay in the hospital a few more days to make sure his pneumonia was cured.

"Here comes the love of my life." Brock told the nurse who was checking his heart rate on the monitor. His heart beat a little faster the moment Reba stepped in the room. "Hi honey, how was your day?" Reba walked up to him and planted a loving kiss on his lips. The nurse got a chuckle looking at the monitor.

"There's the true meaning of the heart won't lie." The nurse quipped. "It's hard to believe you two are a divorced couple."

"I won't be 'the ex' for too long," stated Brock, gazing at Reba who smiled to his statement. The nurse smiled at both of them before leaving the room with the results in her hand. Reba dragged a chair and sat next to him like always.

"How are you today?" Reba massaged his hand, her eyes locked on him, while she lit a beautiful smile.

"I'm in love again today" Brock battered his eyelashes trying to be adorable. Reba playfully slapped his arm. "I'm doing fine, the nurses are nice, but can't wait to get out of here though."

"The nurses are nice, or is it the sponge baths that are nice?" Reba quipped. Brock spread a guilty smile. "I spoke with the doctor before I came in, he said you can go home tomorrow, but you still need plenty of rest."

"Home?"

"It's my turn to take care of you I guess. Remember you said we'll take turn taking care of each other?"

"You said home?" Brock's eyes lit up.

"Or would you rather go back to your apartment?"

"No, no, no, I want to go home." The next day, Reba wheeled him out in a wheelchair, helping him back in her house and up the stairs. Brock was disappointed when he found out that he would be staying in Cheyenne's old room.

"I thought you loved me." He pouted.

"I am, that's why I decided not to let you stay at the couch."

"Why can't I stay in our room?" Reba lifted her brow at the word 'our room', but she didn't correct him.

"The doctor said you need plenty of rest. Would you be able to promise me if you stay in... our room, you wouldn't try anything?"

"Well..."

"I thought so." Reba winked at him, helping him settle in Cheyenne's old room. "Are you hungry? Want me to make some grilled cheese sandwiches?"

"I feel kinda sticky, can I have a sponge bath after lunch?" Brock begged with a puppy dog eyes.

"Didn't the nurse give you one before you left the hospital?" Brock boyishly grinned "Fine, I'll give you one, but before you start milking it honey, let me tell you. I still have those 27 'Yes Dear' cards."

"Oh wait until I take my cast off, you don't even need one of those cards for me to give you a sponge bath," commented Brock enthusiastically. Reba smirked and shook her head. She went to make grilled cheese sandwiches for his lunch. In addition, she gave him a sponge bath after lunch. Brock did milk the attention that Reba gave him. She didn't leave his side much, and if he saw she wasn't busy, he would pretend to be cold and wanted her to hold him. However, when Reba had to go to work, Barbra Jean and Kyra would take turns looking after him, and he wouldn't demand too much attention. Not like when Reba was around. But Reba wasn't mind. He mostly asked for loving attention anyway. And because Brock was in near death. Barbra Jean found out that Reba was right, she didn't love Brock like the way Reba did. Sure she was worried about him. Not like the way Reba was. She would breathe for him if he let her, and he would do the same for Reba too if she let him. Barbra Jean knew, she couldn't compete and she was ready to move on.

Reba was getting ready for bed when she heard a sound moving toward her room. Brock opened the door trying to be as quiet as possible; he hobbled to her room and planned to sneak in without Reba noticing. He looked at the bed, it was empty. Then he looked over at his shoulder, there she was standing with her arms crossed.

"Hey honey, I came here to collect a good night kiss." Brock found an excuse quick.

"Didn't I give you one already before I gave you your antibiotic?"

"I want another one." Brock pouted. Reba gave in. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss. Brock locked her lips with fiery passion.

"Hmm... That was a little more than just a little good night kiss don't you think?" Reba teased, her eyes sparkled and her heart raced. "Now, off you go." Brock maneuvered his way to the bed.

"My room is too far for me to walk back." Brock whined trying to sit on the bed, Reba rushed to help. "Can I please stay here with you tonight?" He pleaded.

"Honey, I wouldn't mind if you stay, but you still need a lots of rest." They had been together for so many years, Reba could tell what he wanted just by the way he kissed her.

"I slept six days straight and slept some more when I was in the hospital. And I'm home for almost a week now, I've had plenty of rest, believe me. Besides, I have a broken leg, not much I can do. I just wanna hold you." Brock gave her that puppy dog look that Reba could never say no to.

"Alright, fine. Did you turn off your light in Cheyenne's room?" Brock nodded. Reba helped him lift his leg up on the bed before turning out the light and laying down next to him, facing him. They stared into each other's eyes with loving smiles spreading across their faces. This used to be their room, and had so many sweet memories in this room, not to mention in this bed. Reba let out a soft sigh; there he was resting his head on 'I wish I was here' pillow. He was finally here. Brock reached out and cupped her cheek.

"I love you, Reba." Brock pulled her closer to his chest before planting another lustful kiss on her lips. And just as she suspected, the wildfire went out of control...