"Hey…How you feelin?" Rayna asked as she entered Deacon's hospital room.
He'd been off the ventilator for almost 12 hours and was doing well with just oxygen. His uneaten dinner was on his tray in front of him.
"How's Maddie doin?" he asked, uninterested in anything else
"uuhhh…as well as she can be at a time like this. They gave her a mild sleeping pill. She cried herself to sleep a little bit ago."
"I wanna see her, Ray. I need to see my little girl." Deacon's eyes were so pleading.
"OK, I'll see what the nurses say. You stay in that bed, Deacon Claybourne!" Rayna warned knowing he'd try to get up.
30 minutes later a nurse came in with a wheelchair and portable oxygen for Deacon. Once settled in the chair with his oxygen and IV secured, Rayna was allowed to wheel him down the hall to see Maddie.
Maddie was asleep as Rayna and Deacon entered. Colt was sitting in a corner chair feeding baby Virginia. It was the first time Deacon had seen his new granddaughter, now just over 24 hours old.
"She looks just like her mama did the first time I held her." Deacon teared up a little as Colt handed him the baby and bottle
"Why don't you take over grandpa? I need to go check on her brother. He wasn't doing too well earlier." Colt swallowed a lump and turned to leave the room
"Hey…How are you doing, Colt?" Rayna asked realizing no one was really asking Colt how he was with Maddie, Deacon and little Deacon being the main concern lately
"I've been better. It's hard to have one of the best and worst days of your life all rolled into one." He tried to smile as Rayna followed him out of the room
"You're doing a great job as a husband and father. You've been so strong for Maddie and those beautiful babies."
"Thanks, but I really don't feel all that strong. Holding my little girl is so bittersweet knowing her brother is fighting for his life, and there's not a damn thing I can do to protect him, or save him if things get worse. Maddie cries all the time and barely wants to hold Ginny."
"She'll come around. She's just havin a really hard time worrying about the 2 Deacon's in her life." Rayna tried to reassure Colt as they walked down the hall towards the NICU
She turned to head back to Maddie's room as they reached the secured, locked NICU entrance doors.
"Would you like to see him?" Colt softly asked
"Could I? I thought they said only you and Maddie…"
"They did, but if you're with me I don't think they'll say anything. I really hate goin in there alone, Rayna." Colt's lip trembled. Rayna's heart ached for him. He seemed so young and lost worrying about his new family.
Rayna wrapped an arm around Colt's shoulders as a nurse led them through the heavy doors. Little Deacon was in a small isolate in a corner. A nurse was sitting near the clear container keeping 24 hour watch over him.
Rayna wasn't prepared for what she was seeing. His tiny body had wires, tubes, and monitors everywhere. A small ventilator kept him breathing. He looked more like a baby bird than a human with scrawny little limbs. His skin wasn't pink, but more clear and undeveloped. She could see his tiny heart beating through thin skin.
"He's had a rough day. He stopped breathing a couple times, but we've been able to revive him easily. He's quite a little fighter." The nurse smiled as Rayna stared at the tiny baby boy
"So you think he'll be OK?" Rayna asked
"It's too soon to know. He's got a tough road ahead of him. His lungs are underdeveloped. He can't even cry, but his brain and heart seem strong so we're hopeful his lungs will get stronger. He's not really digesting milk the way we'd hoped. We're trying different formulas and watching him closely. He does respond to voices if you talk to him and touch him through the arm holes." The nurse explained
Rayna stepped closer to the isolate and reached through the arm holes. She gently stroked baby Deacon's little head as she softly spoke to him.
"Hey little Deacon. We all love you very much and want you to stay with us. Your mama can't wait to meet you. You stay strong and keep fighting."
Like the nurse had said he seemed to know she was there and talking to him. He moved a little more as she spoke.
"When do they think Maddie will be able to come see him?" Rayna asked as they walked back towards Maddie's room
"Probably tomorrow. Her doctor just wanted her to rest for a couple days before trying to get up."
Maddie was still sound asleep as Rayna and Colt walked back into her room. Ginny had finished her bottle and was peacefully sleeping against Deacon's chest.
"You should probably take her, Colt. I'm a little worn out. Can you please take me back to my room, Ray?" Deacon asked noticeably tired
"Tell Maddie I was here and I love her. I'll try to come back tomorrow when she's awake. Night, Colt." Deacon said as Rayna wheeled him out of the room
"You were gone with Colt a while?" Deacon kinda pried Rayna for information as she helped him back into bed
"I went in with him to see little Deacon." Rayna quietly answered voice cracking
"That bad, huh?"
"He's so tiny and helpless, Deacon. He can't even cry. I've never seen so many tubes and monitors. I felt so sorry for the poor little guy. Maddie will probably see him tomorrow for the first time and I don't know how she'll take it. Colt's just a mess. He's doing his best, but it's a lot for them to deal with so early in their marriage." Rayna curled up in Deacon's arms in his hospital bed holding him tight as he drifted off to sleep.
Before she realized it, several hours had passed. She felt better after finally getting some rest. She thought about getting up, but she loved being alone in Deacon's arms even if it was in a hospital bed.
She drifted into a deep sleep against his chest. She was happy he was feeling better even if Dr. Rand said it was temporary and fluid and toxins would build up again quickly. He was tired, but feeling pretty good for now. Day to day was all she could really hope for at this point.
The next time she woke the sun was coming up. It was early only 5am as she glanced at her phone. She hadn't realized Deacon was awake and had been watching her sleep. He was so warm and cuddly. She hated to get up, but decided to check on Maddie.
"Where do ya think you're goin?" he playfully asked tightening his grip on her as she tried to quietly slip away
"Good morning. I didn't realize you were awake." She smiled and planted a gentle kiss on his lips
"I could use a little more of that." He pulled her close again and deepened the kisses
"Sorry to interrupt. I didn't see anything." Dr. Rand smiled and playfully covered his eyes as he walked into the room
"If you're here to spread more doom and gloom, SAVE IT! You already said my liver, kidney's, and lungs are failing. What more could you possibly have to say that I'd want to hear?" Deacon sniped his good mood fading as Rayna jumped up embarrassed
"Deacon!" Rayna scolded him
"Sorry, Dr. Rand. He isn't a morning person." Rayna apologized
"Mornin doesn't have a damn thing to do with it. Just release me to go home. Like you said I'll be back soon cause the toxins and fluid will build up again and cause another episode."
"Well, I'm glad to see you're doing so well. You were in pretty bad shape just a couple days ago, and YES as the fluids and toxins build up you'll be right back to where you were. It's only a matter of days. We removed a lot of fluid from around your lungs and heart. It's already building back up, but I do have some good news."
"…and what's that?" Deacon sniped
"We have a donor. Perfect match. It's risky in your advanced state, but it's your only chance at survival."
"…but you told us he was off the list. The tumor is too large. How did he get a donor?" Rayna asked confused and trying not to get her hopes up yet
"It's a private, live donor that specifically said they wanted it to go to Deacon."
"Who?" they both asked in unison
"I'm not at liberty to say. They've asked to remain anonymous for now. Deacon is doing well right now. I recommend we get started as soon as possible. As I said it's risky in his advanced state, but it's his only hope for survival. Another episode like the other day might be his last. The body can only take so much. We can't duplicate all of the liver functions. Eventually dialysis and fluid removal won't be enough and organs start to completely shut down."
"So…he's getting new liver NOW…today?" Rayna asked with happy tears for the first time in months
"Yes, the donor is ready when Deacon is. We just need to run a few tests on Deacon and make sure he's strong enough to begin. If the tests go well we can proceed today, tomorrow at the latest."
"…and this person is a perfect match?" Rayna asked again
"Yes, we rarely see matches this close except in siblings. We couldn't have asked for a better match."
"Beverly?" Rayna asked
"I can't say, but I can tell you, No…it's not Beverly!"
"Thanks, Doc. Sorry for bein a jerk when you walked in. I'm just so used to bad news I figured…" Deacon's voice trailed off as he tried to process what was happening
"Forget it. I'll send a nurse in for some bloodwork, and we're gonna need to check a few other things. You should probably notify your family and anyone you need to. I'll check back in a few hours, and hopefully we'll be able to get started. Any questions?" Dr. Rand asked
"No…just tell him or her Thank you!" Deacon softly said with misty eyes