Sorry for the delay. Something happened in our family and we had to return to Lancaster County.

"I am OK, yeah?" Niall repeated when the doctor didn't answer immediately.

"Niall, you managed to beat the odds and survive when we didn't think you would. To be honest, your family were told to be prepared to lose you. Yes, you are OK, but this time it hasn't been without consequences. As you may remember, we still don't know the results of your SCT (stem cell transplant) as yet but we will do the scans when you are well enough. You'll need to have a few more transfusions to make up the blood loss you experienced which was, I might add, very severe. Your stomach has been so badly damaged now that you'll need medication for the rest of your life, as well as a special diet. We also have to do a few more tests as your heart has been put under extreme strain and we need to ascertain if any damage has been done there. You'll be with us until we make sure you are well enough to leave." The doctor spoke gravely and Niall's face fell as he wondered if this would ever end.

"Any questions?" the doctor continued

""Umm..yeah... a few" Niall sounded so defeated when he spoke and Jacey caught his hand and held it comfortingly. It hurt to see Niall looking so despondent. Yes, he was still seriously ill, but he looked so...exhausted with life. Yes, that was it, she thought. Exhausted and defeated.

"Ask away then" the doctor encouraged.

"How long do you think I'll be here? I just want to go home" Niall's voice was quiet.

"It depends on how well you recover. Definitely more than a week. You need to understand just how ill you are, Niall. You'll need carefully nursing and we have to monitor you. Let us do our job and we'll get you home as soon as we can."

"I get it, but..." Niall sighed. He was silent for a few moments then thought of something he was anxious to ask. "I know my daughter was a donor but who was the other donor?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you. He wants to remain anonymous. You were fortunate he had the same rare blood group and was almost compatible to you. Between Aoife and Mr X, the cells were engineered to an almost perfect match. Hopefully this last transplant worked ". The doctor smiled at Niall " I'll leave to to spend time with Jacey then you need to rest". He picked up Niall's notes and left, stopping just outside Niall's room to speak quietly with the nurse before vanishing down the corridor.

"M'sorry , Jacey" Niall whispered as he turned his head away and stared at the wall. "I'm sorry you're tied to a useless husband."

"Niall James Horan, you just listen to me!" Jacey's tone was sharp. "You are not useless and I am not tied to you. I am with you because I want to be with you and, may I remind you ,the marriage vows are "in sickness and in health" so you had better get used to it, mister". Jacey was almost breathless with anger.

"But.." Niall started to say but Jacey ruthlessly interrupted.

"Enough, Niall! I love you and you had better accept it and stop feeling sorry for yourself!" As she finished speaking, Niall turned back and looked at her, his mouth hanging open in shock. "You are the most infuriating, stubborn, block head man I know" she continued. "I'm going home" Jacey grabbed her bag and ran from the room leaving a shocked Niall staring after her.

The moment Jacey had left, the nurse came into the room and bustled about , adjusting the IVs that were delivering blood and fluids into his veins. Niall lay quietly as she continued her work, checking his blood pressure and temperature. Still shy, even after all these years, he blushed bright red as she checked his catheter. His own eyebrows drew together in a puzzled frown as he saw the same frown on her face.

"Is something wrong?" he asked worriedly. The frown on her face vanished as if it hadn't been there .

"No. no dear. I was just checking your urine output. You're very dehydrated but I can't give you fluids by mouth yet. Nothing for you to concern yourself about". She adjusted Niall's bedding "You try for some sleep now". And dimming the lights, she left Niall alone.

Niall's head rang with Jacey's words 'stop feeling sorry for yourself'. But he wasn't...was he? He just felt bad for Jacey, didn't he? Sleep evaded him as he thought thought her words. Maybe he was feeling sorry for himself, he admitted. He reached carefully over to his phone which was on the locker next to the bed, wincing as the pain reminded him he was only recently out of surgery. He scrolled through the contacts and sighed with relief when Jacey answered

"I'm sorry, babe" Niall sounded so broken.

"No, I'm sorry" Jacey responded "I should not have ripped at you"

"Yes, you should have. I needed it" Niall admitted. "Am I forgiven?"

"Always" Jacey said warmly. "Now rest and I'll see you very soon". Niall ended the call after a few precious endearments. Phone now abandoned, he allowed himself to drift away, part of his mind on the anonymous Mr X. He was desperate to know who it was that would do so much for a stranger.

The doctor sat in his office, studying Niall's notes carefully. It would be a few more days before he was willing to risk sending Niall for the scans that would indicate success or failure of the latest SCT treatment. Things were looking promising on paper but he knew that that wasn't enough. There would also need to be some scans of Niall's heart. He'd undergone intense chemotherapy twice in his life, been resuscitated several times and his body generally placed on enormous strain on many occasions. He shook his head as he read. The fact Niall was still alive, all be it in a hospital bed, it was a miracle. He was so lost in his thoughts that he jumped when his phone rang.

" Dr. Morrison" the doctor answered then listened intently to the voice at the other end . "He's still very unwell, obviously but I am confident he will improve with time." He listened again then answered  "No, the scans can't be done yet. He has to recover from the stomach surgery before we can arrange for them to be done." After the  voice at the other end spoke again, Dr Morrison replied "Yes, Mr Caldwell is very hopefully. Niall is asking who the other donor is but has been told that Mr X wishes to remain anonymous " Dr Morrison smiled as he listened to the voice again. " No, no, you can rest assured, nobody will give him your name, Mr Malik.