Not quite finished with this story, so here is one more chapter because I have no self-control.
Disclaimer: Castle is not mine :/
"Most people come up against a wall, they give up. Not you. You don't let go, you don't back down. It's what makes you extraordinary. " -Richard Castle
[Alive But Barely Breathing Part II]
It's cold.
The darkness consumes her, crushing her into a pit of black, where she's afraid she'll be trapped forever.
She reaches out for a sliver of light— is desperate for it.
Scratching and clawing, she struggles to get oxygen. She can't do it. It stings all the way down her throat to her lungs, the icy burn creating panic to rise in her bones.
Her head swims, pounds, and grows dizzy. It becomes hard to focus as she slowly fades in and out of unconsciousness, fighting with every heartbeat to stay awake.
Yet, a tiny part of her wishes she could just drift away, get this agony and pain over with.
It'd be much simpler that way.
But she can't. She must stay awake.
Stay awake...
Kate jolts up from her sleep, completely drenched head to toe in her own sweat as she works to breathe and calm down her rapidly beating heart.
It was just a dream. Just a dream...
But it wasn't.
It happened.
And that only increases the panic to slither through her whole body, chills racing over her soaked skin.
She glances over to Rick, who is still fast asleep, unaware of Kate's nightmare. The mere sight of him next to her eases her anxieties, but it isn't enough.
Pulling the covers away from her body, she rotates so her feet hit the soft carpet, and hunches over. Hands hold her head up as she rests her elbows on her knees.
She takes in a slow, methodical breath and focuses on doing that. The action takes more effort than anticipated, and soon, she is scrambling for the bathroom. Kate shuts the door silently behind as to not rouse Rick, grips the marble counter with all her might then breaks down.
Tears fall down her cheeks, sliding off her chin and landing on the countertop. Her shoulders shake with each intake of air as she let's it all out, before sinking down to the floor.
It's cold.
She shivers while wrapping her arms around her raised knees. Even though her skin is licked with sweat, she's freezing.
No matter what she does, the ice in her bones, in her bloodstream, seems permanent.
Kate closes her eyes and rocks back and forth, praying the gentle movements will erase away the cold.
A gentle knock on the bathroom door startles her.
"Kate?"
She knows it's Rick, so she tries to call out in reply but her mouth is too dry to speak and it ends up coming out as a moan instead.
The door opens partially and his head pops in through the small opening, a concerned air washing over him as soon as he sees her crumpled form on the ground. In mere seconds she is in his arms, her body curled into his, and he begins rocking her back and forth on the tile floor.
"It's okay. You're okay," he whispers.
Kate shudders and attaches onto him, fingers gripping his shirt in a vice hold. His body radiates off the heat she desperately needs, grounding her to the present.
He kisses the crown of her head, his actions speaking louder than his words ever could.
I'm here, Kate. I'm right here. You're safe, and we're together.
He isn't going to force her to say anything. This is on her own terms, not his. So he'll wait as long as it takes.
Minutes pass by only it feels like hours. And eventually, Kate speaks up.
"I was under the water; it completely consumed me. And I couldn't— I couldn't breathe."
She burrows into his chest, her nose presses against the small section between his jaw and neck. Rick holds her, his hands trailing up and down her back and upper shoulders.
"The darkness swallowed me up, the light fading as quickly as I was..."
Kate pulls away at arm's length; her cheeks and eyes are red from all of the crying. She reaches up, her fingertips dance over his lips in a soft caress, which Rick can't help but kiss in return.
He waits.
"I wrote you a letter," she blurts out suddenly.
"A letter?"
She nods. And after a few seconds, Rick figures it out. Kate notices the realization flicker in his eyes as she is perched in his lap, her fingers still drawing lines over his mouth, his chin, his cheeks before she flattens her palm against his neck.
He understands.
But she explains anyways.
"I had no idea if I would live to see the sunrise. And I knew I had to reach out to you in the events that I didn't make it. So, I decided to write you a letter, hoping— praying— you'd never have to read it, that instead, I could tell you all of these things myself."
Rick gives a small smile. "And here you are. Alive and safe."
"Here I am," she echoes.
Leaning in, she molds their mouths together in a tender kiss. The kiss is short, but it is full of love and relief. By a mutual, unspoken agreement, their foreheads rest against one another's in comfort.
"You are so strong," Rick breathes, eyes closing. "By far the strongest woman I have ever known. You overcame the impossible— crushed it. You didn't back down, you fought."
Kate grips him even tighter, her heart and soul lifted by his words.
"And thank you." His voice breaks then. "Thank you for coming back to me," he whispers, his cheeks wet with fresh tears.
"I'm here," she reassures. "I'm here."
Rick nods his head several times, completely overcome with emotions. It's too much for him to handle.
He knows she's safe. She's here.
She's home...
They both are.
There you go, folks!
Reviews are love. Thanks for reading. Until next time!
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