Prompt 10: Hugs/Cuddles meme: Near Miss
(Castle)
He refuses to let go of her. It's been twenty minutes, and he's probably squeezing just a little too hard, but he can't bring himself to let her go. Holding her in his arms is his only reassurance that she's alive right now.
She understands. It's been a terrifying day, and she'd legitimately thought that she'd never see him again. So she lets him cling, snuggles closer when she feels his body start to tremble.
She feels his tears dripping into her hair, tries to hold back her own sobs. So close. She'd been so close to losing everything. She hugs him tighter, but gasps and tries to pull away when he hisses in pain.
"I'm sorry," she murmurs, pressing a kiss to his chest, right above his heart. "I forgot about your ribs. I'm sorry, Rick. I'm sorry."
"It's okay," he tells her, rubbing a hand up and down her back. "It's okay."
"No it's not," she growls. She tilts her head back, looks him in the eye, brings a hand up to his cheek. "I thought I'd lost you."
"Me too," he admits. "Being blindfolded is highly overrated." She laughs a little, and he smiles for the first time in almost three days. "I had no idea what was going on, didn't know who was shooting who. And I heard your voice, but then I didn't." He sighs. "I was so scared, Kate."
She buries her face in his chest again, her arms tightening around him once more. "I'm never letting you out of my sight again."
"I think I can live with that."