Oneshots - Kayce Dutton Book 2

You stay with me!

Request - Can you please do one where the Duttons are under attack again. This time Kayce and the reader are on the ranch together. In the process of protecting her, Kayce gets shot in the chest. Whilst she tries to stop his bleeding, he is trying to say goodbye, but she won't let him. Just before losing consciousness, he tells her he loves her for the first time.

"Y/N! Where are you?" Kayce's voice echoed in the main house.

You heard Kayce calling out your name again as his footsteps raced up the stairs. You had even heard gunfire but figured it was the wrangler or something. Slipping on your boots, you met a wild-eyed Kayce inside your bedroom.

"What's-"

"Come on," Kayce grabbed your arm and pulled you out of the room and into the hallway. "We need to get to the bunkhouse."

"What's happened?" You asked as he pushed you down the stairs in front of him.

"Move, baby," Kayce led you into the kitchen.

You were about to look over your shoulder at him when a force pushed against your side, and you were sent to the ground with a thud.

A masked man was now fighting against Kayce. Their fists were swinging as Kayce pushed him off you and over onto the floor. You tried to stand when the guy, now laying on the floor, pointed his pistol at you. A shot rung out and you watched the guy slump back over on the floor.

Kayce had his pistol pointed at the man, now not breathing. A few seconds passed before Kayce reached with one hand and held your arm as he walked you both to the backdoor. You stepped out, only to be pulled back by Kayce as another shot rang out.

You heard yourself scream as Kayce fired to the side three times...then a loud thud sounded out and you knew whoever fired at you was dead too. You were breathing hard as you looked over at Kayce, only to find he had kneeled on the wooden floor.

"Kayce?" You breathed out as you knelt beside him.

His lips were pressed into a thin line as his arms hug at his sides. You reached out, not understanding why he was still all of a sudden. Your hand touched his chest and you felt wetness. You looked at your fingers and saw blood on them.

"Oh my God," You whispered as Kayce turned his head to look at you.

He tried to reach up and hold your hand as he slipped back, sitting down on the floor now. You helped lean him back against the door frame.

"H-Here," You pulled off your jacket and looped it around the back of his shoulder.

"Baby," Kayce breathed out.

"We need to st-stop the bleeding," You stuttered as you tied the arms of your jacket and yanked them over the wound.

Kayce grunted, his pistol falling to the floor. His head leaned forward so you quickly pushed it back so you could see his eyes.

"Stay with me, okay?" You asked him, fishing out your phone.

"Y/N..." Kayce sighed.

"H-Hello?" You said into your phone. "I n-need the chopper ready for a care flight...now, I need it fucking now!"

You heard them say ten minutes and dropped your phone. One of your hands held the side of Kayce's neck while the other was pressing over his bullet wound. There was blood staining his shirt against his chest. Looking into his eyes, they were glossy now.

"Kayce?" You asked him.

"Y/N...I don't think," Kayce took a shaky breath. "I want you to know-"

"No, we ain't doing that," You interrupted him. "Just keep breathing...keep your eyes on me."

"I always have...my eyes on you," Kayce let a grin pass over his lips as his eye fluttered.

"Kayce," You whispered.

"I'm sorry, baby," Kayce sighed.

"It's okay," You felt tears pool at your eyes. "We're gonna get you to the hospital and fixed."

"I want you to know something," Kayce's eyes were blinking slower by the second.

"No, Kayce," You shook your head.

"Listen to me," Kayce snapped, and you shut your mouth.

You could hear the chopper in the distance.

"They're almost here," You breathed out. "Just hold on a little longer, Kayce."

You could see the chopper landing in the distance. You looked back as saw Kayce's eyes were heavy as he looked at you. Your hand on his neck gently brushed back his hair.

"Please..." You pleaded with him to stay awake.

"I love you," Kayce whispered out before his eyes slipped closed.

**

"Miss. Y/L/N?" A nurse held open one of the doors leading back to the rooms.

You looked up from your seat next to John. John reached over and pushed you out of your chair. You followed the nurse back until she stopped at a door.

"The doctor will be in shortly to give you more details, but he did well through the surgery," She smiled at you. "The doctor was able to remove the bullet and even repair some of the muscle...there will be some recovery time, but he should make a full recovery in a few weeks."

"Thank you," You blinked.

"You can go in and see him now, but he may still be a little groggy," She opened the door.

Inside, Kayce was laying on the bed, sheets and blankets covering him up to his chest. You could see the large bandage over where the bullet had gone through his right peck. You stood over him, feeling a few tears roll down your cheeks.

He was alive.

Slowly, warm caramel eyes opened and looked up at you.

"Hey," You leaned down, being careful of his injury.

Your fingers ran through his hair as your offered him a watery smile. Kayce swallowed harshly as he blinked open his eyes more.

"You may be a little sore," You told him. "But you're okay...you're gonna be okay."

"Are..." Kayce cleared his throat. "...are you?"

"I'm fine," You let out a puff of air, of course he was checking on you still. "I was so worried about you."

Kayce nodded his head slowly.

"Do you need something?" You asked him.

Kayce shook his head no, his eyes still holing your own.

It was hanging over you again. It hung over you ever since you heard those three words before Kayce slipped into unconsciousness. But you didn't know if he meant them or if he said them because he thought something else was going to happen.

Your fingers traced down his face, running along his jaw as you sat down on the bed with him. His hand on his good side held your thigh next to him, his fingers digging into your jeans.

"I meant it," Kayce whispered out.

Your eyes widened. Moving slowly, you leaned down and pressed your lips softly to his. His lips were warm and comforting and you felt your chest relax for the first time in hours. You pulled back and looked down at Kayce.

"I love you too," You sniffed.

He smiled up at you as the door opened, the doctor coming in to give you the report.