In Between

He's Good To Her

Y/N's eyes fluttered open, but the world around her felt distant, almost dreamlike. She blinked, trying to focus, but the cold seeped into her bones like a heavy fog, clouding her thoughts. Confusion swirled in her mind, and a sharp, biting chill gripped her body.

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the haze. "Y/N! Can you hear me? Y/N!"

It was Walker, panic lacing his voice, and it jolted her into reality. She tried to respond, but her lips felt numb and unresponsive. As she blinked against the snow, she realized she was wedged against a tree, her legs tangled beneath her. The realization sent a fresh wave of fear through her.

"Y/N! I'm right here!" Walker called out again, urgency thick in his tone. "I need you to wake up! Please!"

She turned her head slightly, and through the swirling snowflakes, she saw him rushing towards her. His hair was tousled, and his face was set with determination, but his eyes were wide with fear. She wanted to assure him she was okay, but her voice felt trapped, and all she could manage was a weak groan.

"Shit, shit, shit!" he muttered, kneeling beside her. The warmth of his body radiated toward her, but it was not enough to cut through the deep chill settling in her limbs. "Y/N, hold on. I'm calling for help!"

She could barely process his words, her mind swimming as he fumbled for his phone. Every breath felt like it was drawing in icy air, and she shivered violently, trying to keep her eyes open.

"Walker..." she managed to whisper, the sound barely audible above the howling wind. She tried to push herself up, but her body felt heavy and unresponsive.

"Don't move, just stay still," he urged, his voice steady but filled with worry. "Help is on the way. I've got you."

She blinked, trying to focus on him as her vision blurred. The snow continued to fall around them, wrapping the world in a thick white blanket, and Y/N felt herself drifting again, her eyelids heavy with fatigue.

"No! Y/N! Stay with me!" Walker's voice was sharper now, snapping her back into awareness. He squeezed her shoulder gently, his touch warm against her skin. "You're going to be okay. Just keep your eyes on me, alright?"

The worry etched on his face sent a rush of warmth through her, but it was fleeting, swallowed by the cold that clung to her. She could see him more clearly now, his expression filled with a mix of fear and determination.

"Walker, I'm... I can't feel my legs," she admitted, the reality of her situation sinking in. "I don't know if I can—"

"Just breathe. In and out. Focus on my voice," he instructed, his tone firm but soft. "I'm right here, Y/N. You're not alone."

She nodded slightly, her head barely moving as she fought against the overwhelming sensation of exhaustion. The cold was relentless, wrapping around her like a vise, but Walker's presence was a lifeline she clung to.

"Just keep talking to me," she whispered, her voice shaky.

"Okay, okay," he said, his voice steadying. "Remember last summer when we went to the lake? You were trying to teach me how to swim, and I almost drowned?" He chuckled, but it was a nervous sound, filled with relief. "You kicked my ass for that, didn't you?"

Y/N managed a weak smile, picturing the sunny day on the dock, but the memory slipped away as quickly as it came, swallowed by the cold.

"Just a little longer, Y/N. Help is almost here," Walker continued, his eyes never leaving hers. "You've got this. I won't let you go. I promise."

As the warmth of his words wrapped around her, Y/N felt herself slipping again, the heaviness of her eyelids pulling her down. "Walker..." she murmured, her voice barely audible, "I'm so tired..."

"I know, I know," he replied urgently, brushing her hair back from her face. "But you have to stay awake for me. You can't close your eyes, okay?"

The concern in his voice sent another jolt of energy through her, and she fought against the pull of sleep. "I... I'll try," she whispered, her voice a ghost of itself.

"Good. Just focus on my voice. That's all you have to do," Walker urged, his voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."

Y/N could feel the warmth radiating from him, and it helped push back against the encroaching cold. With every word, she fought against the heavy weight of exhaustion, struggling to stay present. "Walker, please don't leave me..."

"Never. I promise," he replied, his voice steady and reassuring. "Just keep breathing. Help is coming. You're going to be okay."

Her body felt heavy, but somehow, his words lit a flicker of hope within her. She focused on the sound of his voice, trying to hold onto it like a lifeline, even as the cold threatened to pull her under.

As time stretched, she heard the faint sound of voices approaching, and her heart raced with the knowledge that help was near. But even as she felt herself being pulled back from the brink, the warmth in Walker's eyes was a beacon in the storm.

"Y/N! Can you hear me?"

"Yes..." she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I've got you. You're going to be alright," he assured her, and though her vision began to fade, she held onto his voice as tightly as she could.

With a final breath, she squeezed her eyes shut, but this time it felt different. It felt safe, as if she were surrounded by a warmth that promised she wouldn't be alone.

And in that moment, she knew she would fight to stay awake, if only to hear Walker's voice one more time.