Outerbanks Imagine

Love on the line PT2 - Rafe Cameron

The hospital waiting room was eerily quiet except for the rhythmic ticking of the clock. Rafe was slumped in one of the plastic chairs, his head in his hands, replaying the accident in his mind over and over. The image of you trapped in the car, blood trickling down your forehead, was seared into his memory. He felt sick with worry, every second that passed felt like a lifetime.

Topper was sitting next to him, his leg bouncing anxiously. He kept glancing towards the double doors, hoping a doctor would come out with good news. "She's gonna be okay," he said for what felt like the hundredth time, though the reassurance was more for himself than for Rafe.

Rafe lifted his head, his eyes red and glassy. "I should've been with her," he muttered. "I should've been there to protect her. This is all my fault."

"Don't do that to yourself," Topper said firmly. "You found her, Rafe. If you hadn't gone looking—" He cut himself off, not wanting to finish the thought. They both knew how much worse it could have been.

The doors finally swung open, and a doctor approached them. Rafe shot up from his seat, his heart in his throat.

"Is she okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse. He could barely breathe as he waited for the answer.

The doctor offered a small smile. "She's going to be fine," he said. "She has a concussion, a few broken ribs, and some cuts and bruises, but she's stable. She's lucky you found her when you did."

Rafe felt the weight of the world lift off his shoulders. He let out a shaky breath, pressing his hands to his face as relief flooded through him. "Thank god," he whispered.

Topper clapped Rafe on the back, his own sigh of relief audible. "See? I told you," he said with a weak smile. "She's tough."

The doctor continued, "She's still a bit groggy from the painkillers, but you can see her now. We'll keep her overnight for observation, and if everything looks good, you can take her home tomorrow."

Rafe nodded, not wasting another second before heading down the hall to your room. His heart was racing, but this time it wasn't from fear—it was from the overwhelming need to see you, to hold you, to make sure you were really okay.

---

Rafe pushed open the door to your hospital room gently, his eyes immediately finding you lying on the bed. You looked small and fragile, a stark contrast to your usual vibrant self. There were bandages on your forehead, and your arm was in a sling. But despite everything, you were alive. You were breathing.

You turned your head slowly, your eyes fluttering open at the sound of the door. When you saw Rafe standing there, a sleepy smile tugged at your lips. "Rafe," you mumbled, your voice slurred from the painkillers. "You're here."

He crossed the room in two strides, taking your hand in his and pressing it to his lips. He couldn't help the tears that slipped down his cheeks as he looked at you. "I'm here, baby," he whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."

You giggled softly, the sound a bit loopy. "I think... I'm a little high," you confessed, your smile growing wider. "Everything feels... floaty."

Rafe chuckled through his tears, squeezing your hand gently. "Yeah, they've got you on some strong stuff," he said. "But that's okay. It's better than seeing you in pain."

You nodded slowly, your eyes half-lidded as you studied his face. "You look like you've been crying," you pointed out, your tone almost childlike in its simplicity.

Rafe let out a shaky laugh, brushing your hair back gently. "I was scared," he admitted. "I thought I lost you."

You frowned, reaching up weakly to cup his cheek. "Don't cry, Rafe," you murmured, your thumb brushing away the tear that rolled down his face. "I'm okay now. You saved me."

He leaned into your touch, closing his eyes as he pressed a kiss to your palm. "I love you so much, Y/N," he whispered. "I don't ever want to go through something like that again."

"I love you too," you replied, your voice barely above a whisper as your eyes fluttered shut. "So much."

Rafe stayed by your side all night, holding your hand and watching you sleep. Topper left after a while, giving Rafe a reassuring pat on the back and promising to check in the next day. Rafe never once let go of your hand, even as the sun rose and the hospital staff came in to check on you.

---

The next day, the doctor cleared you to go home, and Rafe helped you into a wheelchair, his arm steady around your shoulders. You leaned against him, the painkillers still making you a bit groggy.

As he drove you back to Tannyhill, you rested your head against the window, the scenery passing by in a blur. Rafe kept glancing over at you, his hand reaching out to gently stroke your knee every few minutes, as if to reassure himself that you were really there.

When you arrived at his house, he carefully helped you out of the car, scooping you up into his arms when he saw you wince. "Rafe, I can walk," you protested weakly, though you didn't fight too hard against him.

"Not a chance," he said, carrying you inside. "You're not lifting a finger until you're fully healed."

He laid you down on the couch, propping you up with pillows and covering you with a soft blanket. You gave him a sleepy smile, your eyelids heavy. "You're so sweet when you're worried," you teased, your voice light.

Rafe rolled his eyes, though he couldn't hide his smile. "You think this is sweet? Just wait until you see me make you soup," he joked, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that made your heart swell.

"Thank you," you said softly, your hand reaching out to grasp his. "For everything. For finding me."

Rafe squeezed your hand, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead. "You don't have to thank me, Y/N," he whispered against your skin. "I'd search the whole world to find you if I had to."

You smiled up at him, your eyes fluttering shut. "I don't deserve you," you mumbled, the painkillers dragging you back into a hazy sleep.

Rafe gently brushed his fingers through your hair, watching you with a soft smile. "You deserve everything," he whispered. "And I'm going to spend the rest of my life making sure you know that."

As you drifted off, the pain was a dull ache now, but it was nothing compared to the overwhelming warmth you felt from Rafe's love. And for the first time since the accident, you knew everything was going to be okay.

Because you had Rafe. And he wasn't going to let you go.