"Breathe..." Kayce whispered against your ear. "Breathe, baby..." 
Gently, Kayce maneuvered you both to side down on the floor of the shower. You leaned against him, between his feet stretched out in front of him. His arms held you as he whispered sweetly into your ear. His lips pressed against your hairline as you tried to match his breathing with yours. 
You weren't sure how long you laid there with him, but eventually your breathing did regulate back to some type of normalcy. Enough at least for you to lean your head back up and your eyes to find Kayce's. He pushed your wet hair out of your face, his thumb tracing your jawline. 
"Did they hurt you?" Kayce asked with a low voice. 
You shook your head side to side. 
"Did they touch you?" Kayce continued. 
You shook your head again. 
"Rip and Ryan didn't let them," Your voice sounded raw as you spoke. 
Kayce nodded his head. You could see in his eyes that while he was with you physically, his mind was in a million different places. 
"I'm sorry," Kayce said, almost in pain. 
"For what?" You breathed. 
"Not being here," Kayce sighed. "Not protecting you." 
"Kayce," You shook your head. "You didn't know." 
"I should have been here," Kayce said. 
"You're here now," You blinked back at him. 
"Come here," Kayce reached above him and grabbed a cloth. "Let's get you cleaned up." 
Kayce took extra care in making sure to clean you up. Afterward, he wrapped you in a towel, drying you off before he pulled one of his shirts over your head and put you into the bed. You leaned back on the pillows and waited until Kayce walked back over to you with a glass of water and some pain pills, his own clothes changed from his wet ones. 
"Take a few," Kayce handed them to you. 
"I wasn't hit," You looked up at him. 
"Trust me," Kayce sat down on the bed, looking at you. "You'll be sore." 
"How many times has this happened?" You asked, taking the pills. 
"Too many," Kayce sighed. 
You downed your glass of water, setting it on the table before you looked at Kayce. He had deep worried lines in his forehead as his eyes still looked you over. 
"I'm okay," You held his hand. 
"I...I know," Kayce leaned in and placed a kiss to your forehead. 
You reached up and held his shirt. Kayce sighed, moving to lay down next to you and wrap his arms around your body. You settled with your cheek pressed over his heart. A few minutes later there was a knock at the door and John walked in. 
"Y/N," John nodded. "Are you okay?" 
You felt Kayce's fingers dig into your skin and his body tense next to yours. You weren't sure what all had happened between Kayce and John since they got back to the ranch. But knowing their history, it wasn't an easy conversation. 
"I'm okay," You said softly. 
"I want to apologize to you," John cleared his throat. "For what happened today...it wasn't your fault, but you were collateral damage." 
You didn't know what to say back to him. 
"I know it's not easy," John continued, his eyes glancing to Kayce. "But I'm glad you've chosen to stay." 
You still weren't sure exactly what John was saying to you so your just nodded your head. John turned around and walked out, shutting the door behind him. You looked up at Kayce. 
"I don't think that was all meant for me," You said softly. 
"No," Kayce sighed. 
"What happened between the two of you?" You asked. 
"It's fine," Kayce shrugged. 
"I'm sure it is," You leaned up to sit and looked down at Kayce. "But what happened?" 
"I-uh..." Kayce paused. "I might have said something like we were gonna leave." 
"Leave?" You frowned. "Like you and me?" 
"Yeah," Kayce's eyes barely held yours. "Told him I'd have enough...you being hurt was my final straw." 
"But I wasn't hurt," You said. 
"I didn't know what happened when I said all that," Kayce shrugged. "We just knew the ranch had been attacked and some people had been hurt. When we were headed back...I guess I lost it on Dad." 
"You were scared," You realized. 
"Yeah," Kayce's eyes held yours now. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." 
"Same here, cowboy," You offered Kayce a small smile. 
"C'mere," Kayce leaned up to a sitting position and pulled you in for a kiss. "I love you." 
"I love you," You smiled. 
You were getting tired now, the day taking it's toll on your body. You leaned back down and snuggled into Kayce's warmth. You would help out the patching up tomorrow. For tonight, you just wanted to stay right here in his arms.