A NEW OPPORTUNITY
BY: KAI JAC
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
Author's Note: Much has been written about the last episode of Season 3 of Castle. Occurs right at the end of the episode "Knockout." Enjoy it!
-I love you, Kate...
Two hearts united by a few words. These words she had waited so long to hear from his mouth.
It is true that many people who know them well, have suggested that Castle's feelings were more than friendship. She deeply inside her knew it for a long time, her intuition rarely failed her, and once again she was right.
The darkness wanted to fall on her, and realizing that her conscience would not hold much longer, she let a tear fall down her cheek. Then came oblivion.
In the hospital
The sound of quick steps and the hospital lights bothered her, her head ached, she tried to open her eyes and say something, but it seemed that her body refused to obey.
- We must rush to the surgery room number 3! – She heard a voice that was very familiar. "Josh", she thought, she tried again to talk but her lips did not move, her throat burned and was unable to make a sound.
Again the darkness overcame her, and all coherent thought disappeared.
-The doctor said that the surgery was a success, you've heard the doctor, Mr. Beckett, go home to rest and I'll stay with her tonight.- she heard his voice, and made her feel peace and quiet.
-Richard, call me Jim, I'm going to stay with her, you would better go home to take a shower and change your clothes, and you've got blood on them.
-I've already called my mother and asked her to bring me clothes; it won't take long for her to arrive. Jim, go to rest. I promise that if there is anything new, you'll be the first to know.
-Take good care of her, please.
She heard footsteps and a door that opens and closes. Within seconds, she felt like a hand grabbing hers.
-Kate, what I said before when you were shot, I meant it, don't leave me, please, if I lose you now I do not know how I will live without you.
When she heard a sob, her heart felt like breaking into a thousand pieces, she wanted to raise an arm and hug him, so comfort him, but her muscles would not work, no matter how hard she tried, her body refused to obey. With an effort that seemed superhuman to her, tried squeezing the hand of her favorite writer, though it was very weak, she wanted to show the writer that she was there, that everything was fine.
He should not be aware of her efforts, because he leaned toward her, and all the tears that he had repressed, began to fall down his cheeks. His sobs were heartbroken and desperate, and she wanted to do something to ease his suffering, but was too weak to do so.
- Kate, I know that lately I have not been good to you, you told me that we were over, but I cannot accept it.- she listened as he spoke almost begging .- I know we've been through a lot together, too much things had happened to us, both happy and sad.
She wanted to hug him and comfort him, as he had done so many times with her, but could not, she felt helpless and useless. She wanted to say that when she told him it was over she hadn't meant it, she was just hurt because he had told her the truth, had taught her the reality that she didn't want to face for fear to be vulnerable to it. She wanted to say how much she appreciated that he was there at her side. That she preferred his company a thousand times more before anyone else.
-I don't know what I will do without you, you're the reason I wake up every day, and you are my sunshine, my all.
These words came to the depths of her heart; she knew that Castle had strong feelings for her, although she pushed him out when he was too close to her for her liking. In some ways it was a relief that he knew her so well, because she knew he sensed as she was emotionally when she was having a bad or a good day. Even Josh, her boyfriend, didn't know her so well. "So why do I keep dating him?" she thought.
-Look at me now, here I am declaring yourself my love, knowing that you can't hear me. I am a coward, Kate. I dare not tell this to the face, because I know you will take your gun and shoot me between the eyes the moment I tell you.
She wanted to say that he wasn't that she was the coward for not wanting to face the reality, that her fear of real commitment kept her from having a relationship with him. She just didn't want that the same thing would happen to him, like to other people who she loved. She didn't want him to leave her life forever, as had happened with her mother.
-If Josh makes you happy, I'm happy. I find it hard to see you with another man that isn't me. But because I love you, I'll let you go; I'll set aside not to impede your happiness and your future with him. I hope you are happy, Josh is a good man.
With these words he began to mourn and not tried to hide his tears. She felt how his tears moistened her face, and once again tried to raise her hand to comfort him. No way. However, a tear fell from her right eye. If only he could see the tear...
When passed what seemed like ages, she finally opened her eyes. She had a huge headache, but she felt with a little more force and be able to move a bit.
When she lifted her head slightly, saw a completely disheveled head resting on the edge of her bed. "I'm going to try my luck and try to talk." She opened her mouth but her throat felt dry and couldn't say a single word. "Maybe I can move my hand ...."
Painstakingly raised her hand and touched the tousled head. He moved it slightly as if trying to take off her hand and whispered:
-Five more minutes ... today I don't have to go to work...
Smiling to herself, returned to stroke him. This time he moved and opened his eyes. Realizing where he was he straightened quickly and stared at her.
- KATE! You're awake! - Said almost crying with a big smile on his face. - take it easy, don't worry, you've been unconscious for two days. - added when he saw her efforts on trying to incorporate.
When she saw the face of the person who had been with her, came a smile, her knight in shining armor wasn't Josh, he was Richard Castle. She wanted to talk, tell him how much he was wrong, how much she wanted to be with him, and stop deceiving herself and himself.
When the nurses came to treat her, she promised herself that she would recover as quickly as possible, to embrace and love him, as Richard Castle deserved.
A/N 2: What do you think? It is planned as a one shot, do you want it to continue? Thank you everybody for reading.