AN: This is my first Castle story, so be gentle. Haven't written anything for quiet a while. So bare with me. Thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.

B-C-B-C

She was walking through a foggy forest, dead trees lined her path as she struggled to find her way out of this place that smelled like death. She had no idea how long she had been straying through the inhospitality, she noticed that she was barefoot, she was cold and she felt a dull pain emerging from her abdomen. As she looked down, she noticed the blood stain on her white shirt, hesitantly she reached for the red spot and shrank back when she realized that is was still warm. Her breath quickened, sending white clouds into the air, she was on the rim of panic and Kate Beckett was not the kind that normally gave into this feeling. Over years she had built up her armor, she had fought hard to be seen as one of the guys, so hard that she had almost forgotten how it felt to let go, to have someone else to take care of you, someone that had your back. Always! She heard the words floating in from somewhere. Always! They soothed her, comforted her, gave her this warm feeling of security and home. And then she saw the light. A flash in the dark and she knew she had to get there, wherever it was coming from. She staggered forward, pushing away branches that blocked her way. She saw the flash of light, again and again, emerging from somewhere beyond her reach. Always! It was surrounding her now. Always! Over and over she heard the words, again and again. And suddenly everything was quiet. A bolt of light erupted around her. Then everything was white.

B-C-B-C

"Kate?" she heard someone say. "Kate? Can you hear me?"

She blinked, trying to fight the dizziness that threatened to overcome her. Her eyes hurt, but then again, every fiber of her body seemed to hurt.

"Kate? Do you hear me? Can you squeeze my hand?"

She tried to focus, who was talking to her? Where was she? What happened? Carefully she tried to move her hand and though it felt as if she had to move a mountain she was able to squeeze the hand that was holding hers.

"Good Kate, that's very good." She heard someone say. Someone that sounded familiar.

Again she tried to open her eyes, this time succeeding. Slowly her vision cleared. She coughed and someone took an ice cube, running it over her lips. It helped, the dry feeling in her throat eased away, her mind cleared a bit further and she recognized the people around her. At first she saw Josh, a wide smile on his face as he realized that she had overcome, that she was coming back to life, besides all the obstacles. She rolled her head into the other direction and saw that Lanie was the one holding her hand, tears in her eyes.

"Hey," Lanie whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"Hey," Kate whispered back, a small smile forming on her lips.

"You got us worried, girl! Don't you ever do that again!" Laney smiled back, patting Kate's cheek.

Again she turned around to give Josh the smile that she felt he deserved.

"Hey," she managed again, before he leant down and gave her light kiss on the lips.

"I'll let the others know, that you woke up and then we'll do some small tests before we let you rest," Josh said and gave her another kiss on her forehead, "Welcome back!" he added before he disappeared through the door.

Kate's eyes searched the room. Where was he? Why wasn't he here? Lanie noticed her friend's searching look.

"Kate?" she squeezed her hand to get her attention.

Kate looked at her, sorrow and worry displaying in her face, "Where ..?" she whispered.

"I'll tell him to come," Lanie said and slowly got up, while two nurses came to the room and started to work on Kate. Kate's eyes never left Laney's, asking the same question over and over again. Why wasn't he here?

B-C-B-C

He sat in his study, staring at his bookshelves. Anger flowed through him. He should be there. To hell with this Dr. Motorcycle. He had no right to keep him away from her. She was his partner. HIS Partner. He pushed a stack of papers off his desk, sending them with a crush down on the floor.

"Hey kiddo," Martha popped her head around the corner.

"Hey," he sighed and looked at her. And then he shrugged his shoulders not knowing what else to do.

"She's gonna make it, she's strong!" Martha moved around the corner and came to stand beside him, putting her hand on his head. Trying to find the right words, but there were none.

"But what if ...," he did not dare to say it.

"Shhh," Martha stroke his head, trying to ease the pain that was evident in his eyes, knowing that there was nothing she could do. Her son had never loved a woman like he loved Kate Beckett and she knew that should Kate not survive, something would die in him forever.

"I should be there," he stated.

"What's keeping you," Martha looked down at him.

"That Dr. Friend of hers ordered me to go and stay away!" he almost spat it out.

"And since when are you someone to do what people tell you to do? Unless it's Beckett of course," she smiled.

He thought for a moment, "You know what? You're right!" he said and got up, his mind shortly going back to the ugly confrontation he had with Josh at the hospital. Accusation had flown and if Esposito hadn't stopped them, probably even more. They had both said things that they knew weren't true. But the fear of losing her had made them both thoughtless. His head told him that Josh had every right to be upset and concerned. After all he was her boyfriend. But his heart told him a different story. His heart told him he had to be there. And no one had the right to keep him away from her. And he would have stayed and stood his ground if Esposito and Ryan hadn't forced him to go. He knew it was the only thing they could have done at that moment, but he felt he had betrayed her. Left her, when he had told her he would always have her back.

He reached for his coat, when his cell phone started ringing. He fumbled to get it out of his pocket, one look on the screen told him it was Lanie.

"Lanie," his voice was barely a whisper, fearing that the worst had happened.

"She's awake Castle, "he could hear the small laugh of joy in her voice and sighed, "She wants to see you," Laney added quickly.

"I'm on my way," he said and ended the call, storming out off the apartment, only to be stopped by his mother's voice.

"Richard?" she looked at him scared.

A smile spread over his face, "She's awake."

Martha let out a laugh of relief, similar to the one Lanie had given on the phone and then ushered him out the door, "Go, go! Give her hug from me. I'll tell Alexis."

He nodded and was out of the door.

B-C-B-C

He stormed through the hallway, leaping for the elevator and jumping out of it when he reached her floor, almost crushing into a nurse.

"Sorry," he mumbled and continued down the hallway.

"Sir? Sir?" Another nurse shot into his way. "Where are you going, Sir?" she asked.

"Kate!" he said and then noted that he needed to say more, "Kate Beckett, I'm here to see Detective Kate Beckett."

"Are you family?"

"No I'm her partner."

"I'm sorry Sir, but only family is allowed to see Miss Beckett at the moment."

"What?" his hands shot through his hair in desperation. "Please, I need to see her!"

"I'm sorry Sir. Doctors orders," she shrugged a bit helpless, feeling sorry for the man in front of her.

Castle fumed, "Where is the bastard?" he muttered through clenched teeth.

"If you're looking for me, Mr. Castle. I'm right here!" Josh said.

"You son of a bitch! You have no right to keep me from seeing her!" Castle stepped closer to Josh, rage pumping through every fiber of his body.

"Actually I have. I'm her Doctor. And as her Doctor I tell you to stay away! She needs rest."

Castle stepped even closer, stopping inches away from Josh's face.

"Amy," Josh turned towards the nurse ignoring Castle, "Please make sure that Mr. Castle finds his way out."

"Of course Dr. Davidson," she looked at Castle who stayed put. This time he wouldn't back down.

"What's going on here?" Jim Beckett asked, emerging from the end of the hallway.

"They won't let me see her," Castle exclaimed desperately.

"Go!" Jim nodded to Castle and pointed towards her room.

"But...!" Josh protested.

"Dr. Davidson! I'm her father and she asked for him. She needs him." Jim Beckett's tone left no room for arguments. He didn't want to hurt Josh, but frankly he had no idea why his daughter was with him. She had barely spoken about him since they got together. And he would do anything that made her feel better and he knew she needed Castle now. Josh stood defeated, his gaze on Castle's back, who already hurried down towards her room.

B-C-B-C

When she opened her eyes the second time this day, she immediately felt the difference, her eyes wandered around until they found his, looking back at her, a smile on his face.

"Rick?"

"Kate!"