A NEW OPORTUNITY

BY: KAI JAC

Disclaimer: As much as I want, unfortunately, I don't own Castle or anyof its characters or plots.

Author's note: First of all, thank you everybody for your support of this fic, I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 2

As the weeks went by and Kate was slowly regaining her strength, Josh visits were spaced, and Castle's visits were increasing.

In the nurses break room, it was rumored that the famous writer and the surgeon, had a heated argument shortly after the detective awoke from the coma.

One of the nurses said that that Katherine Beckett was very fortunate to have two men that loved her so much like that, she wished she had the same fate.

Another nurse, said she would soon have to decide who she was choosing. It was unfair that she had them both on edge not knowing what decision she would take.

One of the new nurses saw his opportunity to speak, and said that soon they would know who they would, because the doctor who was attending the detective said,s he would be discharged soon, under the condition that during the time she was in rehabilitation, she had to live with someone else.

With a glance at the clock in the room, the head nurse sighed and sent them all back to work.

In Kate's room

Unaware that they were the talk of the hospital's, the writer and the detective, were drinking coffee talking about everything and nothing.

-I can't believe that Esposito and Lanie got caught in the bathroom.

-Imagine the face of them when I go into the men's room and were caught making out. If I was someone else I don't know what would have happened ... but now I have a good material to blackmail them .- the writer said laughing.

That was too much for Kate, who started laughing hard.

For a few days something was kicking her brains constantly. A vague recollection of the burial of Captain Montgomery was trying to break into her mind but something blocked it. A psychiatrist who had come to visit her, said it was normal not to remember everything about the incident. The mind tends to block the painful memories, and being shot was very painful.

Yet there was something that eluded her, something that was not bad, something that had given her light before she lost consciousness, but her brain refused to remember.

Yet every time she asked Castle on the subject, he changed the subject quickly.

The thing that wasn't clear was the reason Josh had stopped to visit her frequently. Before he was going back and forth every day. The advantage was she was hospitalized in the same hospital where he worked. But now, she hasn't seen him for days, had not even called to say he was busy and could not visit.

What was clear was that Castle had something to do with it.

-Castle. I'm going to ask you something, and you'll answer the truth, no excuses .- she put much emphasis on the last word to make clear that this time there was no fight.

- Tell me Kate .- he said lowering his head and admitted defeat.

-First, help me to raise a little the head of the bed so I can better see your face, and I'll know if you lie.

While he did what she had asked, she looked at the writer's hands as they moved. He looked at his face and almost made her laugh the face of serious concentration he had.

-Castle, you know that some of the nurses in this hospital are very talkative. I know I speak for us, and I mean Josh, you and me. Yesterday afternoon while they changed the bandages on my bound, a hint of the rumor that is spreading on the hospital escaped from the nurse, this rumor is that you and Josh had discussed and I have a suspicion that this is the reason that Josh isn't visiting me or calling me more often. Can you tell what the hell you told him? – she asked almost shouting.

Seeing his head down she knew it was all the writer fault .

- Well? - She asked raising an eyebrow.

-Kate, promise you will not shoot me if I answer you.

- I can't promise that. Anyway, here I haven't my gun, so for the moment I won't shot you. So answer me right now!

-Well ... I ... hum.. sort of told him the truth ...

-And what is that truth, Castle?

- I don't know how to tell you, Kate. - "Act like a grown man, Richard!You're not a teenager declaring your undying love to your first love! ".

Seeing that he hesitated, she preferred to wait in silence until he found the words.

-Well, I don't know if you remember, but when you were shot, I told you something ... something very important.

-I don't remember it clearly. I know you tried to make me stay conscious at all costs as you clutched my wound ...

-Don't try to force your memories back, Kate. -He interrupted her by placing a finger on her lips .- I know that if I tell you now, I won't have the courage to tell you anymore.

Taking the chair, he moved it a little closer to the bed where she was lying.

-Josh came asking me for explanations of what I was doing coming every day to the hospital making you company, knowing that he is your boyfriend and I had no opportunity to be more with you.-He paused to swallow hard before continuing .- I told him he was wrong. That above all you are my friend, my companion, who would not leave you for a minute until you full recover.

After saying this, the writer stopped and said no more.

- I don't think it is the only reason, Castle, you said something that make him stop visiting me.-She insisted when she saw that he would not say more.

-Actually I said something else, but I don't know if you are prepared to listen. Especially after you told me that ours was over .- "It's now or never, Richard, you have nothing to lose." - But the truth is I can't bear to see him with you. I love you, Kate, not as a friend or a partner, but as something else.

These words made her open her eyes and felt the tears were struggling to fall from her eyes. She had waited so long to hear them. But now…

-That's what I said. Josh, told me I could keep dreaming, you were his and had nothing to do. I have to admit that there I lost my cool and shouted at him saying you were only with him to not feel alone, and you knew that your relationship would not get very far. The next thing he did was hit me a punch in the eye, and left without saying anything.

Two antagonistic feelings were formed within her as she listened to his words, on one hand joy and on the other anger.

-A few days later he came by while you were sleeping, and told me that while I was here in the room, he would not appear. So I guess you have seen only the days that I couldn't by force be with you.

-Castle, I want you to leave this room right now! You're not who to decide if my boyfriend is good enough for me or not! I am no damsel in distress waiting for her knight in shining armor come to rescue mounted on a white horse! So go now!

-Kate, as you wish, if you need anything, you know how to reach me. Don't forget, I love you.

With this, he left the room closing the door behind him. When she stopped hearing her footsteps, she began to cry.