Disclaimer: I don't own Castle… keep looking… and if you find Andrew Marlowe, tell him he's a genius. :)

A/N: Okay… I promised I would be posting the rest of this story in a few days and that would be today. I hope you all enjoy it. It's my 21st birthday tomorrow and seeing all of your reviews will be a great birthday present. I even got a Castle cake (chocolate) – and it looks amazing. ;D Anyway, you don't wanna hear about that. Without any further hesitation, here is the rest of Connection. I hope you enjoy it and tell me what you think! 8-)

Previously in Connection...

"How did you manage to stay with him all night past visiting hours?," Martha asked as we started walking down the hallway.

"I used some persuasion tactics Castle taught me," I replied. I saw a flash of pride cross Martha's features. She wrapped her arm around me as we continued to walk. It wasn't long
before we reached the hospital's entrance and stepped outside for a moment. I took a deep breath of the fresh air.

"Now, doesn't that feel better?," Martha asked, her arm still around me.

"Yeah," I admitted. I paused for a moment before turning to the older woman, "I still can't believe Castle is up in that room."

Martha tilted her head as she let me continue, "I've always been worried that Castle would get hurt shadowing me… not that he'd tell you, but there have been some close calls."

"I know," Martha nodded, giving me a look of wisdom.

I continued once again, "Never did I think he'd get hurt, not by shadowing me, but by just… a-a random wayward event."

"Honey," Martha started, "This is New York, crazy things like this happen every day and they're all out of our control. My son is lucky to have you in his life."

"And I'm lucky to have him in mine," I grinned. Martha once again gave me a look I couldn't quite interpret.

"Castle doing any better today?," Ryan came jogging up to us. I could see Esposito and Lanie slowly walking up to us too.

"He's still pretty much the same," I answered, "Though he has been giving us different facial expressions… either he's hearing us or it's from whatever he's dreaming."

"He really dreaming?," Esposito asked.

"He's not really in a coma," Lanie answered, "He's in a semi-conscious state which means he can still hear us. It's like he's half here and half somewhere else."

"Can we see him now?," Ryan asked.

"Yeah, I'd say it's about time for our shift," Esposito said before I could even get a chance to answer. We all headed back into the hospital.

Now the conclusion of Connection...

Another day passed and I still hadn't left the hospital. Ryan, Esposito, Lanie, and even Montgomery who stopped in for a few moments spent some time with Castle while Alexis, Martha, and I hung out in the waiting room. We would alternate shifts every couple of hours. Alexis fell asleep in my lap and her feet were in her grandmother's lap. She was stretched out between the two of us.

"Forty-two hours and counting," I sighed, resting my hand on Alexis' shoulder.

"Next shift," Ryan said, coming up to us. I looked up at him expectantly, "Any changes for you?"

"No," Ryan shook his head, "We did see a few smiles and smirks, but other than that, nothing."

"He's definitely Castle," Lanie commented.

"Hey, changing the subject for a second," I started, "Have you finished the paperwork up yet on Buns?"

"Not yet," Esposito shook his head and Ryan continued, "Yeah, we're uh… taking our time with it."

I knew what they were getting at and I smiled back at them. They were holding Buns out of spite and I couldn't agree with them more.

Castle's Room

We assumed our usual positions in Castle's room. I sat at Castle's bedside on his right and Alexis on his left. Once again, I took Castle's hand in mine, again, such a perfect fit. Martha took a seat next to Alexis. I let out yet another sigh, running my hand through my hair. A small gurgle was heard above the beeps. Was that my stomach?

"Do you want me to get you something to eat? Drink?," Alexis offered. She must've heard my stomach. Hell, Castle probably did.

"I'm good right now, thanks, Alexis," I shook my head and leaned forward in my seat, my elbows now resting on Castle's bed.

"You really should eat something," Martha agreed with her granddaughter, "You look famished."

"Yeah, are you sure?," Alexis asked, "I'm sure you've eaten less than us since… well, you know."

"I'm fine right now, Alexis," I assured her, but I don't think they believed me, "You get something to eat first for you and Martha and I'll eat later, I swear."

"Okay," Alexis stood up. She walked into the bathroom in the room and came back out with a cup of water, "But at least drink this… make me feel better."

I took the cup from Alexis and downed it in a few seconds. That did feel good. Did I even have a drink of water since his accident? Maybe I should eat a little something. I let go of Castle's hand and stood up, "Maybe I should at least get something from a vending machine."

"I'll come with you," Alexis smiled and grabbed my hand.

Alexis and I were gone for twenty minutes as I ate my bag of pretzels from the nearest vending machine.

"You feel better now, Detective?," Alexis asked me as I polished off the bag.

"Isn't it about time you called me Kate, Alexis?," I asked. She nodded. I gestured at her with my last pretzel, "Give it a try."

"You feel better now, Kate?," Alexis asked, smiling at the use of my first name.

"Yeah," I admitted and reciprocated the smile, "Do you think we should head back to your Dad's room?"

"Yeah," Alexis nodded. When we got back to the room, Lanie, Ryan, Esposito, and Montgomery had joined Martha.

"Full house," I commented when I saw everybody in the room.

"He got some of his color back," Lanie stated, gesturing to Castle. He did, I was gone for twenty minutes and some color returned to his cheeks. He was starting to look like his normal self. All he needed to do was open those eyes and let us see those baby blues.

Castle let out a groan and all of our heads whipped in his direction. Was he waking up? He lifted his knee up and started groaning, thrashing around side-to-side. We all stood in stunned silence. I took initiative, "Alexis, go get Nurse Schatzie."

Alexis ran out of the room. Castle kept thrashing around. I ran to his side and grabbed his hand yet again, "Castle… you're going to be fine."

"What happened?," Nurse Christy came running into the room.

"I don't know, we were all just standing here and suddenly Castle let out a groan and began thrashing around," I answered.

"Damn it, his morphine bag is running on empty," Christy cursed herself, "I knew I should've replaced it last night. I just need to replace it."

"See? You're gonna be just fine, Castle," I said as Christy went to work.

"Everybody needs to get out of the room for a moment, please!," Christy ordered and we all filtered out of the room. I looked back at Castle starting to calm down, still groaning a little, as she replaced the morphine bag. I let out another plea for a response, "Castle?"

Christy closed the door on us as she went back to work. We all exchanged glances. I repeated, assuring everyone and myself, "He's going to be fine."

A couple minutes later, Christy opened the door, "He's okay now. That little episode did a little number on him. I had to redress some of the gauze on the stitches from his surgery, but he's okay now."

"Thank you, Christy," I smiled and started to head back into the room, but she lifted her hand, "Only a few of you in there at a time now until he wakes up… he's still in a little bit of pain before the morphine drip will start to work again."

"You three head in," Lanie said, looking at me, Alexis, and Martha, "We'll switch shifts in a little while."

Ryan, Lanie, Montgomery, and Esposito went back to the waiting room and we went back in Castle's room. The nurse had pushed the chairs back against the wall, but left the one next to Castle's right side in the same spot.

"I think I'm gonna take another nap," Alexis said and sat down in the chair against the wall, followed by her grandmother.

"Yeah, me too," I replied, realizing how tired I truly was… did I even sleep since the accident? I couldn't remember. Alexis curled up and laid on her grandmother's shoulder, both of them closing their eyes. I took my seat next to Castle and took his hand once again, giving it a small squeeze. My eyelids were getting heavier and heavier, I put my head down on our hands and felt myself falling asleep.

I was on the edge of half-asleep and half-awake. I thought I heard Castle say my name, but I chalked it up to hearing things. Then, I felt Castle's hand flex in mine and I heard my name again – was I hearing things?

"Castle?," I mumbled. I sat up and rapidly blinked the sleep out of my eyes. Castle's baby blues were smiling at me, a smile crawled on my lips, "Castle, you're awake."

"How long was I out?," Castle blinked and reached up to take out the breathing tube in his nose. I tentatively stopped him, "You need that… you've been out for almost forty-eight hours. You had us all pretty worried."

"That's what I do best, right?," Castle tried a failed attempt at adding levity to the situation. He switched his gaze to his mother and daughter, "Have they been here long?"

"Almost as long as me," I said, "Should I wake them?"

"Yeah," Castle nodded, "Though could you hand me that cup of water first? My throat's a little dry."

"Our favorite nurse here Christy Schatzie said that it's nothing but ice chips for you, Rick," I said. I took an ice chip out and placed it in his mouth. I smiled at him as he began to suck on the small ice chip. I hoped I'd see that smile again.

I got up and slowly shook Alexis awake which in turn woke her grandmother, "Alexis? Your dad's awake."

"Dad?," Alexis said, wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

"Right here, sweetheart," Castle said. From hearing the sound of her father's voice, she shot out of her chair to be by her father's side, "Daddy, you're awake."

"I am," Castle replied, his voice soft, "Sorry if I scared you."

"I knew you were strong enough to pull through," Alexis smiled.

"Castle," Lanie entered the room followed by Ryan, Esposito, and Montgomery. They must've been on their way back for their 'shift' I could see everybody's joy at seeing Castle being awake. Lanie smiled, "Good to see you back amongst the living."

"Thanks," Castle smiled. The room was quiet for a few minutes. We all didn't know what to say until Castle cut the silence, "Kate? Have you eaten at all?"

"Not that much," I shook my head, thinking of the bag of pretzels.

"That's it, you've got to eat something," Castle stated, "I can't have my favorite detective fainting on me."

"I'll get her something," Montgomery volunteered.

"That's okay, sir, I'm fine," I insisted.

"Nonsense, Beckett," Montgomery wouldn't take it, "I know for a fact you've been here longer than any of us and in that time, you barely have eaten anything. I'm getting you something from the cafeteria and you're going to eat it… and that's an order."

"Yes, sir," I nodded as Montgomery left the room to get me something to eat.

"Ryan?," Castle turned to him, "How you doing?"

"Fine," Ryan nodded, "How are you doing?"

"Just dan-dy," Castle smiled, his reply was a little slurred, "Am I still your co-best man at… your wedding to Jenny?"

"Of course, Castle," Ryan smiled, "With Esposito."

"Awesome," Castle said. He started to sound a little loopy and looked to Esposito and Lanie, "Is your wedding next?"

"I don't think so, bro," Esposito shook his head, his arm around Lanie. She gave him a look, but let it slide under the circumstances.

"Sounds like the morphine is starting to work again," Alexis commented.

"Morphine?," Castle asked, wide-eyed, "Is that what that feeling is?"

"Maybe we should get somebody to lower it," I recommended.

"Good idea," Alexis said with a half-laugh at the face Castle was making. She disappeared for a second and brought in Nurse Christy Schatzie.

"Glad to see you finally awake, Mr. Castle," Christy said as she came in and adjusted his bag of morphine drip by his bedside table, leaning over me. I leaned forward on Castle so she could get an easier reach. Christy smiled, "There, is that better?"

"Mmm, yeah," Castle smiled, wrapping his arm around my head. I heard everybody laughing at the position he forced me into – I was practically lying in his lap. He took his arm off of my head and I sat back up and fixed my hair.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," Christy started, "But now that you're awake, you actually need some more rest. That episode you had before when the last morphine bag was running on empty did a real number on you and your broken ribs."

"Is that what happened?," Castle asked, feeling his side and winced. He was more coherent and less loopy now.

"Yes, now your daughter and mother can stay," Christy said, "Family should be the only ones in here right now."

"Then they all should stay," Castle stated, "They're all my family."

"All right," Christy smiled, looking at all of us individually and back to Castle, "Ten more minutes, but then you should rest. You've had enough excitement for the day."

Christy left the room and Castle turned back to me, "So… Broken ribs, huh?"

"Yeah," I nodded and Ryan continued, "Two of them actually."

"Wow," Castle said, "They get the whole bullet out?"

"Bullet?," I furrowed my brows and looked to everyone else, they mirrored my expression, "What bullet?"

"The bullet I was shot with," Castle said, "I mean, it'd be kinda cool to carry it around with me, but I think that would lead to some medical complications in the future. Am I right, Lanie?"

"Castle," Lanie started slowly, "You weren't shot."

Now Castle looked confused, "Yeah I was, I don't think I could forget that. How else would I have broken ribs?"

"From the truck," I replied.

"Truck?," Castle asked and sat up a little straighter, "What are you talking about?"

"After you left the precinct the other night," Esposito started an explanation, "You were hit by a truck and broke some ribs in the process, as well as some pretty bad cuts and bruises."

Esposito gestured to his face. Castle reached up and felt the stitches on his forehead and one on his cheek. He looked down at his arms and must've seen his apparent bruises and scratches because his eyes widened. Castle looked up at me, a little frightened, "A truck? I don't remember getting hit by a truck. Who hit me?"

"We've got him in custody," I said, "And in an odd turn of events, the man who hit you, John Buns, was also the man who killed our victim. He was fleeing town and ran into you – literally."

"Our victim," Castle started slowly and licked his lips. His brain must've not been firing on all cylinders quite yet, "Our victim Anna Snow?"

"No, our victim Ron Carlton," I replied, "The case we were working on when you left."

Castle looked lost in thought for a minute and we all let him process it. Castle took a deep breath, "Okay, I'm going to ask you something and I'd appreciate it if you replied truthfully."

"Of course," I nodded, grasping his warm hand once again.

"Have I been shadowing you for the last three years?," Castle asked with all seriousness in his eyes.

"Castle," I started, confused. Was there something else wrong with him? Below the surface? Castle squeezed my hand a little tighter and said, "Please, just answer the question."

"Yes," I said, after looking into his pleading eyes, "You've been shadowing me for three years. You're my partner, Castle."

"I'm back," Castle laid his head back on his pillow in apparent relief.

"Richard, what are you talking about?," Martha asked.

"I don't know what happened," Castle shook his head, "It must've been all a dream."

"What dream?," Ryan asked.

"But I pinched my hand and I didn't wake up," Castle was talking to himself now and looked down at his hand, "Or maybe it was just the small prick of pain when they put the IV in."

"Castle," I prompted, trying to get his attention, but he continued to talk to himself, "And that would also explain the out of context conversations and other things I heard."

"Castle," I said a little louder, finally grabbing his attention, "What dream are you talking about? Did you have a nightmare?"

"I'll say it was," Castle replied, "You all didn't know who I was."

"We didn't even know you?," Alexis asked, stepping up, placing her hand on her chest.

"No, no, sweetheart," Castle shook his head and gestured to us from the precinct, "I'm talking about them. None of you guys knew who I was."

"How do you mean?," Esposito asked.

"We had never met," Castle explained, "Those murders, the Alyson Tisdale case, none of that happened."

"Wow," Ryan's eyebrows went up, "That must've been weird."

"Yeah, and I was hearing some out of context stuff throughout it," Castle said, "It must've been you guys talking to me. Alexis, you said you told me I was strong and that I'd get through this?"

"Yeah," Alexis smiled. I could tell she was glad he heard her. Castle turned to Martha, "And you were trying to get Beckett to eat?"

"Yes," Martha nodded.

Castle grabbed my hand once again, "And you told me to come back to you."

I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I started to blush. Instead of giving him a verbal answer, I just nodded and squeezed his hand a little tighter once again.

"Well, that makes a lot more sense," Castle said, "It really was all a dream, I'm glad it's over."

"Me too," I said, "They weren't sure how long it would take you to wake up. After a few hours of surgery to fix any internal bleeding, they had to put you in a semi-conscious state for you to get the rest you needed to heal on your own."

"They told us to talk to you," Alexis said, "They said you'd be able to hear us."

"I did," Castle smiled.

A knock came from the door. It was Nurse Christy, "Sorry, guys, the ten minutes are up."

"Just two more minutes, Christy?," Castle pleaded, putting on his best puppy-dog-eyed look. Who could resist that look?

"Fine," Christy said, "but just one person."

"We'll meet you guys out there," Ryan said and pointed with his thumb to the door, "Get some rest, bro."

Esposito and Lanie echoed Ryan's wish. Lanie gave Castle a kiss on the cheek and followed her boyfriend and Ryan out the door.

"You go ahead and stay, Kate," Alexis said, "We've got plenty of time to see him."

"Thank you," I smiled yet again at Martha and Alexis. Alexis gave her father another kiss on his cheek as Martha simply squeezed his shoulder. After a moment, they left the room. I continued to smile at them. Castle and I sat in comfortable silence for a moment until I couldn't take it anymore, my eyes started to water – finally, the last of my tears?

"Oh, Kate," Castle said and gently rubbed my tears away with his thumb, "Don't cry, you're going to make me cry."

"I'm sorry," I sniffed, "I really thought we… I had lost you."

"I'm never gonna go away no matter what you or anybody else does," Castle smiled, "You're stuck with me. You can't get rid of me that easily."

"Good to know," I smiled. I felt my tears start to subside. I dabbed at my eyes with my knuckle and gave Castle a small smile, "I guess even when you're semi-conscious your imagination still runs wild, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess it does," Castle smirked, "I don't ever want to see that world ever again. I'm glad I came into your life. That moment you came up to me at my book party changed my life forever and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

"I never want to see what my life would be like without you in it," I confessed and shook my head. Once again, I took Castle's hand. It had become a habit over the past two days.

"Have you been holding my hand this whole time?," Castle asked, looking down at our intertwined hands.

"Yeah," I said as I started to let go, "Is it bothering your IV? I'll stop."

"No," Castle grabbed my hand once more, "I like it… I think it was the connection that kept me in this reality."

"You dreamed up a whole case with a victim and everything?," I shook my head in disbelief and amusement, "You truly are something else, Rick."

"Yes I am," Castle smiled. He brought my hand up to his mouth and gave it a chaste kiss, "Thank you for being there for me, Kate."

"Always," I smiled.

THE END

Wow! I wrote this baby all in one day. I hope you guys liked it. I did my best to try and line everything up with If. Of course some things aren't exact, since time does pass differently in 'dreams' – I hope I gave Beckett's POV justice. Please comment and tell me what you all think! Was writing this companion fic worth it? Did it help give If more of a sense of completion? If anything didn't make sense, just ask and I'll explain to the best of my ability. :) Tell me what you all think when you get a chance.

Thank you to those of you who simply just read this story. You mean a lot to me too. :D

Clois and Caskett Forever! :)