A/N: So yeah...I will continue this because the story won't leave me alone...thank you so much for the response to this story, I never thought it would be that appealing. That being said, well...there's nothing left for me but to continue this story. Please be patient, as I'm not a consistent writer and while you can get quick updates...it can also take a while. Enjoy!

The waiting seemed eternal. Much like the hellish ride to the hospital, during which Castle flatlined twice. Now, Beckett, Ryan and Esposito sat in the waiting room in complete silence, all of them praying for Castle to make it. Alexis and Martha were on their way. He had lost considerable amount of blood, and by the time they arrive to the ER, he was hanging by a thread.

In silence, a battle of emotion erupted inside Beckett. She blamed herself for this. How could she have been so stupid, to think that leaving Castle would put him out of danger, when, if anything it put a target behind his back? But even so, that didn't matter tonight. All that mattered was that Castle survived. She couldn't live with herself if Castle died. Truth to be told, she already couldn't live with herself once she found out Castle was attacked.

A phone rang. It was Esposito's, but Beckett barely registered what he was saying. In fact, she wasn't aware of her surroundings at all, the only thing in her mind was Castle. Then, the doors of the waiting room opened and both Alexis and Martha walked in. They immediately sat next to Beckett.

"Katherine." Martha whispered as she held Beckett's hand. That broke the captain out of her trance.

"Martha...I'm so..." Beckett's voice broke and her eyes glistened. "I'm so sorry..." She looked down and closed her eyes.

"I know." The older woman said with a sad smile.

Alexis remained quiet beside Beckett, and she could see that just as her, the only thing in her mind was Castle.

"Alexis..." Beckett started, but was cut off by the doors of the surgical area opening. They all immediately stood up.

"Is he alive?" Alexis demanded. They were all holding their breath.

"Yes..." The doctor answered as all of them sighed in relief. "It was touch and go for a while, but he's incredibly strong and although he's not out of the woods yet I'm confident he'll pull through."

"Oh thank god." Martha breathed. "When can we see him doctor?"

"As soon as he's settled in his room, I'll have a nurse come and get you." The doctor said. "However, I can only allow family only for the time being." With that, he left the room.

Beckett felt as if her legs could no longer hold her weight and practically slumped on the chair. The tension and worry in the air dicipated a little, as they all processed what the doctor had told them. Castle was going to be alright. He was a fighter.

"Martha, do you think you could..." Beckett's voice was shaking both with relief and heartache. "You think you could tell him that..."

"Tell him yourself." Alexis interrupted, and then sat next to Beckett. "Look, I'm not the biggest fan of yours right now, nor I excuse you for what you did to my dad, but we're family." She said strongly. "Family never quits on each other. Yes, you made a mistake, a big one, but you're still married to dad and I won't let you run from us again. We have each other's back. Always."

"I don't deserve you, or him." Beckett said sadly. "I keep hurting him, putting him in the crosshairs."

"Kate, you did the wrong thing for the right reasons." Alexis continued. "But now, you can redeem yourself and be here...where you're needed most."

"Okay..." Beckett conceded. "Okay...uh guys...I need..."

"Don't worry, we got it covered." Ryan said and both detectives left the waiting room, determined to find out who did this to Castle.

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It'd been about 10 hours, and Castle still wasn't awake. The doctors kept telling them that his body needed to rest in order to heal, and so it wasn't cause for alarm. Beckett, Martha and Alexis hadn't left his side since they were allowed to see him. Still, they worried because the person lying on that bed didn't resemble Castle at all, because Castle would never be this still, this pale, so cold to the touch. Beckett knew that she shouldn't be holding his hand after everything she put him through, but she couldn't let go either. She was clinging to him as if somehow she could give a little of her life back to his.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Reluctantly she left the room, measuring Alexis with a quick look, that she'll be back shortly. It was an unknown caller.

"Beckett."

"Captain, my name is Sloan." A female voice answered. "I need you to meet me as soon as possible. In about ten minutes you will get an email with an address. Go there at 5pm and go alone."

"Why?" Beckett asked. "What's this about?"

"I can't tell you over the phone but..."

"What's this about?" Beckett repeated sternly.

"I have information that about Rick that interests you." Sloan said calmly but serious. "Please come alone."

"Wait..." But before Beckett could say anything else, the mystery woman hanged up.

A/N: Thank you for reading, and please please review.