"Alright Mr. Castle. That's all, and now we wait until we can bring her back to you," the technicians were trying their very best to be hopeful for Rick, and Kate's loved ones. Standing around the futuristic silver canister was the same group that was huddled outside the O.R. only hours ago. They all stared at this frozen body for hours, the one that had once belonged to Kate Beckett, their friend, daughter, partner...but this body was so lifeless. It was just a body, and for now at least, Kate was nowhere to be found and they couldn't tell if that hurt more than knowing she was just gone altogether.
They left slowly, one by one, until only Jim and Rick were left, clinging onto her.
"Rick..." Jim's voice cracked, tears still running down his face, but he managed to continue. "Do you really think they'll be able to bring her back one day?"
"I will give every penny of my money to fund whatever medical research will bring her back to us Jim, if that's what it takes. But I have to believe in that, in something greater than us, because I need her." He paused for a moment, trying to hold back the tears that weren't letting him speak.
"I told her how I felt Jim. I'm in love with your daughter, and I finally told her, and now she's gone..." Jim finally looked over at him after hours of staring at his daughter; the pain and despair in Castle's red, swollen eyes told him that this man truly loved his daughter more than any other man ever had.
"Rick, you just said it yourself, we have to believe that she's not gone. She's just hanging on, waiting to come back to us. For the record, I think you were winning her over, so just hang in there." Castle managed to look at Jim and throw him a weary, half smile.
"Mr. Castle, may I see you in my office? That is, if you are ready of course." Dr. Weiss had stepped away to give everyone some time with Kate, but now there were some matters that needed to be discussed.
"Go ahead Rick, I should be heading out soon anyways. Be sure to keep in touch." Castle shook Jim's hand and gave him a tight, but brief hug.
Back in the office, Castle was still somewhat in shock. He blamed himself for everything that happened and he felt the cold and the tears come back to him all at once. The woman he loved was dead, and he had waited too long. In that moment, he regretted so much; he regretted not fighting for her against Sorenson and Davidson, running into Gina's arms when Kate's rejection was too much for him, all of the "almost" moments when he could have told her how he felt, when he could have just wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Oh God, how he wished he could turn back the time. If only... But this was there chance at the forever he had always imagined for them. There was hope and even if he had to wait hundreds of years for her, then that is what he would do.
"Richard, if I may? How are you holding up? Death can be difficult, but with our treatment, there is still hope for the patients and their loved ones."
"What did we need to discuss?" Castle's response was emotionless, he was numb and he just wanted to get the business part of this out of the way.
"Right, I'm sorry. Well firstly, I assume you would like to be part of the program now also? Meaning that when you pass, you would like to be cryogenically preserved with Kate?"
"Yes," again his voice was cold and distant, but Dr. Weiss expected this, he saw this class of despair much too often.
"Then you will be needing to write two letters, both of them explaining what happened to Kate as there will most likely be confusion when she wakes, no memory loss, just confusion. In one letter you will write that you are cryogenically preserved next to her awaiting your own treatment. However, in the other..." he paused and Castle looked up.
"What? What will I be writing in the other?"
"Well Richard, sometimes, when couples want to be preserved together, one does not make it. So, in the case that we can not preserve you for whatever reason, you will need to write a letter explaining that and depending on the outcome, we will give her whichever letter is appropriate when she wakes." Castle looked back down at his lap and he realized that their "always" wasn't guaranteed, even with this preservation.
He took a moment to compose himself and agreed, "Fine, when will you be needing these letters?"
"As soon as possible, but please Richard, take your time. We know how difficult this process can be."
"I'll have them to you by tomorrow, its not like I'll be sleeping anytime soon..." it was the first time his tone had any sort of emotion in it, even if the emotion was overwhelming sadness.
"Right, now the payments, I..."
Castle interrupted, "That won't be an issue, just tell me how much and consider it done."
"Yes, well then, we don't need to further discuss that. The company will be sending you a bill."
Castle simply nodded, "If that's all, Dr. Weiss, I'll be going now."