Thanx for the reviews! I really appreciate it.

Srry, I had a lot of things to do this week. I think sometimes teachers forget we actually have a life apart from school…

Anyways, here's the new chapter, enjoy!

Chapter 2

She had made the calls to everyone who needed to know. The ones to Alexis and Martha were the hardest.

She sighed.

"Honey!" Lanie hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry, how is he?"

"He is still in surgery" she said, barely able to contain her tears.

Lanie looked at her compassionately. "I brought you some new clothes; let's find a bathroom so you can change."

Kate washed her hands and arms and changed into the clothes Lanie brought her. Then, she started to cry. Lanie hugged her.

"It's okay, it's okay," she said soothingly.

Slowly Kate calmed down a bit.

"I should have come earlier, if- if I just have been a minute earlier, he wouldn't have been lying here. I should have been there." Then she broke into sobs again.

Lanie grabbed her by her shoulders. "Hey, you listen to me. This is NOT your fault. Do you hear me? It's not your fault! If you wouldn't have been there, god knows how it would've ended. It's because of you he's still alive. Don't blame yourself, the only one to blame is the bastard who stabbed him, you hear me?"

Kate looked up at her friend. "Thanks. Maybe we should go back, see if Alexis and Martha have arrived yet." She wiped her tears away and they walked out of the bathroom.

When they came back, Alexis hugged her tightly. She was a bit surprised, but she recovered quickly and hugged the girl back.

Martha, Ryan and Esposito were there as well.

They sat down, waiting for the surgeon to come with hopefully good news.

"Family of Richard Castle?"

They all looked up.

"How is he?" Alexis asked.

"He's going to be okay, he won't have severe damage. He is recovering now. You can visit him, but only two or three at a time, okay?"

"Alexis and Martha, why don't you go first? After that, Ryan, Esposito and Lanie can go. I-I would like to see him alone," Kate said, feeling somewhat embarrassed to ask.

"Sure," Alexis replied, "It's okay, Kate, don't be ashamed to ask." She smiled warmly at Kate.

Alexis and Martha walked into his room. Alexis took his hand.

"Hey dad, I don't know if you can hear me, but the surgeon said you're going to be okay. I'll come by tomorrow. Love you." She kissed his forehead.

"Hey kiddo, you gave us quite a scare, you know? Just sleep well and I'll hope we'll see you tomorrow."

She squeezed his hand.

"Let's go home, Alexis, it's quite late and your dad wouldn't want you to be too tired for school."

They walked out of his room, Alexis looking back once at his sleeping form. They told Ryan, Esposito and Lanie they could go in.

The detectives didn't exactly know what to say and left rather quickly. Lanie stayed for a bit longer.

"Yo, Writer boy, you better wake up soon, 'cause Kate's going mad. She actually thinks this is her fault. Just open your damn eyes and tell her it's not."

She turned around and went to the waiting room.

"Honey, you can go in now. I know he ain't awake, but he needs you."

She hugged her best friend once more and then left.

Kate walked into his room. She sat down in a chair close to his bed and took his hand, not able to say anything.

Instead, she kissed his forehead and laid her head down beside him. She was going to have a sore neck, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to be with the guy that made her smile.

He was the first one to wake up in the morning. He felt something warm on his hand and arm. He slowly opened his eyes, and when he saw what, or rather who, was holding his hand, he smiled.

Sitting in a chair, holding his hand, was Kate Beckett.

She awoke too. She looked up and found him smiling at her.

"Castle! Oh, thank god, Rick, you're awake! How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, thanks to you."

She smiled, but the smile disappeared quickly.

"God, I was so afraid I lost you," she whispered, "and it wasn't the first time. When the bomb exploded in the bank, I had the same feeling. And the- the nightmares were even worse."

She took a deep breath.

"I remember," she continued, still speaking softly. "I remember every single word you said before I passed out." She looked down at their still joined hands.

"I had my suspicions."

She looked up. "Wha- why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid you would run away."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm willing to take the risk. Don't get me wrong, I still want to catch the bastard who's behind everything, but I don't want to lose you because of it. I want you by my side when I catch him."

"Am I dreaming or did you just say- OUCH!"

He rubbed his arm. "What was that for?"

"To show you you're not dreaming. But-eh… can we just keep it to ourselves for a bit? It's not that I'm ashamed of being with you, but I just want to enjoy this for ourselves for a week or two. And besides, we still need to get back at Lanie and Esposito."

She ducked her head and hid behind her hair.

He lifted her head with his finger.

"I'll go as slow as you want, Kate. I'm already happy you're willing to give us a chance. And… you're right about Lanie and Esposito."

He grinned.

"Ooh, we're so going to get back at them."

Hope you liked it!

-xxx-