Chapter 3
"Castle" Kate says, tears starting to stream down her face. "Oh my god…" She runs her eyes over his body looking for injuries and stops at the gash above his forehead. Rolling him over to get a better look, she now notices the blood stain coming from his shirt. Lifting it up, a stab wound is present with a slow trickle of blood coming from it.
"No, no no! Castle, no!" Kate says, applying pressure to the wound. Her shaking fingers go to his neck, searching for a sign of life. She holds her breath and closes her eyes. Kate lets out a shaky breath when she feels a faint pulse. Quickly taking her phone out of her pocket with one hand and keeping the other firmly on his wound, she dials 911.
After hanging up with assurance that the paramedics are on their way, she tries to wipe away some of the tears that have fallen down her face.
Keeping one hand on the wound, Kate starts carefully running her fingers through his hair.
"C'mon Castle, s-stay with me. You have to stay with me. I need you. P-please don't leave me."
Sobbing, she rests her forehead against his. "Rick, please. I love you. Y-you're going to be okay, just stay with me."
What feels like hours later, but in reality only minutes, paramedics and police come running through the doors.
"Detective. Detective Beckett." A paramedic says, trying to get her attention. She looks up toward the man with tear-filled eyes. "We need you to step back ma'am so when can help him."
She warily nods her head and moves back so the paramedics can help him.
"How long has he been like this?"
"I-I don't know. I came home about ten minutes ago and I just found him lying here."
The ride to the hospital seemed like the longest moments of Kate's life. Everything that's happened since she found him on the floor has appeared to of been in slow motion. As the paramedics worked on Castle, she sat by his head, stroking her fingers through his hair and whispering reassuring and loving words to him.
When the ambulance finally pulled up at the hospital, the doors flew open and his gurney was rushed out and into the E.R. doors. Kate was running with the gurney until all of a sudden a nurse grabbed her gently by the arm, halting her in the process.
"I'm sorry ma'am but this is as far as you can go." With a reluctant nod, she stopped, watching as the gurney rolled away. Watching as her partner, best friend, husband, father of her unborn child, was taken away. Overwhelmed with emotion, she leaned back against the wall, slowly sliding down. Placing her head in her hands, violent sobs began to overtake her body.
The boys were at their desks about to head home when Javier's phone started to ring.
"Esposito." He said, listening as the cop on the other end relayed information.
"What?! When?" He said grabbing his jacket and motioning towards Ryan. The other detective gave him a questioning look, but Espo was paying no attention to him. Javier listened carefully as the cop gave what information he had, then hung up his phone, shocked.
"Dude was is it?" Ryan said, putting a hand on Esposito's shoulder.
He looked at him with a dreadful look and said, "Castle's been stabbed."
After informing Captain Gates, the boys set out to the hospital as fast as they could. With Ryan driving, Espo called Lanie, telling her to meet them at the hospital.
Less than fifteen minutes later, the boys ran into the hospital looking for Kate. After slowing down to a brisk walk, Ryan headed over to the nurses' station, showing his badge. "I'm Detective Ryan and I'm looking for Detective Kate Beckett. She came in here with Richard Castle." The detective said, a little out of breath. The nurse mentioned the waiting room, and with a quick thanks, Ryan grabbed his partner and headed off down the hall in search of her.
After heading down the hallway and taking a couple turns, the pair slowed to a stop as they saw Beckett slumped in a chair with her head in her hands. Cautiously they approached, sitting down next to her. "Beckett." Esposito said, placing a hand on her shoulder. Kate looked up, eyes red and tears streaming down her face. With a questioning look on her face, Ryan started to explain "We got wind of what happened from a cop on the scene. We let Gates know. She's got Karpowski's team on it now. Don't worry Beckett, we'll find out who did this."
All Kate could do was nod her head as she stared off into space, barely comprehending his words. Suddenly a though struck her.
"Oh god, Alexis and Martha!" she said, a look of panic clouding her eyes.
"Don't worry Kate, we called them. They said the weather up in the Hamptons would delay there leave a little, but they would be here as soon as they could." Ryan said.
She let out a shaky breath of relief, only to then drift back into her disjointed state.
Less than five minutes later, Lanie came into the waiting room; a face covered with worry, only having it turn dejected by the look of Kate's face. She slowly made her way over to her friend, not knowing what to say or do in a situation like this. When Kate had feelings similar to this or any other feelings which presented in a negative way, there was only one person who could help her through it. That person was currently lying in an O.R. room fighting for his life.
Noticing Lanie approach, the boys silently shifted over a couple seats to give Lanie some room.
"Hey sweetie." Lanie said gently, sitting down next to Kate and placing a hand on her forearm. Kate looked at Lanie with eyes full of despair, but remained silent. Not knowing how to comfort her friend in a situation like this, she simply stroked her thumb soothingly along Kate's forearm.
They waited in silence. No one speaking, no one knowing what to do.