A/N Thanks for the reviews they really make my day...so on with the story.
The others tell him to go first, they say they will see her later. That he should be with his girl now. He could have never been ready for the sight before him. The familiar feeling of emotion rising up in his throat, taking the breath from him. This was his fiancé before him , he knew that but she looked so different. Her skin tone matching the same colour as the sheets, lines protruding into the space around her. She is connected to several machines which he could hear whirring and beeping away in the night air. The most distinct thing that caught his eye, was a line carrying a thick red liquid into her arm. It was replacing the volume that she lost out in the field. This was the trigger, the sobs came back with force. His whole body shook with emotion, he was so close to losing her. When she was shot all those years ago he never saw the frailty of it. By the time he saw her she was a few days into recovery, he didn't see the tubes and wires.
He tries to bite back the sobs, frightened he will wake her with the noise. He edges closer to bed, within touching distance. He wants to reach out and hold her hand, but he's scared he will break her. He spots a black chair in the corner. He goes to it and pulls it close to the bedside. He takes a seat his knees now pressed up against the cold metal, of the bed rails that are down. He plucks up the courage, reaches his hand forward. His fingers lightly touch her wrist, he can feel her pulse thrumming away. This reassures him, he caress her skin as his runs his fingers up her arm. He comes to her delicate hand, cold to touch, he entwines his fingers in hers. The touch all to familiar, it feels so right. He looks up to her face and she looks content. She is not awake yet but he presumes it is due to all the painkillers and due to the anesthetic. He knows she will be awake when she is ready and he will wait for as long as it takes. He places his other arm on the bed and rests his head upon it. The events of the day catching up with him, his eyes become heavy. It is not long before he is drawn into the world of sleep, his hand never leaving hers as he drifts into a slumber.
He's bought crashing back to conciseness by the feeling of something running over his skin. He lifts his head, his neck protesting at the odd angle. He cricks it side to side to release the knots, he rubs the sleep from his eyes. He peers down their conjoined hands and finds her thumb drawing circles on his palm. He looks straight up and finds her beautiful brown orbs staring back at him. A smile breaks out on his face as he takes in the sight of her.
"Hey Castle."
She manages to rasp out. He reaches forward and cups her cheek with his hand. She automatically leans into his touch.
" Hi sleepy, how you feeling?"
She places a feather light kiss to his palm before answering.
" It hurts every time I breathe in, it's feels like the knife is being plunged back in."
Tears prick at the corners of her eyes, he can see the pain behind them. He pushes the call bell for the nurse before leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"I'm so sorry Beckett, I should have been there covering you. Why did I have to choose today to write? This should have never happened."
Tears run down his cheeks, splashing on her forehead. He swipes them away with the pad of his thumb. He can feel her breath on his neck, he can feel the hitch after every one she takes in. He leans back and he finds her looking right at him. She reaches up a hand, caressing his cheek. A softness to her touch as her fingers leave a path of tingling skin.
"Castle, it's not your fault. I should have been more careful, I shouldn't have let him get the drop on me."
Before he can retort the nurse comes through the door. He asks if Beckett can have anymore pain relief to take the edge off. The nurse nods before heading off, saying she will return shortly. Castle takes his seat back in the chair, Beckett's eyes flicker sleep threatening to take her back under. He can see that she is fighting it, he wishes she wouldn't be so stubborn. Five minutes later, the nurse returns with some IV morphine, she checks Beckett's details with her before injecting it slowly in to her IV port. The fight for staying awake becomes too much and she falls back into a slumber. He rubs soothing circles with his thumb on her arm as she goes back under.
"Mr Castle, I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave. Hospital policy forbids you from staying in the room overnight. Visiting starts from 9am that is only in 5 hours. I can let you and the rest of your family back in then."
The nurse looks genuinely apologetic for having to kick him out. He wonders what she means by the rest of his family, he presumes they have headed home. He doesn't make a fuss, he stands up and puts the chair back. Before he follows the nurse out, he goes to her side and places a kiss on her forehead once again.
" I love you Kate."
He whispers before taking his leave. He doesn't go far, he goes back to the waiting room on her floor. Here he finds his family, all of them asleep on the chairs. The nurses have obviously taken pity on them, and have given them all a blanket and a pillow. He takes a seat next to his daughter who is laid out over three chairs, her face mashed into a pillow. He looks around him, it warms his heart that they have all stayed. Even Jenny seems to have come in, she is asleep with her head resting on Ryan's legs. Ryan is sitting slumped in the chair, his head back, mouth wide open as he snores. Esposito and Lanie who has also turned up after her shift cuddled up in the corner couch. He wiggles down in the seat, his hand running through his daughters auburn locks as he himself drifts off.
He's awakened to the smell of fresh coffee and pastry. He checks his watch it is now 8.30 am, soon he can see Beckett again. His whole family are awake and munching on breakfast brought in by his mother.
"Morning Castle, how was our girl last night?"
Lanie asks him through a mouthful of croissant. He stands up and stretches his aching stiff muscles before answering.
"She is very sore and groggy but she is okay. The nurse said we can all go see her after 9am. Also I want to thank you all for staying. I know Beckett would really appreciate it."
He grabs a coffee and bear claw off the table, his stomach rumbling at the thought. Espo comes over and claps him on the shoulder.
" Hey no need to thank us, she would do the same for any of us man."
He nods he knows that this is true. He finishes his breakfast before heading off to freshen up in the bathroom. His mother has bought him a change of underwear and shirt. He is very grateful for her. Once he's done he heads back, the nurse comes soon after and leads them all to her room. He heads in first and finds her awake and sitting up enjoying her own breakfast. The wires and tubes all still attached but she looks much brighter today, her face full of a bit more colour. He heads over and captures a kiss from her lips. She runs her fingers through the hair at his nape. He reluctantly pulls back.
" Hey"
" Hey yourself. I brought some people with me that would like to see you….is that okay?"
" Sure let them in."
He signals Ryan through the window in the door. As they all pile in to the now very cramped room, he can't help but notice the beaming smile that now adorns her face.
A/N What you think?