I dedicate this chapter to my friend Lauren who died a couple years. You are missed. See you again soon.
The gurney crashed through the doubles doors. Suddenly everything was moving fast. The beep of the hospital machines, the background tv's, the chatter in the background. Everything was moving so fast. Sam laid on the gurney as it flew through the hospital halls. Beckett, Espo and Ryan hung on the sides. The doctors hooked up monitors trying to stabilize her.
"We got a GSW to the check. Get her in a room now and prepare for surgery."
The gurney turned the corner and flung through another set of doors. The nurse held Beckett, Espo and Ryan. "I'm sorry but you can't go any further." Beckett was not having it.
"What do you mean? I'm a cop and that's my….that's my….I need to make sure she's ok."
"I understand ma'am, but that's our job-"
"To hell it's you job-"
Espo interrupted "Beckett Beckett stand down." She took a breath and stepped back. Beckett walked backward until she hit a couple chairs. She sat down with her head in her hands shaking. Ryan kneeled down at her "Beckett.." She looked up her eyes red, shaking her head. "What have I done?" Lanie and Castle came running down the hallway. Lanie ran to sit next to Beckett, Castle stopped a couple feet away.
"It's going to be ok honey." Lanie rubbed Beckett's back. Castle just stood there, "It's all my fault. It's all my fault." Beckett lifted her head from her hands again to look at Castle.
Sam looked around her. Turning around to see if she can see anything. Everything was white around her. No horizon, no ground, no sky, just white as far as the eye can see. She yelled out and there was only an echo. "Is anyone there?" No answer. Suddenlty she heard a voice
"Sam?" She turned around and saw Lauren. Sam threw her arms around her and hugged her. "Lauren, it's you! But how? You died years ago…" Lauren smiled. "It's nice to see you too. I missed you so much." Sam threw her arms around her again "I missed you so much. But didn't answer my question… how?" Lauren looked at her "There's not time to explain, I have to go."
"Wait. You have to go where?"
Lauren gave her one last hug "I'll see you again one day Sam. I love you."
Sam yelled out as Lauren started to run and fade away "But Lauren.. Wait!"
Once again Sam was left in the white world again. She looked around not know what to do.
"Samantha?" Sam turned around. "Mom?" Sam ran and threw all her weight into her hug. "Mom I missed you so much."
"I missed you too honey."
Sam looked at her "Mom where am I? How are you here? How is Lauren here? I don't under-"
"It's ok sweetie. You've been shot and dying. You've been hurt badly. This is an in between place."
"Wait I'm in heaven? I'm dead?"
Sam's mom smiled "No honey. It's not your time yet. You still have a lot of life left in you."
"But Mom, you just said-"
"I know baby. It's hard to understand. But I want you to listen to me, ok?"
Sam grabbed her mother's hands "Anything."
"It's not your time Sam. You are going to back-"
Sam gripped her hand tighter. "I don't want to leave you again."
"Samantha you're going to have to listen to me ok?" Sam nodded.
"Everything is going to be ok. You will be ok. You are stronger than you seem, braver than you believe and smarter than you think and I love you so much. Things aren't going to be easy . But I need you to do me one favor honey. I need you to stay with Detective Beckett."
"But Mom-"
"It's going to be ok Sam. I want you to stay with Detective Beckett. I need you too. No matter what I will always be with you and watching over you no matter what and I love you with all my heart." She held Samantha's face "You are so beautiful and you are going to be extraordinary." Sam started to cry. "I love you."
"I love you too sweetie. You have to go now."
Sam started crying more "No. I can't leave you."
"It's ok honey. I'm always going to be there." They both hugged tight. Sam started to fade away "Mom….mom…"
"It's not your fault Castle." At this point Beckett and Castle were at it both blaming themselves that it was there fault. They were all sitting in the waiting room at the point for hours. Beckett and the boys still had blood on them.
"Beckett! She was my responsibility, I shouldn't have-"
"Eh hem." A nurse stood in front of the group. "She's stable. She lost a lot of blood between the gunshot and the trauma on her abdomen. She's been sleeping in and out. You may go and see her."
The entire group stood up and ready to charge toward the room.
"Woah Woah. One at a time please." The nurse had her hands up.
They all looked at each other. Beckett stepped forward.
"Wait Kate." Lanie took off her jacket and gave it to Beckett. "Cover up your shirt. You don't want Sam to see all that." Beckett smiled "Thank you Lanie." She zipped it up and turned back to the nurse, "Please lead the way."