Author note: Hell, again, old friends. It's been some time since I posted to this thread. In fact, I had planned to leave it alone at 20 chapters. In addition to that, I wasn't as inspired by the end of Season 3 as I was by Season 2. That said, this is my first Castle writing of the summer. I hope I'm not too rusty. Enjoy!

Revived

Castle resented the fact that he was not able to ride in the ambulance as Kate was taken to the hospital. She had been declared dead on the scene, but the paramedics were still working to revive her when the doors were closed in his face.

Shooting a desperate look to his family, he backed away, pivoting into a run for his car. If possible, he would beat the beat them to Emergency. Almost before his mad dash had begun, it stopped. He was suddenly and rudely reminded that this was New York City. No one got any where fast.

Relieved

When Rick arrived at Emergency, he expect to find the grief hardened faces of Beckett's fellow officers as well as the inscrutable faces of the doctors, nurses, and technicians assigned to her case. What he found was a lot of worried looks.

Esposito leaned against a post near Reception speaking softly into his cell phone. He gave Castle a nod of acknowledgement.

"I'll call as soon as I know more," the detective said. "It's going to be alright. She's going to be alright. I love you."

Esposito flipped his phone shut and regarded the writer with cautious hope. "She's alive."

Restless

Castle paced the waiting room long after most of the officers and other concerned parties had left for the night. Esposito and Lanie were still there, though Ryan had taken Jenny home a couple of hours ago.

It was hard to imagine what the two detectives were feeling at the moment. First they had lost their Captain and now they stood to lose their best friend as well. He had lost a friend in Montgomery as well, but it wasn't even close to the same.

And the thought of losing Beckett was not one he was even willing to entertain.

Repose

"You look awful," Beckett croaked, as her eyes fluttered open to see Castle slouching in a chair next to her hospital bed.

Yawning, he leaned forward, stroking the five day growth adorning his face. "I'm too much of a gentleman to call you a 'kettle'," he retorted. "And, by the way, even half dead you are a stunner."

She smiled weakly and fidgeted under the covers, before settling again. "You're shameless."

"And you're on some pretty good drugs."

"They are pretty good, aren't they," she agreed. "But I haven't forgotten."

"Forgotten what?" he replied, curiously.

"What you said, Mr. Castle."

Relentless

Kate Beckett didn't resent being shot as half as much as the resulting recovery. Being vulnerable and dependent was never her strong suit. She set her mind and gritted her teeth through physical therapy and the requisite down time.

Castle was a constant presence at her side; giving both unfathomable patience as well a place for her live. The laughed, they fought, and they hatched plans for her eventual return.

If she wasn't previously galvanized to find her mother's killer, let alone her owner shooter, she was now a raging bull of determination. No one would stand in her way.