Disclaimer: My extensive medical knowledge comes from watching Grey's Anatomy. So, if anything "Dr. Marshall" says is inaccurate then blame the TV show for not preparing me well enough. :)

Kate and Rick were awakened the next morning by Dr. Marshall. He was there to check on Castle and update him on the tests that had been done the day before.

"Good morning Mr. Castle, Kate. How are you this fine morning?"

"Please, call me Rick. I'm doing well…. Until you woke me up." Castle replied in a teasing tone. To be honest, he wasn't all that thrilled to be woken up though. He had finally slept for more than 2 hours without waking up from a nightmare. In fact, he slept dream free. He felt more refreshed, which hasn't happened since the shooting.

"Well, Rick, I'm sorry to wake you up, but I have some good news."

Kate sat up quickly when Dr. Marshall had walked in to the room. Silently, she began to stand to leave the room. She definitely wanted to be in the room, hear what the doctor had to say, and ask questions, but she wasn't sure if Castle was comfortable with it. So, she decided to be respectful of his privacy and leave the room without interrupting.

Before she could make it past the bed, Castle grabbed on to her arm. She looked at him, trying to decide what he needed from her. With a shake of his head and the pleading look in his eyes, it was clear he didn't want to be left alone. He needed his partner. She was going to be the best damn partner ever. So, she smiled, nodded her head and sat back down.

No matter how long it has been, they still could communicate through small gestures and eye contact.

Castle was nervous to hear what the doctor was going to say. He had been allowed to move a little bit, and he had feeling in his toes, but he was scared to death that he would be forever crippled. He knew that he would be ok, that his family could take care of him. He was a writer, so he would be able to continue to work. He knew everything would be ok no matter what. That didn't stop him from freaking out. He didn't want to change his lifestyle because of the shooting…

"Rick, we've looked at all the scans and x-rays and it appears that the will make a full recovery. The bullet did not hit the spinal cord like we had feared, and now that the swelling is starting to go down we can officially tell you that you will walk again."

Rick grabbed Kate's hand with this news. His emotions were out of control and he could barely think straight. He was able to hear the "you're ok" but everything else was just a blur. Kate's hand, her presence, helped ground him.

"So what does this mean for Rick now? What will his recovery look like?" Kate's voice pulled Castle back to the conversation and out of his head.

Dr. Marshall replied, "Well, I would like to keep him here for another week, depending on how he heals, and if he gets any infections. Then, he will need to go to physical therapy 3-5 times a week, depending on what the therapist feels he will need. "

"Will he be able to get out of the bed soon? Walk to the bathroom?"

"I want him to stay in bed for at least today, maybe tomorrow. I don't want to rush it and cause more damage. The wound site is still swollen and sore. Pushing him could put too much pressure on his spinal cord, which would be detrimental. He will be required to get to and from the bathroom before we can release him, so he will need to be able to sit and stand unassisted by next week."

Kate turned to look at Castle. She could tell he was struggling to process the information. He was unnaturally quiet, and that concerned her. Rick was rarely quiet so she didn't know how to handle this.

"Rick? Do you have any questions?" Kate asked him.

"Huh? No… um… I'm good."

"Ok, well Rick, Kate, if either of you think of any other questions or concerns you may have then let one of the nurses know. I will be back by tomorrow to check on you. Rick? Take it easy today. Rest as much as you can. You are doing so well, you will be out of here in no time."

"Thanks Dr. Marshall" Kate said for both of them. This role reversal was totally weird to her, but it felt good to be able to be there for him when he needed it. This felt right.

After the doctor left the room, Kate turned to look at Castle again. He still had a strong hold on her hand and it didn't seem like he was going to release it any time soon either. He was looking across the room, but she could tell his mind was far away. He was stuck in his head, and having a difficult time grasping the situation.

"Castle? Are you ok?"

Castle could hear Kate's voice. It startled him actually. He hadn't noticed Dr. Marshall had left the room. He was stuck in the "what ifs". He almost lost his life. He almost left his daughter without a father, his mother without a son. He was so stupid! So selfish! What if the bullet had hit him somewhere else? What if he was paralyzed? What if…

"Rick. Come back to me, Rick."

"Huh?"

"You seemed pretty far away there, Castle. What were you thinking about?" Kate knows him so well. She knows he needs to talk this out, but it was going to take her pushing him to talk to get anywhere.

"Uh… you know..."

"Castle" she squeezed his hand to get his attention. "Talk to me."

"I'm terrified, Kate. I'm terrified that I won't be able to walk, that I screwed up my life. I'm scared that I came too close to leaving my daughter without a father, my mother… I was so stupid. I almost lost…everything… for what? I don't want this shooting to define who I am, but I keep replaying it over and over again. I'm stuck in that park, and I don't know how to leave."

Kate took a deep breath to try to collect her thoughts. She needed to get this right, to find the words that would help him.

"You are fine. You will walk again. Alexis has her dad, Martha has her son. You made a decision, but it wasn't your fault that you got shot. I know, I really know, what it is you are feeling. A mixture of anger that it happened, disbelief that you are a victim, scared shitless that you could've died, and grateful that you didn't. I know you aren't ready to hear this yet, but you are going to need to talk to someone. You went through something traumatic and it will stay with you, eat you alive, until you can talk through it."

Kate paused to make sure he was following her. His eyes were focused on their hands, avoiding her eyes on purpose, but she could tell he was with her.

She continued softly, "I don't want you to become like me. I don't want this to haunt you and cause you to build a wall to match mine. You cannot let this define you. I know you are strong, you can beat this. You will, however, need help. Don't think that asking for it, or needing it, will make you less of a man. Do you understand me?"

It was silent. She could only tell that he was still awake by the way his thumb was stroking her hand. Castle knew that she was waiting for a response. He heard every word she had said. On some level he believed her, because he had longed to say these very words to her two years ago. Now that he was the one lying in the hospital bed with a hole in his back, he couldn't…get it.

"I… " for once in his life, words have failed him.

"Ok, Rick, you don't have to say anything now. I am here when you are ready to talk. You won't be alone in this. I won't let you fall."

Richard Castle was not a weak man. He had learned from an early age that if he wanted something he had to get it. He was self-reliant, and that helped him to be the famous, respected man that he is today. So what he heard himself say next shocked him.

"Will you... stay? Help me?"

What the hell did he just say? Why is he asking her to stay when he isn't sure he can even trust her right now. What if he does rely on her and she leaves him when she realizes that he isn't worth it? What if her job calls her back? What if…

"Rick, I'm not leaving. I am staying, and I will help you as much as I can. Partners, right?" She said with a smile. It was clear he had spoken without realizing exactly what he was saying. So, to make it easier on him Kate tried to keep her answer light.

"Besides Castle, this is finally my chance to follow you around. Bother you like you bothered me for 4 years. Yes, I'm looking forward to staying around."

"Hey now. You loved having me around. You've even admitted it to me. You can't take it back now, Beckett." Kate was making this easier, less personal and heavy. He was grateful she knew him so well. He was even grateful for the eye roll after his statement. It felt natural.

He yawned. He was already tired, and could use another dreamless sleep. He wasn't arrogant enough to admit that her presence in the room calmed him. This wasn't letting her back in to his heart, this was just accepting her friendship, or partnership.

"Kate? Can you stay in the room while I sleep?"

"Yes, Castle. I'll stay right here. Rest. I'll be here when you wake up. Ok?"

"Hmm…" Castle was fading quickly. He heard her whisper, "I love you" as he fell asleep.