I am one happy writer, thank you Crimelover11 and rynni is happy and biglaughslaura your words have brought great encouragement. I hope that eventually your patience with the story will be rewarded with an ending. Maybe even a sequel. A happy sequel. Maybe.

"I'm surprised she's still alive, I wish I could give you hope but I'm sorry. I promise I will try my best but she needs a miracle."

"Doctor, she is a miracle. Her whole life she's beaten the odds and still remained happy. She's incapable of giving up."

"I take it you're the smitten boyfriend. Are the family on their way?"

"Yeah, they let me come with her, they followed with the sirens."

"Cops?"

"Yeah, the best"

"For saving her?"

"No, she saved herself. They made her."

As Ant speaks, Kate and Rick race up to them fear evident in their eyes. She speaks as she hugs Ant close.

"Would have been here sooner but had to grab some extra clothes for her. That dress was ruined."

The doctor stares at them, realisation dawning at who they are.

"You're Rick Castle, then you're the cop. Where does the young lady come into this?"

Leaning close, Rick lowers his voice as he speaks to the doctor. Impatience beginning to show.

"She's our daughter, now tell me how she is."

"Her chances are slim but the young man here just informed me that if anyone can survive this it's her. I won't lie, I'm not optimistic but I will do my best. I'll return once she's out of surgery."

The man hurries off, aware of what the day's outcome could have on his career. On his life. He's not a selfish man but he will do this for him because in his mind, the girl on the table is practically gone already.

Alexis hurries up, Roy close behind. She calms the room, despite her faster than light talking. As tears begin to fall she recounts what she knows of Gwen's escape.

"I couldn't stand it, the waiting. I gave Grams the slip and came here. I just got to the doors when a taxi pulled up and Gwen practically fell out. The driver was about to get out so that he could help her but I gave him some money and told him she's be safe with me. I was so relieved.

The guy was sceptic but I took down his name and number and said that someone would phone with how she is, and ask for his account of what happened. He looked at me like I was crazy and do you know what he said.

"Kid, you seem really innocent and all but so does she. Give me one good reason why you can be trusted with her. ' he seemed really concerned so I told him he could come up if he wanted, that it would probably be for the best and that she's my little sister."

A soft look crosses between Kate and Rick, but they don't speak. The news would wait until the story was finished.

"The closer we got to you the stronger she got. By the time we were there she could stand by herself. She even spoke, asking how everyone was. I told her everything. Briefly though. Some things needed to wait. Kevin's with the guy now. He seemed in awe of her. I would be too if I didn't know who she is."

She finishes, tears running faster than ever, as her last words fight through the tears to be heard.

"Daddy, I'm scared she looked so hurt."

Nodding at Rick, Kate takes Alexis into her arms and begins to talk herself; her words are soft but echo through the room of ever growing family. Lanie stands by the door, Esposito close by as Kate speaks, listening as the truth is said.

"Your dad's not going to be happy but I never told him that before we met I got shot. The doctors didn't think that I'd make it. They nearly declared me dead at least twice but here I am. I can be really stubborn and no one knows that better than your dad but he's just as bad for it isn't he?"

Alexis nods, her tears beginning to slow. She looks up and Kate is struck with how young she looks. Smiling softly she continues.

"What I'm saying is that, Gwen must be the most stubborn person on the planet, besides she can't go yet. She hasn't had enough time with her big sister. Or her dad."

Rick joins their embrace as the words sink in. Everyone has questions but none dare to voice them. In the end Alexis asks the one that they had all thought of.

"How? Surely you would remember one another?"

Rick looks sheepishly at his eldest child, excuses streaming through his mind but none are considered. She always gets the truth.

"I have no idea. She was so different back then and there was the mask but I will never know how I could forget meeting her. Although in my defence I thought she was extraordinary and I think my subconscious remembered a bit."

Lanie is the one to confirm this as she speaks letting the world now her prescience.

"Nikki Heat! God I knew she seemed so like how Kate was back then. How did you realise. And why the hell were your eyes brown."

"Contacts, don't ask, and I kept the mask. I saw it and remembered and then she saw it and confirmed."

Alexis bounces up and down, her tears momentarily gone.

"So she really is my sister, I have a little sister. Omg we can do so much. If she survives."

The tears come back as Ant stands staring at them, his own memories slipping through his head.

"The mask, Halloween. It's like how me and Gwen met. She kept my mask, although we didn't even kiss that night. It's funny."

The voice that answers is new, it's filled with rough emotion and remembrance. People part for the voice as a man walks in. His hair is greying but he stands strong. His words filling the air.

"It's fate. Or Johanna's doing."

Breaking away from the others Kate rushes to the man, desperate to get lost in the man's embrace. He strokes her hair as he whispers comfort to her. Over her head, his eyes lock with Ricks and the two communicate. Nodding Rick steps forward and is about to speak when the doctor returns.

"Wow, big family. Can I speak to the closest relatives, blood relatives?"

The comment is directed at Ant, who stares at the man, his jaw dropping. A hand rests on his shoulder and he looks up into the eyes of one Lanie Parish before she turns her wrath on the doctor.

"Really, why is that? Its family that gets told, they don't usually specify blood relatives, not when a parent lets others hear. Now I can see from their faces that they don't want us to be excluded. Blood may not tie us all but we are a family."

"Enlighten me on the roles then, justify them and then maybe you can stay."

"Ok, in this room are Gwen's parents, sister, grandmother and grandfather. Plus her godmother and godfather. Ok so far. Right I also count as an aunt, which makes my man her uncle. Her rather protective uncle. The man that just walked in is another uncle. Right that just leaves Antony. Her man.

"Tell me doctor are you married?"

He nods, unaware of where the question fits in.

"Well, I can almost grantee that the bond between him and Gwen is stronger than the connection between you and your wife. It's stronger than most couples. Now will you tell us how she is? I don't have to tell you that you are facing a room full of cops and two very influential people."

"Is that a threat, miss?"

"No but remember we solve murders for a living, don't make me solve yours."

"She's stable. Another doctor will keep you posted on her condition. They'll come for you once there's more news."

With one last look he leaves.

"Lanie. You rock."

"Oh girl. I know I do."

The room laughs at her words, relief pouring through them despite the doctor's rude words. It seems like hours later when the next doctor comes this time it's a young man, they can almost see the exhaustion coming from him as he sits down beside them.

"Well I don't know how but it looks like she'll survive. Her injuries were pretty bad, but she's strong. I've only ever heard stories of people holding on through such trauma. The knife wound in her side was partially healed. When did that happen?"

"Just over a week ago, in Scotland. The same guy that did the rest."

Ant speaks for them. No one dares comment on the venom in his voice but the doctor continues.

"Well, it's healed a remarkable amount for that time. Enough in fact that it needed very little attention. It will scar though. The blackouts are a combination of a concussion, exhaustion and adrenaline. No bones are broken although her ankle is spirant and she should stay of it for a while.

"There is evidence that she has been repeatedly tasered, she should recover but we'll keep an eye on her. The concussion had us worried but now not so much, it seems to be minor and everything else had just made it seem worse. She'll be tender for a while, her ribs are bruised and there is a nasty cut along one of her legs. Almost the whole length in fact. She's drugged at the moment but even in her sleep she's talking. Nothing major, but I think it's stuff that'll only make sense to family. I'm amazed at her."

Alexis speaks up, puzzled about his earlier words.

"You said you were surprised that she survived, how? You make her injuries sound like nothing too bad."

"Her body was in shock. Massive amounts at that. I don't even what to think about the trauma that caused this. I'll be back in a few moments but we'll keep an eye on her for a while but things are looking good."

Once again relief spreads through the room and satisfied that she'll be ok Roy takes Ryan back to work while Esposito takes Lanie home. They'll be back in the morning for now though their place is not here.

Ant looks up as they bid goodbye, nodding to the men but Lanie stops before him and pulls him close for a hug. As they part she speaks softly to him, so softly that no one else hears.

"Hey, you're too young to be by yourself, so if you need someone to turn to me or my boy will be happy to help. For anything, even if it's just company. "

She leaves before he can respond as Ant watches her walk off; Esposito gives him another nod in confirmation of his girlfriend's words. They reach into Ant's heart and he knows that he'll be ok. Gwen has given him family.

The doctor returns and they walk towards the room in which Gwen sleeps.

Oooooooooooooooo!

I just felt like saying that but seriously though reviews would be greatly appreciated. Especially on where this should go next. Once she recovers that is.