She was knocked out again, lying on the side of the road outside of the precinct. Blood was trickling from her forehead, and there was a swarm of people around her. No one saw her get dropped off. No one saw the gray mini van that pushed her out onto the busy sidewalk. The first stranger that saw her lying sent her teenage child into the precinct for help quickly. The child, no more than 15, ran into the precinct with a petrified look on his face.
"T- there's a woman outside! Her head is bleeding and she isn't moving. Help. Help!"
Karpowski, who was about to go out and get lunch for the floor, was the first out. Her eyes lay on Beckett, and panic set in immediately. She turned to the teen and instructed her immediately. "Go inside and tell the man at the desk to send down Detective's Esposito, Ryan, and Mr. Castle. Now!"
Castle's face dropped when they got the call.
When he got outside, within mere seconds of the call, he pushed people out of the way and pulled her into his arms. "Kate, honey. Oh god. Wake up. Someone call an ambulance please!"
He pressed the cloth to her head to stop the bleeding and cradled her close in his arms. Within minutes, an ambulance had arrived. While the paramedics loaded Kate in, Ryan and Espo held Castle back to keep him from climbing in.
"Bro let them do their job. We'll take you to the hospital with her, okay?"
"No! She can't be in there alone." He broke away and quickly climbed into the back. When the paramedics tried to force him out, he quickly replied with "I'm her fiancé", before taking her hand.
"Come on Kate, you'll be okay."
The hospital smelled like bleach and death and felt completely wrong.
When they had arrived, a nurse forced Castle to sit in the waiting room while Kate had been rushed into surgery. About an hour later, Ryan and Esposito had arrived with Alexis. The little girl, with tears streaking her cheeks, ran quickly into her father's arms and buried her head in his shoulder.
"Daddy, is she okay?"
"She'll be alright pumpkin. Did you call Jim?"
"He was up at the cabin. He'll be here as soon as he can though. Any news?"
"Not yet. They rushed her into surgery as soon as we got here."
Time passed and the doctor came out, blood covering his surgical gown. "Family of Katherine Beckett?"
Castle stood, clutching Alexis to his chest. "That's us. How is she?"
"She'll be fine. Her head was bleeding pretty badly, but she showed no sign of brain trauma. We did however find two cracked ribs, as well as a broken wrist. She'll need some time to recover, but overall she will be okay."
Alexis clutched to her Dad and smiled wide.
Relief washed over Castle's face. "Thank you so much Doctor. Can we see her?"
"Soon. Once we get her transferred and settled, I'll come back out for you two."
Once the doctor left, Alexis put her small hand against her Dad's cheek and turned his head so he was focusing on her. "Daddy, is she really okay?"
"Yeah, sweetie. But when we go see her, Katie will be hurt, okay? You're going to have to be very gentle. But, we can give her kisses and tell her how much we love her, and help her get better. Okay?"
"Okay, Daddy." She nuzzled her face into his shoulder and sighed. "I'm glad Katie is okay."
"Me too, honey. Me too."
He held her close and waited for the doctor, while Ryan and Espo returned with coffee and hot chocolate. "How's our girl?"
"She'll be okay. Broken wrist and cracked ribs. Any word on how this happened?"
Espo shook his head. "No. Captain is furious though. He's got the whole floor searching for the car, or and indication of where she went earlier. Is she awake?"
"Not sure. The doctor is coming in a minute to take us up. You boy's going to stay or go back?"
"We'll see her then go. Captain has all hands on deck to catch this bastard" Ryan said, sipping his coffee.
Moments later, the doctor came back out with a nurse. "This is Nurse Reed. She'll take you to see Detective Beckett now."
"Thank you, so much" Castle nodded. The group followed the nurse down the hall, when she pointed to a room.
"There you are. She is awake, but the medicine is kicking in quickly, so she won't be for long."
"Kate" Rick sighed as he saw her.
Her head rose at the sound of the door opening, and she smiled. "Hey there" she groaned, her eyes shutting tightly as she tried to sit up.
"Oh, don't move. You're perfect right there." Tears formed in his eyes as he spoke. She looked so small in the hospital bed, like Alexis when she lay in his bed. "How you feel?"
"Tired. Hey Lexi."
Alexis gripped her Dad's shirt, staring at Kate. "A.. are you okay?" Tears fell from her eyes, her entire body shaking.
"Oh sweetie" Kate nodded. "I'm alright. You know when you fell in your room the other day, and you got that bruise?"
Alexis dropped from her Dad's arms and nodded, walking over to Kate's bed. She climbed into the chair next to the bed and Kate brought a hand up to run through the little girls hair.
"Well, you remember how it hurt really bad, but your Dad and I loved you a lot and it got all better?"
She nodded again, the tears dropping once more.
"Well, that's what I need too. You think you can give me a lot of love so that I get better?"
"Oh yes" Alexis breathed out, nodding quickly. "I love you Katie."
"I love you too, Lex. Hey, want to go get Esposito and Ryan to get you a coloring book from the store? I think I really need some pictures."
The little girl smiled and nodded. She stretched out and pressed a small kiss to Kate's cheek. "Okay!" With that, she left the room to go with the boys.
When the door shut, Kate looked up at Rick, who was crying but trying to hide it.
"Castle" she smiled. "Come here."
He walked over and dropped into the chair next to her bed. "Kate, I-"
"I love you." She cut him off. "I love you so much. And I love your daughter. Which is why…"
His eyes widened. "Kate, what are you doing."
"We're over, Rick. I'm sorry."
I'm working on the new chapter now. Please do not eat me alive.
OH! And please review. It makes me feel good and I write faster.