Note: After my post Tuesday I had some scary news, a family member had been in a bad accident. He's going to be okay, but I had a rough night and all of your kind reviews made me smile. I can't tell you enough how grateful I am to have you as readers. I really feel so incredibly lucky. Also for the guest reader who asked about the Honeymoon addition…I'm hoping to have it up this weekend. Sorry for the delay everyone!

Still don't own Castle.

Chapter 37.

"Rebecca Warren? NYPD! Open up!" Kate called as she pounded on the door of apartment 347. "Rick, do you still have my spare piece? Something doesn't feel right."

Rick nodded and cast a sidelong glance at his wife as she strained her ears in an attempt to hear if anyone was home. He knew enough to trust her instincts.

That's when they heard it. The earth-shattering scream. They both pulled their guns out as Kate stepped back to get the momentum necessary to kick the door down.

"Kate, I'll do it," Rick told her and because she didn't have time to argue, she agreed. He kicked down the door with surprising ease and didn't even gloat. She'd have to remember to praise him for his skills later on.

They walked into the living room, which was empty, but quickly heard scuffling coming from the room to their right. Kate and Rick looked at one another, and nodded, communicating silently about their entrance into the room.

Rick went in high and to the right, while Kate went low and to the left. Two pairs of eyes widened at the sight in front of them.

Sara Johnson held a large carving knife in her hand, a maniacal smile on her face, as she inched closer and closer to a sobbing Rebecca. Rebecca's eyes darted to Kate's as she tripped backwards over the bed.

Sara cackled as she turned to address Rick and Kate. "Why Detective, you're just in time for the show!"

"Sara," Kate said calmly. "I need you to put down the knife for me."

The woman snorted. "So you can shoot me? I don't think so. I need to teach this little whore a lesson. No one sleeps with my husband and gets away with it."

"I didn't sleep with your husband," Rebecca whimpered.

"Liar!" Sara screamed. "Don't lie to me! You and that other tramp. You both slept with him." She seemed to forget everyone else in the room and began to speak to herself under her breath. "Well I showed them. No one takes what's mine. I'll show her too." Sara directed her attention back to Rebecca.

"Sara, I need you to put the knife down," Kate interrupted as the woman's head whipped back around to face her.

"Oh I can't do that. I need to make her pay." Sara turned her attention back to Rebecca who was now trapped in the corner of the room.

"Sara," Kate said again. "Look at me." She waited until the woman turned around to face her. "You don't want to do this. I don't want anyone else to get hurt. Put the knife on the ground and kick it over to me. Then we can talk about this. I know you're hurting, but you don't want to kill anyone else. I can help you."

Rick's eyes darted back and forth between the two women, panic evident in his gaze, but a flick of Kate's wrist caused him to stand his ground. He knew Kate didn't want the woman spooked.

"You can't help me," Sara sneered. "My husband cheated on me. Do you know how that feels? It wasn't even one girl. It was two. How do I even know it was just two? I don't." She answered her own question. "How do I know my whole marriage wasn't a lie? If he cheated twice, there were more. You know it. I know it. The whole world knows it." She was ranting now, but Kate didn't care. Sara was taking tiny steps towards her and away from Rebecca and that was all she could hope for right now.

"Killed him. He deserved it. He loved that damn show. Always thought Dexter was so clever. It was awesome that he would let the people know why they were being killed. Well that's just what I did. Told the bastard it was because he cheated on me. He tried to deny it. They always do." Tears streamed down her face now, and Kate's heart broke a little. This woman may be a killer, but she was in pain and clearly mentally unstable.

"Why don't you come over here?" Kate suggested. "I can help you." She noticed that Sara's hand was bleeding. "I can take a look at that hand for you."

Sara looked down at her hand then back up at Kate. Her eyes went fuzzy and she launched herself at Kate. Rick didn't think twice. He jumped up and in front of his wife just in time.

Kate stumbled back and out of the way just in time to watch her husband as he was stabbed in the chest.

The next few minutes were a blur for Kate. She somehow managed to get restraints on Sara as Rebecca called 911. She couldn't even rush to her husband's side because she had to maintain her hold on Sara. Rebecca managed to pull herself together enough to put pressure on Rick's wound, but Kate could tell he was losing a lot of blood.

True to form, Rick attempted to lighten the mood and ease her fears. "I'm okay. I knew I should have worn red today. You wouldn't be able to see - " his eyes fluttered and his voice became so quiet Kate couldn't hear him.

"You're going to be okay," she told him firmly.

Her shaking started as she heard the ambulance approach. "Rick, they're almost here, it's going to be okay." But she didn't know if it was. He was paler by the minute and just as he opened his mouth to speak, his eyes shut. "Rick!" Kate screamed as Esposito and Ryan ran through the door. The two grabbed ahold of Sara and Kate flew to her husband's side, mere seconds before the paramedics arrived to take him away.

"Ma'am, I need you to move," the man told her quickly as he brushed her aside.

Kate stepped aside numbly and looked to Ryan and Esposito with tears in her eyes.

"What happened?" the other paramedic asked her.

"She was going to stab me. But he jumped in front of me. She got him instead," Kate managed to get out, as the woman nodded and turned her attention back to Rick. "Is he going to be okay?" She was panicked now. No one answered her. She knew they had to focus, but she needed to know her husband was going to be okay. He had to be okay.

"We've got him stabilized for now, but we need to get him to the hospital now," the woman told her as they hurried for the door. "You can meet us there."

"I'm riding with him," Kate told her as she jogged to keep up.

"Immediate family only," the man said in an attempt to shake her off.

"He's my husband."

The paramedics shared a look over the unconscious Rick and the man nodded at her.

Kate threw a look over her shoulder at Ryan and Esposito.

"We've got this Becks," Esposito said. "Make sure they take care of him. We'll come over there when we can."

She nodded and followed her husband into the ambulance. He's going to be okay. He has to be okay. She repeated this to herself over and over again as she held onto his white, clammy hand.

The ride to the hospital was short, and when they arrived Rick was still unconscious. They pulled up to the ambulance bay and the back doors flew open. A crew was ready and waiting to rush Rick inside, and with the promise that someone would be out whenever they had news, they disappeared.

Kate leaned against the nearest wall and sank to the ground. She drew her legs to her chest and placed her head against her knees. This wasn't happening. Rick wasn't lying somewhere in this hospital unconscious.

She couldn't do this without him. Despite the front she put up for everyone else, he was the strong one. It had taken them so long to get to this point in their relationship. They had worked too hard to lose it now. They had just gotten married. They were having babies. They had just bought a new home. It would only be a home if they were all there together. He had to be okay. Rick had to pull through this.

Kate forced a shaking hand into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. This was a phone call she didn't want to make.

"Alexis? It's Kate. There's been an accident. Your dad was stabbed, and I'm not sure what's going on. The doctor's took him back and they haven't told me anything yet. He was stable when we got here," she paused to listen to her daughter. "I'm okay. Really, thanks for asking." She didn't want to tell Alexis that Rick was stabbed because of her. "I'm in the front waiting room when you get here," she paused to listen. "No, don't worry about it. I'll call her. I'll see you soon." She hung up and moved her head back to her knees. Alexis had handled that remarkably well. Kate only hoped that when her daughter arrived she would be able to be strong for her. Kate felt that she owed it to Alexis. If it weren't for her job, Rick wouldn't be in this situation.

One phone call down, one to go.

Kate picked up her phone again to call Martha but was interrupted when Lanie flew in through the double doors.

"Girl, are you okay?"

Kate lifted her head and the floodgates opened. Lanie sat next to her best friend and held her while she cried.

"It's all my fault, Lanie," Kate sputtered. "He jumped in front of me so I wouldn't get stabbed and now look. I don't even know how he's doing. They wouldn't tell me anything."

"He's going to be okay. If I know anything about Richard Castle, it's that he will do anything for you and your children. He will fight with everything he is."

Kate cried silently again as she gathered up the courage to ask what she was truly worried about. "What if that's not enough?"

Lanie pulled Kate into a hug and rubbed a soothing hand over her back. "You have to believe it will be. Believe in him."

Kate nodded. "I need to call Martha."

"Do you want me to do it?"

"Thanks, but I think it has to be me."

She took a moment to calm herself down before she called her mother in law.

The phone rang and Kate worried she wouldn't answer. At the last moment though, she hear a hurried, "Hello?"

"Martha, hi, it's Kate. I'm at the hospital with Rick. He was stabbed today," she paused to listen and Lanie continued to rub soothing circles on her friend's back. "I'm not sure. They just rushed him back and said they would keep me posted when they knew anything." She nodded then seemed to realize Martha couldn't actually see her. "Thank you. I'll see you soon." Kate hung up the phone and let it fall.

Lanie let her friend sit in silence. She knew it was better to wait her out then press for information.

"They won't blame me," Kate whispered. "It's my fault that he was stabbed and they won't blame me."

"Did you stab him, Kate?" Lanie asked her friend.

Kate looked at her, confused. "No."

"Then it's not your fault."

Kate closed her eyes as she processed this. Lanie logic. She only wished she could believe her. She didn't care what Lanie said. It was still her fault, but she decided not to push it now. "How did you know I was here?"

"Javi called me the minute they were in the car," she explained. "I left as soon as he told me."

"Thanks."

"Girl, you don't need to thank me. I'd do anything for you or Castle, you know that."

Kate nodded and placed her head back on her knees. Lanie went back to rubbing her friend's back. They lost track of time. Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes turned into an hour before Alexis and Martha hurried through the double doors.

"Have you heard anything yet?" Martha asked as Lanie helped Kate up.

She shook her head, "No. Nothing yet."

Alexis plowed herself into Kate's side. "Mom, I'm scared."

Kate squeezed her tightly. "Me too, honey. Me too."

"Why don't I get everyone some coffee?" Lanie offered. She wanted to give the three women the opportunity to have time to themselves.

"That would be great, Lanie, thanks," Kate told her friend gratefully.

Lanie smiled. "So a decaf skinny vanilla latte for Kate, and what can I get for you ladies?"

Alexis rubbed her puffy eyes. "Hot chocolate please."

"I would love a green tea," Martha told her. "Thank you, dear."

"Of course," Lanie said. "I'll be back soon."

"Martha, Alexis, I'm so sorry," Kate began.

"Darling, what are you sorry for?" Martha asked her daughter in law.

"It's my fault Rick was stabbed. The woman was going to stab me. She was going to stab me and he jumped in front of me before I could even react. I'm so sorry."

"Katherine Castle. If you think for one second we would be mad at you, you are sorely mistaken. Do you think Richard could live with himself if he sat by and watched you or those babies you're carrying get stabbed? I know he couldn't. He did what any husband or father would do. He protected you. I do not under any circumstances want you to blame yourself. Do you understand me? That man is stubborn enough, he'll pull through this."

Kate nodded slowly before she turned her attention to Alexis. But when she opened her mouth to speak, Alexis stopped her.

"I'm not mad either Mom. I know that if you could have you would have stopped her. Gram's right. Dad wouldn't have it any other way. If you or one of the babies had been hurt, he never would have forgiven himself. I know you might be feeling that way now, but please, don't. We don't blame you. Dad's going to be okay. He has to be."

Kate hugged her daughter. "When did you get so wise?"

Alexis shrugged. "I kinda had to. You know, the whole my dad is like a nine year old on a sugar rush thing. Someone had to be the adult."

Her words had the desired effect and Kate smiled. "Well, whatever it took to get you here, I'm proud of you."

"Thanks," Alexis blushed and curled herself into Kate's side as best she could.

The three women became a unit. They were so close together it was as though they were one. The time continued to tick away, and it wasn't until Lanie shook them lightly, that they realized they had dozed off.

Lanie handed them each their respective drinks. "Javi and Ryan told me to tell you they're on their way over."

"Thanks," Kate said. "And thanks for the drinks." Martha and Alexis nodded in agreement.

"Girl don't even worry about it."

At that moment a doctor finally came through the doors. Four heads whipped over to him and Lanie grabbed Kate's drink when she noticed that her friend had started to shake. Kate didn't even notice it was gone.

"Mrs. Castle?" he called as he looked around the room.

"Right here," Kate practically lept up to meet him.

"I'm Dr. Powell. Your husband lost a lot of blood," he began as Martha placed an arm around Kate's shoulders to help stabilize her.

"Is he going to be okay?" Kate asked before he could continue.

"The knife missed all of his vital organs. I'm not quite sure how he was so lucky, but he should be okay. The blood loss was our primary concern, but Richard has improved considerably since he arrived. We'll need to monitor him for a few days just to be sure."

"Can we see him?"

"They are in the process of moving him to the ICU. Once he is settled, a nurse will come to take you back there. I'm going to request we keep the visitors to a minimum for now. He may not wake up for a few hours yet, and once he does, it will be better to keep him calm. He's a lucky man," Dr. Powell continued. "If that knife would have moved slightly in any direction, we would be having a very different conversation."

Kate nodded numbly. "Thank you." Rick was alive. He was okay. He was going to be okay.

Dr. Powell turned and walked back down the hallway and disappeared through the double doors.

"That's good news, Kate," Lanie said in an attempt to pull Kate out of her thoughts. When that didn't work she tried again. "Kate. Look at me." Lanie angled herself so she was right in front of Kate's eyes. "Rick's alive. He's going to be okay."

Kate's eyes filled with tears. "I know. I was so scared. After everything we've been through. It doesn't get any easier."

"I know. I know it doesn't," Lanie told her as she pulled Kate into a hug.

When Lanie released her, Kate turned her attention to Martha and Alexis. Alexis was wrapped around her grandmother, silent tears streaming down her face. When she noticed Kate was free, she moved swiftly and pulled her over to join them.

"I've never been more relieved," Martha said quietly and the rest agreed.

A few minutes later, a nurse in bright pink scrubs walked out to meet them.

"Mrs. Castle?" she asked.

"Right here," Kate said as she stepped forward.

"I'm going to take you back to your husband."

Kate gestured to Alexis and Martha, but the nurse stopped them. "I'm sorry, but the doctor has requested we keep it to one visitor at a time for right now."

When Martha noticed Kate's hesitation, she nudged her forward. "Darling, go ahead. You're his wife. We'll wait out here for now. Give him a hug and kiss from us."

Kate turned her attention to Alexis and saw that she had nodded in agreement. She reached out and squeezed their hands before she turned and followed the woman down the hallway.

They twisted and turned so many times that Kate was fairly certain she wouldn't be able to find her way back to the others by herself. When she finally started to think their trek would never end, the nurse stopped abruptly outside of a room and gestured inside.

"Mr. Castle is just through there. He's still sleeping, but he should wake in the next couple of hours."

"Thank you."

Kate took a deep breath and walked inside.

Rick looked so pale. He was almost as white as the sheets that covered him. His chest looked bulky from the amount of bandages that had been used. When Kate stepped up to the bed and placed her hand in his, she was shocked at just how cold he was.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. His hands were the warm ones. She was always cold. He constantly worried about making sure her hands were warm enough and now the roles were reversed.

Kate leaned forward to brush the hair off of his forehead and gave him a gentle kiss. He stirred slightly but didn't wake. The small amount of movement gave her hope. She hadn't quite believed the doctor before. She had needed to see him with her own eyes to believe he was alive.

Rick was alive and he was going to be okay. A tear escaped from her eye and fell to his neck before she could wipe it away. She would feel better once he was awake and out of the hospital, but for now, it was enough to watch the steady rise and fall of his chest. All that mattered was that he was alive and he was going to be okay.

This chapter ended up being a lot more intense than I had anticipated! Sometimes the characters go where they want, and that's what happened. I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading, please share your thoughts! xoKristen