A/N: I hope this chapter answers some more of your questions :)


Rick nodded as he looked back at Kate's room. "May I sit with her?"

"Yes," Dr. Edwards nodded. "But we will be taking her for the testing soon. While that is being done, why don't you take care of yourself a bit? Go home, eat something. When you return, your wife should be back from the testing."

A few hours later Dr. Edwards returned with Kate. Rick jumped in his seat in Kate's room. He had eaten and changed and made it back to the hospital in less then two hours.

"How is she?" He asked with concern ignoring Kate's glare.

Dr. Edwards looked between the two parties and let out a sigh. "She's good. There are no signs of internal bleeding or any other trauma. There are some things that are pertinent to your recovery Kate but I don't see any reason we'll need to keep you in the hospital."

Rick let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding as Kate asked. "So I can go home now?"

Dr. Edwards nodded. "Yes but it's important that someone monitor you until you regain your full memory. Mr. Castle, may I speak with you in the hallway?" Rick nodded and quickly followed Dr. Edwards out. She didn't waste anytime getting down to the matters at hand. "Mr. Castle, I'm afraid that your wife's memory loss is a little longer then I had originally estimated."

"How much longer?" Rick asked pensive about the answer.

"Well originally I assumed it was merely a week. It's a simple result when hit on the head as hard as your wife was." At Rick's nod, she continued. "It appears to be that your wife can not remember the last few years. I am not familiar with your lives but I have narrowed it down to be five to nine years ago."

Rick's face instantly fell. "Five to nine years?

Dr. Edwards nodded slowly. "On top of the memory loss, your wife may suffer from headaches, dizziness, and irritability. If her head bothers her a lot, you can give her an acetaminophen." At Rick's confused look she clarified, "Aspirin-free medications for headaches.

"If these symptoms last longer then a week and a half, you should bring her back. We'll have to run further tests. Other then that, just keep a close eye on her. Monitor her sleep habits, take it easy, and don't try and force her memory to return and she should be alright."

Rick nodded as he took all the information in and ran a hand over his face. This was not how imagined spending his day when he woke up. Then it dawned on him. "What am I going to tell Emma?"

"Emma?" Dr. Edwards repeated.

"Our daughter. She's two years old. She'll be devastated when Mommy comes home and doesn't remember her," Rick shook his head and closed his eyes.

"In my experience with young children and amnesia, making a game of it has worked best. If she thinks she's winning, she's go along with it longer. If you need help with anything else, give me a call," Dr. Edwards tried to give him a reassuring smile as she handed him her card.

"Thank you," Rick nodded and tucked her card away as Dr. Edwards walked away. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Lanie. She was Kate's best friend and he trusted she would relay all the information correctly to the others. Something told him that Ryan or Esposito would wind up leaving out a detail though not on purpose.

"Hey Lanie," He greeted trying to sound cheerful but knowing he wasn't fooling her.

"How is she?"

Rick chuckled slightly at her concern. Lanie was like Kate's sister. "She's alright. She's alive at least."

"But…" Lanie dragged out.

"She doesn't remember."

"How much doesn't she remember?"

"Five to nine years. She doesn't remember our marriage and she won't even remember Emma," He choked out starting to feel his emotions taking over.

"What are you going to do?" Lanie asked after a moment of not knowing what to say.

"I don't know. She doesn't think we're together so I can't exactly force her to come back to the loft. I'll have to bring her back to her old apartment. It's a good thing we sublet it," Rick sighed.

"What about the people living there?"

"They canceled their lease this past week. The couple had found out they were expecting and decided to raise their baby in their hometown back in Kansas. It's currently empty."

"Well that's good at least. Now you can let Kate go there until her memory returns."

Rick nodded then remembered that Lanie could see him. "Yeah, anyway I really called to ask you a favor."

"Sure what is it?" Lanie answered without hesitation.

"Actually it's two favors. Can you take Kate to the apartment? Kate needs to be monitored throughout the night and as I would love to be the one to do it, I know she wouldn't appreciate it. If you could make it a girls night or something or even get the boys in it somehow," He let his voice trail off. "I just want her to be safe."

"No problem hon. Consider it done. Want me to let Montgomery know what's happening too?"

Rick hadn't even thought of that. The doctor did say take it easy but would that mean no work too? "Um yeah and could you or him call me back? The doctor said take it easy but I don't know what that would mean for work."

"Absolutely, now go get our girl outta there."

"I will," Rick said with a small smile. "And Lanie, thank you."