A/N: OMG thank you to everyone that has read the first chapter I was actually surprised it got such a good response, so here is the next chapter BTW just a warning. Not that informed on hospital terms so hopefully you get the idea of what is happening.

ENJOY! And please review

Disclaimer: Don't own Castle... Boo!

Chapter Two

When he arrived back in Kate's room, he noticed that she had fallen back to sleep but he just couldn't bring himself to leave her not by herself he didn't want her to wake up alone. So he took his place back in his chair, and laced his fingers with hers running his thumb along her knuckles as he leaned his head against her bed finally falling asleep after being awake for the last 48 hours.

A few hours later, outside in the waiting room where Espo, Ryan, Lanie and Jim were sitting waiting for any more news and to see Kate, Josh walked past and noticed the familiar gang.

"Uh hey guys, everything alright?" he asked questionably Lanie was the first to answer she wasn't very impressed she never really was a fan of him but she knew her best friend liked him and no matter what her opinion of the doctor was she knew she had to let him know.

"Josh, uh Kate was in an accident she uh, she was shot" Lanies voice broke at the last word Josh looked mortified "is she okay? Where is she?" he asked voiced panicked, Lanie let him know what room she was in and that she was stable but still at high risk. He thanked them and made his way to her hospital room, when he arrived he noticed that Kate was slightly awake her hand lightly stroking somebody's elses hand he noticed the look in her eyes something he had never seen before. He lightly knocked on the door and Kate popped her head up slowly as she took in the figure before her "Josh…"

He made his way to her side kneeling down by her side "hey beautiful, what happened?" he brushed some of her hair out of her face and for some reason Kate flinched at his touch. "What is it? Did I hurt your head?"

Kate lightly shook her head as little as possible considering all the wires that were tapped to her. "I… it's fine really I'm just really tired" she gave him a fake smile

"Okay well I have a few more rounds to do then I should be able to make time to come visit" those last words shot a sharp pain through her heart his words should be able to make time to come visit almost meaning he really didn't want to but would anyway she just wanted to tell him to forget it. But honestly she was just too tired to care right now "okay" she simply said. Josh leaned in to give a soft kiss to her forehead but she instantly turned without thinking and his lips brushed her hair. What she realized those is that she honestly didn't care if he wasn't here clearly she was not that important if he was just rocking up now and for only a brief ten minutes. It definitely didn't go unnoticed by Josh that Castle was asleep with his head against her bed.

She fell back to sleep her hand intertwined with Castles she could not believe he was still here he looked so exhausted it really broke her heart she needed to talk to him, tell him he needed a good night's sleep at home not that she doesn't want him here. But she's more than certain that Martha and Alexis would like him home.

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Josh came back three hours later he came into Kate's room when he saw Castle telling her a very comical story by the look on her face. As he walked in he caught the end of their conversation. "…. You did not do that!" Kate gasped trying her hardest to smile but the tubes make it slightly difficult.

"Uh, huh and mother will never let me live it down I couldn't believe I did either until the next morning after the hangover passed" he chuckled his smile causing all the small wrinkles near his eyes to crinkle as well as the ones at the corners of his mouth.

The two were interrupted by the sound of footsteps, Kate turned her head a bit "hey Josh" Castle stood up and made his way to the door "I might just go grab some coffee" he smiled towards Kate their eyes locking for a moment which didn't go unseen by Josh as soon as Castle left he pulled his phone out to ring his mother to let her know what was up.

"Hey Josh, so you've finished for the day?" to be honest she didn't really care she was enjoying Castles company and plus she and Josh had fought before her shooting and she didn't know where their relationship stood at the moment.

"Uh yeah about that listen… Look I know your still in a lot of pain and I really don't want to add to that emotionally, but…"

"Everything alright Josh?"

"Uh look doctors without borders has asked me to go back to Africa"

"Oh… so I guess you're going?"

"Well yeah, look Kate this… this is my passion it would be like me asking you not to go away for a case you understand right?"

"Umm I… I guess, but I mean I can't help but feel hurt I mean Josh I nearly died and look I'm not saying stay I'm just saying if my boyfriend had just been hurt then yes, I would be there for them but I guess we both have different opinions on this don't we?"

"Kate it's not like I'm leaving you with nobody you have your friends and family and…."

"Rick… you know you say his name with such distaste yet he saved my life, he's sat here for the last three days he has not left this hospital once and the only time he leaves me is when he is forced too, god he acts more like my boyfriend than what you do! Look Josh… this… us it's not working it's not going to work and to be honest. I'm so tired of this constant battle with you about Castle he's my partner, but we're a threw so now you can go and not worry about me I mean not that you were but it doesn't matter anymore"

"Kate…."

"No Josh look this isn't fair because I just don't see a future with you not when there is someone else. I'm sorry but it's done I hope you have a safe flight to Africa and find someone some day."

Josh just nodded "Um okay well I uh… get better okay?" and with that Josh left, as he left he bumped into Castle startling both of them.

"Oh sorry Josh… wasn't paying attention is uh Kate asleep?"

Josh took a deep breath he had anger to the man in front of him but he also was glad Kate had him because he made her happy and that's all that mattered.

"Uh no, she's awake, just uh Rick…"

"Yeah?"

"Uh…. Um… look it's not my place Kate will tell you but I have to go" and with that he walked off, Castle stood there confused for a moment before he made his way back to Kates room.

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"Hey" he made his way back over to her bedside sitting in what's become his chair

"Hey yourself, get up to any trouble while you were gone?"

"Oh you know the usual, fighting off ninjas with my super ninja fighting skills" his joke caused her to chuckle she instantly regretted it though, as her scar pulled she squinted which didn't go unnoticed by him as soon as he saw her flinch he stood up.

"Kate? What's wrong…."

"I'm fine, promise just laughed a bit too much" she smiled reassuring him that she was fine.

"Okay… anything I can do to help you?"

She smiled and her heart fluttered just a little from his worrying. "You just being here is everything, honestly Castle thank you but you don't need to stay I'm sure your mother and daughter would like you home".

He lightly squeazed her hand "hey I'm always here for you, you know that and as for mother and Lex I just got off the phone before bumping into Josh and asked them if they could bring me some extra clothes and stuff to keep us entertained."

"Did uh, did Josh say anything? But honestly Cas… Rick you don't have I understand if you want to sleep in your own bed it would be a lot more comfortable than the hospital chair."

"Uh he just seemed a bit shaken but said that it was up to you to tell me, but Kate listen I'm not going anywhere I'm not leaving until you are discharged because I am your partner and that's final. Look this is just my way of knowing you are still here that you are safe me being here is helping me too".

She gave him a small smile fighting back the tears that prickled her eyes, she had started getting her memory back from the shooting and in the last few hours she keeps hearing Castle tell her that he loves her and it scares her because she thinks she might just love him too and if it was this easy for her to nearly die she doesn't want to imagine how easy it would be for that to happen again. Just the thought of losing him made Kate cry.

"Hey, hey Kate please don't cry are you still in pain where are you hurting?" he asked cupping the side of her face "what's going on inside that pretty little head of yours?" he asked lightly moving her hair out of her face. The way he was so loving and caring towards her made her realise that what she has been remembering has to be true because no one has ever taken such care of her.

She just lightly nodded, she was beginning to become tired and sluggish again the pain meds the nurses had given her had started to work, "you… you're just so sweet, so caring and I don't deserve you, you're too kind and sweet." And with that she fell asleep again Castle was still leaning over her bed lightly running his hand through her hair the other cupping the side of her face his thumb softly wiping away her tears.

A/N: Well there we are so what did you think? :)