So i am really really sorry for how it ended! I was trying to update fast and seeing as i know the rest of the story i didnt see the cliffhanger! SORRY:) Thanks for the reviews, i have been typing like a ninja to get this chapter up for all the people who complained about the cliffie!;) i realised that last chapter was probably not how Alexis would react to her own fathers shooting, so i tried to make this one sound more realistic without dragging it out for too long or repeating. PLEASE REVIEW!

Also, you have to read to the end of the chapter. do not stop because you cant take it. KEEP READING! it doesnt end how you think, have faith!:) i dont own castle:P

"Always"

Kate had said it without even thinking, it seemed so right that a promise he had kept making to her become a promise she made to his daughter. And she had meant it, she would be there for the girl no matter what happened.

"Perhaps we should take a seat?" The doctor told them, motioning with his hands to the row of chairs lining the wall.

No one moved. Whatever he had to say, he would have to say it right there.

Fearing the worst, Kate released Alexis' hand, giving it a tight squeeze first, she then snaked her arm around the girl's waist, pulling her closer and holding her other hand in hers. Kate was trying to reassure Alexis, trying to show her she kept her promises.

Alexis let go of Kate's hand and stepped forward, away from the rest of their little group.

"Just say it! Just tell me what's going on!" Her voice was even but all of them could hear the fear in it, Kate swore she heard anger too.

The doctor sighed, it was clear they weren't going to move, none of them. He took a breath and prepared to deliver the news.

"We did everything we could but – "

"Oh god!" Alexis cut the doctor off, taking a step back from him as if he had just burnt her. Her step put her right back into Kate's waiting arms, which she wrapped around the girl.

"No!" Now Kate was sure she heard anger, as Alexis shoved her arms off roughly, backing away from their little chain.

Martha reached for her granddaughter, releasing both Kate and Javier's hands.

"No!" Alexis shouted at her Grams this time, retreating back into a corner, eyes wide and panicked.

The doctor just stood still, he knew that everyone reacted differently to this sort of news. He watched as the two women who had been closest to the girl slowly approached her.

Alexis' understanding had initially surprised Kate; having previously been under the impression that the teen despised her for the emotional rollercoaster she had her dad on. The author had always said that his daughter admired the detective, and while Kate thought that was true, right now, Alexis was just a frightened kid who needed to blame someone for what was happening.

"Alexis sweetie, it's going to be ok, come here," Kate choked on her words as a flood of tears began streaming down her face, she reached out to Alexis.

Never had she felt more alone. But she had promised him that if anything happened to him she would take care of Alexis, and she would die before she broke that promise.

Alexis swiped at Kate's outstretched hand; she had slid her back down the wall and was hugging her knees to her chest, looking like a small child again.

Kate's heart broke for the little girl, she knew what it was like to lose a parent so suddenly, she understood how Alexis felt, but the young Castle was having none of it.

"He's not even a cop! How could you let this happen? He has saved your life countless times and you couldn't have just looked out for him this one time?" Alexis was beside herself, her brain not knowing how to handle the pain she felt, converting it instead into rage, and then directing that rage at the only person that could possibly be held accountable.

Alexis' eyes were flooded with tears, so much so that she didn't see the look that crossed Kate's face, she didn't see the pure misery in the young detectives eyes, she didn't see the older woman step back as if Alexis' words had physically struck her, like a ton of bricks hitting her straight in the stomach.

Kate had been expecting the outburst the second Alexis had entered the room, she had been taken aback by the compassion the girl had shown her, making Kate think that she needed her when it was clear the teen now wanted her gone.

Kate sank to her knees a few feet in front of Alexis, staring at the floor as the pain of losing him washed over her, as she was sure it was doing to Alexis. She stared at the tiled floor, mumbling to no one in particular

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry!" She looked up at Alexis then, the girl refusing to meet her gaze.

"Your right," she said, "Its all my fault, I let him down, I let you down, I should never have agreed to let him follow me, I should have been more firm, I should have controlled him better!" She was sobbing, trying to get a handle on her emotions.

Alexis looked up at Kate, the emotions on the woman's face were sincere, she was clearly just as torn up about everything and she looked deeply sorry, she really had cared about her father.

Alexis let her grief overwhelm her for a moment, let it consume her before finally reaching out to her dad's partner, not letting herself think 'former partner'. Kate reached out, closing the gap between there hands, clasping them together. All was not forgiven, but Alexis saw that Kate was hurting as much as she was and they needed each other now more than ever.

The rest of their party had watched the exchange take place, all with tears flowing freely, taking comfort in each other like the two women on the floor were, arms around each other, holding themselves together.

"Ahem," The doctor was still standing by the door, slightly shocked by the display he had just witnessed.

"I am so sorry, I am new at this and this is the first time I have had to deliver news to the family," he paused, taking a breath, "I think you misunderstood- "

He was cut off again as Esposito stepped forward, invading the doctor's personal space.

"What the hell are you talking about?" His voice was low and menacing, his eyes bored into the young doctor.

"W-what I meant to say was," The doctor stuttered, shrinking back a little as the Detective glared at him, we did everything we could but Mr Castle lost a lot of blood and his body went into shock, we were able to repair the damage done to his heart, and he is out of surgery, he is stable but in critical condition, it is unclear whether he will wake up or not." The doctor spoke in a rush, not wanting to be interrupted.

"You mean to tell me, you let his family believe he was dead and just stood by like that and watched them fall apart before deciding to mention that he is in fact alive?" Javier was furious!

The doctor gulped and apologised again as he saw Ryan stepping up to back his partner. He mumbled something incoherent and then turned and retreated back the way he had come.

Relief washed over all of them, especially the two still sitting on the floor. Alexis let her hand drop back to the floor beside her, leaning her head back against the wall. Kate moved over to sit next to her, the two leaning into each other.

No one spoke until a young nurse entered the room and offered to take them to see the author. They were all still on edge, the pain of losing him still fresh in their minds, but also a spark of hope, he could still be ok.

Only two people were allowed to see him at a time, Alexis and Martha being the only blood relatives present were to go in first.

Martha put her hand on Kate's shoulder,

"You go dear, I'll wait, you take Alexis in." Martha said it softly but Kate could hear the emotion in her voice, her worry for her son was evident, but she understood how much it was killing Kate not to be able to see him.

Kate followed Alexis into the room and took everything in. He was lying on a bed surrounded by half a dozen machines, all connected to him by some wire or tube. He looked so fragile, he had deep purple circles under his eyes, his hair was sticking out in all directions and his skin was pale.

Alexis sat in the chair beside his bed, taking his hand in hers as gently as she could, she whispered in his ear, telling him they were all there and they all loved him and they all needed him. She put her head on the blanket near his arm and closed her eyes, just happy to feel the warmth coming off his body, confirming he was still alive.

Kate stood at the foot of the bed watching, she didn't want to intrude on their moment, and she was quite happy to just stand there and watch the rise and fall of his chest, and listen to the continuous beeping on one of the monitors telling her that his heart was still beating and that he was still there.

Martha poked her end in through the door, obviously anxious to see her son, Kate turned towards her, and then back to where he lay. He wasn't going anywhere, and Kate decided she could wait a few more minutes. She traded places with Martha and stood just outside the room, watching the small family, one she had come to think of as her own.

After everyone had had their turn, the doctors agreed to let the three women spend the night in the room, there was no persuading them to leave anyway and the couch that was in the patients room was more comfortable that the waiting room chairs.

The three took turns sitting beside his bed and holding his hand. Shortly after Alexis had seen and spoken to him, she retired to the couch, unable to keep her eyes open, the emotional day having drained her completely.

Martha sat beside her granddaughter, who rested her head on her Grams' shoulder and was soon asleep. She got comfortable and then she too was sleeping. That left Kate to sit next to him.

The doctor had said it could take him hours, days or weeks to come around, if he would at all. That had been four hours ago and his condition had not changed.

Kate held his hand, interlocking her fingers with his. Her tears had come and gone, but right now, she was holding them at bay.

"Rick you need to wake up… You have to. Alexis won't be ok if you don't, and Martha… she can't lose you. You have to be ok because they need you… Rick I need you. I lost my mom, and Captain Montgomery, and I can't lose you too! All the men I've dated, they don't hold a candle to you." She paused as a sob wracked through her body. Taking a breath she continued,

"Rick please, I am begging you, please be ok, please come back, please don't leave! We survived freezing to death, being shot at, being blown up, even being eaten by a tiger, we did it together Rick, how am I supposed to survive without you." She dropped her voice to a low whisper, "You've got to wake up, you have to open your eyes, you need to come back to us!" She couldn't talk anymore, her sobbing cutting her off completely. She buried her face in his pillow just beside his head, and cried once again letting her pain and fears rain down on her.

It was so soft she almost didn't hear it, her sobs had subsided and the only sound in the room was their collective breathing and the beeping of the machines. If her ear had not been just centimetres away from his lips she would have missed it entirely, but there was no mistaking it, he took a deeper breath and as he exhaled she heard it.

"Always"

There we go! See, i wouldn't kill him off! he is safe for now!:) Please Please review!:D as you have seen, the more reviews, the quicker the update!:) have at least two more chapters planned!:) if you've stuck with it this far, dont give up now!:)