CHAPTER 5

The ambulance finally came. Kate was sobbing high and Lanie didn't know what to do. She just held Kate very tight and said:

"It's ok girl, they're here. We'll take him to a hospital and he's going to be just fine, you don't have to be the one to tell his family. Let Ryan do this, you just go with him in the ambulance".

Kate looked at Lanie and gave her a hug, with her red eyes full of tears; she got in the ambulance and leaned on Castle, resting her head and one hand on his chest.

"Rick, please don't leave me" - She slowly whispered, intercalating the words with sobs.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw Kate's head resting on his chest. His gaze was blurry and he was feeling very weak. He moved his hand under her and wrapped around her body, holding her. Carefully, Kate raised her head and looked at him. He opened a weak smile for her and whispered:

"Hi"

She couldn't believe he was awake.

"Hi", she replied and smiled. She caressed his face with her soft hand and then slipped her hand on his hair. She slowly ran a finger on his lips and landed him a tender kiss.

"We're on our way to the hospital, everything is going to be ok" – she said.

Some beeps began to soar, his hand fell from her body and Rick lost his senses again. They got to the hospital and he was taken to surgery. She was tense. A few minutes later, Ryan, Esposito and Lanie got there too; along with Martha and Alexis. Kate ran and held Alexis very tight; she didn't want Alexis to feel lost like she was.

"How is he?" – Esposito asked.

"He's doing great, he's on surgery" – Kate replied, she wiped the tears of her face. "Let's go boys".

"Where the hell you think you're going?" – Asked Ryan.

"I have an investigation to run and a killer to catch and also my bo… Rick's shooter. This guy will go to jail and I'll make sure he'll spend his life there" – She replied in anger.

"You're not going anywhere, Kate" – Esposito replied. He only called her "Kate" when he was worried and wanted to show himself harsh. "You will stay here and be with him when he wake up of the surgery, Ryan and I will catch that son of a bitch"

"And I will make sure you and Mr. Castle are away from this case" – Gates said entering in the hospital. "How is he?"

"Sir I won't back—"

"I'm not asking for you to back off, Detective. You will back off because I give the orders in here. You two are too close to this case right now. Whoever this guy is, he probably had a reason to shoot into a Detective's direction. He thinks he's greater than a police officer and we will get to him to find out, now how is Mr. Castle?"

"Why are you asking? You don't like him anyway…" – Kate replied with her head down.

"He's one of my guys"

Kate was surprised, but explained the situation to Gates. Esposito, Ryan, Lanie and Gates left the hospital.

A few hours later, Kate told Martha and Alexis to go home. They needed to rest and clear their minds. Kate was going to stay in the hospital. Seems like nothing could get her out of there anymore, unless she was getting out with him. The surgery had ended and he was sedated. She was laid on the couch inside his room, sleeping, or at least trying to. She was thinking about her, how she always put herself in danger. She remembered when she was shot. Now she felt what he felt. The uncertainty of not knowing what was coming next. Was he going to be ok? Was he feeling ok? She opened her eyes and rolled her gaze on him, the man she loved was laid on that hospital bed. His face looked calm, like he was resting. She sat on the couch, but didn't stop looking at him, and started thinking that she couldn't remember how her life was without him. She felt like without him there was no life for her anymore.

She thought about her father and how he didn't know about Rick yet. She left the room and called her father from the hospital hall, in front of Rick's door.

"Katie, how are you?"

"Hi, Dad. I'm fine, and you?"

"I'm great sweetie. Are you sure everything's ok? I feel a hint of sadness in your voice"

"Dad, I'm with Rick. We are together now. It's been 3 months. I just didn't say anything before because I wanted to be sure".

"It's ok sweetheart. I'm very, very happy for you. It was very clear how he felt about you and how you felt about him. I'm glad to hear you both finally admitted it. But why do I still sense you have something else going on?"

"It's Rick dad" – She started crying again "He was shot".

"Oh my God, is he ok?"

"He's out of surgery. He's sleeping right now. Dad, I'm so afraid. That's why I was running away of a relationship. When I lost mom the pain I felt was just…. I couldn't feel it again it was too strong like I wasn't able to handle it, like it was too much for me to carry. The pain I felt was a very heavy burden I had to carry for thirteen years and now, when I finally let it go, there's this and…. Oh dad, I'm so lost"

"Calm down sweetie" – her father told her in a soft tone. "Listen to me; he's going to be alright. You won't lose him I promise. You should not be afraid of feeling this pain again, or even be afraid in getting into a relationship, Katie. Our path in life is measured by the things we learn. You learned a lot with what you suffer because of your mother, you may feel you didn't find your way out of it but you did. What you are feeling right now it's nothing but love and fear of losing it. I remember when you showed me your friend's letter to you. He was right; risking our hearts is why we're alive. Rick is the one who is keeping you alive, sweetie. And you are the one who's keeping him alive, so don't you worry because the bound between you and him… will bring him back".

"Thank you dad"

"Now, you should go back to him. Be there when he wakes up. I love you Katie"

"I love you too dad"

Once again, she wiped the tears of her face and entered in the room. He was awake. Weak, but at least he was awake and aware of things. She didn't notice and walked towards the couch again.

"Kate" - He said.

She promptly turned to him and smiled. She ran and held him carefully, but very tight.

"How are you feeling?" – She asked.

"Like I've been shot" – He replied and laughed. He was okay, she was sure of that because of his joke. Life filled her body again, his voice calmed her. She put her hand on his face, caressing him. Her eyes were sparkling like never before.

He pulled himself for the side of the bed, giving her space. She laid beside him and put her head and her right hand in his chest, as well as her right leg on top of his. They fell asleep together.

In the morning the doctor entered in the room and found them sleeping. He woke up both of them and told them Rick could go back home, but he should get some rest. Maybe a day, just to make sure he would be perfectly well.

They were inside of the car, on their way to his house.

"So, did I win the bet?" – Rick asked.

Kate started laughing.

"What?"

"I can't believe you're thinking about that now" – She said, still laughing.

"I just remembered it. It's not exactly what I'm thinking".

"Then what are you thinking exactly?"

"I won't tell you".

"Oh c'mon Rick, don't be a child" – She was all smiles.

"Why are we going home?" – He asked.

"Because Gates kicked us out of the case. Said we were too close to this one"

"But we have to—"

"I know we have to catch the guy who shot you Castle, but I trust Ryan and Esposito will do this and trust me, this guy will suffer in their hands…"

They got to Rick's apartment and there was Martha and Alexis all apprehensive. They ran in his direction and both of the hugged him at the same time.

"Oh Richard, don't you dare do this to me again" – Martha said.

"What Mother? Seems like you love me!" – He said and laughed.

Martha gave him a little snap in his chest and turned, leaving the room.

"Dad, are you ok? Are you sure? Please tell me everything. Do you need anything? Can I do anything for you? I was so worried, please don't do this aga—wait, I'll make you a cup of coffee, no you slept too much already, what do you think of pancakes? I have a better idea why we just don—"

"Hey, hey, hey sweetheart, calm down. I'm just fine"

Kate was standing right behind him. She couldn't take that smile from her face. The happiness of seeing a family reunited again was filling her with passion and it was making her fall even more in love with him. But she felt kind of jealous, like she wanted so much to be a part of it, but wasn't. Rick turned to her and saw she was wearing the most beautiful smile he had ever seen, but she was feeling something else, he knew her very well to know about that, but he decided not to ask anything now.

"Kate, can I talk to you for a second?" – Rick asked.

"Sure"

He led her to his bedroom and sat on his bed. She sat right beside him; he reached for her and started to kiss her so deep that she lost the sense of everything around her. She felt the message he was trying to pass; he thought he was going to die and he would never see her again, so she gave herself with passion to him and with a fury. It didn't take too long for him to rip off her blouse. This time he didn't ask for permission. She didn't bother anyway.

"Rick, I thought I'd lost you forever", she moaned softly in his ear.

He reached for her more and more intensely.

"Kate, I don't want you to be alone anymore" – Rick said. "You have to move in".

Kate looked at him. He was reluctant of the answer but was firm and convinced he had made himself very clear.