Disclaimer - I do not own Castle

Hospital – 08:55 – Private Room

As Josh entered the room to his girlfriend's room, he was curious to why when he informed them that Katherine Beckett was his girlfriend, they looked at him funny. Since he worked at this hospital and since this was his floor, they let him through anyway.

The first thing he saw when he entered the room was Kate, laying in the bed looking like she was sleeping, except her beautiful skin was paler and she had so many tubes sticking out of her.

Yesterday afternoon when Josh had gotten the call from the writer, informing him that Kate had been shot. He did not expect this. Josh had to finish the surgery over there that he was working on before flying back from Africa.

The second thing the doctor noticed was the writer lying in the bed beside her. His hand clutching hers, anger was the first thing that rushed through the heart surgeon's body, followed by defeat.

Josh wasn't stupid. He knew there was a strong bond between the two. The way Kate always talked about the writer with such love and compassion. How she would casually drop his name into a conversation, without even realizing it.

He knew that when he entered Kate's life several months back, that her whole heart wasn't into it. They had met one night at a bar, early in the fall. The detective had been drunk and he had just lost a patient. The two were drinking there sorrow's away, that's when the Detective confessed to what got her into that state.

The next morning when she had awoken in his bed, she felt so embarrassed and kept telling him that she never did this, got drunk and had random sex. That's when he asked her. 'Well then let's not make it Random, we both work like crazy. So when we both need to unwind, we can.' It started off as a kinda 'friends with benefits' type thing. Then what they had grew to respect for one other. But love, No. He cared for Kate deeply, but he knew she didn't love him. They are two different people.

The young doctor walked in further, stopping on the left side of his girlfriend's bed, taking her free hand in his and holding it tight. He brushed the hair from her face.

"Ah Kate, what have you done to yourself," Josh whispered.

Rick was tossing and turning, his heart racing, reliving that moment when Kate got shot over and over again, and was mumbling. "No, Kate, No. Stay with me." He heard his name being called.

"Castle, Castle wake up," the voice was unfamiliar.

The author's eyes shot open and he shot up in the sitting position as he shouted. "KATE!"

That's when his surroundings became clear. He was in hospital. Feeling a warmth in his hand, Rick turned to his left and saw his partner, lying in the bed. It wasn't a nightmare, she had been shot. A few tears slipped from his eyes. He noticed that he wasn't alone.

Rick's blue eyes fixed on the other male in the room. "Josh, you're back," the writer answered. His fingers still laced with Kate's.

The Doctor nodded. "Yeah, I just got back. So what happened, Castle?" he informed the writer, true concern in his voice.

Rick's gaze dropped to his partner as he answered. "We were at the Captain's funeral. Kate was giving her speech when I saw something reflect in the distance. A shot was then fired. I dived for her but I was too late ... she was shot. They rushed her to surgery and here we are."

He paused a moment before continuing. "The Doctor said the bullet missed her heart by a few millimetres, but did knick her left lung. They manage to repair the damage, besides losing a lot of blood and the bullet cracking a few ribs, they expect her to make a full recovery. The only problem ... she's in a coma and they don't know when she'll come out."

Josh could hear the pain in the writer's voice, see the heartache in his eyes. He just nodded, not sure what to say.

Rick let go of her hand and crawled from the bed. "I'll give you two a moment. I need some air," he answered, bereaved.

Josh nodded and watched as the writer disappeared from the room, turning his attention back to his beautiful detective. He stroked her face. "I am letting you go, Kate. I know you don't love me. I know you're love with the writer, so I am letting you go. Be happy and let him into your heart."

Hospital Corridor - 09:01

Even though Rick told Josh that he was going for a walk, he couldn't find it in himself to leave any further then just outside her door.

Rick leaned against the wall as he listened to Kate's boyfriend's words. He was stunned to what he heard. Josh was letting her go. The writer was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the sweet voice of his daughter.

"Dad?" Alexis called out.

Turning his director down the corridor, Rick spotted his baby girl walking towards him with a duffle bag slung over her shoulder. Ashley beside her, carrying a box and his laptop bag. The writer was slightly stunned. He did tell his daughter after nine and of course she would be punctual.

As Alexis got closer, she picked up her speed and ran into her father's arms, dropping the duffle bag by her feet. Rick pulled her into a big bear hug. It is exactly what he needed.

The two hugged for a few minutes until the door opened and Josh walked out.

Alexis pulled back from her father looking at the stranger. The red headed teen pulled her father into a side hug.

Josh turned to the writer and informed him. "I have to get back to Africa ... but call me as soon as she wakes up."

Rick promised by nodding his head.

Josh's gaze dropped to the teen. "You must be Lexi. Kate talks about how proud of you she is, all the time," he told her.

The teen just nodded, unsure how to answer that. Alexis was surprised that Kate had said that, of course the two hung out and talked all the time but Kate had never told her that.

"She is all yours now, Castle. Take care of her," Josh finishes, patting Rick's shoulder before walking off down the corridor.

Rick stood there stunned.

Alexis turned to her father, noting the look on his face and asking curiously. "That was Josh, wasn't it? Where is he going? Why isn't he staying and why when I asked for the direction to Kate's room and I told them that I was your daughter, that you were here, they informed me where my step mother was staying?" she inquired, looking at her father curious and confused.

Rick looked at his daughter, dumbfounded. Why would they say that? He then remembered Molly's words from last night. 'I have arranged it so no one will bother you'.

A smile tugged his lips. He turned his eyes on his daughter. "Just go with it sweetie," he told her, receiving a puzzled looked from his daughter. He bent down to pick up the duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder.

"Morning Ashley," he greeted the male teen, getting a confused nod back from the teen.

Private Room - 09:05

As the three entered the room, a gasp escaped the younger Castle's mouth. Her arm dropping from her father and her hands covered her mouth with tears soon following, streaming from the crystal blue eyes of Alexis Castle.

Ashley had walked over to the other side of the room and placed the box down on the table, turning back and looking at his girlfriend. It broke his heart seeing her like that. Ashley began pulling out the contents of the box and placing them on the coffee table in front of him.

Alexis slowly walked over towards the female detective, walking to the left side of the bed. Before she knew it, her hand was clutching Kate's and her tears had turned into sobs. It didn't seem real, but it was, because there Kate was, lying in the bed. Her eyes were closed and wires everywhere. The beeping from the machine was a good sign. It meant she was alive, which was a good thing.

Music began filling the room as Ashley turned on the iPod that and he had plugged into its Dock, a male gentle voice of Boyce Avenue filled the room.

"It sounds like this is nothing new and that it hasn't been for awhile. You wake up on the other side and you strain to force a smile. The fairytale inside your head has become your new best friend, but I can assure you, that I'll be there before the story ends..."

It pained the writer to see his daughter like this, crying over his partner like this and listening to the words of the song, it hit close to home.

The male voice deepened. "Cause when I needed a place to hang my heart, you were there to wear it from the start. And with every breath of me, you'll be the only light I see,"

The music played on.

The father walked over towards the bed, standing beside his daughter. He placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it for support. The teen tried controlling her sobs, her hand still squeezing Kate's hand, her free arm pulling her dad into a side hug as she cried on his shoulder.

He kissed his daughter on the top of the head. "I know pumpkin, I know," Rick whispered. Rick hadn't realized how close Alexis and Kate were until now. He knew the two talked on the phone and hung out, but he didn't think they were this close.

Through the sobs, Alexis explained to her father. "I filled the IPod with ... Kate and my favourite music. She dislikes the quiet. She told me it makes her think too much." Alexis had her tear-filled blue orbs locked on her father's dark stony blues.

The writer was finding it hard not to cry himself, even though it might be unmanly of him. He didn't care. He was only human not to get sad, but was holding it together for his daughter, placing another kiss to the top of her head.

"I am gonna take a shower," Rick informed Alexis, knowing that in the duffle bag were his clothes.

The teen nodded and watched as her father disappeared into the bathroom that was attached to the room, her eyes then fell on her boyfriend who had set everything up and was now looking at her with such sincere love.

Alexis gave him a sad smile. Ashley took a seat on the couch and turned on the small coffee machine that they had bought with them. It was sitting on the bench near the window that had the electrical sockets.

Bathroom – 09:11

As the writer let the warm water cascade down his body, tears followed. Rick let it all out in the shower, the water mixing with his tears as he cried his heart out. He hoped that the water drained out his sobs.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her lying on the ground with her eyes closed, or stuck in the freezer in his arms. Rick couldn't fight the images, the curse of being a writer. It's not all about writing fiction, being a writer you feel more. You feel the pain, the heartache, the sadness but you also feel the good times too, the love more.

Private Room – 09:13

Rick left the bathroom, his hair still damp, walking out in a pair of grey sweatpants and light blue tee shirt, feet bare.

He noticed that they were not alone in the room anymore. The doctor from last night along with Molly, were by Kate's bed on her left side. Alexis had crawled up onto the bed that Rick had slept in. The red headed teen was now clutching the detective's right hand.

Molly was the first to spot him, smiling she answered. "Mr Castle, I was just telling your daughter how your wife is doing," she then winked at Rick.

The writer just nodded and managed. "It's Rick."

The doctor looked at Rick apologetic. "Mr Castle, I wasn't aware of your secret marriage to the detective, even though I wasn't surprise. My wife has read all of your books, the Heat series being her favourite. Maggie keeps telling me that you two are really together but hiding it from the world. I am never gonna live that down".

Rick just nodded. Alexis held back a chuckle and Ashley had pure confusion written over his face.

It was Alexis to who came to the rescue. "Um doctor, dad and my stepmother want to keep it secret for a long as possible, so if..."

The doctor nodded smiling at the teenage girl. "Of course, Miss Castle."

Dr Beau Bridges observed, changing the subject. "I see you're making yourself at home. We hope we can do the same for your wife, make her as comfortable as possible."

It took everything in the writer to not laugh. If Kate was awake for this conversation, she would kill him for going along with the lie. Rick was surprised that his daughter was. She was the good one.

Rick managed to find words, now standing at the end of Kate's bed. "How is my girl doing, doctor?" he asked, liking the sound of that. He turned his attention the beautiful brunette lying in the bed in the comatose state.

Beau nodded, his voice neutral. "Her colour is coming back, so that's a good thing. Kate's vitals are steady and we didn't have any problems during the night as you know. So everything is looking good. She seems to be healing at the regular pace. It's basically just a waiting game now. Her body has been through a lot and just wants to rest," the doctor finished.

"Limbo, basically," Rick nodded, answering somber.

The room had fallen quiet, only soft music played throughout the room for a few minutes.

"We'll I will leave you too it Mr – Rick," the Doctor announced. "If you need anything, just press the button and someone will be right in. I'll be by later this evening to check on your wife."

Rick just nodded. The doctor left the room.

Molly waited till the doctor was out of the door and ear shot before she spoke up, bubbly.

"Yeah, that was me who informed everyone that you and the detective are secretly married. You're going on three months. I hope you don't mind, it was the only way that they would let you stay and since you're paying for her room. And they saw that ring Kate wears around her neck, one of the nurses assumed you were together. That's when I spun the story, explaining to them how my sister is engaged to one of the detective that works with you two."

Rick gave the bubbly nurse a reassuring smile. "It is fine Molly, but when Kate wakes up. I am telling her this is all your idea."

The nurse nodded. "Bring it on," she answered, letting out a chuckle.

10:01

Rick was sitting on his temporary bed, seriously considering of ordering a new one. A nice queen would do for him and Kate, but reality hit. They were in a hospital. He had his laptop out, resting on his lap and his fingers running over the keys.

When writers cannot express their emotions out loud, that's when they put pen to paper or fingers to keys in Rick's case.

The room had a comforting feeling to it, Alexis and Ashley were sitting on the couch, snuggling. That still made the father in Rick uncomfortable but Kate would just tell him 'she's not a baby anymore Rick'. He was well aware of that, but he was prepared to blissfully ignore that fact, since his little girl would leave in January. He would be all alone.

His mother had called, informing him she would be in later, that the diva just had some appointment that she had to tend to this morning. Rick knew that his mother strongly dislike hospitals and he was the reason for that. He had been an adventurous child and his mother was always in and out of the hospital until Rick was sixteen, that was when he seemed to calm down and wrote a lot more.

Turning his attention back to the screen, he couldn't even think about Nikki or Rook at the moment, instead he was writing something new. He was writing a novel based on himself and Kate. How they met and up till today, this one would not get published. It would be for Kate's eyes only and mainly their kids.

Hearing the door open to the room, followed by heels clicking caused the writer to left his gaze from his screen and towards that direction, appeared in sight was Lanie and Javier. Their hands intertwined, Lanie's free hand was gripping a duffle bag.

He had been happy when he discovered those two had finally got together. Rick knew the two had an attraction to one another, that's why he had put it into his Heat series. Kate and he actually had a private bet going on how long it would take them to realize it. Kate had won it.

As they walked over towards the bed, Rick saved his work then closed the laptop.

Lanie placed the duffle bag on the bed, turning her direction to her best friend. "How is our girl doing?" she asked the writer.

Our girl. Rick liked the sound of that, shame Kate wasn't his girl. When she got better hopefully that would changed. He loved her and he wasn't planning on losing her.

He answered after a long pause. "Fine."

That was the only word he could manage, turning his attention back to Kate. "Have you found the shooter yet?"

The Hispanic detective shook his head. "Not yet Bro, but the entire 12th is looking. No one shoots our girl and lives to talk about it, we'll find them!"

Rick just nodded melancholy.

"I bought Kate some clothes and stuff for when she wakes up. How are you doing, Castle?" the concern in the medical examiner's voice, evident.

The writer just shrugged, to be honest. He didn't know what to say. How could he describe to his friends that his heart was tearing a little more every time he looked at Kate.

It was Alexis who broke the silence. "Dad ... Ash and I are gonna go for a bit, we'll bring back some food." She told him, giving her father a peck on the check.

She disappears out of the door, hand in hand with Ashley. The next sound that sounded in the room was the Hispanic detective phone ringing, excusing himself leaving only Rick and Lanie in the room. He had climbed out of the bed and was now standing at the foot of Kate's bed, arms folded.

Lanie had one hand on her hip, the other by her side. Her brown eyes focused on the writer, his eyes not leaving Kate's. The love that man had for her best friend was evident. She was sick and tired of both of them fighting it.

"Fine, my ass. Imma smack you if you keep lying to me," she told him annoyed, her voice rising.

Rick's eyes turned from his partner and fell on her best friend.

Lanie continued yelling. "Stop holding it in. You're just as bad as my girl, there. You both tiptoe around how you really feel instead of embracing it. You two are each other's other half, why can't you see that. Why can't you just ..." before Lanie could finish her rant the writer cut her off.

Rick's eyes turning an icy blue, his voice coming out sincere, practically shouting. "You wanna know how I am feeling?" he asked, placing his hands on his chest. "I am in pain, physical pain because the women I love is lying in that hospital bed and there isn't a Damm thing I can do. I watched her get shot. I watched her slip away in my arms after telling her to stay with me, telling her that I loved her. I watched as her eyes closed and I watched as her heart temporally stopped on the way to the hospital," Rick confessed, pain in his voice and eyes. "And there is nothing I can do but wait until she opens her beautiful hazel- green eyes."

"I can only hope," He whispered

The medical examiner was surprised that Mr Cool, actually raised his voice. Hearing out loud how he feels was better then she imagined, if only her girl could hear. Maybe she could, some coma victims can.

Lanie walked over towards the writer and wrapped him into a hug answering teary. "Feel better now, don't ya."

Rick nodded, hugging her back. The hug lasted for a long minute before Lanie pulled back wiping a few tears away, turning her attention back to her friend.

Javier re-entered the room. "Yo, I can hear you two out in the hallway..." he noticed the mood in the room had changed.

Rick bowed his head. "Sorry," he answered, like a child in trouble.

Javier looked at him concerned. "Just keep it down okay," the male detective answered, gently.

Rick nodded

A chuckled escaped the Medical Examiners lips. "You two are so cute," she answered, walking towards the end of Kate's bed and picked up her chart and began reading it.

Javier watched as the writer walked over towards the other side of the room and looked out the large window, down onto the city traffic. Looking around the room, the male detective noticed a few changes from last night. He walked towards the writer.

"I see you've added to the room," Javier pointed out.

Rick didn't turn around, just answered impassive. "Alexis bought it all in this morning, the mini fridge and other things will be arriving later," Rick delivered, dryly.

The male detective chuckled in disbelief. "Yeah right."

When Rick didn't say anything else or move, the detective's eyes widened. "You're serious, aren't you?"

The author just nodded.

The detective didn't know what to say. He just walked back over towards his girlfriend, snaking his arms around her waist and placing a kiss to her neck. Lanie was focused on the report she was reading, but a smile curved her lips.

The door opened and in walked an older nurse in her mid fifties. The name tag read 'Joy' the nurse looked around the room, spotted the African American women reading the charts. She walked over towards her, snatching them from her hands before answering sternly. "That is for the medical staff's eyes, only."

The nurse placed the chart back at the end of the bed, in its place. Noticing that the husband was looking out of the window, the nurse informed him. "Mr Castle, if you would please tell your friends to not read your wife's chart, if they want to keep visiting."

Lanie placed one hand on her hip and looked like she was gonna to hit the nurse. Javier's mouth dropped when she said wife.

"Nurse Ratchet, as you are aware. I am paying a great deal for this room and for the best services for Kate," Rick informed the nurse, still facing the window. Now turning around and facing them, his voice still cold as he continued. "My friend there has a medical degree. So she has a right to read the charts, so she can keep me informed on what the doctors will not. Got it!" the writer finished, staring down the older women.

The older nurse bit her tongue, plastering a fake smile on her face and answered. "Of course, Sir. If you need anything else, just call."

A moment later the nurse was gone.

The room fell silent for a moment until Lanie asked curiously. "Wife, did I miss the wedding?" she asked, a smirk on her lips.

For the first time since Kate had been bought in, Rick let out a loud chuckle and shook his head. "No, Molly informed the staff that Kate and I were married but are keeping it from the press, so I can stay with her. They found it strange at first that I was paying for her room," the writer delivered.

"Kate is gonna kick your butt when she wakes up," Lanie replied, a smile tugging her lips.

Rick explained. "Oh I plan on telling her that it was all Molly's idea."

Lanie shook her head laughing. "I knew I liked that girl."

A few moments passed before Javier spoke out loud. "For someone who is named Joy, she isn't very joyful!" the detective stated.

Lanie and Rick looked at one another before bursting into laughter.