Disclaimer – I do not own Castle
3 Days Later – Sunday Afternoon
Private Room – 14:11
It had been four days since Kate had woken up, four days since the detective had noticed how much she actually enjoyed having her shadow by her side 24/7. Rick wasn't constantly annoying. He had his moments when he was completely quiet, which was a blessing.
Lanie and the boys usually came by around six and stayed for an hour each night.
Alexis often dropped by after school and stayed for a few hours and had dinner with them.
Her dad popped in during the day time, same as Martha, sometimes they arrived around the same times, and sometimes they came at different times. Otherwise Rick tried to entertain her in the spare times. Something they would watch movies. Sometimes they would play a board game and other times they just talk.
Right now Alexis and Kate were laying on the beds, eyes glued to the television. The teenager had bought in a couple of movies a few days ago, at the moment the two were watching Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. Kate secretly loved children movies; it reminded her of innocents and with her job. That was a rare thing. She hadn't had a chance to see this movie yet but the redheaded teen seemed to know almost every line and what she didn't quote, from the other side of the room Rick would.
"Love fearlessly and help others share their heart as well," came from the Chihuahua on the screen.
This movie at times was making the detective a little misty eyed, the teen was resting her head on the older woman's shoulder. It was Alexis quiet voice that answered. "That is one wise dog".
Kate nodded in agreement.
Besides the children's movie they were watching, there was on other thing on Kate's mind. One thing she couldn't shake from her mind was Josh. He hadn't called or visited once with her entire stay in the hospital. It's not that she missed him; in fact it was the opposite. She just couldn't understand why her boyfriend hadn't called, maybe it was about time she listened too Royce's words and let him go.
Rick was across the room from the girls, sitting on the couch with his laptop, his fingers flying over the keys. The writer was stunned at how much of the novel he had completed, now that Kate was awake. Rick actually left the room at times but never went far or left the hospital, there were only a few pap's parked out front still.
Alexis has informed him that there were a few out front of the loft, too.
"Ah Rick," Kate's voice drifted across the room, causing him to lift his gaze from the computer screen and look directly across the room at her.
Kate watched as Rick's eyes lifted from his laptop and shoot across the room meeting her's. Alexis hadn't bother looking up, the moment he looked up and his blue stony orbs locked on her. The brunette was finding it hard to remember what she was gonna asked him. Since when does Richard Castle make her speechless?
"What did the doctor's do with the things that were on me when they bought me in?" Kate finally asked, watching him and waiting for an answer.
From across the room, Rick was having his own problem talking. How can she make a white tee shirt and yoga pants look so damn alluring? Her hair was down, framing her face and she was sucking on her bottom lip. A smile tugging at his lips, he loved how affectionate she was with his daughter. The two of them just sitting on the bed together watching a movie, they looked like a normal mother/daughter combo. Kate already fitted into his family, just like she already fitted into his heart.
"Rick?" she answered a little louder this time.
He couldn't believe he just zoned out, clearing his throat he pointed to the side table looking thing beside her. "Top draw, in a plastic bag," he finally answered.
Nodding Kate turned to her left and reached into the hospital side table dresser on wheels looking thing and opened the top draw, reaching in and snatching up the clear plastic bag. Inside were her mother's ring, father's watch and Royce's letter. Kate had been carrying that everywhere with her since the plane rode home from L.A.
As she reaching into the bag, the first item she pulled out was her father's watching, looking at it before sliding in up her arm. The next thing was her mother's ring, looking down at the precious jewel, letting the chain fall around her hand. It was the teens sudden voice that startled her.
"Wow, that's pretty," Alexis spoke up, her attention now on the older woman.
Kate smiled a sad smile, explaining. "It was my mother's," the brunette was on the verge of tears, stupid pain killers.
The teen could sense Kate's sudden change in mood. She could see the glassiness in her eyes. The Castles are an affectionate lot and Alexis knew that Kate wasn't, but it didn't matter, at the moment the teen could tell that Kate needed some TLC. So she moved closer to Kate and threw her arm around Kate's neck and rested it on her other shoulder, bringing her another arm around Kate's front and resting it on her stomach, then resting her head on Kate's shoulder, giving her a hug of sorts.
"She would be so proud of you," Alexis mumbled, sincerely.
The strong willed Detective couldn't keep it in any longer, at first they were silent tears but then the sobs began. Alexis instantly noticed as she lifted her head and looked at Kate, who was doing her best to cover up the fact that she was crying.
"Oh Kate, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry," Alexis answered as her own eyes began turning glassy.
Kate turned her gaze on the teens, calming her own sobs, noticing that the teen was close to crying herself. She wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her right hand as the left one held her mother's ring.
"No sweetie you didn't, it's just sometimes thinking about her. I just really miss her," Kate finally confessed, letting a few more tears full freely. This time Alexis wiped them away.
The teen looked at the older women with a sad smile and sniffled "How about when we get you out of here, we go see her one day?" Alexis offered.
Kate was touched, truly touched by little Castle. It had been a few months since she visited her mother's grave, the last time she had visited her mother was after the case where she had kissed Rick, it was an uncover kiss of course.
The older woman responded by nodding at the younger girl.
Rick was still on the couch, just watching in awe the scene that played out before his own eyes, one of the sweetest moments ever.
14:21
Dr Bridges entered his patient's room with Nurse Molly walking beside him, as they walked over towards her bed. Beau noticed that she had been crying.
"You're not in pain are you Detective?" the Doctor asked, cocnerned.
Kate turned her attention to the voice that had asked her that question. It was her doctor and the peppy nurse. The O'Malley's were sure a cheery bunch. She shook her head. "No more than usually, Doc."
Beau hugged his clipboard to his chest and moved on, a smile softened his features as he announced. "We'll good news, Detective," her doctor began.
"You finally realized that your true calling is becoming an opera singer," Kate quipped, a smile tugging at her lips.
Molly, Rick and Alexis all chuckled. Rick had now joined them and was standing at the end of the bed. The doctor raised an eyebrow at the younger woman, slightly amused.
"Very funny, Detective," Beau answered. Kate smirked shrugging her shoulder, she thought so. The Doctor continued. "What I was going to say ... you're all good to go home."
Kate's eyes widened. Alexis squeezed her arm and Rick gave her a heartfelt smile.
"When," slipped from the detective's lips.
Dr Bridges replied. "As soon as you sign the release forms," he told her, holding out the clipboard.
Kate looked at the Doctor. "Anyone would think that you wanna get rid of me Doc," she teased.
Beau tightly smiled, answering. "Oh no, I love it when my patients taught my nurses. Page me every hour to ask when they can go home, including when I am home. Have the press camped outside the hospital entrance for over a week..."
"The last one is his fault," she cut in, pointing to Rick that was trying to hold back laughter.
The Doctor held out the form closer. Kate looked down at them, a smile twitched her lips as she answered casually. "You know what Doc, I kinda like it here. I might even..."
Beau looked at her worried.
She snatched the clipboard from him and quickly scribbled her signature then handing it back informing the Doctor. "You couldn't keep me here even with a straight Jacket," Kate informed him.
The Doctor just nodded before walking out of the room.
Kate's cell phone ringing pulled the detectives attention from saying what she was about to say. She reached for the phone that was sitting on the bed beside her, without checking the caller ID.
"Beckett," Kate answered.
Hearing her boyfriend's voice, she was surprised to say the least. "Hey, you ... yeah I am getting out ... really, no that's great ... really um okay ... no that's fine ... you two, take care ... bye Josh."
Rick watched as his partner closed her phone and tossed it on the bed. So Josh called, took him long enough. Rick couldn't believe he just broke up with Kate over the phone. He didn't have the balls to come back to New York and say goodbye properly.
Silence had fallen over the room.
"Kate, everything okay?" Rick asked, knowing it was a stupid question.
Kate couldn't believe that just happened. Her perfect boyfriend just dumped her over the phone - after being shot. Wasn't she worth more than that, hearing the concern in her partner's voice. He was worried about her. He could always tell when something was wrong with her.
"Yeah, all good, let's get out of here," Kate pushed her feelings aside and looked up at the writer with a forced smile. Alexis had already hopped off the bed and was on the other side of the room packing everything up.
"Oh, I love this movie, that Pappy." Nurse Molly answered, her eyes were on the television.
Kate was in an annoyed mood and the perky nurse was in her line of fire, she hopped off the bed and looked towards the nurse to who was standing at the end of the bed. Her back faced to the Detective, eyes on the screen.
"Why the hell are you so Damm happy all the time? I mean you work around sick and injured people and sometimes they die?" Kate inquired, crossing her arms.
Molly looked at the detective serious, at first it looked like she was gonna cry, but she didn't. "Because I am surrounded by all that, when people come in here, they depressed and sad. Don't get me wrong, they have a right to be but I just wanna give hope because then at least they have something to hold to," she answered in a sincere tone
"Oh," Kate answered, feeling really bad.
14:44
The Castle's and Kate had almost everything packed up, the box was filled and the duffle bags packed. Rick had arranged it so all of the bigger stuff that he had delivered here, would be donated to the hospital. Rick was in the bathroom packing that up.
Alexis was wiping down the coffee table as she casually asked Kate, who was looking out the window.
"So Kate, dad said it was you're turn to pick what we order for dinner tonight."
Kate turned from the window and looked at the teen confused. Why would she be picking?
She raised an eyebrow at the writer who just walked out of the bathroom. "You're taking me to home, aren't you?" she questioned him.
The Author looked at his partner, knowing that his daughter must have let something slip. Rick had just planned to drive her to the loft and hope that she didn't notice, who was he kidding.
Rick began walking towards his hazel green eyes partner. "No, you're coming home with us, you just got shot Kate. There is no way in hell I am letting you out of my sight," Rick informed her, his tone serious.
She looked at him stunned at first. Was he being serious? He really thinks he can tell her what to do?
She shook her head. "No, No ... I can take care of myself. I am a big girl, Rick."
Rick looked at her annoyed. She really thought she was going to win this one, over his dead body. He crossed his arm and stopped a metre from her. "You're not going to an empty apartment, god Dammit Kate. You were shot, over a week ago. There is still someone out there that wants you dead," his voice wasn't just serious, it was filled with pure concern.
Kate placed her hand on her chest responding back, voice slightly raised. "Exactly, they won't me dead. I am not putting you or Alexis in danger, Rick. No way in hell will I ever do that. You two mean too much too me," she confessed, her voice thick with emotion.
The hardcore detective was on the verge of tears. Rick could see the pain in her eyes. She was still trying to protect them. He stepped forwards and gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
She looked up at him, his blue eyes locked on her.
"Kate, I promise that nothing will happen, myself, mother, Alexis or even you. I will not let that happen, that I can promise."
Kate could see that he believed in what he was saying, but how can he promise that. He is just a writer. She wanted to believe him. She really did, but this was too dangerous.
"I know you want to protect me, but Rick ..." Kate began, getting cut off by him again.
"You just have to trust me, Kate. No one will come near us," he told her, his voice was filled with sincerity and determination. His blue orbs for filled with something that she couldn't quiet describe.
Both Kate and Rick had their eyes locked on one another, like they were the only two in the room. They stayed like that for a long moment until they heard what sounded like a throat being cleared.
Kate turned her gaze towards the door. Rick dropped his hands from her shoulders, walking towards her was an older women in her mid forties, African American and slender. She was dressed in a black pant suit. Kate spotted the badge on the woman's belt. "Can I help you?" she asked annoyed.
The women took in the appearance of the wounded detective and her 'partner', feeling like she had walked in on something, maybe the rumours were true.
"Detective Beckett, how are you healing?" the women asked, serious.
Kate was suspicious about the stranger.
"Fine thank you, now my turn. Who the hell are you?" the brunette demanded, her guard up.
The older woman smiled, some of the rumours were true. Detective Beckett had balls. She kept her face straight as she informed her. "I am Nicole Hunter. Your new Captain," she announced.
Kate's face fell. She just talked to her new boss like that. Oh that's not going to go down well, but Kate refused to let it show. She stood tall, straightening up, a sharp pain shot through her. She let out a hiss.
Rick and Alexis rushed to Kate's side, one Castle on each side, both asking her if she was okay. Kate just nodded. Rick gestured from Alexis to follow him out of the room.
"I just came down to introduce myself, Detective. I would have been down sooner but I have been busy. Now I just talked to your doctor, he informed me that he gave you two weeks and suggest that I add four to it. I have to agree Detective. I do not want you back at the station for six weeks, hopefully by then all lose ends will be taken care of." Captain Hunter shared.
Kate bit her tongue, holding in her argument, even though she wanted to protest the new Captain.
"Now as of your shadow, I do not want him in my precinct if you're not there. We will talk about him continuing to follow you with your return. I will be also assigning you a new partner," Nicole informed her.
Kate shook her head. "I have a partner, Castle is my partner!" she told her boss, raising her voice.
The Captain had one hand on her hip, looking at the younger detective with spirit, but keeping her composure. She had been warned that Kate wouldn't take the news well but she was the boss and what she says, goes.
"Detective Beckett, I understand that you were a good friend of the previous captain, but this is now my playground and I make the rules. That writer cannot protect you the way a partner should ..." Nicole answered before being interrupted again.
"Castle has saved my life more times than I expected. He is my partner in every since of the word and I refuse to work with anyone else!" Kate declared.
The Captain gave her a 'Really' look, but the injured detective stood her ground. A smile was tugging at Nicole's lips, but she held it back and informed Kate. "We will discuss this when you return in six weeks time, detective. Don't make it eight," the captain warned.
Rick, Alexis and Molly re-entered the room with a wheelchair. Alexis was pushing it, the moment Kate spotted it, her eyes widen and she instantly began shaking her head.
"No, no, no, no, no way I am leaving this hospital in that chair!" Kate confirmed.
It was the blonde nurse to who spoke up. "It is hospital policy to leave in a wheel chair from our hospital, Kate." Molly told the brunette as she handed Rick a few bandages. "Don't forget to change the bandage, daily. If an infection occurs then bring Kate in," the nurse instructed.
Rick took the bandages from Molly and nodded in confirmation.
Kate looked at them both stunned, they were talking about her like she wasn't even there.
"Uh first of all we still haven't confirmed that I am staying with Rick and second, I am not getting in that damn chair," she informed them, putting her foot down.
Rick stood opposite from her, his glare matching hers. Putting the bandages in his pockets, he answered. "Kate it's either the chair or I carry you out ... you pick!" his determination matching hers.
Kate's eyes widened. She wasn't use to Rick being so authoritative, it kind of turned her on but she refuse to let that show. She thought about it for a long minute before turning towards the chair and sitting down in it, crossing her arms annoyed.
Rick held back his grin. Knowing all eyes were on him, the writer looked down at his partner informing her. "You are also staying at the loft until the sniper is found."
Kate shook her head and was about to protest when Rick opened his mouth again.
"I have a secure building; also have plain clothes security scooping out the area as we speak, said security will then watch over the loft until this sniper is found. I am not letting anything happen to you Kate," he told her, his voice deadpanned. "I cannot watch you almost die again," he confessed, his thick with emotion.
Kate looked up at her partner concerned, she just nodded in response. She couldn't put him through that again, it wasn't fair.
The Captain was surprised at the respect the partners had for one another. Nicole had heard a lot of rumours about the two, plus seeing what had been written about the couple in the papers and all over the news, even though she was informed by her Detective's other partners that it was all a ruse.
Nicole spoke up again. "Are you two sure you're not married, because you said like a married couple." she shared, smiling at them.
Rick smiled and Kate rolled her eyes.
It was the youngest Castle who answered. "They get that a lot," Alexis confirmed.
Hospital Corridor – 15:00
Alexis was wheeling Kate down the hospital corridor. Rick was walking beside them with both duffle bags slung over his arms and his laptop bag in hand, everything else he donated to the hospital.
Molly was guiding them through restricted doors and guided them down another corridor.
Kate knew something was up. "Uh guys, we're we going?" she asked.
Rick was the one to inform his partner. "We'll the press got wind that you're leaving today so it is like a media circus out front. Molly is taking us to the ambulance dock. The car is waiting out there," he answered.
Kate was surprised that he went to all of this trouble to just protect her from the paparazzi. It was kind of sweet. A smile played on her lips as she was guided all the way through and out to the back of the hospital.
Ambulance Dock – 15:06
Kate finally stood up from the chair and Alexis helped her down the stairs. Molly disappeared back inside.
The driver popped the boot and took the Author's bag, placing them in the back. He closed it behind him.
Rick opened the door and helped Kate into the tinted black SUV. Kate slid into the middle. Alexis hopped in then Rick closed the door. Rick opened the door on the other side of the car and slid in, sitting on the other side of Kate and closing his door.
"How is the building looking James," Rick asked the driver, a smile played on his lips.
The driver informed him. "You have a pest problem, we will be taking the back entrance Sir," he delivered.
Rick nodded as the car then drove forward.
Driving – 15:10
There was complete silence for a few minutes before Kate had to ask because it was bugging her to no end.
"You have a driver named James? Really, Rick?" Kate raised an eyebrow at her partner.
Both Castle's chuckled.
"No it's Mathew, Miss." The drive spoke up from the front. "Mr Rick just calls me that to get a rise out of me."
Kate turned her attention to her partner and slugged him in the shoulder.
"Ow," he whined, gripping his shoulder and looking at Kate annoyed. "What was that for?"
"Not being nice," Kate told him.
The driver from the front seat, answered. "Thank you miss," a smile on his lips.
Kate nodded. "Anytime," she assured him.
The driver spoke up again. "She's a keeper, sir."
Rick mimicked the driver sarcastically. Kate, slugged him in the same shoulder, softer this time.
"Kate!" the Author exclaimed.
She turned to face him, glaring at him.
Rick shut his mouth.
A fit of giggles came from the youngest Castle.