A/N1: Hello peoples ad WELCOME to the 31st Chapter of Absolution titled 'The Waiting Game' I hope you enjoy readint this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
"Espo, can I use your cell?" Kate asked the Latino detective a couple of hours later as the clock hanging on the wall ticked over to 3AM. "My battery is almost flat, I want to ring Dad. He needs to know everything's over."
"Sure, here you go," Esposito replied, reaching into his trousers and retrieving the device. "How y'doing?"
"Shit," Kate replied flatly. "The waiting game stinks. I just need to know Rick's okay."
"We all do Chica, we all do."
Kate swiped open her friend's phone then punched in her father's cell number before pressing dial and putting the phone to her ear. It rang and rang and rang then eventually Jim Beckett picked up.
"`lo?' he mumbled sleepily. "Javier?"
"No Dad, its Katie. I'm using Javi's cell, mine's almost flat," Kate replied. "Um, I've got some news..."
"What's wrong Katie?" Jim asked fearfully, his voice still heavily laden with sleep. "You sound upset."
"I got him Dad," Kate squeaked as her eyes welled with tears and spilled down her cheeks. "I arrested the man who killed Mom, well ordered the hit on her anyway. It's over, all over."
"Oh Katie..." Jim exclaimed. "Oh Katie, Katie, Katie. How are you sweetheart?"
"He shot Rick, Dad!" Kate whimpered the tears flowing freely now. "Three times! He's in surgery right now and it doesn't look good, he's crashed three times already and-I can't lose him Dad! We've only had five minutes together. I can'-"
"Katie put Javier on," Jim said firmly. "Sit back and take some deep breaths sweetheart, I'll talk to you in a minute, okay honey?"
Kate took a deep shuddering breath and scrubbed at her eyes. "Alright, I love you Dad." She croaked with a great sniff.
"Love you too sweetie."
"Dad wants a word," Kate said to Esposito holding out the phone to her friend.
Esposito raised a singular eyebrow but took the device and put the phone to his ear.
"Mr Beckett?" he said, leaning back and allowing Kate to cuddle up to him to cry.
"What happened, Javi?" Jim asked. "Katie was starting to hyperventilate."
"Well when it comes down to it, we...well Kate arrested the man responsible for Mrs Beckett's murder, Sir." Esposito revealed putting an arm around Kate's shoulders. "We had a witness come forward that knew where Rick was being held hostage and I went to the site with Kate, Kevin, Gates and Frank and his team and the SWAT Hostage Retrieval Team Frank brought up from Quantico and busted him out. Kevin and I arrested the two IC and Kate arrested The Dragon."
"Who is he Javier?" Jim asked quietly.
Esposito hesitated slightly before answering Jim's question. "Phil Robinson, Sir," he revealed. "He's the one responsible for ordering Dick Coonan to kill your wife."
"The Governor killed my wife?" Jim exclaimed incredulously.
"Yes Sir, he did," Esposito replied. "And Peter Hargraves, the Deputy Commissioner is the one responsible for shooting Kate at Montgomery's funeral last year. He went to shoot Kate again when she disarmed Robinson so Kevin and I shot him in the leg and shoulder. We had to take him down or there would have been a fatality."
Jim swore vehemently. "And Rick?" he ventured cautiously.
"It doesn't look good, Sir," Esposito answered heavily. "Robinson shot him three times, once in the left knee, once in the right shoulder and once in the abdomen. The one in the abdomen is the most serious injury. He's crashed three times already and has been in surgery for coming up to four hours. He's already had to have quarter of his liver removed and he might have to have some of his large intestine removed. And he has a major head injury that's going to need looking at by a neurosurgeon and his busted knee and shoulder is going to need some attention from an orthopaedic surgeon and his broken jaw is going to be a job for a maxillo facial surgeon. But as the nurse that gave us the update said the knee, jaw and shoulder are of the least concern at the moment it's the abdominal and head injuries that need seeing to first. The neurosurgeon is on call and the general surgeon is finished his work the neurosurgeon is going to come in and get to work on Rick's head. Hargraves belted him over the head with a hammer when he abducted him you see."
"Oh my God, it's really that bad?" Jim asked in stunned disbelief.
"Yeah Sir, it is," Esposito answered. "We're all at the hospital now waiting til he comes out of surgery. We're not going anywhere. Kevin's here, so is Martha and Alexis and Lanie's going to come right after she finishes night shift at six."
"Which hospital are you at?" Jim asked. "I want to be there for you-for Katie."
"Mercy West, just off-"
"I know where that is," Jim acknowledged. "I'm going to call for a taxi and come right now. Rick's as much a part of the Beckett family as you and Kevin are."
"Thank you Sir." Esposito replied respectfully.
"Have any of you eaten?" Jim asked in concern. "Or drunk anything?"
"Not since mid afternoon," Esposito replied. "We've not really thought about anything but getting Castle back and making some hard core arrests."
"Alright I'll bring something along, I can't have you all falling over faint," Jim informed the Latino detective. "You look after my baby girl, Javi. You and Kevin are her best friends. She'll break without you two."
"We'll do or best, Sir," Esposito promised. "See you soon."
"See you soon."
"He hung up?" Kate asked Esposito tearfully as the male detective pocketed his phone.
"Yeah, he's on his way in to be with you," Esposito replied. "He's really concerned for you Kate. I could hear it in his voice."
"Dad's a worrywart, I'm fine." Kate said with a sniff.
"No y'not," Ryan replied, elbowing his friend. "But you will be. Castle's going to come through this and wake up and we're all going to make fun of him for wearing a hospital gown with his ass hanging out of it."
"Mmmmm, that's not a totally unpleasant picture to imagine," Kate replied with a tiny smile. "but you make fun of my man and I'll leak those pictures of you and Javi wearing that taffeta a diamante tutu at the Halloween party last year onto the precinct network."
Ryan couldn't help it and chuckled. "I'm kinda surprised they haven't leaked out already," he said exhausted. "The photo of you in the cat suit and Castle in his Batman costumes are still doing the rounds nine months later."
"The fact those pictures are in the public domain is a testament to Espo's inability to control himself," Kate teased elbowing the Latino detective playfully. "Isn't that right, Espo?"
The male detective rolled his eyes. "It was Honey Milk's idea to email them to everyone in the precinct," he answered. "He would have done it but the photos were on my cell not his."
"Yeah, yeah."
Jim Beckett arrived an hour later, carrying three bags and the alluring smell of Chinese food with him.
"Hello everyone," he greeted, putting the bags down on the nearest table.
Kate got up and strode over to her father, falling into his arms and bursting into tears as the others mumbled a greeting to the elder Beckett.
"I'm s-so sc-cared Daddy!" she whispered, clutching at her father for dear life. "I c-can't lose him, I love him so much!"
Jim just held his daughter and allowed her to cry her eyes out. "I know you do, sweetheart. I know you do," he crooned, rubbing her back comfortingly like he used to do when she was an infant. "He's to you like your Mom was to me, isn't he?"
Kate nodded silently against her father's shoulder. "He's my soul mate," she mumbled. "We've got what you and Mom had, Dad. I don't want to go through what you had to when we lost Mom. I couldn't do it-"
"You listen to me, Katie. You're not going to have to go through what I did," Jim said firmly, his voice breaking as he cupped Kate's face in his hands. "Rick is a strong, strong man and will pull through this because he has you to wake up to. He has Alexis, Martha, Kevin, Javier, Lanie and the whole precinct team to wake up to. Don't you dare give up, Katie."
"That's exactly what I said!" Martha declared getting to her feet and approaching the pair. "Thanks for coming Jim, it means a lot."
Jim embraced the actress warmly. "I couldn't not come," he said, indicating to the bags he had brought with him. "I don't know if any of you are hungry but I bought some Chinese and some soda for you, dig in everyone."
"Thanks a lot Mr Beckett," Alexis said thickly as she and Esposito began unpacking the bags. "You're very thoughtful."
"S-so any news?" Jim asked apprehensively as Esposito and Alexis distributed the many containers of food.
"None since three," Ryan replied, taking a container of Kung Pao chicken from Alexis. "The triage nurse promised the surgeon operating on Rick now would come out when he's done and give us an update. As far as we know the on call neurosurgeon is still standing by to fix Castle's head injury once his abdominal surgery is finished with. The nurse told us he could be in surgery til at least eleven this morning...minimum."
"So it's just the waiting game," Alexis said flatly, sticking a pair of wooden chopsticks into some honey chicken. "There's nothing else we can do. I hope when Doctor Parish gets here she might be able to give us an idea of what might be going on...in the professional sense."
"I know it's going to be hard sweetie but try not to worry in the mean time, no news is good news Jo always used to say," Jim told the teen sagely. "And she was the smartest woman I ever met."
Alexis gave Jim a small smile. "I'll try," she promised.
Finally at seven AM Lanie arrived slightly out of breath.
"I'm so sorry I'm late!" she apologised, engulfing Kate in a hug. "I had a gross one and it took a bit longer than normal to clean up. What's happening? Any news?"
"Nothing," Kate replied, returning her best friend's hug. "Nothing since three this morning and then we were told that the surgeon had to put an incision in his abdomen to stop the bleeding, the bullet pierced his upper large intestine and lower stomach and the repair so far he's had quarter of his liver removed. The bullet also hit his lower stomach and upper large intestine it's entirely possible he might have to have some of the latter removed."
Lanie's eyes widened. "You're kidding?" she exclaimed. "Oh boy, Javi said he'd been hit three times, in the same spot? What-"
"Once in the shoulder and once directly in the knee," Ryan said, taking over as Kate broke down again. "And at some point he's had his jaw broken, though not from a bullet injury. I'd be surprised if he has any kneecap left Lanie it looked like it had exploded. The triage nurse told us an orthopaedic surgeon and a maxillo-facial surgeon are on alert to operate but his head injury is of most concern and the on call neurosurgeon is ready and waiting to take over from the general surgeon once he finishes sewing up."
Lanie's eyes widened further. "They're doing it in relay?" she exclaimed in surprise. "Shit."
"What Lane?" Kate croaked in alarm. "What's wrong? How bad is-"
"I don't know how bad it is, sweetie. I can't without being in the OR and I'm not going to be allowed to do that," Lanie said hurriedly, wrapping her arms around the female detective again. "But medically speaking to repair the sort of injuries Rick has is done in separate surgeries so the body has time to recover from A the trauma of the initial injury and B the stress of the resulting surgery. For the surgical team to go straight from abdominal to head surgery means Rick's suffered catastrophic injuries and it's best to tackle them all at once. If he hasn't gone into a coma once the anaesthetic is turned off they'll probably put him into one to allow him to recover more efficiently. That's quite common with major head injuries. Trust me although this is rare it's obviously the best thing for Rick. They don't like to keep anyone under anaesthetic for too long."
"So it really is sit and wait?"
"I'm afraid so sweetie, nothing like this can be rushed."
"You'll stay til we know more?"
"Of course I've even taken some sick days from the morgue, times like this the whole team has to stick together. I'm not going anywhere while Rick's in surgery and you're hurtin', alright?"
"Thanks so much Lanie."
"Anytime girl."
Finally at ten o'clock a tall dark haired surgeon still waring theatre scrubs entered the room.
"Family of Richard Castle?" he inquired in a thick British accent.
"Family and friends," Esposito said, leaping to his feet. "Martha Rodgers, his Mom, Alexis Castle his daughter, Jim Beckett, Doctor Lanie Parish, Detective Kevin Ryan, I'm Detective Javier Esposito and this is Detective Kate Beckett, Richard Castle's girlfriend."
"Good to meet you all, I'm Hugh Anderson. I'm a General surgeon specialising in emergency treatment. I've just finished operating on Mr Castle," the surgeon said after shaking everyone's hand. "He's in the capable hands of Jessica Ray or on call neurosurgeon right now."
"So h-how did it g-go?" Kate asked apprehensively. "We already know he crashed three times before he went into the OR."
"He did," Dr Anderson replied gravely. "And twice more in surgery there was one point where my team and I thought we were going to lose him but he thankfully came through it and has been in a stable condition for the last five hours."
Every one of them let out a gasp of shock but Alexis vocalised what everyone was thinking when she vehemently swore.
"So how did the surgery go?" Lanie asked as Martha and Kate sandwiched Alexis in a hug.
"It went well," Dr Anderson replied, scratching the bridge of his nose. "The bullet passed directly though his liver and initially I removed a quarter of it but Mr Castle began to bleed and it stretched out to a third. It also grazed the lower part of his stomach but only light cauterization was required to patch it up. The second greatest concern for me was his upper large intestine as the bullet totally destroyed it. I was forced to remove a one foot length of it. I thought initially it would only require removing half a dozen inches of tissue but the damage the bullet caused made it so I had to remove a full foot before I found healthy enough tissue to suture together. Thankfully the bullet missed his kidneys heart and lungs because if it hadn't I'm sure we still wouldn't have Mr Castle with us."
"Joder!" Esposito cussed as Martha let out a moan of relief and clutched Alexis closer to her.
"He-he's in with the neurosurgeon now?" Kate asked.
"Yes, Doctor Ray took over about two hours ago,' Dr Anderson replied. "Neurosurgery isn't my area of expertise I'm afraid, so I can't tell you anything about the surgery itself but rest assured she is one of the best in her field and Mr Castle is in very capable hands."
"W-when d'you think we'll find out some more?" Alexis asked tearfully. "He's already been under anaesthetic for eleven hours."
"That I'm not sure about Miss Castle. I wish I could tell you more," Dr Anderson replied apologetically. "I do know the severity of your father's head injury is high and it is likely he'll be on the table for several more hours yet. Neurosurgery is a very delicate and precise area of medicine and often slow and steady wins the race."
"Oh good!"
"Thanks for coming out and giving us an update, we really appreciate it." Ryan said gratefully, extending his hand to the surgeon.
Dr Anderson took Ryan's hand and shook it. "No problem Detective," he said. "I'm just heading back to the surgical suite now and I'll let the current team know you're still waiting and I'm sure as soon as possible someone will be out here giving you more information."
The group thanked the surgeon profusely before he turned and left and the waiting game resumed.
"The first hurdle jumped, girl," Lanie said to Kate, grasping her friend's hand and squeezing it. "Writer Boy's tough, he'll come through this and then we can all make fun of him having a shaved head."
Despite the gravity of the situation Kate couldn't help but laugh.
"I'll be leading the teasing," she vowed, wiping at her eyes with the cuff of her sleeve. "I'm thinking up one liners now."
Eventually exhaustion overcame Kate and she fell into a deep sleep spread on two large bean bags next to Alexis who had fallen asleep shortly after midday. Martha had removed the throw rugs on the two largest couches and threw one over the female detective and one over her grand daughter sitting between the women, every so often stroking their hair comfortingly, though more for her benefit than theirs. Ryan and Esposito flitted between the waiting room and cafeteria bringing snacks and drinks for everyone but eventually too they fell asleep.
Try as she might Martha couldn't sleep, her maternal instincts pressing her to stay awake. She was more worried about Rick than she let on to the others but her nature dictated she care for the others and so came six PM and she sat awake all the rest, slumbered.
'C'mon m'boy, pull through this," she said inwardly, her blue eyes pricking with hot unshed tears. "We all need you."
Alexis was the first to wake two hours later just after eight PM.
"Grams?" she croaked sleepily, awkwardly sitting up.
"Hey kiddo," Martha said softly, holding a hand out and helping the teen to her feet. "Sleep well?"
"Nah, not really," Alexis admitted as she stretched cracking the vertebrae of her spine and neck. "Any news?"
"No, none since this morning," Martha replied, patting the space of couch next to her. "Come sit, I would have woken you and everyone else up if there was."
Alexis dropped down next to her grandmother and allowed the older woman to put an arm around her shoulders. "What if he dies Grams?" Alexis cried. "I'm not ready to lose my Dad. All my life it's just been us two y'know. We've done everything together. He's always been there to pick me up from school and has left publishing meetings early just to spend more time with me. I haven't spent enough time with him what if-"
"Don't think about what ifs, we'll jump that hurdle if and when we come to it," Martha said firmly. "Like Jim said this morning, no news is good news. If anything had happened someone would have come to us. Think positive darling. Your Dad is a strong man and he'll come through this."
"Yeah, he will," Alexis answered after a moment of silence. "Then when he wakes up I'm going to pull his ear like Kate does and growl at him for doing this to all of us and getting himself in such a mess."
"Not if I get to him first," said a sleepy voice from behind them.
In perfect unison Martha and Alexis turned around to see Kate waking up, her long brunette tresses falling in knotted curls around her face.
"Hey kiddo, did you sleep alright?" Martha asked, getting up and making her way over to the female detective.
"Better than I expected," Kate replied, unsuccessfully fighting off a yawn. "Any news?"
"No, not since Doctor Anderson came in this morning," Martha replied, helping Kate to her feet. "How are you feeling? Are you hungry? Thirsty?"
Kate sniffed. "Little thirsty," she admitted.
"You sit with Alexis and I'll head across the road and get you something," Martha said at once getting to her feet. "You stay here with Alexis."
"Oh Martha, you don-" Kate began.
"I know I don't have to Kate but you need to eat and drink something," Martha insisted, slinging her handbag over her shoulder. "We all need to eat and drink something. It's not going to help Richard if you pass out from lack of food."
"Momma Castle's got a point, Chica,' Esposito said suddenly from the other side of the room. "Any news?"
"None yet," Kate replied as one by one everyone began waking up.
"I'm going to see how things are going," Lanie said quietly. "Don't know if I'll be able to get anything, but I'll try."
"Thanks Lanie," Kate told her friend gratefully.
"Anytime sweetie."
The sassy M.E left the room and Martha went to follow her.
"I'll go and get same dinner for everyone," she said. "Pizza alright for everyone?"
There was a collective murmur of agreement.
"This waiting stinks!" Kate declared loudly, dropping down on the nearest chair. "God I hate it, hate it!"
"No one's enjoying this Kate, but every hour we wait is one more that we're closer to finding out what's happening with Dad." Alexis informed the worried detective as she sat down beside her and grasping her hand her round face hopeful.
"You're awfully optimistic," Kate said in amusement, the ghost of a smile playing upon her lips
"I can't help but be so Kate, its Dad's influence," Alexis confessed. "He's the most optimistic person I know. I wouldn't be a Castle if I wasn't optimistic."
Kate enveloped the young woman in a hug. "Thank you," she whispered.
"W-what for?" Alexis asked in confusion.
"For not hating me," Kate said thickly, her eyes welling with tears again. "For not yelling at me because I'm the reason your Dad's here, for-"
"Kate...you are not the reason Dad is in here!" Alexis exclaimed. "He dove into your Mom's case off his own back not because you asked or forced him to. He did this because he loves you, because he wanted to bring you and your Dad some justice and peace and knowing him like I do, I suspect he'll say every minute of it was worth it because you got the man who did it. I don't hate you, I never have and neither does Grams. We both think you're pretty special."
"You do?" Kate exclaimed in surprise very touched at the teen's revelation.
"Yeah you make Dad happy, he lights up like the Vegas strip when you enter a room and when you're not around he's always talking about you. To the day doorman, the night doorman, the morning shift manager at Angelo's, whoever delivers take away, even the cleaner that comes in to polish the floors at Gram's school."
Jim and Ryan overheard Alexis and unsuccessfully tried to hide their snorts of amusement.
"She's got a point there Katie," Jim said with a wide grin. "Every third word is 'Kate'"
"Every third one?" Ryan interjected, his eyebrows raised. "Every second one, and when he's drunk its all 'Kate Kate Kate Kate'"
Kate picked up a cushion and threw it at the Irish detective, her face a magnificent shade of scarlet as Jim guffawed loudly.
"Shut up," she muttered. "Goof."
Ryan chuckled heartily.
"Not long Kate," he said after the hilarity died down. "Stay strong, huh? You too 'lexis, whatever happens the whole twelfth team is behind you."
"Thanks a lot Detective Ryan."
Lanie returned from the surgery suite a few minutes later with a frustrated look upon her face.
"No news," she said flatly, dropping down in the nearest chair before anyone could ask if she had found anything out. "The managing nurse of the recovery unit said until the surgery is finished and someone from the operating team comes out of the OR there's nothing she can tell us. I kind of expected that but I would've thought in the name of professional interest hmmph! Where's Javi?"
"Across the road getting pizza with Grams," Alexis replied. "I don't suppose you have a charger in your bag, do you? My cell's almost flat."
"Yeah I think I do sweetie lemme look."
Martha and Esposito returned a moment later just as Alexis connected her iPhone to Lanie's charger, bringing with them the alluring smell of melted cheese and olives. Despite having an almost non existent appetite prior to their departure Kate pounced on the first box shoving a slice in her mouth.
"Mmm fanks." she mumbled, giving Esposito a thumbs up.
"No news?" the male detective asked.
"No, Lanie tried to find out something but Rick's still in the ER so there's no-one that can come out and tell us anything," Kate replied sadly. "But there's gotta be something coming soon, I mean he's been under anaesthetic for nearly twenty hours."
"Here's hoping Chica."
Finally three hours later just as the clock ticked over to eleven PM a young woman Kate thought barely old enough to have graduated high school let alone medical school arrived dressed in pale blue theatre scrubs her hair pulled back in a messy braid.
"Family and friends of Richard Castle?" she inquired.
"That's us!" Kate exclaimed, leaping to her feet. "What's happened? Is he alright? How long-"
"Katie, give the doctor a chance to speak," Jim said firmly, grasping his daughter's hand. "Deep breaths."
"I'm Doctor Ray, I performed Mr Castle's neurosurgery," the young doctor said, addressing the group in a professional yet kind manner. "You'll be glad to know he's out of the OR and is in recovery being monitored."
"He came through the surgery alright?" Alexis asked fearfully.
"As well as can be expected given the injuries he suffered," Dr Ray replied with a small smile. "He did require three units of blood during the course of my part of the surgery but given the severity of his injury that's not entirely unheard of. It was long and very delicate surgery and Mr Castle still isn't out of the woods yet."
"Medically speaking what sort of injuries did he have?" Lanie asked. "Lanie Parish, I'm an M.E with the coroner's office."
"Two major ones," Doctor Ray replied. "A Subdual Haematoma to the back of his skull. There was quite a lot of bleeding and it took two hours alone to clean it all up and pick out the skull splinters from the surrounding scalp and brain tissue. An injury of this nature is usually fatal and to be honest I'm surprised Mr Castle survived for as long as he has. Medically speaking, he's the toughest person I've ever operated on."
"And the second one?" Lanie pressed.
"A cerebral haemorrhage," Doctor Ray replied. "Though it was a very small one, only seven millimetres wide secondary to the subdural haematoma. As you'd know the mortality rate of those especially combined with the haemorrhage is nearing forty percent, but somehow my some miracle Mr Castle has come through it."
"All of that from being hit on the head by a hammer?" Esposito exclaimed, incredulously. "Mierda!"
"I think he may have been hit twice, I'm not entirely sure of that there's only one defined skull fracture on the MRI," Doctor Ray replied. "The amount of times he was hit is immaterial now. The most important thing is that the haemorrhage and haematoma have been repaired and I've inserted some screws in the skull itself in addition to some cerebral shunts to drain any excess cerebrospinal fluid. Mr Castle is also on some pretty heavy medication that the recovery and ICU nurses will administer to aid in his recovery. He's also been placed in a coma to further aid his recovery."
"So for the time being my son is alright?" Martha asked.
"Yes ma'am, for now he is," Doctor Ray replied solemnly. "It was extraordinarily complicated and very delicate surgery but I'm confident he shouldn't require any more surgical intervention. Now it's just up to his body to heal."
"Any idea how long he'll be in a coma for?" Kate asked quietly.
"No ma'am, I have no idea it could be two days or it could be two months," Dr Ray replied apologetically. "How long one is in a coma depends on many factors, the severity of the injury, the stress of the repairing surgery, medication and the constitution of the patient. I've looked over Mr Castle's medical records and he's a very healthy individual. Theoretically there's no reason he shouldn't recover and resume normal activity. Though that's a long term prediction anything could happen in the interim I hope you realise."
"Oh yes I do, thank you so much for helping Rick. It means a lot to all of us. When can we see him?"
"Let me go and check on his progress in recovery, then if he's okay to receive visitors, I'll send someone through to collect you."
Dr Ray left and the group immediately let out loud moans of relief. Kate, Martha and Alexis engulfed each other in a group hug and Lanie leapt into Esposito's arms. Ryan and Jim shared a hug and the Irish detective threw off his vest and pumped his fist.
"So who's going to text Frank and his team and let them know Writer Boy's out of surgery?" Esposito asked.
"Let's wait til we've seen him in recovery," Kate suggested, an ever so small smile playing upon her lips. "Oh god I'm relieved!"
"See what did I tell you?" Martha said to the female detective. "Our boy is a toughie, he's not going to let this beat him."
Kate's grin widened. "I know its early days yet, but I can't help feel so relieved!" she exclaimed.
Alexis strode forward and engulfed the female detective in a hug. "Wonderful, isn't it?" she whispered.
"It's the best news sweetie, in no time your Dad will be awake and we can teasing him about having a shaved head," Kate replied. "We'll have to go out and get him a fancy hat, maybe something with a lot of sparkles on it."
Alexis laughed happy tears welling in her ice blue eyes. "Or ribbons," she countered with a giggle.
"Sounds good."
Half an hour later a nurse dressed in the blue uniform of the hospital arrived.
"Family and friends of Richard Castle?" she inquired.
"That's us!" Alexis exclaimed.
"My name's Marilyn, I'm a nurse from the recovery ward. I'm here to escort you to the department so you can visit with him," the nurse said. "Three at a time maximum."
"You, Alexis and Martha go first, we can wait," Lanie said to Kate. "Give him our love, okay?"
"Will do," Kate replied. 'Thanks Lanes."
"Anytime sweetie."
With Marilyn leading the way Kate followed Alexis and Martha down a long hallway til they came to the post surgical ward only half of the two dozen beds were occupied and Marilyn led them down to he far end where Rick was laying on a gurney recovering.
The Writer was almost invisible under dozens of tubes and cords poking out of his body. He was covered up to his waist in a crisp white hospital issue blanket that was folded neatly just below an enormous gauze bandage covering his abdominal wound. He was attached to a machine that simultaneously measured his heart rate and blood pressure a secondary machine measured his urine output and a little clip on his right index finger measured his oxygen saturation. His abdomen was a rainbow of bruises and he has a perfect set of black eyes.
So used to seeing her man so loud and vibrant and full of life, seeing him lying prone and deeply in a coma shocked Kate and her green eyes welled with tears and spilled over.
"Oh my god!" she whispered, clutching at the nearest person which happened to be Martha. "Oh my god Martha...look at him!"
Wordlessly Martha pulled Kate close as Alexis strode forward and leaned down to kiss her father on his bandaged forehead tears streaming down her face. Martha took the female detective over to wards and empty bed to comfort her while Alexis stepped forward to speak with her father.
"Hey Dad," the teen croaked, grasping his right hand the middle finger of which rested the hematite ring Kate had given him for his birthday. "I-I don't know if you can hear me but...h-here goes...We're all just waiting for you to wake up. Detective Esposito, Detective Ryan, Doctor Parish and Mr Beckett and down the hallway in the waiting room and will come here when the nurses kick us out. I'm here with Grams and Kate. The doctors said you came through surgery as well as can be expected and Doctor Ray said there should be no reason you shouldn't recover fully. I know everyone at the twelfth and all of Frank's team are just waiting for you to wake up. I want you to wake up soon Dad but out of all of us Kate wants it the most. She loves you Dad she loves you so much and it'll kill her most of all if you don't come back to us..."
Alexis retrieved a handkerchief from within her handbag and took a moment to blow her nose and wipe her eyes.
"I told her the other day you wanted to marry her," she continued in a thick voice. "I know you've never actually come out and said that you want to, but actions speak louder than words and you act different with her then you ever did with Gina or any of the other women you've been with. I don't know what you were like with Mom but I've been around long enough to know that Kate's your match and if you don't ask her to marry you as soon as you're well enough, I'm gonna throw something at you. And I reckon Grams would be right behind me. Don't waste any time, Dad. With you shadowing Kate all the time you don't know what day will be your last. Her shooting and your kidnapping should be enough to make that obvious to you. It's obvious to everyone else."
Alexis wiped her eyes again ten leaned down and kissed Rick on the cheek.
"I'm going to go now, Dad. And let Grams and Kate visit with you," she said, squeezing his hand. "I want you back with us but don't be in a hurry, take all the time you need to get well again okay? I love you."
Alexis turned and made her way over to Kate and Martha.
"Your turn," she said, giving the two women a small smile.
"You go first, kiddo. I'll stay with Alexis," Martha said to Kate giving the female detective a little nudge. "Take all the time you need."
"Thanks."
Kate made her way across the crisp white linoleum floor til she got to Rick's bedside. She momentarily lifted up his oxygen mask and dropped a lingering kiss on his lips before replacing it over his mouth securely and taking his right hand in hers.
"Hey Cupcake," she teased fingering the ring she had given him. "I hope you're really recovering from surgery and not ignoring me or I'm going to twist your ear. I-I..."
Suddenly the enormity of nearly losing him overwhelmed Kate and she burst into tears.
"P-please hold on R-Rick!" she whispered pressing his hand so warm and alive to her cheek. "Don't leave me. I can't do any of this without you! I won't be able to go through the trial without you or be a cop without you by my side. I exist for you I exist because of this thing we have. The precinct is dead without you in it, you make everyone's life so much better. You make my life so much better...oh god this is so screwed up! This wasn't supposed to happen you were supposed to be with me when I arrested the asshole who ordered the hit on Mom. One of the most momentous occasions and you had to go and get yourself shot, I mean...dammit Rick!"
More tears leaked out of Kate's eyes and she pressed her lips to Rick's palm.
"It's all over Rick," she murmured. "I slapped the cuffs on Robinson myself. Kevin and Javi arrested Hargraves. Those two sons of bitches will never see the light of day again. Thank you so much for doing all the legwork to make that possible. I fell in love with you all over again when I read through the file you had compiled. You, Kevin, Javi and Gates are my favourite people right now. I owe you all so much. I'll never be able to show you how thankful I am that you guys were the reason the man responsible for Mom's death are behind bars. When you wake up and are discharged I'm taking you all out to dinner, it's the least I can do."
Kate ran out of things to say and just sat with Rick his hand pressed to her cheek. She barely noticed Martha and Alexis leaving and Ryan, Esposito and Lanie coming in. She lost track of time til someone placed their hands on her shoulders and shook them.
"Katie?" Jim inquired, rubbing his daughter's shoulders comfortingly. "How are you sweetheart?"
Kate sniffed. "Alright," she said softly. "What time is it?"
"Just ticking over to midnight, Kevin, Javi and Lanie have just left to give Martha and Alexis a ride home," Jim informed his daughter pulling a spare chair across to sit next to her. "Are you read to head back to the apartment? You're exhausted you need to have a proper sleep."
"No, I want to stay here...by his side," Kate protested gripping Rick's hand tighter. "I need to be here."
"Katie, Rick's not going to wake up just yet. He's in a medically induce coma and the doctors aren't going to bring him out of it just yet," Jim reasoned. "If you stay here you're going to collapse and I will not have that. Please come home, even if it's just for a few hours. Have a hot shower a proper healthy meal and a few hours sleep. Then I promise I'll bring you back here, whatever the hour after you've gone to bed for a bit."
"But Dad what if something happens?" Kate whispered. "What if he slips away when I'm not here? What if-"
"Enough of the 'what ifs'," Jim said firmly. "Katie, if you lived your life by 'what if's' you'd never get out of bed or leave home. The doctors will ring you if anything happens good or bad. It's not going to help Rick if when he wakes up you're collapsed in a hospital bed next to him. He'd want you to go home and rest up properly. You know he would."
Kate slumped against her father with a sigh. "You're right," she replied with a sniff. "We can come back as soon as possible?"
"As soon as you've had a decent sleep and meal," Jim promised. "I'll even drive you."
"Alright," Kate agreed, laying Rick's arm down and standing up. "I have to admit it would be nice to sleep, lying down."
"Come on lets head home."
Kate pushed her chair off to the side and leaned down to kiss Rick again. "I'll be back in the morning, darling man," she whispered. "Til tomorrow."
And with Jim's arm around her Kate, they left the hospital determined to return by lunchtime the following day.
A/N2: The review button feeds the beast peoples!