A/N2: Hello peoples and WELCOME to the 33rd and FINAL chapter of Absolution the second story in the Revelations story Arc. I've had so much fun writing this story but as the saying all good things must come to an end and so here we are. I would like to thank all of you people who have taken the time to review this story whether it be via a 'follow story', 'follow' author' or an actual review. Your praise and constructive feedback has meant a lot ot me and inspired me in so many ways. This chapter is for my sounding board Bella who is the most bad ass od beta readers. I am a better writer now than what I was way back in November when I started writing Revelations and it's because of her help that I'm at this stage today

I hope you enjoy reading this installment as much as I have had writing it.

Cheers and beers humanoids!

For a full three weeks Rick's condition remained unchanged. His knee, shoulder and jaw reconstructive surgeries went by uneventfully and his vitals continued to improve. Alexis went off to Boston to begin her college career making Kate, Ryan, Esposito, Lanie and Martha promise her they would ring if Rick's condition changed. Kate spent at least twelve hours a day at Mercy West determined to be by Rick's side should he awaken and often it took Jim or Lanie to physically pull her away from the Writers side to make her eat and get some proper sleep.

Ten days after his admission, the decision was made to take him off the drugs keeping him a coma. Kate's hopes soared into the stratosphere at this news and her eyes barely left his face in the hope she would be the first one to witness his return to the realm of consciousness. But twenty nine days after his admission to Mercy West and a full two weeks after being totally taken off the drugs keeping him in a coma Rick remained steadfastly unconscious.

"Is this normal?" Kate asked Dr Ray as the neurosurgeon came by one afternoon to make her daily examination. "I mean it's been two weeks since he was taken off all drugs keeping him asleep. I mean he's only on antibiotics, pain killers and muscle relaxants now."

"It's not unusual," the young woman replied as she inspected Rick's chart. "Him still being asleep is a natural coma. His body obviously needs more time to heal. Don't sweat it; his electrical brain activity is completely normal for someone at this stage of treatment. I once had a patient who was in a coma for two months after being taken off all meds. I don't think that's going to happen to Mr Castle but you have to remember he's suffered some pretty horrific injuries and had four lots of surgery in less than a month. I think him still being asleep is his body recovering from the stress of all the surgery."

"I wish he'd wake up, he's worrying us all sick." Kate mumbled.

Dr Ray gave the female detective a kind smile and briefly touched her shoulder. "He's recovering at a rate I'm happy with Detective, relax a bit," she said reassuringly. "But he's over the worst."

"Thanks for all your help," Kate replied with a sheepish smile. "I kinda feel stupid for flipping out."

"It's totally understandable Detective, he's your partner after all, my brother's a cop. I know all about the whole dynamic partners have, though of course the one you and Mr Castle have is slightly different."

Kate's interest was piqued. "You're brother's a cop?" she asked in interest. "Where?"

"Twenty Fourth Precinct," Dr Ray replied. "He's a second grade Detective in the Special Victims Unit. Graham Pavlich."

"The name doesn't ring a bell but then I'm at the twelfth Homicide, the other side of town," Kate replied. "I don't have a lot to do with SVU unless it's my own precinct. Has be been in the service long?"

"Oh yeah, twenty years," Dr Ray replied. "He worked in a coffee shop after school til he was old enough for the academy then was a foot patrol officer for five years before he went into Narcotics. But he didn't like that much and went into sex crimes after that and has been in SVU for fourteen years. His Captain wants him to take the Lieutenants exam but he says he doesn't want to be stuck behind a desk any more than he already is and has declined his offer."

"Yeah, his paperwork load would double if he ascended to the rank of Lieutenant," Kate replied in amusement. "You never thought of going into the business?"

"Nah, it was medicine for me since I was a little kid I never saw-"

Suddenly the surgeon was interrupted by her pager going off. "Damn, I better get that,' she replied. "You take care Kate and as I said don't sweat it Rick's healing at a satisfactory pace. When it's his time he'll wake up."

"Thanks a lot, you've been really helpful," Kate said thanking the surgeon profusely. "I appreciate everything you've done."

"Any time detective."

Dr Ray jogged out of the room to answer the call on her pager and Kate turned back to Rick once again lacing her fingers through his. Almost a month after being admitted to hospital many of the Writer's external bruises had faded to minor skin discolouration and the bandages that once covered his entire abdomen were now two strips and a circular patch of adhesive gauze.

"C'mon Writer Boy, it's time to wake up," she said softly, reaching under the hospital blanket and affectionately running her hand up and down his muscular thigh. "I need you back with me, it's lonely being on my own."

"Kate?"

Kate turned around to see Lanie standing at the end of Rick's bed. "Hey Lanes," the female detective replied with a small smile. "Come sit, how was work?"

"Eh, same as usual," the sassy ME replied walking over to her friend and briefly embracing her. "Elbow deep in intestines, caught Perlmutter and his wife about to get funky in the office...so same as usual."

Kate let out a great snort of laughter imagining her friend's face upon walking in on the grumpy ME and his wife.

"She was even wearing lacy panties, ugh," Lanie went on with a shudder. "I love Margaret, she's lovely but I'm never going to be able to look her in the face again."

Kate couldn't help it and started guffawing. "P-Perlm-mutter eith-er?" she sniggered.

"Oh god, him too," Lanie replied. "And Javi reacted the exact same way you are."

"So sue us, its funny," Kate replied. "Javi was in here with Kevin earlier, they brought me lunch."

"I know he said," Lanie replied, digging into the tote bag over her shoulder. "And I'm bringing you dinner chicken, avocado eggplant bell pepper, cheese and cress foccacia and some chocolate milk I made last night. You hungry?"

"Yeah, I am thanks a lot Lanie you're the best," taking the bag and bottle of milk her friend gave her. "I was thinking about heading down to the cafeteria when you arrived."

"So what's today's report?" Lanie asked peering at the heart rate monitor Rick was hooked up to.

"No change, but he's progressing at a 'satisfactory pace' according to Dr Ray," Kate replied unwrapping the foccacia. "She told me she once had a patient that didn't wake up til two months after they were taken off the meds keeping them in the coma. But this is Rick he's different he's strong, he's...he's Rick."

"I know sweetie, he'll come back to us when he's ready," Lanie replied rubbing her friend's arm comfortingly. "Now eat up, you're looking thin."

"Lanie, I'm always thin. It's who I am. I'm not underweight," Kate replied dryly. "Have you been talking to Martha and Dad again?"

Lanie's cheeks coloured slightly. "I may have," she confessed. "Everyone's worried about you sweetie. Martha and Jim are worried you aren't eating."

Kate rolled her. "Lanie, I'm fine. Really, I am," she replied. "I really do appreciate everyone's concern...but I'm fine. The nurses are keeping me filled up with tea, coffee and Oreos and two days ago I ate a whole pizza because Martha insisted 'I eat'"

"We're just concerned for you, honey," Lanie said kindly. "And you know this one would be worried about you too. He wouldn't want you to not eat."

"And that's why I am eating," Kate replied after swallowing a mouthful of foccacia. "I'm probably not eating the most nutritious food out there but I'm eating."

"Good Good."

A couple of hours later Lanie made to leave.

"I better be going, girl. I have an early start tomorrow," she said, getting to her feet and slinging her handbag over her shoulder. "I'll try and come in after shift, okay?"

Kate wrapped her arms around Lanie and returned her hug. "Sure thing," she answered. "I really appreciate you coming in Lanie and thanks for dinner. It was great."

"Anytime sweetie, ring or text if there's any news okay? I don't care what time of the day or night it is, I want to know when Writer Boy wakes up as much as everyone else."

"I promise the minute he does wake up I'll be sending out a mass text message," Kate promised. "See you tomorrow."

"Till then."

Lanie left and Kate turned back to Rick. She pulled her chair closer to the Writer's bedside and lay her head down on her forearms just willing her man to wake up.

"I need you Rick," she whispered before sleep overtook her.

Sometime later Kate was jerked awake by a loud noise and a warm something jerking underneath her head

BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

The female detective looked up and saw Rick had awoken. His blue eyes were wide and he was choking on the tube down his throat the sound emanating from him truly spine chillingly sickening. Kate lunged for the patient alert button and pushed it hard.

"Hey hey hey, I'm here. They'll come and take your tube out soon Rick, I'm here. I'm here. I'm here," she soothed, rubbing his arm as his heart rate monitor sounded the rapid increase of his heartbeat.

Three nurses raced into the ward and immediately began fussing over Rick.

"Detective, if you could just stand to the side for a moment we've got this covered," the oldest of the trio ordered in a non nonsense manner. "We've got this."

Reluctantly Kate stood off to the side and watched as the nurses worked.

"Mr Castle, my name's Anne and I'm going to take your tube out but I need you to work with me," the older nurse said to Rick. "When I pull on the tube I need you to cough, okay? Try not to panic, okay? It'll be out soon."

With a mixture of blind panic and pure happiness Kate watched as Anne and her two colleagues worked to free Rick of is breathing tube they took him off the oxygen then gently began pulling the tube out of his throat.

"That's great Mr Castle, cough as hard as you can!" Anne urged as the plastic tube began coming out accompanied by a truly disgusting choking noise. "Keep going, keep going, keep going! Someone page Doctor Ray!"

Eventually much to Kate's relief the choking noise sopped and Anne pulled the tube completely from the Writer's throat. He flopped back onto his bed and blinked slowly.

"K-Kaaaaaaaate!" he rasped, his voice barely discernable to the female detective. "Kaaaaaaaaaate, I want Kaaaaaaate!"

"I'm h-here," Kate answered, rushing forward and grasping the Writers hand. "Just relax Cupcake, the doctor will be here soon. Oh God, it's so good to see you awake!"

"W-where am-am I?" Rick asked dopily as he closed his eyes and swallowed.

"You're in Mercy West Hospital, Rick. You were shot, remember?" Kate revealed with thick emotion. "Everyone's been waiting for you to wake up for a month. We've all been so worried about you!"

"Th'rsty." Rick rasped. "`M th'rsty."

"We'll get you some water in a minute, Mr Castle. Just lay back and relax for us," Anne told the writer. "How are you feeling?"

"S-sore, th-roat hurts," the writer replied. "H-head h-hurts, K-knee hurts, Owwwwwww stom'ch hurts!"

"We'll get you some pain killers once the Doctor gets here, Mr Castle. I promise," Anne informed him, taking a pen light out of her pocket. "I'm just going to check your eyes for a moment. I apologise for any discomfort."

Anne began conducting various tests on Rick, assessing the reactiveness of his pupils and taking his pulse and blood pressure. Fifteen minutes after he woke up Dr Ray returned a beaming smile upon her face.

"Ah Mr Castle, I see you're back with us," the neurosurgeon said to the writer, taking the stethoscope from around her neck. "I'm Doctor Ray and I'm your neurosurgeon. How are you feeling?"

"Th'rsty, I need w-water!" Rick replied with a groan. "`m sore m'head hurts m'knee hurts and m'guts hurt."

"That's perfectly normal, Mr Castle. You've had some pretty major surgery over the past few weeks," Dr Ray replied as she fussed over the Writer examining him. "Anne, can we get some water for Mr Castle?"

"Sure thing."

"So is he alright?" Kate asked Doctor Ray worriedly as the neurosurgeon examined Rick.

"Yes he's in remarkably good condition," the young woman replied. "Which is astounding given he suffered such horrific injuries," she informed the brunette before turning her attention her patient. "Mr Castle, do you know where you are?"

Kate wasn't totally sure but she swore she saw the writer roll his eyes.

"Disneyland an' you're Minnie Mouse," he replied dryly.

Kate let out a great snort of laughter. He was alright!

"Answer the question properly smartass," she scolded, squeezing his hand.

"I'm in hosp'tal," the writer corrected, his voice painfully dry and raspy. "You're-you're...um."

"That's alright, Mr Castle. I'm Doctor Ray your neurosurgeon," Dr Ray repeated, scribbling a note on the chart. "On a scale of one to ten, what's your pain level like?"

"Head k'kills ov'r ten," Rick groaned. "Knee abou' nine, stomach ten, stabbin' pains. Head feels like it's gonna 'xplode. Shoulder 'bout eight, Face feels funny."

"Okay, I'll get you some nice painkillers that'll make you nice and dopey for a while," Dr Ray promised as Anne returned with a bottle of water.

"I've got you some water Mr Castle, try and drink as much as you can, alright?" the nurse informed the writer.

"`Kay, can Kate stay?"

"Sure she can. In fact, Kate, d'you want to hold the bottle? He might drink more if you do."

The female detective jumped at the opportunity. "Of course w-what do I do?" she asked.

"Just hold the bottle to his lips and tip in a little at a time," Anne replied. "If he starts to choke back off and let him rest, then-"

"Can I just have the damn water?" Rick croaked.

"Hey...be nice or I'll go home," Kate teased, unscrewing the bottle of water. "Ready?"

"Uh huh."

Despite just having woken up from a month long coma Rick gulped down the bottle of water in record time with amazing dexterity only spilling a small amount and coughing once.

"Is that better?" Kate asked, stroking his cheek affectionately.

Rick gave a small smile. "Much,' he replied his voice still a little raspy. "Much be'er."

"Alright, Mr Castle. I'm back with your painkillers," Anne announced, rolling a small metal trolley into the ward. "These might knock you out for a bit but you'll feel better when you wake up again, okay?"

"Uh huh."

"How much longer can I stay?" Kate asked the older nurse as she poked a syringe needle into the cannula in the back of Rick's left hand and administered a clear liquid. "I know it's already past the end of visiting hours."

"You're pretty quiet, you can stay all night if you like no one will bother you," Anne replied kindly, slowly depressing the syringe plunger. "But you need to get some sleep too. It's not going to help Mr Castle if you faint from exhaustion, falling asleep in the chairs we have here can't be that comfortable."

"Well no, it's not." Kate admitted.

"These meds are going to knock Rick out for a few more hours, why not stick around til he's out of it then head home?" Anne suggested, discarding the syringe in a sharps bin and reaching for another. "And get something proper to eat. We've all gotten to know you pretty well the past few weeks Kate and we know you've not been eating properly. If it wasn't for your friend's and father, you'd be eating the shit they serve up in the cafeteria."

Kate blushed as Rick began getting sleepy his blinking becoming slower and slower. "Yeah, well I do have a habit of forgetting about my own welfare when that of my friends is compromised," she replied sheepishly.

"Feeeeeeeeeeeel beteerrrrrrrr," Rick moaned dopily.

"That's good Mr Castle, don't fight it. You need some proper sleep" Anne told the writer, administering the second syringe of medication. "Kate will stay til you go snoozies, alright?"

"`Kay."

Eventually by the end of the third syringe of medication Rick fell asleep his head slightly rolled to the side.

"Yup, I think he's out of it," Anne declared as she cleaned up. "Happy day, huh? He's on the road to recovery."

Kate grinned, her cheeks hurting from the effort.

"Yup, he is," she replied with a happy sigh. "I know it's going to be a long road but you know the saying 'A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step."

"Yup, it sure does. Alright that's my work done for the time being," Anne said brightly. "I'll leave you two alone take care, won't you?"

"I will," Kate replied. "Thank you for all you help the last few weeks Anne, you're been a great support."

"Just doin' my job, honey."

Anna left Kate alone with Rick and the female detective pulled her chair closer to the sleeping writer, her heart swelling with excitement that he has finally returned to the land of the conscious. There would be time to deal with the fallout of his shooting later but for the moment it was time to let his friends and family know he had regained consciousness. She retrieved her iPhone from her handbag and began composing the text message to Alexis, Martha, Lanie, Esposito Ryan, her father, Gates and Frank with just two simple words.

He's awake.

A/N2: Well there you go boys and girls that's it! I'm already writing the sequel so if you'd like to be notified when I post the first chapter of that story just click on the 'Author Alert' box and you'll get the link emailed to you. I hope you enjoyed this read! MWAH!