Authors note; Okay so I had really big response to my first chapter and was a little blown away! So here you go. Chapter 2! My inspiration was running a little dry and its a little bit broken and not too 'right' for me this chapter, but after about 20 zillion re-writes this is the best I can do I believe! The last two chapters were written with a little help from some whiskey and sombre music so...apologies! I promise that it will improve in the future. This chapter was also mainly to get the shit stuff out of the way.

Castle wasn't there when she awoke, which immediately made her panic. Although she had no real idea why she was panicking, the chances were he had merely gone to relieve himself or get some coffee. What made her squirm even more was the person who entered the room next. Josh. She was up for this at all. This act they always put on, like everything was perfectly okay and they were happy. She was thinking of someone else or talking about someone else and he was hating her for it. She raised her eyes to meet his and flat out questioned his appearance.

"Why are you here?" She was tired of it. The meds had her groggy, like she was drunk and the fact she didn't have her partner close by irritated her further. She knew it wasn't Josh's fault, but he had promised to be there more when she needed it and he had made no such attempts. He was showing up after the fact, constantly. Unlike a certain manchild who was constantly in her life. Living up to his name and being like a fortress that she could rely upon at all times. Whereas everything about her and Josh's relationship suggested otherwise. Castle had been right on every count in her flat that night. She was hiding from happiness because she was scared to lose it once it was there, but being shot and seeing Rick's eyes like that, it changed something within her. To him, he had found that happiness by just being with her when he could and she had ripped it from his chest without even thinking. Josh shook his head lightly and resumed eye contact with her. "I'm sorry, that I can't keep my promise." Kate knew that look, of utter defeat. Her relationship with Josh was a trapize act, as long as Castle didn't push too hard it worked fine, but now, he wasn't even pushing, he didn't have to. Everyone had seen the way Rick looked at her in the last few days and he wasn't going to hide it anymore, and with the way it made her feel she wasn't sure she wanted him too. Josh had resigned himself to the fact, he couldn't compete with Castle, not on a physical level, but on an emotional one. "I should go." He stood up, scooting between the bed and chair before stopping at the door. "It would mean alot if we could remain friends Kate." He smiled, and she returned the gesture, knowing it was unlikely as he left her side.

It was another two or three minutes of refreshing silence before Castle entered the room with a large black duffle bag in hand. Followed closely by Lanie, Esposito, Ryan and Alexis. She was already aware her father was staying with Martha in the loft. Even if Castle didn't she was. Lanie immediately sat down in what had quickly become Ricks seat. Castle, not Rick. He was Castle. Lanie began to speak as the boys at the foot of the bed seemed to make themselves comfortable against the wall. Alexis taking a pugh next to the bed. The toughened detective took Alexis' hand in her own and seemed to reassure the teen with a smile as Lanie continued to talk about the doctors time line of recovery for Kate. Another three days in the hospital before she could leave, but she'd have to stay someone who could support her weight, be around the place 100% of the time and have plenty of space. There was only one person who could fulfill all those requirements, and the smug grin on his face meant he knew it. She bit her lip lightly as Lanie finished speaking and she caught Castle's twinkling eye.

Rick's hand placed the duffle bag containing his laptop, various books, DVD's, and board-games on the floor as the next few hours passed. Lanie and Esposito left first, and Ryan stayed a little longer to sit and talk with Beckett and Alexis about his wedding plans, and his definite intention to have all of them in flowing dresses. He stood, said his goodbyes, warned Castle to 'play nice with mummy' then left. As he reached the door however he stopped slightly and turned to Alexis "Wanna ride home?" She blushed and looked to her father, then Kate. "Actually..I brought some extra money for a cab ride..I was hoping I could stay with you two for a while? Grams been driving me crazy and well-" She didn't have to finish the sentence before Kate had said yes. She was well aware the teenager missed her father, what she wasn't aware of, was how much the redhead was worried about Kate.

They spent the next two hours watching 500 Days of Summer. Both Beckett and Alexis had seen the movie already, but Castle hadn't. He found himself both smiling and feeling far too relatable with the male lead at times. He caugth Becketts eye several times, while Alexis had pulled her chair to the other side of the bed and let her head rest on her fathers shoulder. When the movie finished she popped it into the case and left it for the two to watch if they felt they wanted to again. Although Castle couldn't bring himself to admit he'd rather read a bad review on his books than see the heart-wrenching occur in that movie again. His fingers had found themselves in Becketts hand again. She had long since stopped fighting it. That bullet had brought her closer to death than she ever wanted to be again and she had done nothing but think about what she would miss of her life since she woke, everytime the list was the same. Her father, then Castle, then everything else. Her fear of happiness and losing it was slipping away, she could feel it. She didn't know how, or why, but it felt like he was the cause. I love you. She couldn't forget it. She questioned herself, as always, that it may be the meds, dulling her feelings and letting them mix into one, but she doubted it was that intense. Castle was smiling, and she didn't know why. It was a little unsettling sometimes, the way he watched her, but recently she found it endearing. She pulled with her hand until he was practically leaning over the bed.

"Kate..go to sleep." Castle was practically over the bed but she kept pulling. "Take your shoes off." At first, it didn't fit into his brain what she meant, even as he kicked his boots off and she pulling hand to the other side of the bed, his body so close to hers. He could feel her heat, her breath against his face. The cherry scent that lingered around her made his lips curl as she dragged him onto the bed. "Kate, you-" She cut him off instantly. "For once, please just be quiet." Her voice was low and soft, pulling him onto the bed and curling herself, or what she could, with the pain she still felt, against his chest. Castle's arm was resting on her waist, where the pain wasn't present. Within the next few minutes he felt her head bob gently as she nuzzled his chest, falling away into a dream state and, before he knew it. Castle had too. A smile across his face.

Authors second note(!); After reading several other fanfics I decided it was time for one where Kate, like the strong woman she is, doesn't break down and cry at ever oppurtunity. I love the other fanfics but I thought she was painted alot weaker than she really is written in the show! I think I'll show her vulnerabilities soon but I wanted to insert some fluff! Hope you enjoy. Reviews welcome :D