Here's the second chapter continuing the cliffhanger... Sorry if I took too much time guys! And thanks for the reviews, keep sending them, they make my days! :D
Chapter 2 - The Coma
"Mr. Castle's condition is worrying, he's in a coma, we don't know if he's going to get out of it and if it'll cause him problems in the future, we did the best we could", said the nurse.
The news didn't exactly make the people in the room cheerful. Some tried to fight tears, some tried to think it could be worse, but no one was feeling as bad as Kate Beckett. Not only because she thought Castle's coma was her fault, but because throughout the years she spent working with him she found out more each day she loved him. Yes, she couldn't lie to herself anymore, she was in love with Castle.
"You can visit the room now, he's stable", said the doctor entering the waiting room. "But to avoid that the room gets too crowded you'll have to take turns".
"Alexis and Martha should go and stay as long as they like", said Lanie, and the whole room nodded.
Alexis and Martha made their way to the hospital room, leaving Beckett, Lanie, Esposito and Ryan.
Lanie thought it would be best not to talk to Beckett too much, but she knew the guilt her friend was feeling and decided to go to the seat next to her friend. She sat there and held Beckett's hand, she could still see her friend's face marked with the tears that were still flowing.
"Wanna talk sweetie?", asked Lanie softly.
"It's all my fault Lanie… If I hadn't agreed to take him with me and had paid more attention he'd be home with Alexis and Martha by now", said Beckett with an expression that gave Lanie a pain in the heart.
"You knew he would persuade you to take him there anyway. It was not your fault and you know it. And if it had been you that took the bullet he wouldn't be able to live with himself, just like you are now. He cares about you Kate, maybe more than you can imagine", said Lanie.
"I-I know Lanie! That's one of the reasons why I feel so awful! He took a bullet for me and throughout these years of work our relationship was based on sarcasm and friendly acts. I ne…", she said begging to cry harder than before, "I never got the chance to tell him I lo-loved him! And I'll pr-obably never get again!"
"He's in a coma, he's not dead, he can wake up anytime. There's a chance everything's going to be alright", said Lanie.
"Yeah, but there's no proof", said Beckett.
"There's no proof, but we can still hope! You can't stop hoping!", said Lanie squeezing her friend's hand. "You should get some sleep, you'll feel better".
"I'm not tired Lanie", said Beckett, but it was a lie, she was really tired, "I won't be able to sleep after what happened".
"Well, I think I'm going home. Wanna come? You can stay with me", said Lanie.
"I'm gonna stay here Lanie", said Beckett.
"Alright, if you need anything call me. I mean it, anything!", said Lanie.
"I will Lanie, promise", said Beckett.
"Okay, night sweetie, I'll come back tomorrow", said Lanie giving Beckett a hug and getting up.
"Night Lanie", said Beckett as Lanie got out of the room.
"Bye Beckett", said Esposito and Ryan looking at Beckett with gazes full of concern.
"Bye guys", said a sad Beckett.
She sat there lost in thought for a sometime until she fell asleep seating on the chair.
In the morning, around 9 o'clock she was woken up by someone poking her on the shoulder and the smell of coffee. She opened her eyes to see a redheaded teenager with a tired but sympathetic look, Alexis.
"Good morning detective", said Alexis handing her a cup of coffee.
"Good morning Alexis. Oh, you shouldn't have…", said Beckett grabbing the cup of coffee.
"After all we've been through last night, I thought you should need it", said Alexis.
"Where's everybody?" asked Beckett.
"Grandma's with dad in the room, Ryan and Esposito are at the precinct and Lanie's at your place packing some of your clothes in a suitcase", said Alexis.
"Why aren't you with Martha?", asked Beckett.
"I can't stay there for too long. I can't stand seeing my dad like this. Do you wanna go in?", asked Alexis with tearful eyes,
"Won't I be disturbing you two?", asked Beckett.
"No, not at all, I'm going to take grams to have breakfast somewhere. I just need to get out of this hospital for a while. Can you stay with him until we come back?", asked Alexis.
"Of course I can", said Beckett, thinking about how bad Alexis should be feeling, and wondering why she wasn't mad at her.
"Thank you detective", said Alexis,
"Please, call me Kate", said Beckett.
"I'm gonna get grams, I'll let you know when you can go inside", said Alexis.
"Okay, thank you", said Beckett.
"Thank you for staying with him for us, I can't stand hospitals for much time, and neither does grams", said Alexis.
"It's the least I can do", said Beckett.
"It wasn't your fault Kate", said Alexis.
"Why are you saying that?", asked Beckett.
"I can see how guilty you feel, but you shouldn't feel like this. I know my dad, he would have got you in there anyway or worse, he would go investigating on his own", said Alexis trying to fight tears.
"I-I'm glad to hear that from you Alexis… You don't have to be ashamed of crying in front of me either", said Beckett.
Alexis started to cry leaning her head against Beckett's shoulder. Beckett's arms went around her, holding her. She loved the girl like she was her daughter already. She wanted to be strong, but failed fighting the tears.
Some minutes later Alexis lifted her head and wiped her face with the back of her hand.
"I'm gonna get grams", said Alexis getting up.
"Okay", said Beckett, getting herself together.
Alexis went to Castle's hospital room and came back with Martha, and gave Beckett a wave. Now Beckett knew she could go inside the room now without disturbing them.
Beckett got up and made her way towards Castle's room. It was big for a hospital room, there were two spaces, one with a double sofa bed, night, a flat-screen tv and a mini-fridge, probably where Alexis and Martha spent the night.
When she entered the other space and saw him. The sight made her want to cry, and that's what she did. She made her way towards an armchair next to the bed and held Castle's hand. It didn't have the warmth she felt when he normally touched her, it was cold and pale. His face was peaceful, like he was sleeping, but all she knew is that she didn't want to think about is that he would be like this forever.
"Castle? I know you probably can't hear me right now…", she sniffed, "I just needed to tell you, you know? Just to get it out… God, I feel like I lost my mind!", she laughed shakily. "Well, all this time we've been fighting crime together… It made me realize more and more each day… That I love you. I love you Castle…", she sniffed and blinked letting a tear fall down. "That's why you can't give up, I need to tell you face to face, you know?", she said crying. "It's kind of selfish isn't it?", she forced a smile. "I want you, all to myself…".
After saying this she remembered he had said the same to her… Memories of a day that though was last week seemed so long ago…
"Remember when you told me that?", she laughed shakily, "I miss you Castle! I miss your smile, the way you looked at me that gave me goose bumps… That night you kissed me…", she said remembering those years they spent together… Memories she wanted to live again so much.
She didn't know how much time she spent there talking to Castle and holding his hand, but soon came in Martha and Alexis and she thought it was best to leave.
"Looks like you had some things to catch up, didn't you?", smiled Martha.
"Yeah", said Beckett sniffing and wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"You should go home and take a shower dear, get some rest, you'll feel better", said Martha softly.
"I will, I'll ask Lanie to pick me up", said Beckett.
"Okay, we'll let you know if anything happens", said Martha.
"Thank you, I'd appreciate it", said Beckett with a smile.
"Goodbye Kate", said Alexis.
"Goodbye Alexis, goodbye Martha", said Beckett leaving the room.
"Goodbye detective", said Martha.
As soon as she left the room Beckett called Lanie.
"Hello?", said Lanie answering the phone.
"Hey Lanie, it's me, Kate, can you pick me up at the hospital? I'm without the car", said Beckett.
"Of course, I'll be right there!", said Lanie.
"Thanks Lanie", said Beckett.
"Oh, you're welcome", said Lanie.
"Bye", said Beckett.
"Bye", said Lanie.
Some minutes later Lanie appeared on the hospital door and Beckett went to greet her. They hugged and went to the parking lot where Lanie's car was parked.