Well, here it goes guys, the third chapter. I hope it doesn't sound cliché, but that's what I imagined. I'm thinking about making a fourth chapter right away :)

So, here it is, remember, reviews are always welcome ;)

Chapter 3 - Hope

They entered the car and Lanie started it.

"So, you feeling better?", asked Lanie with a worried look on her face.

"Kind of…", said Beckett. "Alexis came to talk to me today…", then she told Lanie what happened.

"She cares about you, that girl", said Lanie.

"I know, I really care about her too, but she really needs Castle", said Beckett.

"We all do, sweetie, we all do", said Lanie.

The conversation ended and Beckett started wondering. What would she do without Castle? One of the reasons she was pushing him away was that she didn't want things to change between them, and now she thinks she shouldn't have done it. If only she had the chance to kiss his lips one more time, hold him… Then the image of his body, lying on that hospital bed entered her thoughts and she started tearing.

Lanie saw her friend's tears on the rearview mirror, but decided to stay quiet. She knew that no one could really make Beckett feel better about what happened, other than Castle, of course, which was kind of improbable at the moment.

When Beckett started paying attention to the streets she realized they weren't headed for her place, they were going to Lanie's.

"Lanie, why are you taking me to your place?", asked Beckett.

"You're gonna stay with me for some time okay? I already packed a suitcase with some of your clothes!", said Lanie.

Then Beckett remembered that Alexis told her Lanie would do that.

"I don't want to be a burden Lanie, I can sleep all by myself, really, I'm a grown up girl", said Beckett.

"I'll feel better if you go to my place. I worry about you!", said Lanie.

Beckett decided to give up, she knew she couldn't change Lanie's mind.

They reached Lanie's place sometime later. Beckett decided she should take a shower and at least brush her teeth. Her neck was hurting from sleeping on that chair, so she decided to take some analgesics. Lanie gave Beckett a towel and her toothbrush and Beckett entered the bathroom.

Beckett almost couldn't find the courage to look at herself in the mirror. When she looked at her reflection she saw tired, swollen, bloodshot eyes staring back at her. Her hair was a mess, she looked awful.

After a taking a relaxing hot shower and brushing her teeth, Beckett got out of the bathroom and saw Lanie with a coat under her arm.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving", said Lanie, "Let's go get something for lunch".

"I'm not hungry Lanie", said Beckett.

"Come on! You have to put some food in there!", said Lanie, "Besides, you haven't got anything aside from the coffee Alexis gave you this morning". Not noticing changes in Beckett's expression Lanie said "At least come and keep me some company". And made a puppy dog face.

"Okay Lanie, I'm coming with you", said Beckett smiling and rolling her eyes playfully.

"Yay! Let's go then", said Lanie taking the keys and opening the door.

They ended up going to a Chinese restaurant near Lanie's place. They arrived there and sat on a table near the window. Lanie ordered what she usually did, Beckett wasn't really in the mood for eating, but she ordered some soup.

The two ate and Beckett insisted in paying the bill, since she was staying at Lanie's place she figured it was the least she could do.

They went to Lanie's place. When they got there Beckett went to the guest bedroom. Realizing she was tired because of all that happened today she told Lanie she was going to take a nap.

While asleep she had a nightmare. Castle had been shot, like in real life, but she couldn't do anything, he had died. The paramedics couldn't revive him, she screamed but no one heard her. In the nightmare everyone blamed her for what happened. She felt awful. She could hear people's voices, Lanie's, Esposito's, Ryan's, Alexis's, Martha's.

The last words she heard were "Beckett! Beckett! Wake up!". It was Lanie, apparently she was screaming while she slept and Lanie heard it from the living room.

"It was horrible Lanie!", said a tearful Beckett.

"I got it from the screams, it was about Castle, wasn't it?", said Lanie.

"Yeah, it was", said Beckett and told Lanie what happened in her nightmare.

The week went by and Beckett went to the hospital everyday when Alexis called her. She would go there, sit on the armchair next to Castle and talk to him, knowing he wouldn't answer.

His condition hadn't changed, the doctors didn't know if he would make it out of the coma or not, but they shouldn't give up hoping.

Every night she had nightmares about what happened the night Castle was shot, about how he was, lying in that hospital bed. The captain had dismissed her for some time because of what happened. Watching her after Castle's coma was depressing, her eyes were usually swollen and bloodshot from crying.

Ten days after the incident Beckett went to the hospital for her usual visit. She greeted Alexis and Martha and entered the room. She took her usual seat on the armchair next to the bed. She held Castle's hand.

"Hi there Castle… You probably heard what I said the whole week, didn't you?", said Beckett. "If you did… I really meant it you know? Like every word. ".

"I feel so lonely without you Castle… I don't know what to do. I don't know what I'll do if you…die", said Beckett gasping on the last word.

She looked at his face, he seemed peaceful, like he was sleeping and having sweet dreams. It made her realize she was really tired, because every night she'd cry herself to sleep and have nightmares.

Beckett fell asleep, holding Castle's hand. She woke up, jumping because of a sudden feeling. It was Castle, he was squeezing her hand.

"Castle!", she said starting to tear. But, for the first time in ten days, it was tears of joy, of happiness. "Oh, Castle!"

Castle opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw since he got shot was the beautiful face of his favorite detective. She was tearful, but had a huge smile on her face.

A nurse heard Beckett's screams and entered the room. "What happened miss? Is there something wrong?", asked the nurse with a worried look on her face.

"No, not at all! He's awake! Castle's awake!", said Beckett.

"Oh my God! I'm going to tell the doctors!", said the nurse and rushed out of the room.

"You scared me so much Castle", said Beckett wiping tears with the back of her free hand. "I thought you'd never wake up!".

She looked at him, he seemed happy, his eyes gleamed, probably from tears. He seemed to recognize her, though some people have amnesia after a coma. But she could almost see in his eyes the happiness he was feeling when he saw her.

The doctor arrived at the room and asked Beckett if she could wait outside for some time. She nodded, squeezed Castle's hand one more time and went to the waiting room.

Some time later the doctor arrived, he said he'd called Alexis and Martha and they were on their way, and said that probably in a week he'd be home already, probably without damage to his health.

Beckett almost jumped in joy, she didn't get him killed! Castle was fine! She figured it was time for her to leave, so she called Lanie.

"Hello?", answered Lanie.

"Lanie!", said Beckett.

"What? What happened?", asked a confused Lanie.

"It's Castle, Lanie, he's out of the coma!", said Beckett letting her happiness show on her voice.

"What? Really? That is so great!", said Lanie cheerful.

"Yeah! I didn't kill him Lanie, I'm so, so happy!", said Beckett.

"That's great, it'll be good knowing you won't be blaming yourself for what happened. You want me to pick you up at the hospital?",asked Lanie.

"Yes, I'm thinking my shift is over, Martha and Alexis are arriving at any minute", said Beckett.

"Okay, I'm coming!", said Lanie.

"Great, thanks Lanie", said Beckett.

"You're welcome! Bye!", said Lanie.

"Bye!", said a cheerful Kate Beckett.