Fake Hope – Survival Days
Chapter 4

When I'm with you, hours turn into minutes. But when I'm without you, minutes become hours.

xxxx

She thought that it was 3 hours already since he had left. Actually, it was only 3 minutes.

How much can you actually accomplish in an hour? Run an errand maybe? Sit in traffic? When you think about it, an hour isn't very long. 60 minutes, 3,600 seconds. That's it.

Oddly enough, Richard Castle, is the only person among people around the world who has an ability to turn that short 60 minutes into an unforgettable memory ever.

xxxx

Kate was sitting on that obsolescent bench, alone. She couldn't believe what just happened. She needed someone to talk to, a good listener, which is usually it would be Castle. However, since he was unavailable since 3 minutes ago, the 2nd choice goes to Lanie. She quickly rummaged her pocket to find her cell phone, and search her name among her contact list, and then hit the call button.

"Lanie."

"Hey, Lanie, this is Kate."

"Katie! Oh my freakin God, you're awake!"

"Yeah. Can you come over right now?"

"Sure, where are you?"

"I'm sitting on a bench in the hospital's park."

"I'll be there in 10"

Kate took a long, long sigh right after she hung up. Hearing Kate's unusual voice, Lanie knew that something went wrong. She quickly took her phone and wallet, then left her house.

xxxx

Lanie rushed her steps right after she got out of the cab. She found one old bench, and then averted her gaze to the only person who occupied it. A woman with sparkling, curly, brown hair, who looked so beautiful, yet so vulnerable, like an angel who has just lost her wings. It must be Kate.

"Kate!" Lanie shouted as she waved her hand to get her attention

She recognized the voice as her footsteps became louder gradually. She turned her head weakly toward the voice. She was still sobbing, but trying her best to wipe her tears away and smile.

This part of Kate's life has never been exposed to anyone. She managed to hid it really well for like 10 years, but it was peeled slowly layer by layer by Castle. Even her own best friend had no idea she could be as broken as this. Lanie knew, that no one could make her much worse than this, except for Richard Castle.

"Hi, Ka-"

Before even finishing her greeting, Kate hugged her, which was unexpected an really shocking. She tried to calm her best friend, by rubbing her back gently.

"Oh, sweetie.. What happened?"

"Castle had left."

"Pardon me?"

"Yeah.. He's gone.."

"I'm so sorry to hear that, darling."

So that's the reason. He left her, in her first day of being conscious. What kind of jerk he is? She hugged her once more, only to let her cries her rage, curiosity, sadness, and all her feelings out. Lanie knew that Kate didn't need any pep talk. She only needed some comforting gestures. Her tears made Lanie's jacket wet, which is okay if it comforts her. She would do anything for that.

Kate broke the silence, and starting to tell her everything. Lanie nod to give her permission. She spent 5 minutes to tell her what did she say to him, and how he reacted. She definately needs some advice how to deal with that. Unfortunately, no one knows.

xxxx

Seconds become minutes, minutes become hours, hours turn into days. Usually Castle was there to tail her 24/7, not anymore.

This morning, Lanie told this news to the boys straight away. Since they only have paperworks today, they agreed to pay Writer Boy a visit. Esposito turned on his phone, and searched his name in his contact. He quickly hit the call button.

"Yo Castle"

"Hey, Espo. What's up?"

"You at home?"

"Yeah"

"Me, Lanie, and Ryan wanna visit your loft right now, are you okay with that?"

"Sure, why not?"

"We'll be there in 20."

Castle hung up the phone. Gosh, it felt like the most awkward phone call he has ever had. They haven't talked to each other for 3 days, not even a single text. He didn't bother to show up to the precinct, or to visit Kate at the hospital. He fulfilled his promise, to stay away from are 2 vacant chairs at the precinct, everyone miss them, the mood lifter.

xxxx

25 minutes later, the doorbell rang. It must be the trio. He sighed, because he knew that he'll get tons of wise words from them, especially Lanie.

"Hey everyone! How are you? I miss you a lot!" Castle greeted them in a happy voice, to hid his deep sadness. He camouflaged it with a wide smile.

"What's with the smile, Castle?" Lanie asked him sarcasticly. Kate was freakin broken, she didn't deserve to be treated this way! Well, she saw Castle's eyes quite swollen, but maybe it's not because he was crying. She really wanted to fight for Kate's rights.

"She got a point, dude," said Esposito.

"Come on man, don't be such a coward! Talk to her, at least. She has never been worse before," Ryan added.

Hearing what Ryan said, his heart skipped a beat because of guilty feeling. He was used to say 'always', that word turn out to be a bullshit. Castle was thinking so hard, to defence himself from their words. Come on. He's an author, the expert of making poetic words into beautiful sentences.

"Well, fellas, people have their own choices. Kate has made hers, and I've made mine. I am fulfilling my own promise. She's happy, I'm happy, that's it."

"What the.. You said she's happy?"

Lanie's palm landed on his left cheek harshly, leaving red marks on it. He became speechless, without knowing that his friends could do that to him.

"That's for the biggest denying I've ever heard in my life."

Another harsh slap landed on his right cheek, which is much more painful.

"That's for making her cry."

A/N : The conflict is getting hotter, with slaps! Like it, or hate it, give me any feedback. RnR :)