A/N: Ok so I was having inspiration issues so it wasn't until now that I got to actually write this chapter...please REVIEW and ENJOY!

They were all waiting. Either sitting on the uncomfortable chairs of the waiting room or pacing around, Beckett, Ryan, Esposito, Gates, Lanie and Reynolds were silently waiting on news of Castle. When Lanie arrived she said she had called Beckett's dad and that he was coming in about two hours. Ryan had just talked to Jenny, to tell her that he wasn't gonna leave the hospital until they got news on Castle and Beckett had gone for her fourth cup of crappy hospital coffee. In that moment Jim Beckett appeared and immediately went to hug his daughter.

"Oh Katie..." he said. Beckett tried so hard not to let the tears already forming to escape her eyes. But Jim Beckett knew better. "As empty as it may sound, Rick is gonna be Okay...he knows better than just die."

"Thank you dad." Beckett said in a whisper.

"I have nowhere else to be Katie." he said making Beckett sit in a chair beside him. "Right after Lanie called me I called Martha and told her I was gonna be here for him, just like she and Alexis were here for you when you were shot." A little sob escaped from Beckett's mouth, realizing that not less than three years ago they were all here when she was shot, only with Castle alive.

"I'm driving crazy dad." she said in sobs. "How did you and Castle managed to just be here, sitting not knowing what's happening?"

"We didn't." Jim said simply. "I remember Rick couldn't stay still one second, he kept asking everyone if they wanted coffee or something." a small smile appeared in Beckett's face, just picturing Castle in the scene. "I was just sitting, hoping, praying you'd pull through." Oh Beckett had never heard this side of the story, not even from Castle. "That's when Josh appeared blaming Rick for your shooting so..."

"He did what?!" Beckett said. She knew that Josh never actually liked Castle, but to blame him for her shooting was outrageous. "Why neither you or Rick mention anything?"

"Katie..." he said soothingly. "Well for once I didn't want to upset you while you were recovering and well...he was your boyfriend at the time...Rick told me not to tell you actually...deep down I knew Rick thought Josh was right but we decided just to forget about it." They stayed silent for a moment. "I heard Josh was killed by the way."

"Yeah..." Beckett said. "It's sad...I mean he was a good man after all...he may have made mistakes, we all have..." she trailed off.

"Yeah...I guess." In that moment the doors of the surgery wing opened revealing a doctor wearing scrubs and a surgery cap.

"Family of Richard Castle?" Immediately everyone at the waiting room stood up so the doctor approached to Beckett, Jim and Lanie who were at the front.

"Is he alive?" Beckett asked trying to hide the fear in her voice.

"He made it through surgery..." the doctor said and they all released a breath they didn't know they were holding. "We found more damage done internally when we opened him up and I'm not gonna lie it was a very touch and go surgery because his liver suffered from the stab wound and also there was a little brain bleed due to his head injury but in the end we are sure there won't be any permanent damage." to that the doctor gave them a small smile. "However, due to his extensive damage to his chest and abdomen we are keeping his sedated until tomorrow to give his mind and body time to heal." he finished.

"Can I see him?" Beckett asked. "His family is currently out of town and I'm his girlfriend."

"I guess there won't be any inconvenient if you stay with him until his family gets here." the doctor said gently and understanding. "The nurse will be here in five minutes to take you to the ICU." and with that the doctor left after shaking Beckett's, Jim's and Lanie's hands. Beckett found herself wrapped in Lanie's arms and then Jim's.

"Alright Beckett I'm going home to Jenny" Ryan said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'm off too Beckett." Esposito said. "I'm exhausted." Beckett nodded.

"Beckett I don't want to see you at the precinct until after ten in the morning ok?" Gates said gently. "Try to get some rest." Beckett nodded again.

"See you tomorrow Detective Beckett." Reynolds said and shook her hand.

"Tomorrow Agent Reynolds." Beckett answered.

"Call me if you need anything Katie" Jim said hugging her daughter again.

"Bye dad, thank you." She answered.

"Alright sweetheart...try to get some rest, know that you know Castle's Ok." Lanie said hugging her too.

"I'll try Lanie." Beckett said. After that she was all by herself in the waiting room until the nurse came.

"Detective Beckett if you'd please follow me." the nurse said walking towards the ICU Unit. "Now, he is currently intubated to let him heal without putting much effort to his mind and body, he's a little pale from the blood loss and blood transfusion but he'll be better in the morning." the nurse said gently until they reached the wooden door with a 227 marked on it. "There is a chair way more comfortable in there than the ones in the waiting room." she said with a wink. She left leaving Beckett standing in front of the door.

To be honest with herself she was very scared to what she might find at the other side, mainly because she didn't want to see Castle in a hospital bed. It was one of her worst nightmares and the fact that it was right in front of her made her gut crunch. Eventually she gathered enough courage to open the door but she soon realize she wasn't at all prepared for the sight in front of her.

Her Castle, her giddy, bright, funny, childish and full of joy writer was replaced by a pale like a ghost version of him, looking so small lying in that hospital bed and hooked up to so many machines and tubes. Knowing that she was alone, she let the tears flow freely down her face. Slowly she walked closer until she was able to touch his face. Careful not to touch the breathing tube or any other wires, she ran her hands through his face and hair.

"Oh Rick look what they did to you." she said in tears. "Why do you always have to be the hero?" she whispered close to his ear. "It just hurts so much to see you like this." then she approached the chair and sat next to him taking his hand. "You don't have to worry now Rick, you hear me? I'm gonna stay here...I'm right here and I'm not leaving you..." then she rested her head near Castle's thigh and no less than a minute later exhaustion took over and she gave up to slumber.

A/N: More to come soon...