After an embarrassing encounter full of tears, snot, and sobbing when a nurse walked in to check Castle, Beckett decided she needed to get her crap together. Emotional or not, she had a job to do. A few jobs to do, that wouldn't allow her to be the blubbering mess she is right now.

Martha and Alexis need to know what has happened. They will want to come home as soon as possible, and she needed to be able to help them do that. First, she needed to figure out a way to get in touch with each of them. She was sure Castle would have emergency contact info somewhere on his phone. His phone was always attached to his person.

She also needed to figure out who the hell do this to him. In the back of her mind she knew that contacting her former partners at the 12th would be the best way to get this taken care of. That was not going to be a great conversation.

Crap! She never asked about the bullet that was taken from his… body… during surgery. She hasn't asked who is handling the case. What the hell has she been doing?!

'Freaking out isn't helping anyone Beckett' said her Castle conscience. Right, calm down. One step at a time.

Martha. She needs to talk to Martha first. Alexis will need her when she finds out, and she isn't so sure they will be pleased to hear from Kate. In fact, she knows when they get here there is a high probability she will be kicked out of the state by his family.

Kate located his personal belongings located in the closet of his hospital room. She found his phone and quickly searched his recent call list. She was shocked to discover how frequently he was in touch with her old team. It appears that they were almost in constant contact.

Either they are best buds and hang out a lot or he stayed with the 12th after she left….?

She finally finds the contact "Mother May I" in his phone. This brings a smile to her face at his constant silliness. A silliness she has grown to love and miss. She wasn't sure how to tell Martha about the shooting, and if she was being honest, she wished someone else could do this for her. Taking the coward's way out was not even an option though.

"Oh, Richard! I'm having a lovely time, but I can't talk. I'm about to…" Martha answered after a few rings.

"Martha." Kate interrupted her before she could finish her sentence.

"Detective Beckett? This is quite the surprise, dear. I didn't realize you were back in New York. Actually," she said with a dark chuckle, "I didn't realize you and Richard were on speaking terms."

"Martha. I have to tell you something, but I need you to know before I give you the details that he is ok."

Kate had to pause, both so Martha would understand her son was ok and also because she was going to lose it. Again. She couldn't afford to cry like a little bitch baby when trying to tell Castle's mom he was ok.

"Rick was shot earlier this morning. I don't know any details about that right now, but I do know that he is currently stable. I was called before I went to work this morning and just got in to Mount Sinai an hour ago."

She could hear his mother struggling to breathe on the other end of the line. She knew just how terrifying a phone call like this is to get. It makes your heart feel like it will burst from your chest, your head goes foggy, and all you can think about is that you wish you were closer to him.

"Martha? What can I do to help you?" After a long pause, Kate repeated, "Martha?"

"Yes, yes dear. I am hear. I need to find out how to get off this God forsaken boat. Alexis! Oh God! Alexis needs to know. She needs to be there. We both need to be there. Kathrine, if you care anything for my son, do not leave him alone until we are there. You hear me?"

Kate was a little taken back by the uneasiness she could hear in Martha's voice. She was always calm, even under pressure. She knew from experience that sometimes all it took was to hear Martha's perspective on what seems like a horrible situation, because she can bring reason and order when all seems dark and uncertain. She needed to be that person for Martha now.

"You have my word, Martha. Castle will never be alone. I won't leave him again" she promised with every ounce of courage and strength she had in her. Kate never felt surer of anything else in her life at his moment.

Kate continued, "I will talk to Alexis and let her know what happened. You need to tell me where your next stop is and I will arrange for you to take a flight home from that city as soon as possible. I will have Rick's phone with me so you can let me know as soon as you find out. Martha, I will take care of him until you get here. "

"Ok… yes. Thank you…" she almost whispered. "Kate? Will my boy be ok?"

"Yes. Castle is strong. He won't leave you. He still has years of annoying you left in him yet." Kate said with tears in her eyes. Castle would try to lighten things up for his mom. He wouldn't want her to be so broken.

With a slight chuckle Martha replied, "That he does. Thank you, Kate. I'll be in touch soon."

After the phones were disconnected, Kate took a minute to digest the conversation. She needed another few minutes to stare at Castle, reassure herself with light touches to his hands and face, that he was still here. She needed just a little courage for the next phone call she had to make.

To Be Continued