Kate sat outside Castle's room.

Speechless.

She thought their conversation was going well, not easy, but well. She was trying to be as open and honest with him as possible. She talked the Vaughn thing out, but then it turned and got out of control so quickly. Angry words and heated debate she could handle. Castle removing himself, backing out and shutting down? Not so much.

It killed her to know that her selfishness had caused him such great pain. Because if she were truly honest with herself she would say that her actions in the last few months have been selfish. It's funny how true that damn saying is, "Hindsight is 20/20." Castle would kill her if he knew she even thought this cliché, but it didn't make it less true.

She regretted keeping the offer to herself, interviewing to herself, and then accepting it without his input. It was beyond stupid! She thinks she even said something along the lines of it being "her life". The argument she had in her kitchen that night isn't super clear anymore. She was so distracted by how hurt he was to remember much of what was said. It seemed like from that point it just got so much worse.

She was wrong that day in the diner, when talking to her dad. She was wrong to think that any job would be more important than the lifetime of love Castle had offered her. She had let her pride take over and blind her from the truth. She let fear make her run away. This will surely need to be another conversation she and Castle have, but she isn't looking forward to that one. It's going to suck to admit how weak she truly is.

What she doesn't understand is why he proposed that day on the swings. She could still see his anger, his doubt when he spoke to her. He offered her the ring with a look of a scared, unsure man instead of with the cocky determination and a sparkle in his eye. He had to know that she wouldn't accept a proposal like that one. She would have hoped he would want more from it too.

"Katie?"

"Dad?!"

Kate shot up out of her chair and gave her dad a hug. They weren't normally ones for showing affection through hugs, especially in public, but seeing him here was so… unexpected and comforting. She was so happy to see him and talk with him. He helped to ground her, and she could use that right about now.

"How's Rick doing?"

"The doctors are hopeful that he will make a full recovery. The bullet didn't hit the spinal cord, so there won't be any lasting damage."

"Good, good." Jim Beckett paused. "How are you doing?"

"I'm… glad he is going to be ok."

"But?"

"But I'm scared that I screwed up too much. That I hurt him too badly to fix this. We just talked and… it didn't go very well."

"I see… Well, Katie, it will take time. It won't be fixed in a day, remember to be patient. You get that from your mom, she was never patient. What I do know? That man loves you."

"How do you know?"

"I've seen you two together. I've talked with him alone. The way he lights up about you, even the last few months when you were away, I could still see it."

"He said sometimes love isn't enough…"

"His hurt right now. Give it time, Katie. Now, I'm gonna go see how the man is doing with my own eyes. Care to join me?"

"No… um… not yet. I think I'll go to the bathroom, find a coffee and join you in a minute. Castle, he… needs a break from me right now."

Jim Beckett nodded. Looking at Katie it was like looking at his wife. Their headstrong determination was something they both possessed. He loved watching his wife fight for justice, but when that force was focused on him, or against him, it was maddening. He knew Rick felt the same way. Jim never thought he would have so much in common with his wife's favorite author.

Jim knocked softly on the door as he opened it.

"Kate, I told you I need a break…"

"Rick, it's Jim. Do you mind if I come in?"

Jim? Jim Beckett was in his hospital room? Jim Beckett heard him talk to his daughter rudely. Crap. He tried to sit up, make himself look a little more presentable. If that was even possible in hospital clothes and unshowered for days. He felt completely naked under the gaze of Kate's father right now.

"Of course, come in."

"I came to check on you myself, Rick. Katie stopped by yesterday to let me know what happened. You ok?"

"Uh, ya. The doctors say I'll be fine. Hopefully getting out of here soon."

"Good, that's good."

Jim was no fool. He knew that if he didn't keep asking questions and let the writer come up with something to say, that he would eventually get out what was going on with him and his daughter. He was a good lawyer for a reason.

"Thanks for coming… you could have called me. Or Kate, since she is here."

"Hmm… yes. I was in the neighborhood though."

"Oh,well, thanks."

Jim Beckett just nodded. He could see Rick starting to squirm. He tried to conceal his smile, because he didn't want him to realize what he was doing.

"Uh, sorry you heard that. Me talking to Kate that way when you came in to the door. I just… I'm sorry."

"It's fine. She looked about the way you sounded when I got here."

"Sorry…" Castle trailed off. This felt strange. Talking to Jim like this. He wasn't sure what to say to him, and he was being so awkwardly quiet. He was trying to fill the silence, but the only topic he could think about was Kate at the moment. That was definitely not an appropriate conversation to have with her father.

"Wait. You saw Kate when you got here?"

"Of course. She is right outside your door, though she said she was going to the bathroom and to find coffee." Jim was a little confused about why she was out there, and why Castle didn't know it.

"I thought she left." Castle almost whispered. He just assumed she would leave after their conversation. It felt… good… to know she hadn't gone too far. She was keeping her promise.

"Why is she outside your door, Rick? If you don't mind me asking." Jim decided to pry just a little bit. Partly because he was her father and had a right to know, but also because he was curious to know what was going on. He could always count on getting more information from Rick than his daughter, he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"Well, this is… I don't know what to say to you, Jim. This isn't exactly easy."

"The truth is fine with me, Rick. You need to remember… I was married to Katie's mother. Those two are so alike. I probably understand how you are feeling better than anyone else. These Beckett women… can make you crazy." Jim said with humor in his voice. He wanted Rick to feel at ease with him, because he did care about him. He wanted the best for his daughter, and he just knew that Rick Castle was it.

"Crazy? More like clinically insane." Castle joked. It felt good to acknowledge this with Jim, like he wasn't crazy for feeling crazy. "To be honest, I just needed space. We… talked and it is hard for me to be around her and think. I thought when I told her I needed time that she would leave."

"She promised you she wouldn't. Right?"

"Right."

"This is between you two. I know you have a lot to figure out, but please know this. She loves you. Beckett women make you crazy, but it's general y worth it. That's all I'm going to say about it."

Just then Kate knocked on the door timidly. She wasn't sure if she should even attempt to enter the room right now. She should just wait for him to ask her back in, but she also didn't want to miss spending time with Castle and her dad. She hadn't spent much time with the two of them before, it was a little strange for her to see them together. Very few of her boyfriends ever made it to meeting her dad. The last one was Will.

"Come in." Castle called. He wasn't ready to be alone with her again, but he was fine with her being in here with her dad.

Jim spoke up, "I need for you two to stop making us meet like this. I don't know what it is about a damn hospital that you guys like to make reunions happen here, but I hate it. Next time, call me up. I can meet you two at a diner just as easily as a hospital."

Castle laughed. "I'll keep that in mind for next time."

"I'll even spring for the bill." Jim joked.

It felt strange to Kate, watching these two man joke around. They were the two most important men her life and she never noticed how great it was that they had a relationship. Hell, she didn't even know they had a relationship.

"Katie?"

"Huh? Ya, dad?"

"You zoned out on us." Jim said.

"Oh, uh, sorry."

"It's fine. I was just letting you know that I need to leave. I didn't want to stay long, but I had to come see how you two were. Rick, take care. And stay away from parks late at night." Jim scolded. "Katie, walk me out?"

"Thanks, Jim. It was good to see you again."

"No problem. Let me know if I can do anything."

"You got it. Bye."

Once the Beckett's were in the hallway, Jim turned to Kate.

"You going to be alright, Katie?"

"Ya, I'll be fine."

"Ok. Well, good luck. Take care of yourself."

"I will, Dad."

"Time, Katie. Give it time."

With that, Jim turned and walked down the hall. Kate sat down in her chair. To wait. Her dad was right, time and patience was going to be her new best friend.