Kate stayed up all night watching Rick breathe in and out. At 10:30 am Kate fell asleep in the chair hoping that she would wake before Rick woke. "Beckett" someone said shaking her awake. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. It was Javier, "Hey" she said getting up to hug him. "How you holding up?" he asked sitting down in one of the vacant seats. "I'm doing ok" She said and smiled weakly at him. "Has Castle woken up yet?" Javi asked looking at one of his best friends lying on a hospital bed, "No not yet." Kate said as she yawned. "Kate you should go home get some rest." Javi said in a concerned voice. "No, no I want to be here when he wakes up." Kate said trying to fight of the tiredness. "Ok then, suit yourself. I'm going to get some food, you want anything?" Javi asked, "Bring me up a sandwich will ya?"

"Sure."

At exactly 5 o'clock that evening Rick woke up, "Kate?" He grunted looking around. "Kate?" He said a little louder. "Hey" Kate said looking into his eyes. "What happened?" Rick asked. "These terrorist came and took over the precinct and they….." Kate trailed off. "Ah now I remember." Rick said trying to sit up, Kate shook her head, "Rick you were beaten up and shot in the chest twice, I don't think you should move." Rick sighed "Fine" he said I his sad voice giving Kate the puppy eyes, she smiles and kisses his cheek. "I'm going to fetch the doc." She said leaving the room.

"Doctor Doreen" Kate called, "Miss Beckett, what can I do for you?" Doctor Doreen said smiling at her. "It's Rick, he's awake!" Kate said smiling at him. "Good I'll go down now."

They walked down to Rick's room together as they entered Rick was playing with Kate's phone, "Rick this is Doctor Doreen."

"Hello Richard."

"Hey doc!"

"Now Richard can you tell me what the date is?"

"It's the 25th of June"

"And who is this beside me?"

"That is Katherine Houghton Beckett, my fiancée."

"Ok that's all good, you don't have brain damage, and you'll be in the hospital for a couple of weeks. Now I have to go and see other patient's goodbye Mr. Castle." He smiled at Kate as he left.

"So how's everyone?" Rick asked. "Well we were all shocked what happened but everyone's good. Alexis and Martha come every day at 6 and Javi and Ryan come after work. "Kate said taking a seat beside him. Rick smiled, "How's the pain?" Kate asked with a concerted look on her face.

"Kate" Rick said, "I'm fine ok, it's just a little hard to breathe and coughing is painful, at least we'll have matching scars now!" Kate laughed, he always found a way to be happy in the most dreadful times. "Dad!" Alexis said as she ran into the room to hug him, "Hey Alexis!" Rick said smiling, "I'll give you some privacy" Kate said as she left the room. Kate went outside to make a call to the boys, "Hey Beckett, what's up?" Javi asked as he answered the phone, "Just thought you would like to know the Castle's awake."

"We'll be down as soon as possible"

"Talk soon, bye!"

The weeks went past and Kate stayed with Rick every moment of the day, Gates gave her the permission to stay off work. He got visitor's everyday mostly the boys and Lanie, sometimes Gates. About once a week his writer pals would come and visit and they would play poker. No matter how much he told Kate to go home and sleep she refused. She hardly ate as she didn't want to leave Ricks side, and sleeping in the chair was hard as it was extremely uncomfterable and Rick often moaned in his sleep due to the pain.

On his 6th week of being in the hospital the doctors gave him permission to leave. He was given a wheelchair as walking would be tiring and painful. Kate wheeled him out of the hospital and pushed him home. They were at the loft in minutes.

Javi, Ryan, Lanie and Gates were all at the loft to welcome him home, Rick beamed, and he loved being home.

After an hour they all left to give Rick time to rest.

Rick sighed deeply. "What's wrong?" Kate said thinking he was in pain, "It's so good to be home!" He said wheeling around in his wheelchair, Kate smiled, she was so happy that he was ok. "What do ya want for dinner babe?" She asked walking over to him in his office. "Hm…." He said wondering, "Pasta!" He said after a minute, "That hospital food was revolting." Kate smiles and planted a kiss on his cheek before walking into the kitchen. While Kate prepped dinner Rick was checking his emails in his laptop. Some from Gina is publisher and the rest were junk.

Rick played games until his food was ready. "Dinner Rick!" Kate called. "Coming" Rick replied as he wheeled his chair into the kitchen. Kate helped him get up as he sat on one of the black spinney stools. They made small talk while they ate the pasta.

Rick went to bed to watch TV, while Kate cleaned up. "Hey lover" Kate said as she walk into the bedroom, "Hey" Rick said smirking at her. "I gotta change your bandages" Kate said as she took out two of the bandages the doctor had given her. She took of the two he already had on, the bullet holes were two dark red circles one on the left side of his chest and the other just underneath. Castle winced as she dabbed some cream on it, "Sorry" Kate muttered as she concentrated, a little blood leaked from both bullet holes. Kate dabbed the blood up and placed the bandages on like the doctor showed her. Rick groaned, Kate sighed, it drove her crazy that there was nothing she could do to ease the pain. "I'm fine Kate" Rick said knowing that she was worrying about him. He had already taken his dose of morphine for the day. Kate changed and got into bed beside him. "I don't even get a goodnight kiss?" He asked in a teasing voice. Kate smiled and turned over to kiss him, "I love you" She said, Rick smiled "I know." She turned over and closed her eyes.