"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone."

- Rose Kennedy

To say she broke the law driving to the hospital was an understatement. She sped through red lights and stop signs. Her siren blaring the only signal that she was coming. Never before had she felt so much fear racing through her heart. Her mind was numb as the pain ran across her body. This wasn't supposed to happen he wasn't supposed to get hurt. She was the cop not him. She was the one who was supposed to get hurt. Not him, not Rick, not the man she loved more than anything. She then thought of Alexis and Martha, and her pain rose tenfold. If Rick died Martha would lose her son and Alexis would lose her father. But, she couldn't think of that. She had to be strong and think of a more positive approach. Even though she felt like curling up into a ball and let loose the tears that wouldn't fall. Tears she knew she had to cry, but just couldn't. Not when she felt so numb.

She turned sharply into the hospitals parking lot, and quickly parked. She moved towards the hospital entrance in quick strides. When she entered she looked around the waiting room. She saw that no one was there, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The more she knew before Alexis and Martha got here the better. She walked towards the receptionists desk, and waited until the woman turned to her. She saw the name tag 'Regina' and immediately remembered the woman who called name. Regina smiled at her and Beckett smiled back all though barely.

"Hello how may I help you?" She asked.

"Hello, my name is Detective Kate Beckett. You called me about Richard Castle." Beckett replied and she immediately saw the woman's persona change.

"Yes. Mr. Castle is a hero. He saved a little boy by pushing him out of the way of a car." Regina said and Beckett felt pride fill her heart. Before anger sunk in. She knew it was heroic and she was glad the little boy was alright, but Rick could have done something different. Something that wouldn't have him in the hospital.

"How is he?" Beckett asked after a moment of silence. She saw the other woman's eyes become somewhat saddened, and immediately felt a sinking feeling enter her heart.

"He is still in surgery and the doctors have said that he is in critical condition. I don't know anything else though I'm sorry." Regina said and Beckett knew she was.

"Thank you." She said in barely a whisper, and she saw Regina smile sadly at her. She walked over to one of the waiting rooms chairs and sat down. The pain she felt wracking her body was so intense, but she knew she wouldn't cry. She had to stay strong, and to do that she couldn't cry. No matter how much she wanted to. She didn't know what she would do if Rick died though. She knew she wouldn't be able to live without him. After all they had been through together. He was her one and done. There was no one else for her, no one could make her feel the way he does. If he died Kate knew she would be completely and utterly destroyed. Nothing would bring her back, she would drown within herself. Without Rick she was nothing, she would just be the cop she was before. With walls guarding her heart and not allowing anyone in. She didn't want that to happen, but she knew it would if she lost him. She bowed her head and allowed it to rest in her hands.

Tension was building in her shoulders, and she knew it wouldn't go away until she knew he was fine. Until she knew that she would be able to hold him again. To be able to kiss him and hear his jokes. To read the novels that started it all knowing there would be another. But, until then she would not let herself feel relaxed. Because, she knew she couldn't be, not while he was fighting for his life. She couldn't help but think that this must have been what he felt like when she had been shot. Or maybe for him it was worse because he knew he could have taken the bullet. He had felt her blood on his hands, and he knew he hadn't gotten to her in time. Of course it was speculation but to Kate this was the worst pain she had ever been in. Besides learning that her mother had been murdered.

"Kate." A soft voice whispered and Beckett immediately looked up and saw her best friend.

"Lanie." She said and rushed towards her best friend, who embraced her. Kate could feel tears on her shoulder and hugged Lanie tighter. She felt like a monster for not crying, but she couldn't. She wanted to God how she wanted to, but she just couldn't. She didn't know why, but the tears just would not fall.

"Do Martha and Alexis know?" Kate asked pulling back from her best friend. Lanie stared at her for a moment seemingly examining her.

"Yes Ryan and Javi are picking them up. Oh Kate I am so sorry." Lanie said tears running down her face. Beckett only nodded slightly and led Lanie over to the chairs. She sat down more heavily than she did when she first arrived. Now knowing that she would have to face a terrified mother and daughter. A mother and daughter that she knew, and cared for. She remembered when her mother was taken from her. Remembered the hollowness that wouldn't leave her chest until Rick arrived. She didn't want that to happen to Alexis. The young and lively woman shouldn't have to go through losing her father, and Martha shouldn't have to go through losing her only child.

Kate knew that she would never be able to understand the bond that Martha and Rick held, but she knew that they loved each other with everything they had. She knew that if Martha lost Rick she would be utterly destroyed. They all would because Rick was the glue that held them together. She tried to think about anything else less morbid, but her mind seem to not be able to. She looked up when the doors of the ER's waiting room slammed open. A twinge of pain entered her heart seeing Alexis and Martha enter with tears in their eyes. Alexis looked like she was about to break down, and Kate knew the feeling. The feeling of losing a parent would stay with you for the rest of your life.

Kate knew the bond that Alexis and Rick shared, and knew that the pain Alexis was in was great. Castle was her best friend in all sense of the term. The bond between them had begun long before Alexis was born. It probably had begun when Castle had gotten the first ultrasound. Or when he first learned that Meredith was pregnant, and seeing Alexis so distraught broke her heart. Martha seeing her immediately rushed over and embraced her.

"Oh Darling, how is he?" She asked and Beckett only shook her head signalling she didn't know. Martha not liking that answer went of to the receptionists desk, and started hounding her. Kate saw Alexis approach her and smiled sadly at the girl.

"He'll be alright won't he Kate?" She asked and Kate felt her heart break at how lost she looked. She moved forward and embraced the girl, and held her as she sobbed.

"I don't know for sure Alexis, but what I do know is that Rick is a fighter, and I know for sure he will fight like hell to come back to you, to us. Just wait and see." Kate whispered into the girls vibrant strawberry blonde hair.

"He has to be alright, I don't know what I would do if I lost him." Alexis cried and Kate tightened her hold around the girl.

"Neither will I Alexis. Neither will I." She murmured and watched as Martha walked towards them. The usually vibrant and excitable woman was now dull. Kate glanced at Lanie and gestured for to take Alexis. Which she did gladly leading the terrified girl to a seat. After a moment of watching them Kate turned to Martha. "Any more news?" She asked.

"Not more than you have probably heard. He's still in surgery and still in critical condition. Although she did say he was starting to pull through. We just need to wait and see." Martha said quietly and Kate felt sadness rush through her. She gently grabbed Martha's arm and led her to one of the many chairs.

"Then we will wait together." She said and she saw a flicker of a smile pass across the older woman's face, and Kate knew that whatever happened they would get through it. Together.

A/N; I know this is short, but the next chapter won't be. And, for the ones who were wondering one where Espo and Ryan are. They had to head back to the station and grab a couple things after dropping off Martha and Alexis. They will be in the next chapter along with the doctor who will break the news on what's wrong with Castle.

Thank you all who have followed this story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

- ShakespearePoet101