How to save a life

Chapter 3

The bed, it was empty. But that wasn't the weird part. The weird part was that all of her stuff was still in the room. The flowers, the cards, her bag of clean clothes in case she needed it when she woke up. All of it, it was there. But Kate wasn't.
Rick walked to the reception.
"Hi, the patient in room 304, Katherine Beckett, where is she?"
"Are you family?" The receptionist asked.
"Friend." Rick answered proud. But actually he wanted to answer with 'Boyfriend' or 'Husband'.
"She went into surgery."
"What? Why?"
"I'm sorry but that is all I know for know."
"Thank you." Rick said and walked away. He sat down in the waiting room, he rested his head in his palms. Kate was in surgery. Why? They got the bullet out right? Why would she be going to surgery? All kinds of thought went through her mind.

Moments later Kate's doctor walked to Rick. He stood up and she walked to him.
"Hi, I'm doctor Stevens, I did the surgery on your friend. I don't believe we met before." She said and held her hand.
"I'm Rick." He shook her hand and tried to smile. "Why did she go to surgery I thought you got the bullet out?"
"I think you need to sit down." The doctor said and gestured Rick to sit. He did, and she followed. "Last night her heart raced. First we thought it was a heart attack, but then she was coughing up blood. It turns out that the bullet hit a vein, which was harmless at first, but because we didn't notice it before it kept bleeding out. We fixed it, she's going to be okay. We just need to keep a very close eye on her."
"It wasn't the aorta right?" Rick asked nervous.
"Luckily not. Otherwise she would be bleeding out in seconds."
"Okay. Thank you. When will she be back?"
"We're just cleaning up. She'll be back soon." Stevens said and stood up and went back.
Rick found it important to call Jim about this.

It's been hours and Kate was back in her room only the door had to stay open. Rick sat in the chair again. Jim had stopped by, but had to leave soon again.

Rick leaned in again to talk to her. It might've been the 47th time just today, but he didn't really care.
"You know, when we were in LA, you know what I kept thinking in that hotel room? How can a woman be so beautiful? I know that you might not hear this and you might not even remember me when you wake up, but I wilk remember everything for you and I will tell you." Rick said. His phone started ringing and he looked at the caller ID. It was Alexis.
"Hey Alexis, something wrong?"
"Are you okay? "
"Yeah I'm fine. You?"
"I'm fine. Dad I am scared."
"Why?"
"You being in the hospital. I mean, I know you want to be there for Beckett, but I'm sorry I say this, but they wanted her dead. What is there to stop them now? "
"Pumpkin, the 12th is working on it. She'll be save for now. The officers are back at the door. Don't worry."
"Are you sure? "
"100%"
"Okay. I love you."
"Love you too." Rick said and Alexis hung up. He thought it was sweet, Alexis caring for Kate.
Still sitting in the room, Rick was starting to get bored. He held Kate's hand, holding it tight.
"If you hear me, please give me a sign. If you were coughing you must be alive. Please, Kate." Rick said and looked at her face. Then he felt something in his hand, a squeeze or something. "Kate? Kate do that again!" He was trying to stay calm, but this was doing something to his heart, it wasn't even healthy he thought. And again something squeezed his hand. "Kate, please open your eyes, I know you can." Rick said. He was already standing, with tears in his eyes. But Kate didn't open her eyes, she squeezed his hand again. "Rick let go, and went looking for Doctor Stevens. He found him.
"Doctor Stevens?" She turned to him.
"Mr. Castle, calm down. What's wrong?"
"It's Kate. She squeezed my hand. Can you come?"
"Yes of course. Go back already, I have to sign this form, I'll be there in a second." Stevens said.
"Okay." Rick turned around to talk back to the room. He held her hand again and kept looking at her.

Just a minute later Stevens walked inside.
"Can I try?" She asked and Rick let her. She held Kate's hand and talked to her. "Kate. If you hear me squeeze my hand." Nothing happened. "Just a light squeeze."
"It worked I swear." Rick said. Stevens looked at him and ket go of Kate's hand.
"It could be that you thought you felt it. Sometimes the brain gives us what we want in moments like these."
"Please try again." Rick was whining.
"Fine." She said and held Kate's hand again. "Give us something Kate." And nothing happened again. Before Stevens could let go, Rick started talking.
"Don't let go yet, Stevens." Rick said and leaned in a bit. "Kate please do what you just did. If you hear me, please give us a sign." Rick said. Stevens looked shocked.
"I felt it. She squeezed my hand."
"She did?"
"Yes she did!" She let go of her hand and took her chart. "She might only respond to you, I have no clue why." She looked at it and wrote things down and hung it back.
"Don't care. But this is good, right?" Stevens's page was beeping. She looked at it.
"Very good. I need to do something else. If she wakes up come find me. Or ask an officer to come find me."
"Okay." Rick said. He sat back down in the chair and Stevens walked out. Rick smiled and took Kate's hand again. "Please wake up soon." He said and she squeezed again. It wasn't a dream, this was real.