Disclaimer: Castle and the recognizable characters are property of the folks at ABC and their creators who make a lot more money than I do. This is for pure entertainment purposes.

I can't believe it but we've reached the end folks. I've truly enjoyed writing this and I certainly hope you've enjoyed reading it. Here's Chapter 14. Enjoy.

Chapter 14: Things Can Only Get Better

For two weeks after the situation at the bank, I've been dealing with my injury. The first few days consisted of me lying in bed and doing not much more. I couldn't walk at all or move my right leg without an almost blinding pain shooting through it. No amount of painkillers can fully take away the pain. And sleep, God I don't think I've slept this month since I was a child. For every hour that I'm awake, I spend at least twice as long as that sleeping. Because of both the pain and all of the sleep, I don't feel as restless as I thought I would.

Eventually, Dr. Howard decided that I was going to try to stand up and possibly walk. Jenny and Javier were with me that day:

"Alright Kevin, we'll take this nice and slow." Dr. Howard has one of the nurses on my left side and Javi takes my right side. I'm sitting up on the bed, my legs dangling off the end of it.

"On the count of three, Detective Esposito and Ms. Katrina will lift you up and we'll apply very gentle pressure to your right leg. Are you ready?"

I nod to him and focus my eyes on Jenny. She's giving me an encouraging smile that helps steel my resolve. I'm going to stand up and walk again, in front of her.

"Here we go. One. Two. Three."

Very slowly the nurse and Javi stand up, taking me with them. I put my left leg down on the ground first. It doesn't take much for the uninjured leg to find its footing on the cool hospital floor. My right leg is a different matter. Initially things are alright, but as more weight and pressure are put on it, the throbbing ache starts to flare up again. I can't hold back a hiss of pain. Somehow though, I'm able to stay standing with the nurse and Javier's help. Dr. Howard has been watching me very intently.

"That's very good Kevin." He praises.

Anything I say will come out in a pain-laced voice so I keep my mouth shut and try to hold my nausea down. I feel beads of sweat start to break out on my forehead and I'm waiting for Dr. Howard to let me sit down. I tighten my grip on Javier's shoulder, hoping it somehow lessens the pain.

Finally, I can't hold it in anymore. "Dr. Howard, please, it hurts." I beg him.

"Yes that's enough for now." I almost cry as the nurse and Javier sit me back on the bed. The relief is nearly immediate as the pressure is taken off my right leg.

Nurse Katrina brings up a damp washcloth to help wipe the sweat off my brow as I try and get my breathing under control. The simple act of standing has wiped me out of all my strength.

Dr. Howard finishes writing whatever notes he's writing before looking at me. "Kevin, I know that probably was a lot of pain for what must not have seemed like much, but this was a huge first step. Your leg showed that it can handle pressure being put on it. This will be the start of your physical therapy to regain the strength you'll need."

"So what's the bottom line doc?" Javier asks.

"It means that with some hard work and dedication, Kevin will be able to walk again."

That simple sentence means the world to me. I feel myself start to tear up at the news and I'm not alone. Emotions are visible all over Javi's face, and Jenny comes over and hugs me tightly.

"Thank you Dr. Howard." I tell him in a ragged voice.

The older gentleman smiles "My pleasure Kevin. It won't be easy and you still have some tough days ahead, but as the proverb reminds us 'every journey begins with a single step.'"

Dr. Howard turns out to be as much a prophet as he is a physician. After that day, the first stages of my physical therapy begin. Initially it is simple things, like standing up for longer and longer periods of time with less and less help. Those turn out to not be so simple to my aching, recovering leg. At times, I was reduced to tears at the pain of having to do the simplest things. The staff was very helpful, but they push; Ms. Katrina the nurse reminded me repeatedly that if they didn't push as hard as they did, it would take twice as long for me to heal.

Jenny was my rock throughout the whole experience. With her section of the work project done, she's able to spend much more time with me at the hospital and during my therapy sessions. Every time I had a setback or made progress, she's been there, sharing in my joy or comforting me in my misery. I don't think I would've gotten through this without her.

Javi, Beckett and Castle have been great too. Whenever Jenny couldn't be there, one of them would be, ensuring that I wouldn't have to face it alone. Castle took it upon himself to be a one-man entertainment committee. He's brought me a wide-variety of books: some fiction, others nonfiction, but all of them very good reads. For all his faults, the author does know how to pick a good book. He's also indulged me by asking my opinion about some of his ideas for the next Nikki Heat novel. One idea he has said he'll run with is giving Detective Raley a more prominent role in the next story.

Beckett's been great about getting me back into the loop about what's going on at the precinct. As much as I appreciate Castle's stories and novels, it's hearing about work that really lifts my spirits; it makes me feel like I'm still able to do at least part of my job. She also worked with me on wrapping up the details of the case at the Bank of New York, including taking my statement. Then, she filled me in one what we had learned about the case.

It turns out that 'Phil' wasn't a Phil at all. His real name is Anton Berwick. The rest of his story checked out. He was let go from the Bank of New York in January 2009 and his wife Gwen was diagnosed with breast cancer a month later. According to her medical records, Gwen's cancer had spread to her bone marrow. There was nothing the doctors could have done for her and she died two months ago in August. When Berwick saw a documentary on TV about the financial crisis and the bank bailouts the day before, he snapped and took the bank hostage.

"So it's over?" I ask her after hearing all the details.

"Yeah, it's over. The evidence against him is overwhelming. Berwick and his lawyer cut a deal with the DA to take the death penalty off the table. He'll be spending the rest of his life in prison."

"Good." The fact that there is no trial coming up is a relief for me. I would have no problem retelling what happened in court, but this will spare Jenny or anyone else from having to relive the details.

As for Javier, the most important thing he's done has just been here for me. When it is me and Javi alone, we talk. About sports, about the two women in our lives, whatever gossip is going on at the 12th, about work, really about anything and everything. At first he's nervous and apprehensive around me, as if I'm going to have a terrible accident or have something go wrong. Gradually though, as he's seen the progress I'm making with my physical therapy, he becomes more relaxed, but his ultra-protective streak never goes away. I find it amusing that whenever he is here for my therapy sessions, he's hovering around like a mother hen; pestering the nurses and doctors about pushing me too hard or demanding too much in a session. He always makes sure I have water and anything else I need. It's very funny, but I bite my tongue and don't harass him about it; that over-protectiveness is Javier's way of showing that he cares. It's a side of him he shares with almost no one outside of his immediate family and I'm really touched that he extends that to me.

Luckily, I make steady progress with my leg to the point where I don't have to stay in the hospital. It really helps my outlook when I get to go home and be with Jenny. I still have to come to physical therapy every day, but being able to sleep in my own bed with my wife is a bigger boost to my morale than almost anything.

Two weeks to the day after the incident at the bank, I'm finally, finally getting permission to come back to work. Sure, it's just desk duty and only for the afternoon, but it still feels great. I had prepared for it all morning, practicing my movement exercises and picking out my best suit to wear.

Jenny drops me off with a kiss and promises to check on me throughout the day. I hobble into the elevator, still getting used to using crutches. Physical therapy has gotten me to the point where I can at least move with the aid of crutches, although I still won't be running any marathons anytime soon.

One good break I have is that my long stay in the hospital has let the media frenzy surrounding what happened die down. There aren't any newspaper reporters or television cameras greeting me when I return to the 12th. I've learned in the meantime about the other ramifications of the situation at the bank. Sergeant Heath has been sacked by HR for gross incompetence and he'll now be permanently on desk duty. And Captain Gates has told the Police Commissioner that whenever one of her people is caught up in that type of situation, the 12th will be taking point.

I can't help but smile as I step out of the elevator. It feels so great being able to come back to my second home. Coming back to work means that I'm finally moving beyond what happened at the bank. I slowly make my way over to my desk and carefully try to sit down.

"Here, let me help you with that."

"Thanks Beckett." I tell her as she takes my crutches and helps maneuver me down into my chair. Although I only walked from the curb up to my desk, I'm already tired. It's going to take a while for me to really return to normal.

"Welcome back Ryan." She tells me, gently patting my shoulder.

"It's great to be back." I start assessing my desk, trying to get everything back to the way it was. All I really need is a nice, quiet day at work to start getting back in the swing of things.

But my partner has other ideas. Spotting me at my desk, he comes over and calls out in a loud, booming voice.

"Everyone, Ryan is back!"

Suddenly, out of nowhere, practically everyone from the 12th comes into the bullpen, cheering and applauding. They come over and gently slap me on the back or shake my hands. I turn bright red at all the attention and try to glare at my partner who has a massive grin on his face. Javi and Beckett are both clearly enjoying my embarrassment, but Javi is also keeping a close eye on me. After a few minutes, with me tiring from all the attention, he takes over once again.

"Alright, let's give the man some room. He's got two feet of paperwork to get through."

Our colleagues are smart enough to listen to Javier and the crowd begins to disperse. Eventually it's just the three of us. Wait, just three?

"Where's Castle?" I wonder.

Beckett and Javier exchange a look I'm not supposed to see. "He's got some errands to run today." Beckett says casually.

"Oh, okay." I don't give it much more thought than that.

After that, the day goes by uneventfully. I'm anchored to my desk, trying to get through all the paperwork that has piled up. Javi was right; it's a huge stack. I have to say, it's very weird having to fill out forms because I got shot. The wonders of bureaucracy.

Eventually, at closing time, I shut down my computer, tired but also thrilled. I needed today to feel like I'm truly back.

"You ready to go Kevin?" Javi asks, standing over me with his keys. "Jenny and I talked. I'm your ride this evening."

"Sure." He bends down and helps me stand up. I lean on him while Beckett picks up my crutches and hands them to me.

"Goodnight Ryan. It was great having you back."

"Thanks Beckett." I smile at her and start to head towards the elevator, Javier right beside me. After the two of us get into Javi's car, we settle into a comfortable silence. It almost feels like normal. A fleeting part of me imagines Javier taking a different turn and the two of us ending up at the Old Haunt watching the Giant's game.

I'm starting to think I'm on to something when Javier does take a different turn.

"Javi, you know I don't live in this direction." I point out.

"True, but we're not going home."

I'm more than a little curious when he drives through Manhattan's busy streets. I keep trying to think of some place where we might be going when he pulls up to one of the most famous restaurants in New York; the recently reopened Tavern on the Green.

"Javi, what's going on?" I wonder as he pulls up to the front entrance.

"Bro, this is a gift from all of us; we got you and Jenny reservations for dinner. You're having the date night you planned two weeks ago."

I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. For a moment, I sit there speechless, unable to coherently say how much this means to me.

"Javi I…thank you." The words seem so inadequate to describe how I feel.

"Don't mention it bro. You're my partner and I'm here for you. Til the wheels fall off right?"

I nod. "Right. Til the wheels fall off partner."

He gets out of the car and helps me out. "Now go on. Jenny's waiting."

I give him one last smile before I make my way through the entrance, heading for the long-awaited date night.

Once again, I can't thank you all enough for reading, following, favoriting and reviewing this story. I truly do appreciate it. A special thanks to those of you who've written me something about it. While I didn't get the chance to respond to everyone, I've enjoyed your comments. Don't worry; I've got another story already in the works so you'll be hearing from me again soon. And that as they say, is that.

J.