So sorry this has taken so long people, it's been a complete nightmare to write! Trying to get to where I want and take into account what you all said about characters and things. So anyway, thanks for the comments on the last bit, I'm trying to make the changes and get it right! And hope this bits a little better :)

Beckett followed the tracker on Alexis' phone, her brown creased. She had arrived in the middle of a dump of a housing estate, the blip telling her that she was getting closer. Trying to still her fast beating heart, Beckett finally made it to the spot the blip was telling her, to find…nothing there. She scowled, letting a curse out under her breath as she span around on the spot, the street lights giving an eerie glow to deserted street, the sound of a car alarm in the distance the only thing breaking the silence.

Bending over, she let out a huge yell, rubbing her face as she tried to stop the panic that was filling her enough to think. The rubbish bin in the street caught her eye, her eyes narrowing. Heading forwards, she took a deep breath and plunged her hand in, feeling around. Her eyes soon caught sight of the flashing iphone, breath seeming to leave her.

"Where the hell are you, Castle?" she asked the night, slipping his phone and Alexis' into her back pocket.

Bringing out her own phone, she quickly dialed Esposito's number. The detective sounded quite aggrieved when he answered, so Lanie had obviously had time to fill him in before Beckett rang.

"Javi, I need you to do something for me," she said, Esposito groaning.

"Beckett, you need to wait for me to catch you up! I won't be long, where are you?"

She sighed. "There's no time! God knows what trouble he's already in, Espo, I can't risk it! I followed his phone to a bin in the Broncs. He's definitely not anywhere around here."

"It's not like he didn't bring it on himself, Kate! It's not worth the risk!"

"It's always worth the risk!" she snapped, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I'm sorry, Javi, I didn't mean to snap. It's just an impossible situation."

Esposito sighed. "I know, and I just want you to be safe," he murmured, Beckett smiled despite herself. "What do you need me to do?"

"Can you look up any of the places Pitt runs his businesses from or any private residences for him or Cole near to where I am? It's a long shot, but I can't think of anything else. I'll activate the GPS on my phone so you can see where I am."

Esposito let out a huge sigh. "Sure, I'll text it to you asap. And I'll be with you as soon as I can, Beckett. Please, be careful and stay safe! I don't think they'll kill Castle, but I'm not so convinced about you."

She laughed. "Let them try!" She paused, smiling. "Thanks, Javi. I'll look forward to you rescuing my ass when I get in trouble."

"If, Beckett, if," he replied, clicking off the call as he went to do what she'd asked.

Beckett walked slowly back to her car, slipping into the driver's seat. It would be so easy to do as Esposito wanted her to, and turn back. She could wait for him. He'd more than certainly have Ryan with him, and a full NYPD force not far in the background. But it was Castle, and it wasn't even that she feared him dying, it was that she feared him getting hurt. Because despite everything that had happened between them, and all of the times he'd been completely frustrating, she loved him. She loved him so completely that it scared her at times, and there was no way she could leave him in God knows where alone. She just really hoped that he knew that.

Her phone beeped, and she opened it with slightly trembling fingers to find a list of possible addresses, their distances from where she was, and another reminder for her to be careful and that Esposito and Ryan were on their way. Smiling to herself at their loyalty, she started her car, typing in the first address to the car satnav and headed off, her heart pounding as she willed herself to get there faster.

She sighed as she pulled up to the fourth address, her heart sinking each time she'd found no signs of Castle. Making sure her gun was within reach, she set off towards the huge deserted building. It was on a road surrounded by factories and warehouses, the grey buildings imposing from her vulnerable position on the street. Checking the address one last time, she looked up at the peeling paintwork at nodded grimly. This was definitely the right place.

She was just about to push the door when a light from one of the windows on the street caught her attention. Trying to ignore the way her heart sped up at the possibility that Castle was inside, she tried the huge red metal door, pleased to find it open. The creaking as it opened on its old hinges made her wince, her eyes darting everywhere as she finally slid through, pulling her gun out and pointing it ahead of her into the gloom.

There was nothing to see but a huge open space when she walked in. Boxes upon boxes were piled everywhere, her senses on high alert as she realized what a vulnerable position it left her in. Taking her time, she shuffled through the aisles, making sure nobody could flank her. Her luck held out, with nobody appearing from anywhere, which was expected in the dark room.

Eventually she made it to the other side, trying to even out her breathing that was threatening to run into panic mode. Fortunately, this door opened quietly, Beckett closing it carefully behind her. She was in a corridor, the floor carpeted with an old, stained grey fabric, with doors leading off on all sides. Thinking about the way she'd turned when she entered the building, she guessed that Castle had to be in one of the rooms on the right, from the way the light had been shining.

Taking off slowly down the corridor, she strained her eyes and ears, hearing faint voices coming from somewhere. Light was shining out from the third door down the corridor, Beckett holding her breath as she pressed her ear closer, the unmistakable sounds of voices breaking through the silence.

"See, Ricky, I told you. She doesn't care! You finally chased her away for good. Nobody is coming for your sorry ass."

Beckett groaned to herself. Surely he wouldn't believe that? Then again, had she given him any reason to doubt it?

"Maybe not, but at least I get to see the look on your face when your plan fails. Tell me, who was the genius mastermind? Because it's got to win a place in 'worst crimes of the century' and I want to get the facts right."

Beckett winced when she heard flesh striking, an unmistakable grunt coming from inside as Castle obviously held his pain in as much as possible. Why was he bating her? Had he really given up so that he didn't care anymore? She heard a chuckle, her blood boiling.

"Really? You still have things to say when you're tied up by a woman who screwed you? Literally and metaphorically? And you think you have the high ground here? You're nothing but a worthless, useless pound of flesh who screws anything that bats an eye at you, and tramples on those who care about you until there's nothing real left."

Beckett felt her eyes mist, and blinked the tears back. Now wasn't the time. She could heal the hurt of those words later when they were safe. Right now, she needed to get both of them safe. Taking her phone carefully out of her pocket, she dialed Esposito's number, placing it carefully into the shadow from the door in the corridor. At least he could trace her and be there even faster, hopefully with the forewarning of what he was going to be dealing with.

Taking a deep breath, Beckett aimed a kick at the door, her eyes quickly scanning the room as she entered, her gun raised. She saw Cole look surprised, but what made her heart literally break was the disbelieving look on Castle's face, as if he'd really believed she wouldn't come for him.

"Give it up, Cole, it's over," she said clearly, backing away from the door slightly with her gun still trained on the unarmed Cole. "You OK, Castle?" she asked, not willing to look away from the dangerous detective for a moment to check him over.

"Uh…yeah…" he whispered, as if not believing that this was real.

"Put your hands up. It's over," she commanded, her guard up as Cole smiled at her.

"It's never over, Detective," Cole replied, her hand moving so fast that Beckett barely had time to notice before a huge pain started in her leg. Looking down, she dropped her gun hand slightly as she saw a small knife poking out from her thigh.

Letting out a hiss of pain, she glanced to Castle who had his mouth open in a silent cry, his eyes tortured as he watched her falter. Cole was there in an instant, Beckett trying to bring the gun around only to have it kicked from her hand, the metal skidding nosily over the concrete floor. Dropping into a fighting stance as best she could with her leg, Beckett circled with the casually smiling Cole.

"My team will be here in minutes. You've got nothing to gain by lasting this out."

Cole chuckled. "Oh, but I disagree! I must say, I am surprised you came for this waste of air. You could have walked away scot free from this."

Beckett laughed, trying to appear calm. "What Castle has contributed in one day, you couldn't manage in a lifetime. The only waste of air here is the dirty cop."

"Aww, you still have feelings for him! How quaint!" Cole laughed, Beckett stopping the circle before she could get anywhere near the gun. "It's a shame he was too busy shagging me to spare a second thought for you. Must be really heartbreaking to have him leave so easily. It's a shame you can't measure up to me in any way."

"Tell me. What's this all about? Why join the precinct anyway, what have you gained from it?"

Cole shrugged. "I guess there's no harm in filling in the blanks you failed to fill," Cole sniped, Beckett trying to calmly think of a plan as she kept her talking. "We needed Mr. Castle here, it's a long, complicated story and I'm not sure you'd keep up," she said sweetly. "But thanks to you meddling, we had to bring forward the deadline, hence the sloppy finish. But it could still work out nicely, and thanks to your pathetic attempt at a rescue, we can at least eliminate our greatest threat, so all isn't lost."

"Wow, you really must think a lot of me. Your greatest threat!" Castle winced as he watched. The colour was starting to drain from Beckett's face, more than likely due to the blood trail she was leaving on the floor.

Cole was suddenly hard. "Don't flatter yourself Detective, there was no-one else in the running." She paused. "I'm tired of this game. Either show me your attack, or I move first."

Beckett sighed, knowing that it was going to have to come to this. She stepped forwards slightly, her feight a little sluggish as she stumbled a little on her injured leg. Cole laughed, coming up to aim a hit at Beckett's nose, only to stumble slightly when the quick detective moved to the side, hitting her elbow into the back of Cole's neck and sending the woman flying across the floor. She turned as quick as a fox, heading for her gun.

"Beckett!" Castle shouted, Beckett turning just in time to have Cole body tackle her to the floor, the force of the woman's shoulder knocking the wind from her. Castle groaned as he sat watching, unable to move, as Cole pounded her fist into Beckett's face blood appearing as she moved her aim, giving her a few blows to the side. He winced for her, knowing how that must have hurt, and that there was no comeback from this.

Beckett surprised him when with a Herculean show of strength, she flipped them, returning blow for blow the punishment that Cole had given her. He grinned. That's my girl his mind added, enjoying seeing his enemy having the Beckett treatment. Beckett sagged when Cole seemed to stop moving, slipping to land with a bang on the floor. Castle started, pulling desperately against his bindings.

"Beckett! Kate!" he shouted, the detective blinking painfully, a sickly white colour to her face.

"It's OK, Castle," she tried to assure him, pushing herself up with difficulty. Limping painfully, she grabbed her gun, pulling it back with her to Castle's chair. "We need to get out of here before she wakes up."

"Are you OK?" he asked, Beckett nodding grimly as she tried to work on the knots tying his hands, her fingers slipping over the blood that had formed there. Castle tried to crane his head around to see what she was doing, his expression worried.

"Damn it!" she cursed, flopping back to the floor, taking a few deep steady breaths.

"What?" he asked, Beckett sighing, biting her lip against the tears of frustration that were threatening to fall.

"I can't do it, Castle. It won't come loose."

He sighed, trying to force down the blind panic and think. "Uh, can you get them any looser? Maybe I could get free?"

Beckett tried, the knots still stubbornly staying the same. "I think I'm making it tighter." She sighed, rubbing her face with a wince. "I have an idea."

"What?" he asked, pulling himself around with difficulty to see the fear in her eyes as her hands grasped the knife still in her leg. "No! Beckett, no! You don't know what it hit, you could bleed out!"

She sighed. "We have to get out of here, she'll have backup on the way too, Castle. I can't carry you out, so this is the only choice left."

Castle groaned. "There has to be another way."

"There isn't," she said, a little harsher than she meant to. Castle flinched, Beckett crushing down her emotions. "It's fine, just trust me, OK?"

Castle couldn't say anything. He couldn't watch her hurt anymore for him. His eyes opened from where he hadn't realized that he'd closed them when he heard a ripping sound, Beckett having managed to tear a good strip from the bottom of her shirt under her jumper. She sighed, looking down at her leg to give herself the courage to do what she had to.

"I'm sorry," Castle said, so quietly that she almost missed it. Her eyes shot to his, Castle's a little misty as he looked back. "I'm so sorry, Kate. I'm such an idiot, and now you got hurt again because I refused to listen. I should have listened."

His jaw clenched, and Beckett reached for his arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's fine, Castle. It's what partners do, OK? Just hang in there a little longer until we're out of this."

He groaned. "Me hang it? It's you that's bleeding, Kate, not me!" He paused. "I didn't think you'd come."

"Well you've looked better yourself," she told him with a raise of her eyebrow, Castle smiling a little for the first time. "And you should know me better than that Castle."

"You said you wouldn't," he pointed out, Beckett sighing and looking a little embarrassed. "And why would you? You warned me so many times. I just wish I'd got myself into this, and you were safe at home where you should be! All I ever do is hurt you, Kate."

She blinked back the tears, shaking her head. "I really can't have this conversation right now, Rick, OK? Let's get out of this problem before we jump back into another one."

"Of course. Sorry," he said, watching as she resolved herself again. "Can I do anything?"

"Just…be here," she replied, her voice quiet and slightly wavery as she fought against the fear welling in her.

His heart nearly shattered when she let out a huge groan despite trying to hold it in, as her shaking hand pulled the knife free. He hadn't realized that his mouth was letting out endearments, Beckett shaking as she held the bleeding wound, trying to stop the bleeding while she waited for the shaking to stop. He sighed, hating having to see her like this and know that it was down to him.

"Are you OK?" he murmured, Beckett nodding as she tied the scrap, wincing as she pulled it tight to stem the bleeding. He felt his heart quicken, worry shooting through him as she avoided his eyes, wiping her face on the back of her hand as she picked up the knife, taking a deep breath before gingerly starting on his bindings.

"Beckett?" he asked, his voice sad. "Kate? Look at me," he murmured, Beckett shaking her head.

"I just need to get these off," she mumbled, her forehead creased in a frown as she concentrated, Castle thankful when he felt one hand slide free. He kept quiet, knowing that she needed this moment to herself as she freed his other hand, and shuffled around painfully to start on his feet.

His stomach felt sick as he saw the blood-covered knife, her fingers still trembling slightly as she worked on the rope around his feet, her eyes looking there and nowhere else. He couldn't help himself anymore. His numb hands reached down to her, touching her hair softly. She flinched, the knife stopping for the barest of seconds before starting again.

"Please, Kate. I need to know that you're OK," he told her softly, starting when he felt a tear drop onto the back of his hand. He hadn't realized that she was crying.

"I'm OK, Castle. I just really need to get out of here."

Bending to reach further, he tilted her face up with a gentle touch of his finger beneath her chin, his eyes drinking in the blood and bruising, guilt rising up his throat. His hands held her cheeks gently, her limp fingers letting the knife clatter to the cement floor loudly.

"Oh, Kate," he murmured, Beckett's tears starting faster even as she got an adorably irritated look at herself for letting them come in the first place. "How can I ever make this up to you?"

She sighed, rubbing the tears away. "Let's get out of here and then I'll think about it."

His eyes locked with hers for a moment, desperate for her to see just how strongly he felt about her and how sorry he was. It killed him that all he saw in hers was sadness and hurt, and he knew that this time, undeniably, he was the cause of that. For a moment, nothing else in the room mattered, just both of them there together, locked in a silent embrace that didn't need anything more than his hand on her cheek. He sighed, wishing all of this had turned out differently.

"How sweet," came a voice from behind them, and Beckett jumped away, her eyes wary as she saw Cole standing over them, Beckett's gun trained on them as she held her side, ignoring the steady drip of blood from the side of her face. "Why detective, I expected more from you! Really, didn't you get trained to properly restrain suspects?" She turned her leer onto Castle as Beckett visibly cursed, her want to get them out of there and the pain from her injuries having clouded her judgment. "And Ricky. Distracting your little whore there while she was trying to get you free. Honestly, you'd be long gone from here by now if you hadn't felt the need to apologise and win her acceptance, when we all know nothing you could say could make this right."

Castle grimaced, his jaw clenching. "Do what you have to, Cole. I'm tired of your mind games."

"I wouldn't wish for that," she pointed out, swinging her gun to point to him.

"No!" Beckett shouted, pain evident in her voice. "Not after all this! After all this hard work," she spat, more to herself than anyone else, Castle's heart going out to her for the frustration in her voice. "What's your boss gonna think if you murder the bait?" she asked suddenly, her eyes brightening slightly. Cole lost her composure for a moment.

"I don't have a boss, little girl," she spat back, turning to Beckett who had backed away from Cole slightly. She caught Castle's eye, moving hers pointedly down to the ground. Frowning, he followed her motion, seeing the knife and started sawing through the ties on his legs as quickly as possible. "And I'm not stupid. This is far too dangerous a situation for a mere hostage taking. So that really doesn't matter anymore now, does it?"

Castle grinned to himself when he felt the bindings loosen, his legs finally free. He winced from the pain he felt shooting everywhere, wondering how Beckett was finding the right things to say through her own pain. Standing carefully, he saw panic flash in Beckett's eyes for a moment before her face was a mask again, still distracting the dangerous woman.

"So who's going first, Detective? I must say, I plan to kill your boyfriend first. Watch you suffer just that little bit longer. But if you carry on proving to be such a thorn in my side, you'll do."

"No she won't," Castle said, a shot from the gun shooting to land harmlessly in the wall, as Castle smashed the chair into Cole's back. She fell, landing with a thump, her hand still on the gun. Beckett dived on her in an instant, her hands holding hers away, banging it against the floor to get the gun from her, only to have her cling on tighter. Castle moved to hit the woman who had caused so much pain, only to misunderstand and have his feet swept from under him in an instant. His head cracked against the floor, stars breaking out in front of his eyes as he winced, fighting the darkness that was threatening to take over his vision. Something hard landed on his wrist, and he let out a howl of pain as the bone shattered, blinding white pain shooting up his arm.

He heard another grunt of pain and turned to see that Cole had hit Beckett right on the wound on her leg, the detective landing with a groan as she held her thigh, blood leaking through at an alarming rate. Cole had some new blood streaming down her face, and he was thankful that Beckett had managed that. But her face was twisted into a distorted smile of triumph, the gun still safely in her hands. Beckett blinked away the pain, her eyes fixed on the danger, her breathing ragged.

"When will you learn, Detective," Cole asked smoothly, the gun never wavering in her hand. "There's nothing for you here. He has no feelings for you, how can you keep expecting some different outcome here? You're nothing to him, no more than an acquaintance to toss aside when it's worn out its worth? Yet you come here anyway? You're a shining example to women everywhere."

"Go to hell," Beckett spat, a wince of pain crossing over her face. "If you know Castle as well as I do, you'd know that there is no choice here. He's too special, too gifted, and too downright decent for me to even consider not giving this a try."

Despite himself, Castle felt his brain starting to work. Giving what a try? Saving him, or having a relationship with him. He felt his heart soften at her words, tuning back in to catch the end of the conversation.

"If I had half the heart he did, we wouldn't be in this mess. If I had half the intelligence, we'd have got out ages ago. And if I had half the courage that he did, I'd have found a way to keep fighting on instead of watching you win. But I don't. And I'm so tired of fighting. So do what you have to. I'll just be safe in the knowledge that you won't get away with any of this."

Castle felt tears running down his face. How could she think that? How was it possible for somebody so extraordinary to think so little of themselves? His eyes tracked up when Cole turned towards him, his body paralysed with fear when the gun started to rise.

"It's been a pleasure," Cole said, her face twisting.

He heard her shout. There was some distinct pleasure in the knowledge that Beckett's voice was the last thing that he would hear. Her shouting "No!", shouting for him to live. The deafening sound from the bullet rang out loudly, his ears buzzing. There was a heavy pressure on his chest, pushing him back onto the floor from his sitting position. He'd expected it to hurt more though, not just pressure.

Prizing open his eyes that had been screwed closed, he felt his heart stop. There was no bullet, at least not for him. Somehow, the stubborn, stupid, courageous and perfect woman had managed to get herself from the floor and dive onto him in the last moment. The weight holding him down was Beckett.

"Kate?" he asked tentatively, forgetting the woman still holding the gun for a moment. "Kate! Oh, God, please no!" he moaned, his hands turning her gently.

His heart started again, beating rapidly when she coughed, her eyes opening with a wince to fix on his, a small smile on her face. His eyes ghosted down, seeing the new blood starting to spread out. It hit her shoulder. Oh, thank God for small mercies! She was still alive!

He tore his eyes away from her pale sweaty face, his arms cradling her on his lap. Cole looked disbelieving for the first time, the gun hanging almost limply from her hand. She shook her head, her eyes wide as she took in Beckett.

"I can't believe it. After everything…and she still gives her life for you." Her eyes met Rick's, confusion evident. He laughed humorlessly, his voice hollow even to his own ears.

"This is the first time you've seen the real side of the truly extraordinary Kate Beckett," he said, looking back to see a small smile on Beckett's face at his words, her eyes slipped closed against the pain.

"I have to finish this," Cole told him, almost sounding sorry, and definitely for the first time unsure. She lifted the gun, Castle keeping his eyes steadily on her. If he could do nothing else, he could at least be as brave as the beautiful woman in his arms. Cole hesitated, almost wanting to close her eyes for the final act.

The second shot definitely sounded different. Castle looked up instantly, seeing Esposito's hard face from the door, where he'd shot, his gun still out and pointing at Cole. She was down, blood pouring from a wound in her chest that Castle knew instantly was fatal. His mind refused to process what was happening, his eyes tracking down to see Beckett's phone in Esposito's other hand as he lowered his gun. Ryan ran forwards, kicking the gun from Cole's hand as he pulled out his radio, starting to bark orders. Esposito only had eyes for his colleagues.

"You OK, bro?" he asked Castle, who nodded, gulping as he looked down at Beckett's pale face.

"She needs to get out of here. Now," he pointed out, Esposito nodded.

"It's OK, we have a bus outside," he promised, sheathing his gun and stepping forwards towards them.

Castle lowered Beckett gingerly to the floor, the loss of his heat causing her eyes to open, frowning and looking frightened. She clasped his hand, holding it firmly between her own blood-soaked hands. Castle smiled down at her, reaching out to brush some hair behind her ear, bending over and squeezing her hand back, trying to look reassuring.

"It's OK, Kate. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere," he promised, Beckett nodding with a cough.

"Castle…"

"Shh, it's OK. Don't try to speak, OK? Plenty of time for that. There's so much I need to tell you, Kate. I can't…I can't believe you did that. For me? I'm…not worth it."

She smiled, her breathing labored. "Of course you are. You're special, Rick."

"So are you!" he implored, his voice trembling as he fought to hold back the tears.

"I've always got your back. Always," she whispered, her eyes fixing on his for a moment, as she emphasized her point.

"Oh, God," he sobbed, pulling her hand to his mouth.

"I'm alright. Don't cry. It's all over now." She paused, Castle looking up in fear for a moment. "See, told you I'd get you out."

He half laughed half cried, Beckett wincing when a new set of hands pressed down on her shoulder, followed by another pair on her leg. She groaned, Castle trying to soother her as he touched her cheek gently. Her eyes opened again, so sad and a new look that Castle had never seen before, as if she'd completely given up. Esposito smiled down at her, his free hand sweeping across her hair briefly.

"It's only me and Ryan, Becktt, just gotta try and stop the blood, Chika, OK? You'd better hang on in there!"

Beckett frowned, a tear straying down her cheek. "I'm so sorry, Javi."

He groaned, leaning down to rest his forehead against hers briefly. "Kate Beckett, don't you dare apologise to me about anything! You did good, girl. You did real good. You held her off til we could get here and save your boy. If you hadn't left your phone in the corridor for me, I'd never have got here in time."

Beckett frowned, her face crunched up with unhappiness before it smoothed, slipping into unconsciousness. Esposito groaned, pressing harder.

"Where the hell is the ambulance!" Ryan shouted, his eyes frantic as they finally settled on the EMT's, running into the room with the stretcher. He stepped back, holding Esposito back as he watched anxiously, the EMT's checking vitals and starting fluids, their worried looks as they looked over the top saying everything.

"We gotta take her in quick, she's in a bad way," they told the others, running towards the door with the unconscious Beckett. "There's another bus behind us."

Esposito groaned, dropping his head to his hands. Letting out a growl of irritation, he kicked the rickety chair across the room, the old wood smashing as he let out a roar of irritation. Ryan placed his hand on his shoulder, Esposito turning on him with haunted eyes.

"If we'd just been a bit faster…"

"Don't even go there," Ryan told him, patting his shoulder gently. "You did everything you could. She'll be OK, Javier, she's a fighter."

"She was," he spat, sharing a knowing look with Ryan as both men remembered the look in her eyes. She'd given up.

"Lanie's gonna kill me," Esposito said, Ryan laughing. Turning around, he saw Castle had slumped to the floor, his face in his hands. "Oh hell, bro, I'm sorry! Where are you hurt?"

Esposito dropped to his knees, Castle's eyes sightless when he looked up at him. "I did this. I did all this. And she…I…"

Esposito placed his hands on Castle's shoulders, looking directly into his eyes. "You listen to me, Castle, coz this is important, OK?" He waited until Castle had nodded, knowing he was really hearing him. "Sure, you screwed up a little. But you didn't do this, OK? That was that son of a bitch dirty cop. She shot Beckett, she beat the crap out of you. Beckett won't blame you, you know she won't. If she did, she wouldn't have come for you, and she wouldn't have tried to protect you. But she's gonna really need her friends and family when she comes round. She's gonna need all of us. You more than anyone else. So I really need you to hold it together for me now, so we can worry about our girl."

Castle sobbed. "I'm so sorry!"

Esposito pulled him into a brief hug. "I'm not the one to apologise to, bro. You tell her that when she wakes up. Now, are you hurt?"

Castle shook his head, standing before wobbling. Esposito and Ryan caught him easily, one on either side, and lowered him back down. They shared a worried glance, Ryan looking at Castle carefully.

"Where did she get you?" he asked, Castle sighing.

"I hit my head. And she got my wrist. Everything else feels OK."

Ryan winced when he saw his mangled arm, Esposito carefully looking at the back of his head to see a dark patch of blood staining his hair.

"Hey, you never know bro, might have knocked a bit of sense through that thick skull of yours, eh?" he asked, Castle nodded before turning slightly green, the room starting to spin.

Esposito pulled him against his side, his hand firmly at his back as he steadied him. "Just hold on a bit longer, Castle. Ambulance'll be here in a sec."

The room fell into silence, each lost in their own personal torment, until the relieving sound of sirens filled the air. Esposito breathed a little easier, knowing that someone was going to take everything out of his hands, and leave him to worry about his friends. Smiling sadly at Ryan, they both sat with their hands supporting Castle, neither willing to let their friend fall.

Phew that turned into a long bit! Thanks very much for reading everyone, really appreciate it :)