Seven minutes, Kate. Seven minutes. That's how long the brain continues to function after the body dies, and as all of those synapses slowly stop firing off, that's when they say that our lives flash before our eyes. Now, when your seven minutes come, I sincerely hope that you do not flash to this moment, when you had a chance to live and you chose not to.

- Caleb Brown

She crawled to him, smearing blood on the polished floor, and it was taking all her strength just to make it to him. She had taken a bullet to the heart once upon a time and remembered every second of it, too. Even that memory, though, had faded to nothing more than an echo. She had no idea if this pain rivaled that of her memory from years ago. All she knew now was that her legs didn't want to work and her body felt like a sack of bricks. She just needed to get to him, confident that she would feel better if she could just do that. Castle, her mind chanted.

How could they have gotten this so wrong? And now, it was too late. He was shot. Her husband was dying over there, and that hurt far worse than any bullet ever could. Please don't let it be too late, she prayed as she moved inch by inch towards him.

Beckett didn't have far to go, the gap between them closing faster because he was there, shuffling to her, too, proving once more that they surfed the same brainwave. She dropped her gun and rolled over onto her back. He was there and they were together. That was all that really mattered, wasn't it? No! Her mind screamed at her as their hands searched for the other. Being near him didn't change the fact that he'd been shot. She knew that one day, their life together was going to end up like this - riddled with bullets - but it was never him. He was never on the receiving end, because no matter what, he needed to live on. He was strong enough to live on without her and she knew she wasn't.

Their hands met, and she clutched at him. Castle tried to speak, but her name wouldn't come. Air wouldn't come, either. His last thought was of her as his eyes slipped closed.

She lay like that for a moment, trying to manage the pain, but it was kicking her ass. It felt like her arms and legs were made of lead. Looking up at the ceiling was one thing, but Kate Beckett was seeing beyond the penthouse roof as she silently prayed to any angel who would listen to her.

It was the wheezing that startled her. His wheezing. "Cassss…" It was a struggle to get out that barely there whisper. She tilted her head towards him, gasping with pain at even the slightest movement, but she could see that he had lost consciousness. A whimper escaped her, a combination of both of their injuries. This is not happening, she thought. The anguish Beckett was feeling could not be put into words.

They needed help. "L'cy…" Ah, God… she had nothing, not even her cell phone and that stupid home operating system was on the other side of the room. She had nothing left.

She brought their hands up and pressed her lips to the back of his. "Stay with me," she mouthed, hoping he would stay tethered to her, and wanting nothing more than for him to take strength from her. It was then she realized his hand was slack in her own.

I'd walk into a tornado for you, Kate.

Her eyes welled with tears, one falling readily into her hair as the words that came next jabbed her in the gut. And I would die if I lost you. He had been so angry with her then, justifiably so. She had made a mess of their marriage all on her own.

And now, she wished she had stayed the course, or at least been more careful about walking this double-edged sword because he was never meant to take a bullet because of her… no one was.

...

Time passed. How long, Beckett had no idea. It couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes. She felt herself slipping to join Castle in darkness, but there was a banging at the door that stirred her and kept her present. She listened, and suddenly the door burst open, kicked in by the sure foot of a NYPD officer.

"NYPD!" A team of officers moved through the apartment. Her gun was kicked away, Caleb's too. An officer got down on his knees beside her, and she looked up at the head covered with a black mask and helmet. "Captain Beckett?" The confusion was short lived in the face of bullet wounds. The officer pulled off the helmet and mask and qued the mic. "Officer down! I say again, officer down. We need two ambulances."

Beckett knew this man, but for the life of her couldn't place the name at the moment. She gripped the officer's sleeve for a second, and the weak movement was enough to capture his attention. "How?" Beckett whispered, confused. "Casss'le?"

"We received a shots fired call from the tenant below you, and Jennings is checking him right now."

"Perkins, he's not breathing." Jennings said, and Perkins looked up at his team member who was already beginning to perform CPR. Beckett could see the worry in his eyes.

"No…" Beckett whimpered, defiantly. "Please… no."

"Captain, you have to stay still."

She gasped suddenly, a fresh wave of pain coursing through her. She heard the officer counting compressions before it all fell away into nothing.

A/N: How was that finale, everyone? I have to say, I am glad they canceled the show (though still devastated they had to) because I could not watch it without our beloved Stana Katic. Caskett deserved their happily ever after, and I am so happy they got one. Hmm… wonder if they'll put the alternate ending on the DVD…

Obviously, all mistakes are my own. I don't have betas or anything to that effect. Well, more to come soon. :)