Author's Note: Here is my next offering of Castle. I started this right after the finale so there are no spoiler for the new season. This is all my own imagination given the events of that show.

Thanks to Pyramid for the beta. You can find him on livejournal. He really helped me make this story better.

In the distance Detective Kate Beckett could hear the sirens screaming. Their high-pitched whine grated on her already fraying nerves and she tried not to let the sound unravel further. Roy Montgomery lay on the ground at her knees; he'd given his life to save hers. Kate didn't know how she felt about that, how could she look his wife and children in the eye knowing, the price he'd paid so she could live.

Although she tried to block them out, the events of the last hour played out in her mind: Roy's confession, Castle dragging her out of the hangar, the gun shots so many shots -Castle holding her- comforting her... and then that single last shot. That one had been the worst because of the silence that followed. It was only then that Castle let her go and Kate found Roy dying alone.

Once again the Dragon had taken someone she loved and it was time she exposed him to the world.

It wasn't fair, Roy had been a good man, one of the best she'd known. He didn't deserve to die like this no matter what mistakes he'd made, he didn't need to pay for them with his life.

Castle's hand brushed her shoulder as he crouched down beside her. "Kate, are you all right?"

For just a moment she wanted rail at him, to hurt him as she was hurting, but as she turned to look at him, she saw he already was in pain. The captain's death had affected him too. She wasn't alone and Kate knew Castle wouldn't abandon her, no matter. The harsh words she said in the heat of anger didn't matter, he seemed to know the real her, the one she tried to hide from the world. In that moment Rick saved her from tumbling into the abyss that yawned before her.

Rick shook her gently. "Hey, talk to me. I know how much he meant to you. I'm so sorry; I wish..."

The wail of the sirens drew closer and Kate knew she had to gather herself and put that wall back up, but no matter how hard she tried it wouldn't stay.

A group of cars pulled to a stop and as the shriek of sirens ended, and Kate knew she was out of time but only for now. Once everything settled down she and Rick would have a talk.

"Kate...?" Rick's voice was soft as he tilted her chin up to look at him. There was a look in his eye Kate had only see once, it was just before he kissed her when they'd gone rogue to save Ryan and Esposito. "Do you want me to talk to them first to give you more time?"

Her hand reached up and cradled his cheek. "No." She drew a deep breath. "Thank you, I'm fine. Just give me another minute. Thanks for being here, Castle."

He handed her a white linen handkerchief. "Always, Kate, always."

Pulling away from him, she knew the walls she's so carefully constructed were gone but she couldn't say she missed them.

Reaching out she touched Roy's shoulder. "We'll bring him down, Sir. It's the least we can do." Kate closed her eyes one last time and used Castle's handkerchief to clean up her tears the best she could before slowly getting to her feet to face the coming wave of officers and questions.

Hours later Kate sat beside Castle in her car. She was exhausted and allowed him just this once to drive. They had spent hours explaining the night's events to the police chief and other police brass before the two of them had been allowed to leave.

Castle didn't say a word as he navigated the quiet streets and Kate appreciated the silence. She was glad Castle didn't the need to fill the silence with meaningless chatter.

He pulled up in front of Kate's building a few minutes later and the two of them sat there neither moving as the minutes ticked by.

Kate didn't want to leave his presence. The car was warm but she shivered once before forcing herself to step from the car. She had to focus on the case, Montgomery needed her head in the game, some how they had to find a connection to the Dragon. He was out there and they would find him, no man is an island.

"Do you want me to come up? I make a mean pancake?" Castle's voice startled her.

She shook her head. "No, I'm going to get some sleep and then head to the station in the morning. There is going to be a press storm-" She stopped. "Besides you need your beauty sleep. I'll be fine."

She patted his shoulder and headed toward the door only to have Castle stop her by taking her hand.

"This isn't the end, we'll get a break. The Dragon can't hide forever."

Squeezing her hand gently, Rick began to let go, but Kate held fast. She needed to feel the warmth of his hand, it reminded her she was alive.

Looking up from their linked hands she realized something. That moment crystallized it all for Kate; Rick stopped being Castle and she could admit to herself that she loved him. Unconsciously she took a step toward him and her hand found his shoulder and then his cheek.

Confusion filled his eyes as he continued to speak. "We'll find out who's pulling the strings. It's time you were free. You've been trapped for so long."

His voice was so soft and gentle, and Kate felt the dam break. Collapsing against his chest she let it go; everything she'd been holding in since her mother's death.

Kate had never allowed herself to cry, let alone mourn. She'd build a wall around herself and her heart so no one could get close enough to hurt her, but Castle had stormed those walls and forced her to think about living again. His words in her apartment last the night before had struck home. She was hiding from herself and from Castle. Now Castle's words mingled with those of Royce's letter, which still ran through her mind. Playing over and over again

Drawing a deep breath, she decided it was time to stop hiding and admit to herself and to him that she loved Rick and she had for a very long time.

It had begun with his books. There was something about them that allowed her to escape into another world, just as dark as the one she lived in, but each ending with the bad guys in jail and the good guys winning. The books had given her a way to stay sane, but over time the books were no longer enough, and Kate began craving something else in her life, at the time she just didn't know what.

Then Castle had crashed into her life into her life, showing her what she'd been missing, the element she'd rejected for so long with her string of meaningless relationships and hiding behind her badge to keep others at bay.

But Castle was different. He didn't let her hide in the shadows any longer; he grabbed her hand and dragged her into the light with his wit, laughter and caring.

Over the last three years Richard Castle had changed from an object of hero worship to become a friend; someone with whom she could be herself. When she was with him she didn't need to pretend to be strong because with him she was. He brought out the best in her and made her want to be better. This was why she could fall apart in his arms and not worry about the consequences.

Holding her close, Rick murmured words much like he had only hours ago, while the two of them stood outside the hangar as the gunshots echoed around them.

She looked up at Rick and opened her mouth to speak. "Rick-"

Just then his phone rang and he stepped away to answer it. There was a short conversation before he hung up and turned back to Kate. "Mother and Alexis are worried. I need to go home. We have unfinished business." He kissed her cheek. "I'll see you later today." He stood on the street watching her for a moment before climbing into her car and driving away.

Kate walked into her apartment just as the sun rose. All she wanted to do was climb into bed and find the oblivion of sleep, but she knew that wasn't possible, at least not yet. She had too many things to do before she could allow herself that luxury.

Her first call was to her father to let him know she was all right. He was sure to hear about the shooting and wonder. The two of them talked for a bit and then Kate begged off, saying she had to get to bed. The next call was to Josh, she'd let things with him linger far too long. It was time to end that realationship and the sooner the better, life was too short and there was no way she could start anything with Rick while she was still with Josh.

A few minutes after she end the call by leaving a message on Josh's voicemail, there was a knock on her door. For a heartbeat she stared at the door wondering if Rick had returned, but then she heard Josh's voice on the other side of the door. Braking from her reverie, she ushered him inside, hoping to keep this short and sweet.

"I got your message just as I was getting off shift and thought I'd come by and bring you these." He held out coffee, a bearclaw, and flowers. When Kate took them Josh brushed a kiss on her cheek, oblivious to the tension in Kate's body. Placing the items on the table, Kate wrapped her arms around herself. "Josh, we need to talk."

At the tone of her words he froze and forced a smile. "Today's the day, isn't it?"

Confused, Kate frowned. "What day?"

Josh turned to look at her. "The one you say goodbye." Kate tried to speak but he stopped her. "I've been expecting it for a long time. You are a beautiful woman, Kate, but you weren't really here with me, just as I wasn't really here with you. I knew that this wasn't forever but it was fun while it lasted."

Not allowing herself to look away Kate tried to explain. "I never meant to hurt you. Josh, I really like you, it's just..."

"I'm not Castle. I knew that this time was coming since they found you in that freezer, maybe even before that. I just didn't know who he was." He kissed her cheek. "Goodbye Kate, I hope he can make you happy, you do deserve it." Then he was gone before she could say anything else.

Once the door was closed Kate dropped into one of the chairs at her small table, staring at the flowers. They really was were beautiful but she couldn't stand to look at it them any more. Picking it them up she held it them over the trash but changed her mind and called a courier to take them over to Roy's house. Taking a small note card from her desk, she expressed her sympathies and sent it off with the messenger.

Having nothing else left to do, Kate climbed into her bed hoping sleep would find her, but her mind refused to shut down. Her thoughts raced in so many directions. Was there something else she could have done, should have done.

These thoughts ran around and around in her mind until she finally tossed the covers off herself and got to her feet. Pacing the confines of her bedroom, hoping to dispel some of the nervous energy, Kate came to a conclusion.

She had to talk to Rick, to clear the air between them. Her hand hovered over the phone but she pulled back, suddenly afraid once more. What if she was wrong and these feelings were only on her side, and what Rick felt was just lust?

Kate knew Rick would never make the first move, his actions in LA had proven that, he was waiting for her to decide what she wanted. Knowing that she wouldn't find any answered here, she grabbed her coat from the back of the chair and headed outside to hail a cab.

A knock sounded on the door startling Rick and he spilled the whole glass of orange juice down his shirt. Wiping at the mess with a towel, he opened the door to find Kate standing there with her arms wrapped around herself.

"Rick, can I-" Kate stopped, she looked so lost and alone. "We need to talk. There's something I need to say." It was then that she noticed his laptop sitting on the coffee table. "Am I interrupting, because I can go..."

Not wanting her to leave, Rick stepped forward and grabbed her hand. "Nope, come on in. I tried to sleep but when that didn't work, I came down here to write and that... well, it didn't work either. I couldn't stop thinking about last night and the coming funeral."

Kate entered the apartment, looking around. "Is Martha or Alexis here?"

"No, Alexis went to school and Mother is tinkering with her acting school." Rick clapped his hands. "Did you want something to eat or drink?" He was unsure just what Kate wanted and he planned to let her show him the way.

Kate took a shuddering breath before she wiped her eyes and looked up at him. "No, I just wanted to talk. I thought-" She stopped as tears began to run down her cheeks.

Rick watched Kate for just a moment before wrapping his arms around her. Instantly Kate relaxed against him, letting out a sigh. Rick pulled her over back onto the couch without ever letting her go.

Holding her close, he stroked her hair. "Kate, it will be all right; we'll get through this together."

Kate nodded. "I know we will. I'm here for you too, Rick."

She laid her head down on his chest and moments later she was asleep. Rick leaned back, allowing himself to drift off to sleep, glad she'd come to him and that for a while he could watch over her and keep her safe.

There you have it leave a review and make me smile, I'd love to hear from you. More on the way next Wednesday, but chapter two is up on my website. You can google me or head to my profile to find the link.

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