Well, I must say, "Cops & Robbers" is definitely one of my new favorite Castle episodes. I'm always a bit skeptical of TV episodes involving a hostage situation, but I think Andrew Marlowe handled it perfectly. I didn't think Castle could get any better after season 3, but I was wrong. I can't wait to see what the rest of this season has in store for us. Anyway, this first chapter is an alternate version of the scene where Beckett finds Castle. Enjoy! :)

DISCLAIMER: I'll keep this short and to the point - I do not own Castle.

"Look, we don't have time to wait for a return phone call, so find him-"

A deafening noise interrupts Beckett and an explosive shock wave hits the van with a powerful jolt. In that split second, a dam breaks and dread floods her heart. Tears threaten to fall as she closes her cell phone. She immediately envisions the worst case scenario –

Castle lies on the hard tile floor of the bank with a glass shard embedded in his heart. He coughs up blood, and a few seconds later, he breathes his last words.

"I love you, Kate."

Martha crawls toward him, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. She gasps in pain as she pulls herself further. Once she reaches him, tears of sorrow mix with tears of pain, streaking her mascara. Her body shudders with grief as she cradles his body in her arms.

"I'm sorry, Richard," she whispers.

Her eyes drift close, her grip relaxes, and she slumps forward.

Beckett bursts in through the doors.

"Castle!"

She sprints to his side and screeches to a halt. She collapses on the ground and checks for a pulse; her worst fears become reality when she doesn't find one. Alexis' words echo in the corners of her mind.

"They're all I've got."

Beckett looks down at the lifeless bodies of Castle and Martha – she blames herself. A better cop would have gotten the hostages out alive, but she didn't. She failed and now Alexis doesn't have a family. Because of her failure, the love of her life is dead. He's dead and never coming back.

Beckett shakes her head; she needs to focus – they could still be alive. She shakily rises from her chair and emerges from the van. The bright sunlight is surprisingly beautiful, bouncing off the dust and smoke in the air. A lump forms in her throat as she realizes no one could have escaped the... No. She can't think like that. She has to hope beyond hope that he's still alive because she doesn't think she can cope if he isn't.

Her police mentality finally takes over, and as if in a trance, she reaches for her gun and charges toward the building. She barks commands at the other officers and they follow her inside.

"Castle?" she calls out. Her racing heartbeat drowns out all other sounds.

She sees Castle sprawled out on the ground in a pool of his own blood.

Beckett's vivid imagination almost paralyzes her.

"Castle?"

Smoke stings her eyes and she can barely see, but still she continues. She has to see him again. She has to find him.

He turns his head to look at her. His skull is partially caved in and he's bleeding from one eye.

"This is your fault."

She tries to block it out; she won't be stopped by a nightmare.

"CASTLE!" Maybe if she screams loud enough, her prayers will be answered.

"Beckett?"

She shines her flashlight in the direction of his voice, not daring to believe that what she heard was real. Blinking the smoke away, she catches a glimpse of him. She stares at him, and he gives a little wave. He's alive. He's really alive. She silently repeats it over and over until she convinces herself it's true.

He's alive.

"They're here!" Beckett yells to the S.W.A.T. team behind her. The gated door creaks as she pushes it open. She throws a small smile in Castle's direction before opening the final door standing in her way.

Castle's laughter rings out.

"I told you! Ha!"

Never in her life has she been so glad to hear his voice. She kneels down before him and smiles in relief. Getting her knife out, she reaches for his bound hands. She holds them in her own for a fraction of a second longer than a friend would and looks deep into his eyes.

"Here we go. Ready?"

He nods.

"'Kay." The knife cuts through the plastic in one quick motion.

Her hand seems to have a mind of its own as it reaches for his lapel. She caresses the fabric, and before she can stop herself, she pulls him close and presses her lips to his for a brief moment. The kiss is more out of relief than anything else, but he gazes at her in stunned silence, his mouth gaping open. She knows she crossed an invisible line, but she doesn't care. Maybe she's ready for more. Maybe if she tells him she remembers everything, that she remembers what he said to her... Maybe...

"He's not the only one here you know."

They both turn to see Martha watching them.

Beckett looks back at Castle.

"I'm so..."

She blinks once. She almost tells him everything, but the moment is gone. She makes a snap decision and slides over to kneel in front of Martha.

"I'm so sorry Martha. I just..."

"Got caught up in the moment?" Martha smiles as her hands are cut free.

"Yeah."

Beckett can feel Castle grinning behind her. She knows that their relationship has changed; perhaps it hasn't changed much, but it's a start.

Well, I really hope you enjoyed this! The second chapter should be posted in a day or two. Thanks for reading! Also, I'd love it if you took the time to leave a review; I always appreciate feedback, whether it's good or bad.