Final chapter! It's shorter than the others.

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, favorited, and followed! :)

I will probably update Nightmares late tonight/tomorrow & I'm also working on a new story that I'll upload in the next couple of days! :)

*Disclaimer* I do not own Castle.

Chapter 3

He spends the entire next day in bed clutching her picture close to his heart. Martha came by a few times to check on him throughout the day. She tried to get him to eat something, tried to convince him to get some sleep, and even suggested he try writing, it used to always make him feel better. How can I write about Nikki Heat when Kate was the whole inspiration behind her? Nothing worked. He just wanted to be alone with his thoughts and memories.

He lay there awake pretending it was her instead of just a picture he was holding, pretending he could hear her heartbeat instead of the deafening silence that surrounded him. He sighed and lifted the picture to look at it one more time before placing it on the shirt he now kept on the bed next to him. His red t-shirt, the shirt that she wore the night her apartment blew up and she stayed at the loft with him. It didn't smell like her anymore but somehow it still brought him comfort. He laid his hand across the shirt and picture, closed his eyes, and decided to try to get some sleep.

**KBRCKBRC47KBRCKBRC**

"Rick…Rick."

"Hmm?"

"Rick, wake up."

He blinked slowly trying to focus, "Kate…you can't be here. You…you're…"

"Dead?" She smiled, that special smile she reserved only for him. "You're dreaming Rick."

"Oh," his face fell, "I miss you so much Kate. I don't know how much longer I can take this."

"I know. You'll be okay though. I promise."

"I won't Kate. I love you, I can't do this without you. I don't want to."

"I know you love me. I heard you," she smiled again, "I love you too."

"You do?" He smiled for the first time in a week.

"Of course I do. I always will. It wasn't your fault Rick."

"Kate I..."

"No," she said gently, "it wasn't your fault."

"It was," he started crying, "I couldn't save you."

"You have to stop blaming yourself. It wasn't your place to save me."

"No. I shouldn't have brought up your mom's case again..."

"Stop. It wasn't your fault, okay?"

He looked up her and nodded, slowly wiping away his stray tears.

"I have to go now Rick."

"No! Please don't go. Stay with me, just a few more minutes, please."

"I can't. I'm sorry," she walked over to him, brushed her lips gently across his, and put her hand on his heart, "I'll be right here with you. Always."

He woke with a start and looked around frantically for her. It was just a dream. He fell back into his pillows and picked up her picture. Pressing a kiss to it softly he whispers, "Thank you Kate."

Deciding he should try writing after all he rolled out of bed and made his way to his office. He pulled opened his laptop, closed all of the Nikki Heat files that were still open, and opened a blank document.

For Kate, my one and done.

From the moment we met, my world was turned upset down.
I know I drove you crazy at first, but I also know you secretly loved it.
All it took was just one smile from you for me to fall in love.
Your laugh made my heart skip a beat.
Your smile could light up the darkest room.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of you.
All I have left of you now is memories and pictures.
I didn't know it was possible to hurt this much Kate.
I miss your smile. I miss your laugh.
My heart breaks with every beat without you.

I know now that I'll be okay one day.
You are the love of my life. My heart.
My always.
I love you.

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