829. Chapter 829

After Cops and Robbers

Episode 4.07

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Hand over the Castle and no one gets hurt, see? Rating: K Time: See above.

Author's note: We all know how this should have ended. Except Big Kahuna, of course.

The sound of the blast took Beckett totally by surprise. No! The C4 can't have gone off so soon. Please, no.

Physically her training took over. She grabbed her protective vest and checked her Glock. Her mind was working overtime, however. I'll kill them all. Every one of them. I don't care if they have their hands up or even if other cops have them in cuffs already. If they're not inside, I'll go after them. Alone and on my own if I have to. But, I'll kill every one of them even if I have to spend the rest of my life in prison.

But the horror of what had just happened was starting to leak into her mind. He's gone. They must have set the blast off to kill all the witnesses to whatever the hell they were doing. Castle is dead and I never…Oh, God, I didn't just never get a chance to tell him how I feel, I lied to him about it. He's dead and I was so stupid that I threw away any chance I've had to be with him since I broke up with Josh. I could have had him with me at Dad's cabin. We could have been lovers, but I just couldn't do it. How stupid can one person be?

By this time Kate and the other police were inside the bank. "Castle?" She yelled. Maybe he's still alive. Maybe I can tell him I love him, too before….She was interrupted by his voice.

"Beckett?"

It wasn't just his voice, but the strength of it told her he wasn't badly injured. He'll be okay. We have a chance. I have a chance.

She pushed her way into the safe deposit box area, and knelt in front of Castle. "Are you all right?"

He just smiled at her.

Kate leaned in and hugged him. "I thought I'd lost you. I thought you were gone. I thought we'd never have a chance…." She stopped, thinking she'd gone too far.

"You'll never lose me, Kate. Never." He put his arms around her and held her close, oblivious to all the people around them. "We do have a chance."

"Katherine," Martha said softly, "you and Richard seem to be the only ones who don't realized how much each of you loves the other. You need to talk about this. But please, cut these things off of my wrists so we can get out of here."

Kate blushed. "I'm so sorry, Martha."

"Don't be, dear. What happened now is too important. Now, let's get out of here."

Rick and Kate walked out on either side of Martha. As soon as Alexis saw hem she ran to her dad and grandmother. She threw her arms around them. Kate tried to walk away to talk to Ryan and Espo, but Alexis grabbed her and pulled her into the hug. "Thank you, Detective Beckett. Thanks for everything."

"I really didn't do anything, Alexis."

Castle pulled her close. "Don't believe that. Kate is a hero. I don't know what would have happened without her."

She rested her head on his shoulder for a second, then she became all cop again. "I still have some murders to solve, Castle. Do you want to take Martha and Alexis home?"

"Don't be silly, Katherine. You two are partners, aren't you? He needs to be with you."

Kate heard Martha put just a bit of an emphasis on the word needs. "Come on, Castle."

Ryan and Esposito watched as Beckett was engulfed in a Castle family group hug. "Does this mean what I think it means, bro?"

Ryan shook his head. "With those two, you can never tell. But I hope it does. They need each other."

Esposito nodded. "Badly. We'd better not say anything. You know how Beckett can get."

"Okay, act naturally. Here they come."

When the murder was solved and Ron Brandt had been arrested, Kate went back to Castle's loft where Martha and Alexis had indeed prepared a feast.

When the dinner was over and he dishes were done, Alexis and Martha quickly went upstairs.

"Castle, can we talk at my place? I know it's silly, but…I'd feel more comfortable there. Okay?"

"Anything you want, Kate. Anything."

I know what I want now, and it's you. She thought.

Once back at Beckett's apartment, she sat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I really thought you were dead. I was sure they had blown you all up to get rid of all of the witnesses. I was going to kill them all. Even if they were wounded and offering no resistance, even if other cops had them in cuffs. I was going to kill every one of them. And if they had escaped, I was going to hunt them down and kill them, no matter how long it took, no matter what I had to do. Even if I spent the rest of my life in prison."

Castle shook his head. "Kate you can't do that."

"That's exactly what I would have done. Don't you ever think I wouldn't. I thought you were dead without me ever getting a chance to tell you how much I care for you, how much I need you, not just as my partner at the precinct, but as my partner in life. How much I want to find out just what we are to each other and what we can be in the future." She stopped, turned and looked into his eyes. "And now the hard part."

Castle frowned until Kate leaned up and kissed him softly. "Now, that was amazing." She teased.

"Your kisses always are."

"I meant what I said on the swings. I won't be able to have the kind of relationship with you that I want, and I won't be the kind of person that I want to be for you until I catch my mom's killer. I realize it's a lot to ask of you, but I need you with me to find him, whoever he is. I realize I can't do this without you. Please, Castle, will you…"

This time she found his lips on hers, stopping her from finishing her sentence. "Did you ever think I wouldn't go with you until that wall was all the way down?"

"A girl can hope." She rose and pulled Castle up and to her bedroom.

Much later, she snuggled in his arms, completely relaxed. "It's funny."

Castle cocked an eyebrow. "Funny ha ha, or funny peculiar?"

"Both. I've been so afraid of this. Afraid of how much letting you in would leave me vulnerable. Afraid of how much losing you would hurt. Now I know just how much I would hurt if I did lose you, and this is so much better. You said once that I deserved to be happy, Castle. You make me happy."

"Always."