Chapter 1- The Shot Rang Out
The first thought Richard Castle had as he stepped out of his car into the cemetery was how ironic the weather was. The sun was out and the air was warm, but not uncomfortably so, due to a breeze that blew periodically. The grass was tinted a bright green, the sky cloudless and a light blue shown from the heavens. Such a glorious day, yet such a tragic one. Little did Rick know how much Mother Nature was teasing him.
The funeral proceeded: the Montegomerys' cried, Castle, Esposito, Ryan, Beckett, and other members of the Twelfth solemnly carried their fallen captain's casket through the burial ground. Kate, who gave a moving eulogy about Montegomery and then looked at Castle. Forgiving him for their emotionally charged fight and keeping her away from Roy when the shots rang out. Silently thanking him for standing with her. Always. And then, right in the middle of her sentence and two flashes later, and Castle's world seemed crash down around him.
"Kate!" She glanced at him and then the bullet found its target. She let out a little "umf," and Castle was aware of nothing else except her.
Kate, down on the ground, he, on top of her, trying to protect her, but it was all too late. That was always the case, wasn't it?: They were always too late. Kate trying to tell him something before her consciousness ebbed away in that freezer, he, trying to ask her out before Josh had interrupted. And now Kate was lying in the grass struggling to keep awake, let alone alive against her protesting body. It had to be now or never.
He pleaded with her to stay with him, to hold on. But it wasn't enough. It was never enough. She had even told him so.
"Kate, I love you. I love you, Kate." Kate Beckett's lip had twitched upward and her head lolled to the side. She was gone and Rick Castle knew he was lost as a tear slid down his nose.
