Always
Prologue
Detective Kate Beckett stood behind the wooden podium. A breeze that carried with it the scent of freshly mown grass rustled the ignored papers resting on the podium. The cool spring air felt nice on Kate's face. She was standing watching the mournful crowd, sitting silently in the beautiful cemetery, only moving to dab tears from their cheeks. Kate recited the speech she thought she would never give, a speech she wrote only a few nights previously; it was her final words about Captain Roy Montgomery. She not once looked down at the papers in front of her for reference; she had committed this to memory. He was a friend and mentor; she had never dreamt that this day would come, not even in her worst nightmares. Her captain died a hero to protect her and his own family.
"Captain Montgomery once said to me that for us there is no victory, only battles. And in the end the best you could hope for is to find a place you can make your stand," as Kate continued she turned and watched Rick Castle, the best-selling author, instead of the crowd. Three years ago Rick was a suspect in one of Kate's cases; he was more a person of interest in the case. Someone had been copying the way he murdered people in his books. After they cleared him he somehow wormed his way back into Kate's life by saying he needed to do research for a book, ever since he and Kate had been partners.
"And if you are very lucky you find someone willing to stand with you." At this Rick caught her eyes briefly, but she turned her attention back to the audience. Rick didn't pull his gaze away from her. She was in her full uniform, with her hair pulled back in bun just below the rim of her hat. He finally turned back to the silent crowd; that was when he saw it, the sun reflected off of something behind a distance headstone. He strained his vision to see what it was; the second and final flash brought his mind to realization.
"Kate!" He was a second too late. He jumped, pulling Kate to ground with him. The single bullet needed pierced her chest. Rick landed next to her. Her white gloves were stained crimson.
"Kate!" He said, propping her head in his left hand and clutching her hip in the other.
"Kate! Stay with me Kate!" He whispered his voice shuddered.
"Don't leave me Kate, please." His voice was cracking now.
"Stay with me okay? Kate." He looked down at her chest. A ring of blood was growing larger with every second. He moved the hand holding her hip to the wound in her chest.
"Kate," he stuttered.
"I love you," he whispered urgently to her, his eyes searching her face.
"I love you Kate." He muttered tears falling down his cheeks. Kate's eyes poured into his, but only for a moment before her head rolled back and her eyes fluttered closed.
Rick still applied pressure to her chest, but he looked around helplessly for anyone who could aid him.
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