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A/n a short tag to "For Better or Worse." Kate's thoughts at the scene of the accident.

Always

She didn't believe it when the call came. It had to be a mistake because this was the fairy tale Castle had promised her. They'd overcome the obstacles of their story and now they were supposed to have the happy ending.

When the car pulled up to the accident sight, some part of her thought there had to be some kind of mistake, but it was his car. In an instant, the fairy tale became a nightmare. It had to be a nightmare, because if not, her life was over. If only she could wake up. Please God, wake up.

The crackling flames, the acrid smell of smoke and burning rubber, against the blue of the sky and the green of the trees was too real. She had to wake up! She'd close her eyes and count to ten. When she opened them again, Rick would be next to her in their bed and they'd laugh over her nerves.

She closed her eyes and counted to ten as tears seeped from her lashes and ran down her face, and as the heat from the flames licked at her like the tongue of some wild animal that wanted to devour.

She opened her eyes and the car was still there, off the side of the road and engulfed in flames. Oh, God, it was real. NO, no, no… it couldn't be real. "Take it back," she whispered and closed her eyes. "Take it back, take it back, Take. It. Back!"

"Ma'am," arms grabbed her.

"Let me go," she screamed at the firefighter that held on to her.

More of them poured down over the hillside and began battling the flames.

"What's your name?" The man asked.

"Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD."

He did not flinch at the venom in her voice or the rage in her tear-filled eyes.

"Detective, come with me. You need to -"

She wrenched out of his grasp. "No, this is not happening. It's a mistake, and I'm going to find out what really happened."

"Ma'am, let one of the paramedics -"

"No, I'm not gonna let you drug me," she said. "I don't need drugs. I need to know what happened to Castle."

"Look, I'm sorry for what happened, but there's nothing you can do."

She simply turned and walked back to the car. Oh, she could do something, because Rick was counting on her. She had to write the ending to the story this time. It was up to her to overcome this final obstacle.

"How do I do it without you?" She whispered as the car executed a three-point turn.

She looked out the window and for a minute, she thought she saw his face next to hers in the glass.

"I'll be with you always."

He smiled at her in the reflection and then faded way like the mist before the sun.

"Always."