Hi Everyone
Time for another of my AU One Shot Series, Time to re-visit season 3 'Knockout'. Now i know this has been done so many times before. But as authors we each have our own style and inspiration and this is been a long standing idea in my head since i started writing
So i hope you all like it.
Standard Disclaimer: Not mine, Never will be. Belongs to the fantastic AWM and the guys and girls at ABC Studios.
Gun Smoke
It was a summers day in New York City the blue sky above clear not a hint of a cloud, The cool breeze that blew through the cemetery a stark reminder to assembled guests here to remember a fallen officer of the NYPD.
Captain Roy Montgomery
Who had sacrificed himself to save the life of another, A line of officers from the 12th precinct in full dress uniform assembled either side the mahogany casket joined by a dark suited mystery writer.
Gently lifting the casket off it's mount as they slowly walked towards their Captains final resting place walking down the line of saluting NYPD officers, A Priest stood ready along with assembled guests including Roy Montgomery's family. With the casket placed on straps above the open grave still draped in the stars and stripes. At the podium stood Detective Katherine 'Kate' Beckett, The person who Montgomery had sacrificed his life to save.
Kate stepped forward his gloved hands bracing herself on the edges of podium, Inside her emotions were a swirling mess. Her mother's murder, The threats against her life, contract killers. When had her life become so complicated. All she wanted was to find the person who had ordered her mothers death, But as the days went by that was becoming more a dream than reality.
Her hazel eyes were drawn to the flagged draped casket containing the lifeless body of her mentor and saviour, She remembered that moment vividly when it became abundantly clear that Montgomery's actions as a rookie cop had inadvertently set off a chain of events that would affect so many lives.
Shaking her head clearing those thoughts they wouldn't help anyone now, But she was assaulted by yet more memories of that night in the hanger. The moment when she felt a pair of strong and muscled arm circle around her waist and lift her into the air before carrying her away from The Captain as he prepared to make his final stand.
Her screams of protest did nothing to halt her forcible removal from the hanger, Her tears, the brokenhearted sobbing escaping her lips as she was pressed up against a town car once outside
She hated him, How could he do that to her.
Richard Castle
She turned her head looking at the man, Her partner, Her friend, The man who had saved her life on so many occasions. Even times before she had ever met him, His words the stories that had dragged her tired and grieving soul back from the brink of her mothers murder.
Who was she kidding she didn't hate him, She never could he was only doing was the Captain had ordered him to do. It was something he prided himself on, Doing that one thing that a cop should always do no matter what.
Have your partner's back.
From his position on the podium Richard Castle observed his partner his own emotions clawing at his chest begging to escape, When he received a call from Montgomery two nights ago asking him to meet him at the hanger. He had no idea what he was stepping into all he wanted was protect her, protect someone who had become so special to him.
It was the hardest thing he had ever done, Lifted her into the air dragging her away from the one man who had mentored her and made her the brilliant cop she as today. His own soul tormented at leaving Montgomery to die. But he did it for her as the Captain wanted, He wanted her to live and if she hated him for it so be it.
He cast his gaze into the distance as the folded American flag was gently placed into Evelyn Montgomery's arms, From the podium Kate started speaking.
"Captain Montgomery, Once told me that in life there now victory's only battles. He said it is our jobs a cops to fight those battles and come home everyday and rise once again to continue the fight" Kate recited
Castle's eyes focused on something in the distance glinting in the sun, His eyes darted to the left for a second only to see the glint again. His body jolted as he ran towards Kate, The glint he knew exactly what it was and willed his body to reach her in time.
"Kate" He shouted
The crack of a silenced gunshot broke the silence of the service as the partners took a tumble from the stage landing on the grass behind, The assembled guests all ducked behind their chairs.
Dr Lanie Parish resident Medical Examiner from her spot in the crowd made an effort to stand a pained expression on her face deeply worried for her friends, She was forced back down by Detective Javier Esposito.
From her spot on the ground pressed into the soft grass at her back, Kate opened her eyes staring into the open blue sky. She felt a heavy weight on top of her, She pushed trying to move the body that covered hers. That was when she noticed it, A liquid staining the pristine white glove on her left hand.
Blood
Her eyes widened in shock, The little amount of pain she felt couldn't mean the blood was her's then that meant it belonged to the body on top of her.
Castle
With a grunt she pushed him off of her and onto his back, The sheen that had appeared on his black shirt and tie signifying the blood was indeed Castle's. His eyes were wide as she struggled to take a breath.
Kate pulled her gloves off and pressed her hands to his wound at the centre of his chest, She moved at hand to her back of his head lifting it from the ground and stared into his panic stricken blue eyes.
"Castle you stay with me OK, You stupid idiot" Kate said panic creeping into her own voice
A small smile creased Castle's lips "Not the words...i would of...chosen Beckett" He stuttered his eyes getting heavy.
Kate pressed harder into his chest, As the red life giving substance leaked through her fingers as his eyes grew heavy "No...No Castle!, You need to listen to my voice, Please stay with me Castle!, Please don't leave me" She cried fat tears streaking a path down her cheeks under each hazel eye.
The mystery writers eyes closed blood still flowing from his open wound, Beckett leaned down her body shaking uncontrollably as she whispered in his ear.
"I love you Castle, I love you"
Everything then became a blur as Lanie arrived crashing to the floor next to Kate who refused to release her grip on the writer.
"Kate, Sweetie, I need some space please" ordered Lanie
Kate didn't move until she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her and pull her to feet forcing her grip on the writers hand to slip, Tears still staining her cheeks as she fought against the grip on her body.
"Chica, You weren't moving" Said Esposito
Kate just cried harder as two paramedics arrived and immediately helped Lanie stabilise the writer before loading him onto the gurney and rushed towards a waiting ambulance.
"Javi Please...I need to stay with him...Please"
The veteran homicide detective had never seen his boss in such a state, He could feel the quakes rocking her body against his, The grief she was feeling so visible on her face he felt so guilty about keeping her from the writer's side.
"Come on Chica, We'll drive you in the crown vic" He whispered
Detective Kevin Ryan soon joined the pair as helped escorted a still crying Kate Beckett to a nearby Crown Victoria Squad Car. With Esposito at the wheel and blue lights and sirens blazing he chased after the speeding ambulance on it's way to St Luke's Hospital.
Kate was already out of the crown vice before Esposito had fully stopped the vehicle as she tracked the gurney carrying Castle through the bleak hospital corridors. Lanie sat astride the Writer her hands furiously pumping at his chest as the paramedics pulled the gurney forward.
"What have we got?" Asked a Doctor as she came alongside running with them.
One of the paramedics rattled off Castle's injuries and status, The Doctor nodded before he turned to Lanie who was still pumping at Castle's chest as his head lulled from side to side from the gurneys movement.
"We'll take it from here" Questioned the Doctor
Lanie turned her head a fierce expression on her face a lone tear racing down her cheek "Look, This is my friend and I'm not about to let him die on this damm gurney" She thundered
The Doctor didn't look fazed "Then let us save his life" he responded
Kate trailed behind carefully avoiding the blood trail on the floor as she slowed to stop as she saw Lanie hugging herself tears running down her cheeks, She turned and saw the utterly devastated sight of Kate Beckett the two women then hugged as the others soon joined them.
Was Castle alive? The unanswered question that hung in the air between them all, There friend and saved a life today but would he pay with his own.
Kate's eyes were drawn to the glass doors, beyond her partner who had saved her life yet again and she would never be able to repay him. She backed up against the wall and slid down it's smooth surface to the floor once again tears leaking from her eyes.
"Castle" she whispered "Please don't leave me"
There are just some fights that can't be won.
Hi everyone
Now i know i said one shot, But this is going to get another chapter to become a two shot
I know it's cliché this type of scenario. But the episode is so important to whole purpose of the relationship Castle and Beckett share i couldn't quite compete with the brilliance of AWM.
But i hope you all like this, So let me know what you think,
Until Next Time
Knight Rider Alpha