A/N: I just finished watching the finale. I don't think I'm going to stop crying for a while.
I normally write in first-person, past-tense, but this story wanted to be written a little differently.
Sorry if the dialogue is a little off.
"He said that, if we're lucky, we'll find someone to take a stand with us." Kate's voice rings out across the open field of the cemetary. Castle looks up in time to catch her glance before she continues. "I think our captain would want us to carry on that fight."
There's a movement then, in the corner of Castle's vision. Something swift, furtive… He lunges toward his partner, but she is already falling, red splatters staining the white gloves of her formal uniform.
Unbidden, a stream of memories flood behind his eyes.
Kate's voice, saying that they were over.
Racing toward Kate's apartment, yelling into his phone, the flash of the explosion. His relief at seeing her alive.
Montgomery telling him that he was the only one Kate would listen to.
Kate's father telling him to protect his daughter.
The ache in his own chest as he held her while she sobbed in the hangar. She had looked beautiful even then, with circles under eyes that were reddened from tears, clothes and hair rumpled. She always looked beautiful.
His mother telling him that he had a way with words, but so much trouble with the ones that really count.
All the times he had jumped her, or a potential shooter, including his spectacular drop onto the man with the machine gun.
He was supposed to catch her, to protect her, to push her out of the way. He was her partner, damn it! It was his job. But all he can do now is hold her in his arms and beg her not to die, to stay with them, to stay with him, because he needs her.
"Kate, please. Please, Kate. I love you." He holds her as best he can, whispering over and over the words he has wanted to say for so long. He's crying as she goes limp in his arms.
It wasn't supposed to end this way. He was supposed to catch her, to protect her. But this time, he was too late.
Review! Review and I'll put your penname on a petition that I'll send to ABC to insist that Kate stays alive!
~Separate Entity