Title: A Single Moment
Author: KouenTaisa/WonderTwinC (Ched)
Rating: T
Pairing: Beckett/Castle
Status: 1/1
Category/Warnings: Character Death
Spoilers: None really.
Summary: There is a moment in which everything is calm and quiet and he easily catches a glimpse of her face, but it is only a moment.
A/N: This is my first foray into the Castle fandom, just being honest. I haven't written by myself in ages or written anything in awhile, so I hope that everyone likes this. Just saying.
There is a moment in which everything is calm and quiet and he easily catches a glimpse of her face, but it is only a moment.
Before he can open his mouth to yell or scream or something, he hears the gunfire and sees red. The voices of Ryan and Esposito calling for a bus are only background noise as he races across the distance. In his haste to reach her side he stumbles, but the pain of his hands striking the concrete serves as a center and he rights himself immediately.
He almost stumbles again when he reaches her, but he falls more gracefully this time and quickly closes the last few inches between them while on his hands and knees.
There is blood. It soaks her clothes and covers the ground and starts to seep into the knees of his pants as he kneels at her side.
A strangled sound escapes his throat, somewhat resembling her name, but mostly a raw sound of anguish. He presses his hands to the wounds that he can see, watching as they slowly become covered in her blood. There have been so many almost and what ifs during their partnership. So many close calls.
It all compiles together to make this moment feel somewhat surreal to him. She has always managed to ground him, however, and now is no exception. Even though she is bleeding out and pale, it is her mere silence that lets him know this moment is real.
Then, there is later, long after many things.
After the ambulance comes and goes.
After the hollow reassurances of Ryan and Esposito.
After he has endured hugs from both Alexis and his mother.
Later, long after many things, is when he feels his own life start to seep out of his body.