Nemesis Rising.
Chapter One: Not-So-Triumphant Return.

Richard Castle was at wit's end. It had only been three weeks since his shooting, but being cooped up in the loft all this time with nothing to do was driving him nuts. His boredom made it nearly impossible to write, and watching cop shows on television made him miss the precinct even more. As much as he appreciated the support of his loyal and eager fan base, reading all of the "Get Well Soon" cards from well meaning fans was not helping. The one from Velasquez was very touching, though he would have to write her a note to let her know he didn't blame her for his injuries. The fact that her gun was taken from her and used to shoot him must weigh very heavy upon her, just like it had on Ryan not so long ago. In spite of his injuries he felt nothing but heartfelt sympathy for her.

He had received a very lovely fruit basket from Gina. (along with a reminder that a draft for his next Nikki Heat novel would be due soon, and he should put his down time to good use if he wanted to make his deadline) He'd remembered Alexis rolling her eyes when she'd read it out loud to him at the door when it was delivered. Not to mention the wink and devilish grin she gave him when she'd palmed the card and hid it in her pocket after Rick had offered Kate a piece of fruit from that same basket when she'd come over for dinner. Something she had every night since his return home. Rick picked up his phone and hit the speed dial prompt for Javier Esposito. He had the perfect plan to alleviate his boredom, along with a surprise for Kate. In his current state he knew he needed a wing man, hopefully Ryan wouldn't mind if he borrowed his.

12th Precinct

Javier Esposito was happy that Castle had called him to take him to the precinct. He understood right away that it would do everyone a world of good to see him back, especially, Velasquez. She'd been cleared officially of any wrongdoing by internal affairs, but the fact that her service weapon had been used to nearly kill the man had been eating at her for three weeks. Ryan was trying to help her with that, having gone through much the same thing not so long ago. But so far she was inconsolable about it. When Beckett had asked him where he was going as he grabbed his jacket and headed for the elevator, he said he had to "double check a lead for his paperwork." He'd told Ryan where he was going, of course. Partly to keep him from coming along, and partly so he could keep Beckett here. Besides, he had to tell somebody, and he couldn't leave his partner in the dark.

One hour later

When Rick Castle stepped out of the elevator, and back into the 12th Precinct, he felt almost triumphant as he walked up to Kate's desk with her cup of coffee. When she looked up to see him holding her latte out to her, just as he had always done, surprise gave way to a look of absolute adoration. He thought she was going to cry when she reached out and took it. At that moment, everyone in the precinct erupted into applause, the prodigal son had returned. After a few minutes of back slapping and "great to see you" from the assembled officers and detectives,

Captain Gates came out and shut the revelry down, saying, "I know we're all glad to see Mr. Castle up and about, everybody, but get back to work!" He could have swore she gave him something that approximated a warm look, before the "Iron Gates" persona descended once again, and she closed the door to her office.

Castle dropped heavily into his usual spot in the chair next to Kate's desk, feeling suddenly winded. The doctors had told him not to overdo it, and in his exuberance to get out of the house, he guessed he'd done just that. After shooting Espo an "I'm gonna get you for this" look, she turned to him, and her beaming smile gave way to a look of concern for his welfare.

"Castle? You okay?" It was then, that his eye was drawn to the window next to the murder board. His blood had been washed away, but the glass still showed the cracks from where he'd hit it. In a split second, his mind raced back. He saw the gun in the suspect's hand...saw Alexis drop to the floor...pushed Kate on top of her...felt the pain in his arm and the searing in his chest as the bullets hit...felt himself sliding to the floor...

"Castle?" Kate said again, in a frightened, more desperate tone.

Noting that his eyes had suddenly glazed over, and his hand had gone to the bullet wound in his chest. Then, just as suddenly, his eyes snapped back into focus, but he was still sweating and breathing hard. She took his hand, helped him up, and with Espo and Ryan's help guided him into the empty interrogation room.

Her eyes were welling up with tears, as she whispered, "Javi, I need to get him home, Ryan, call Alexis in the morgue and have her meet me out front."

As Ryan dug out his cell phone, and made the call, Esposito's face darkened, "He had a flashback didn't he?" Kate nodded.

"I'll be fine guys, I just need to catch my breath!" Castle complained.

"Don't sweat it bro," Espo said, "this stuff comes with the territory, we have your back." Then turned to Kate and said, "Not to worry, I'll smooth things over with the captain, go do what you have to, take as much time as you need."

Kate flashed a weak smile, mouthed "Thank you" to the man she saw as the older brother she never had, took Castle's arm, and guided him gently toward the elevator.

Castle Loft: Half an hour later.

As Kate and Alexis guided him back into the loft, Alexis said, "Dad what were you thinking? Going off to the precinct by yourself!"

The concerned look in his daughter's eyes took the weight out of his reply when he said, "I didn't go alone, I had Espo take me!"

Alexis fixed him with her best "come on, dad!" look and said, "Yeah, and now he feels terrible about it."

Castle weakly tried to counter her logic with, "But I was bored! I was getting cabin fever being stuck in here for three weeks! I had to get out or I would have gone crazy! Everything reminded me about getting shot, the "get well" cards, movies on television, everything. I needed to get out to clear my head, and I thought bringing Kate her coffee like I'd always done seemed like the perfect diversion."

Kate gave him a long loving look when those words tumbled out of his mouth. "It wasn't till I saw the window...with all the cracks in it. Then it all came flooding back, it was like I was drowning, I couldn't breathe. All I could think was what if it had been you lying there, Kate, or you Alexis."

both reacted at the same time, and hugged him close. Kate gave Alexis a "let me deal with this" look as they guided him to the couch. Alexis nodded at her, and kissed him on the forehead. "I love you dad, please don't scare me like that again." She gave Kate a kiss on the cheek too, then headed for her room, looking back with a sad, worried expression as she turned to head up the stairs.

3:30 AM

Kate woke with a start, crying out, her hand clutched to her scar, her heart hammering in her chest. She'd had the dream again. The one she'd had every night during the sniper case. As she fought to get her breathing under control, she could feel a stirring next to her, Rick's hand on her shoulder.

"Kate?" Rick mumbled, "What's wrong?"

It was then that she realized she must have cried out in her sleep and woke him. "Nothing," she said, "I'll be fine"

Castle sat all the way up and pulled her gently to him. "That was not nothing, Kate...please...talk to me."

As she settled slowly into his warm embrace she finally relaxed and the tears she'd been holding back crept down her face.

"I had the dream again," she whispered "of the day I was shot, the same one I had when we were investigating the sniper case. Seeing you have your flashback must have set it off..." She stopped suddenly when his face fell.

"I'm sorry, Kate, I should have stayed home. I should have .." She put her fingertips to his lips to stop his train of thought.

"Shhhh" she said, "you were trying to do something nice for me, don't ever apologize for that again. It was very sweet of you, you had no way of knowing how going back so soon would effect you."

As they snuggled back into the covers, Rick said, "I just hate to see you like this Kate. It was killing me then, that I couldn't help you. Couldn't make it better."

Kate felt like she was going to cry again, and said timidly, "I guess we're both damaged goods, now aren't we?"

Rick kissed her on the temple and said "Don't worry Kate, we'll get through this together, and find a way for us both to be whole again."

Kate turned and kissed him on the lips. "Rick Castle, sometimes you say the sweetest things."

They lay like that for a while, each basking in the warmth and comfort of the other, then drifted off into a peaceful dreamless sleep.