A/N: I was reading some FF and I realized that I have never done a MOMENT just for the sake of a moment, when it came to CASKETT, so… here it is. Enjoy ;)

Beckett's face was white when Castle walked into the bullpen, and he seemed to stop mid-walk, staring at her as he tried to find a logical reason that her face looked as pale as a ghost. He found his footing a moment later, and rushed to her side.

"Beckett, what's wrong?" he demanded.

Beckett only stared blankly at him. He wasn't even sure she was seeing him. It looked like he was transparent from the way her eyes bore through him, as if he wasn't there. Instantly, he was concerned. "Beckett, are you alright?"

She said nothing.

Castle looked up to find Esposito and Ryan crossing the bullpen.

"What's with Beckett?" he asked his eyes shifting between her and the boys.

"Beckett," Ryan addressed. "I'm gonna take you home, okay?"

She seemed to shift her gaze toward him, but her eyes were still unfocussed.

"Is she okay?" Castle demanded. His breathing started to heighten as he waited to be told she had been put through some crazy gunman's insane "playtime".

"No," Esposito shook his head. "Her father had a heart attack."

"Oh God," Castle's hand went to his mouth in shock. He knew that after her mother's death that her father was the only family she really had, besides the boys, which he knew were like her brothers. His heart tugged. It must have been the end-all for Beckett, he thought.

Ryan pipped in. "He's in critical condition," he explained.

The air seemed to exit his mouth instantaneously. "He's alive?"

Esposito nodded quietly.

Castle looked to Beckett. "Oh, Kate… everything is going to be okay." He didn't know if it was or not, but he was always a glass-half-full type of person. He needed to leave her with hope.

"Come on," Ryan gently touched Beckett's arm and began to steer her towards the elevator.

Castle felt the need to take over. He needed to make sure that his partner was okay. It was his responsibility to make sure that she got through this unscathed. "Ryan," he said. "Can I- I'd like to take Beckett home, if that's okay?"

Ryan glanced at him skeptically. "This isn't a time to take advantage of her, Castle… you know she-"

Castle, with his dead serious face expression, shook his head. "Respect, guys, I promise. I won't do anything stupid. I just want to be the one to…" he couldn't put his feelings into words. He just knew that this was his job, and he didn't want to let Kate down. Besides, he had Gina.

The boys nodded, and Ryan handed Beckett over to Castle. He took his place, taking her arm and guiding her towards the elevator. Beckett said nothing as they walked to the elevator, and then outside. Castle hailed a taxi and ordered the driver to Beckett's address. When the taxi pulled up to the curb, Castle paid the driver, and then gently took her hand, and led her upstairs to her apartment.

Castle managed to find her keys in her bag, when Beckett made no move to open the door.

He led her to the couch, and sat her down.

"Kate…" he said quietly. "Everything is going to be okay," he told her again.

Finally, she turned her eyes to him, and this time instead of seeing through him, she was looking at him. "If he dies Castle, I have no one."

Castle couldn't resist the urge to stroke her cheek, as he looked at her. "That's not true," he whispered. "You have Ryan and Esposito and Captain Montgomery… and you have me, Kate. Like it or not, you're stuck with me. You are a part of my family now…"

Beckett managed the smallest of smiles. "That's sweet, Castle."

He shrugged. "It's just true."

Beckett's cheeks reddened and Castle felt like he had made a difference, as small as it was, he had made her smile.

"Where's Josh?" he asked feeling the stab in his chest at the mere mention of his name.

"Working… riding… I don't know," and she didn't seem to care.

"Can I get you something?" he asked gently.

Beckett blushed again and her voice lowered considerably. "Can you just… you know, will you just- oh god," she was certainly embarrassed by the request. "Can you hold me?"

Castle nodded and without making a stupid sly remark, he pulled an arm around her shoulder and folded her into his arms, allowing her to lean in and rest her head on his chest. "I can do that," he whispered. Castle could smell the cherry shampoo, and he sighed inwardly. It felt damn good being this close to Beckett, but he wasn't about to ruin it all with hormones.

He kissed the top of her head, and closed his eyes.

I hope you liked that little bit of awww… I didn't want to make it anything but a moment where he is there for her. =D I have every intention of this being a one-shot, unless of course there is inspiration and requests wanting more… ;)