Fire Burns
Sequel to Song of Solomon: Would be wise to read that one first.
Chapter One
A/N: Sorry it's taken a while to get this posted, the last few weeks have been rather hectic. I've finished my exams, and to celebrate, I went camping with some of my friends, then spent the two nights following with some other friends. It was great fun. :D Anyway, I will do my very best to update this fairly quickly, now that I have more time, I will probably be able to. So, enjoy.
Detective Kate Beckett was pulled from sleep by an insistent beeping noise. Opening her eyes, she tried to figure out what it was. Then it hit her. It was the fire alarm. Kate leapt out of bed, grabbing her phone. She ducked out into the hallway, and was met with chaos. There were people running, calling for their loved ones. There was the smell of smoke that seemed to be floating down from the floors above. Kate ducked back into her apartment and quickly grabbed her gun, her dad's watch, her mother's engagement ring, some other small valuables, and her photo collection, that she kept in a small box. It contained photos from her childhood, right up until most recently, of her and her friends. She grabbed a bag, and dumped her items inside, and then she grabbed some clothes, and got out of the apartment. Running on adrenaline, it didn't take Kate long to get out of the building. She ran down the stairs, following a young couple, who were in a state of panic. The young woman seemed to be on the verge of hyperventilation.
"Hey, don't panic." Kate said. "It's going to be alright, just keep moving."
The woman, wide eyed, nodded, and continued hurrying down the stairs.
Kate made it out onto the street, and watched helplessly, along with everyone else, as the building burned. It was the middle of the night, but the flames were burning bright. Kate could see the shock and fear on the faces of all her neighbours. She saw the landlord, who was desperately trying to find everybody. He spotted Kate, and dashed over to her.
"Detective." He was close to blind panic. "The Smith's from floor two say that their teenage daughter is still inside, and I can't find the new occupant from the top floor." He was beginning to hyperventilate.
"Bruce. Bruce, listen to me." Kate said firmly. "Don't panic. If you panic, everybody else will. And whatever you do, don't tell them there are people missing."
Bruce nodded, and sank to the sidewalk, his head in his hands.
Kate turned to the burning building, and ran back towards it. She leapt up the stairs to the Smith's apartment. She burst in through the door. "Chloe!" She yelled, desperate to find the girl. The smoke was thick, and Kate was finding it hard to breathe. "Chloe!" She yelled again, before coughing violently.
"Late?" The reply was weak.
"Chloe! Where are you?"
"My room! I can't see anything!" The girl sounded terrified.
Kate dropped to the floor, crawling towards the teenager's room. Coughing more, she called, "Can you get to the door?"
"I'll try."
Kate found the girl by the door, and she grabbed her wrist. "Let's get out of here."
Kate's eyes were streaming, and breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. They made it to the door, and eventually into the street. Chloe was immediately snatched up by her parents, and then paramedics. Kate collapsed to the ground, trying to catch her breath. Paramedics swooped in. Helping her up, and into the back of an ambulance, so they could check her out.
A few hours later, when the fire was finally out, everyone was still standing, sitting or sleeping in the street. Kate sat, a blanket clutched around her, leaning against a bin. The sun was just beginning to rise, and news crews were beginning to arrive. Reporters set up their cameras, read their stories, and interviewed people. Kate stayed quiet, and avoided being interviewed. She still didn't completely trust reporters, not after the whole Rebecca Solomon fiasco. She watched as people crowded around to find out what had happened, and watched as they all listened to the various reporters. A little while later, the reporters were starting to leave, and Kate heard a voice calling her name.
Richard Castle fell to his knees beside her, immediately wrapping his arms around her. "Oh, God, Kate. You had me so worried! Why didn't you call? They said a woman died in this fire."
Kate frowned and looked up at Rick. "What?"
"I was so worried it was you." Rick's eyes shone with unshed tears. He lifted Kate's chin up, and kissed her gently. "Don't scare me like that again."
"I'm sorry, it's just... it's been so hectic, and busy." She coughed.
"Are you okay?"
"They said smoke inhalation. But I'm fine."
Rick continued to hold her tight, and he began to stroke her hair.
And then Kate's cell phone rang. She picked it up. "Beckett."
"Oh thank God." Was the reply.
"Ryan?"
"We were so worried about you." Ryan said. "The news said someone died."
"Is she okay?" Esposito could be heard in the background.
"Are you okay?" Ryan relayed the question.
"Yes, I'm fine." Kate replied.
"She's fine." Ryan told his partner. He spoke to Kate again. "Look, we're being sent to check out the dead girl."
"Think it's murder?" Kate asked.
"Dunno yet, that's why we're checking it out."
Kate sighed. "Well, I'll see you when you get here." She hung up, and relaxed into Rick's arms. He kissed the top of her head.
"The first night we don't spend together in four months, and this is what happens." He said. "Go figure."
Kate reached up to kiss him. "I love you."
Rick smiled, and kissed her back. "I love you." He replied.
Kate closed her eyes and fell asleep. Here, in Rick's arms, she felt safe.
She awoke when Rick gently shook her awake. "Ryan and Esposito are here." He said.
Kate looked around, and saw her colleagues walking towards the building. She shakily got to her feet. "I should check this out too." She said.
As they spotted her, Ryan and Esposito walked over.
"Beckett. Nice pyjamas." Esposito said.
Kate rolled her eyes. "I didn't exactly have time to get changed."
"I think you look sexy." Rick whispered in her ear.
Kate didn't comment, instead following Ryan and Esposito to the entry of the still smoke filled apartment. A fireman stood, preventing people from entering. He let Ryan and Esposito through when they flashed their badges, but stopped Kate when she tried to follow. "Sorry miss, we can't let you back in just yet." He said.
Kate sighed. "I'm Detective Kate Beckett. I'm with them." She pointed to Ryan and Esposito.
The fireman shook his head. "Sorry, miss."
Kate huffed in frustration, and went digging around in her bag, finally producing her badge. She held it up. "I'm going with my colleagues to check out the dead girl, not go traipsing around through the building."
The fireman finally let her through, but opened his mouth to stop Rick.
"He's with me." Kate said. "He's my partner."
Hurrying after the others, Kate slipped her fingers through Rick's. He squeezed her fingers reassuringly, and smiled at her. It seemed that the fire had not reached the bottom floors, only the smoke had. Most people in the building would be able to salvage their belongings. Kate's team arrived at the top floor, where they were met by a few other police officers, and the arson squad.
Kate's appearance raised a few eyebrows, but she ignored it, falling into her usual crime scene mode. "Does this appear to be deliberate?" She asked.
One man, who was hunched over something, stood up. "At the moment, we can't tell." He said. "However, I have found the source of the fire."
"What is it?" Kate asked.
"There was a gas leak here that caught alight." The man pointed out where the leak had originated.
"How'd it catch alight?" Kate asked.
The fireman pointed at a melted lump, Kate assumed it had been a candle. She turned to Ryan and Esposito. "Get Lanie in to check the body. I'll come in to the precinct this afternoon, after I've had some sleep."
The pair nodded, and set about working.
"You can come back to my place." Rick said.
"Thanks." Kate replied, and she followed Rick from the building.
Kate fell asleep in the car on the way to Rick's place, and woke up when he was carrying her through his building.
"Rick, I can walk." She said.
"Go back to sleep." Rick replied, stepping into the elevator.
Kate sighed, and didn't bother struggling. From the experience of the last five months, Kate knew that arguing with Rick was pointless.
When Rick laid her down in his bed, Kate immediately curled up on her side, and, clutching the blankets around her, fell back to sleep. She dreamed. She tossed and she turned, and the dreams got worse. In the dream, she was surrounded by smoke. She couldn't see, she couldn't breathe. She panicked, and jolted awake, gasping for air, and crying. Rick was there as soon as her heard her distress.
"Kate." He said, sitting in front of her on the bed. "Katie, look at me."
Kate looked up at him.
"It's okay. You're okay." He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she tried to compose herself.
Eventually, she was able to pull away. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Rick replied. "You have no reason to be sorry."
Kate sighed, lying back.
"Bad dream?" Rick asked.
She nodded. "Yep. Did I tell you I was stupid enough to run back into the burning building?"
Rick raised an eyebrow.
"There was a teenage girl still in there. I couldn't leave her."
Rick lay down beside her, taking her hand, his thumb caressing the top of it. "Yes, very stupid. But you wouldn't be you if you hadn't gone back for her."
Kate rolled onto her side, and leant over to kiss Rick. "Thanks."
Rick smiled, and kissed her back. "No probs."
"What's the time?" Kate mumbled.
"4:23." Rick replied.
"What? I was supposed to go in to the precinct. Why didn't you wake me?"
"I spoke to Montgomery, he said to take as much time off as you need." Rick looked at her, concern evident in his eyes. "Everyone's worried about you, Kate. You had us all scared."
Kate shut her eyes. "I'm sorry."
Rick responded by kissing her again. He kissed a trail down the side of her neck, and she moaned quietly, tilting her head to give him better access. His lips played lightly over her skin, and Kate sighed happily. Rick rolled so that he was situated above Kate, and he peeled her, by now quite dirty, tank top over her head. He let it drop to the floor, as he lowered his head to kiss her gently, before moving to her jaw, and down. He left a burning trail along her collarbone, and down to her breasts. He teased her lightly with his mouth, causing her to whimper, and press her hands into the back of Rick's head. When he stopped, Kate groaned. She moved her hands to his shirt, unbuttoning it and pushing it off his body. She sighed as she ran her hands over Rick's chest, taking pleasure in the low growl he made at the back of his throat when she scratched him lightly. Rick moved his attention to Kate's small pair of shorts, pulling them off, along with her panties, leaving her bare before him. Sitting up to admire the woman before him, Rick said, "I was so scared I'd lost you today, Kate." He cupped her face in his hands. "I couldn't stand the thought of not having you in my life."
Kate brought a hand up and placed it on one of Rick's. "I'm not going to leave you, Rick." She whispered. "I will never intentionally leave you."
Rick leant down to kiss her tenderly. "And I'll never leave you." He whispered in reply. Shucking his pants and boxers, Rick slid into Kate's body.
Kate's eyes fluttered closed at the sensation, but Rick said. "Look at me, Kate."
Forcing herself to open her eyes, Kate looked up at Rick as he slowly pulled out of her, as he pressed back in, he whispered, "I love you, Kate. So much."
Drawing in a shaky breath, Kate replied. "And I love you... more than... anything." She let out a groan as Rick hit a particularly sensitive spot. It was a struggle to keep her eyes open, but Kate did, her gaze locked with Rick's as he moved within her. Before long, she began to tremble, and she broke around him, calling his name. Rick followed soon after, breathing her name against her neck. Kate fell asleep in Rick's arms after that, snuggled tightly. Rick smiled at her, this magnificent woman who'd somehow fallen in love with him, and whom he'd fallen in love with too.
"I love you." He whispered, as he let her sleep.
A/N: Reviews are always welcome. I'd love to hear your feedback.