Just a short little one shot I wrote in school today. Hope you like it :D
The dreams always started the same. She was standing at the front of Montgomery's funeral, her eyes on Castle. What happened next changed from dream to dream but it was always one of three. Sometime she was hit by the sniper and heard Castle declare his love for her but other times it was Castle who was hit, it was Castle who lay on the ground, his life leaving him.
She hated the dreams where she remembered her shooting but that was nothing on how she felt when Castle was the one dying.
Sometimes he survived, sometimes he didn't. The ones where he didn't live were the worst because they never ended there. Those dreams didn't end with the light leaving Castle's eyes, no, those dreams continued and Kate had to see the accusation on the faces of everyone around her. She had to see the sweet innocent Alexis break down into tears and then turn on her, snarling and accusing.
Tonight it was one of those dreams. Kate woke in a cold sweat, her scar tight and painful. As she lay gasping for breath she rubbed her chest, hoping to rid herself of the tightness. Beside her she felt to bed move as Castle sat up and flipped on the bedside light. She knew she must have looked a state since Castle's eyes filled with concern as soon as he looked at her. He moved her hand and placed his own on the scar, both knowing from previous experience that it helped to calm her. "Nightmare?" Castle questioned quietly.
Kate nodded, "The one where you die." The tears began to run down her face.
Castle's hand tightened slightly at her words. He moved so that more of his hand covered the scar. "I'm here Katie, it was just a stupid dream. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Alexis loved you and knows that you'll do anything to protect me."
Kate shook her head. It was the same thing he said every time she woke him because she was thrashing about, having a nightmare. Castle's other hand came up and stilled her head, "Yes Kate. She would never blame you."
The bedroom door opened and Alexis' head came into view. "Dad's right Kate," she said quietly, "I would never blame you." The young woman stepped into the room and moved to sit on the edge of the bed beside Kate.
Kate looked past her and saw the clock. It was one in the morning. She looked back at the red head and said, in a voice still thick with tears, "I'm sorry for waking you. It's bad enough I wake you r dad but now you too."
Alexis shook her head, "I was in the kitchen getting a drink when I heard what dad was saying." The woman looked at her father and back at Kate. She pulled her into a hug and Kate clung to her, tears running even faster down her face. "I'd never ever blame you Kate. I know you'd do anything you could to protect him." She hugged Kate tighter. "I'd never blame you Kate," she said, quieter this time.
Castle put his arms around the both of them and they stayed like that until Kate fell back asleep, it had been a busy week and the crying had exhausted her.
Castle let go and carefully helped Alexis lie Kate down and tuck her in. Alexis kissed the older woman lightly on the forehead and then looked at her dad. Castel smiled softly and kissed her forehead, much the same way she had kissed Kate. "Thank you pumpkin."
Alexis just nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Castle turned off the light and lay back down, pulling Kate into his arms and holding her close as the two of them slept.
After the night Kate rarely dreamt about her shooting again but when she did there was never and accusing Alexis, it was just memories.