A/N: Inspired by the "Cops and Robbers" promo, because I cannot freaking wait for that episode. This is obviously my fangirl mind running away!
The last dust particles were slowly making their way back to the asphalt of the parking lot, bystanders and emergency services personnel were surrounded by debris and silence – total absence of noise. It was as if all hope, all the words had disappeared with the wall of the bank, they were only left with silence.
For what seemed like an endless minute, no one moved, not until they saw movement within the slowly falling dust. Movement. Something was moving. Someone. Life. And everything seemed right again, hope slowly fell back on the group as the last of the debris cleared the air.
There's still a chance.
Three human forms were now visible coming out of the bank, and then four, five, ten. Emergency services quickly took control of the situation, making sure hostages were in good enough shape to be released to the police for statements.
Kate saw a flurry of red hair run by her before she noticed him. He was walking out slowly, his mother clutching his forearm as he helped her get out.
Alexis reached them and gathered her family into her arms, crying. Tears of relief mixing with the ones she had shed out of panic only minutes earlier.
Kate watched them, still frozen in place. She watched as her…partner came out of debris, watched as he guided his mother into the parking lot. She watched as Alexis reached them and threw her arms around them, unable to tear her eyes away, unable to move.
And then she couldn't see them, couldn't see anything, her vision suddenly blurred, her cheeks soaked by tears she couldn't remember shedding. Kate Beckett was crying.
Before she had time to lift her hand to her cheeks, Castle raised his eyes and noticed her. He swiftly excused himself from the two redheads in his arms and strode in Kate's direction. His smile quickly fading as he noticed the tears on her face and increased his pace.
He reached her and without thinking, pulled her into his arms. Kate let him, she didn't care that people could see, that she was on duty, she let him hug her and wrapped her arms around his broad back. Castle pulled her head to his shoulder and lifted his thumb to wipe her tears.
"I'm so glad you're okay" Kate said softly, her voice breaking.
Ryan was standing with the group of policemen who responded to the bank heist call. Officer Smith left the group and started to make his way towards Castle mumbling something about needing to get his statement. Ryan called after him.
"Hey! Give them a minute." He said, pointing his head to Castle and Beckett.
Officer Smith looked back at them and shrugged, not against delaying this for a few minutes.
"How long have they been together?" he asked Ryan, walking back towards his colleagues.
Ryan smiled. "A while." He shook his head. "They just don't know it yet."
Castle pulled back to look at her face, wiped another tear from her soft cheek. But he didn't like the distance, he brought both arms back around her body and held her tighter. Kate closed her eyes, letting Castle's presence sink in as she heard his voice.
"I'm okay", he murmured in her ear. "We're okay"
They were okay.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
I really, really hope they hug tomorrow.
