Chapter 1

Title: Leap of Faith

Characters: Rick Castle & Kate Beckett (couple); also features Alexis, Martha, Ryan, Esposito, Capt. Montgomery, and Jim Beckett. May feature others from episode 2.13 Sucker Punch as well.

Authors: Lisa M. (castlefanlisa) and Sarah M.
Rated: K+ or the equivalent of PG/PG 13

Disclaimer: We don't own any of the characters, we just borrowed them. They belong to ABC and their respective owners.

Note: This story is a romance and may have some alternate reality elements. Please leave constructive feedback. Thanks!

**

She couldn't believe the man who had hired people to kill her mother was dead…and she'd been the one to kill him. She felt Castle's hand on her shoulder and turned to look at him. She didn't care that there was blood all over her hand or that she couldn't stop shaking from all the tears she had shed.

"Kate," Castle said as he took her other hand, "let me help you."

She took his offered hand and stood up, still shaky. She didn't trust herself to speak just yet so she let him lead her to the bathroom.

Once there, she finally spoke, but it didn't sound like her even to her own ears. "I killed him. I can't believe I killed him. I let her down by doing that, didn't I?"

"No, you didn't. You stopped him from hurting me. I'm sorry you didn't get any more clues as to who was behind your mom's murder from him."

"Don't be sorry. We got something. I won't stop looking for the people that killed her…and I want you to be there when I do."

"Of course. I'll be right beside you, I promise." He took her bloodied hand and ran it under the warm water from the sink and gently scrubbed it with soap. He smiled then and said, "There, all better."

She half-smiled. "You're probably used to cuts from when Alexis was little, huh?"

"Oh yeah. I've seen plenty of them." He stopped and noticed she was still shaking but he waited for a cue from her before he did anything.

"I really want to get out of these clothes. I've got extras in the duffel by my desk. Would you get them for me, please?"

"You bet. I'll be right back….if you're going to be okay?"

She nodded yes and waited for his return.

A few minutes later, he came back carrying the duffel and handed her its contents. "Here ya go, Katie."

She laughed. "There's only one person who calls me that, you know….my dad."

"Sorry."

"Stop apologizing, Rick. It's okay I don't mind. Actually, I kind of like it."

He waited for her to change, but nearly choked when she stripped down to her underwear and bra right in front of him. He had to swallow twice before he could speak. "Uh, sorry but I just had a Nikki Heat moment."

She laughed and said, "You're blushing."

"Just when I think nothing can surprise me, you go and get naked in front of me."

"I'm not afraid of being naked in front of you, Rick. Not after the day we've both had. I feel like I'm exposed in every other way possible."

Rick nods and walks over to her once she's done getting dressed. He wraps his arms around her and rubs her back lightly. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

She nods ever so slightly and snuggles in his arms. "I know. Just…not right now."

"I'm here for you."

Kate smiles and looks him in his eyes. "Rick….I.."

"What is it sweetheart?"

She looks at him perplexed. "Sweetheart? Where did that come from?"

Rick smiles at her and kisses her forehead lightly. "I don't know. It just came out."

Kate ever so slightly smiles and wraps her arms around his waist. "If you tell anyone this, you're in a heap of trouble. But, I…I liked it when you called me sweetheart and I like being in your arms. It makes me feel…feel safe."

"I'm glad. Your secret is perfectly safe with me. And you are safe with me too."

"Rick, I…"

"You what baby?"

"Baby? Okay now you're starting to scare me."

"I don't mean to scare you. It's just that I…"

"Oh now Writer Monkey is at a loss for words. Alert the media."

"Hey now….be nice. I'm trying to tell you something that I've wanted to for a while now, but I just get lost in the moment with you."

Tears slowly start streaming down her cheeks.

He wipes them away. "I've seen enough tears for today. I don't want to hurt you, but I can't imagine being with anyone else for…"

At that moment, the door opened and Lanie stepped in. She shook her head and laughed. "Castle, this is the women's bathroom last I checked."

He smiles and walks out with Kate. She sighs and whispers, "Awkward."

"Where was I? Oh, I remember. "For the rest of my life. There's no one else I want to wake up to every morning, no one else I want to hold or make love to. I'll tell you all about my fantasies later."

She rolls her eyes. "Typical male. Always thinking about…well…you know."

"it's not the only thing I think about, you know."

"Hmm…coulda fooled me."

"Katie, look at me. You are one of the most important women in my life. I think about you all the time."

"I..I am?"

He nods and smiles. "You going to be okay for a bit? I need to go run a quick errand."

She shrugs. "I think I can survive for a few minutes. You…you are coming back right? You aren't going to leave me forever?"

He nods. "Of course I'm coming back."

She wraps her arms around his waist and hugs him. "Good…because I.." She pulls away. "It can wait. Go do your thing."

He watches as she goes to her desk and sits down. He goes over to her and kisses her cheek lightly. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

He walks out of the station and starts walking around the city for a while. He picks up some food on his way back.

"Hey, there you are." She stands up and grabs the take-out from him.

He goes and sits down across from her and takes out the chopsticks and hands her a set. "I thought you'd like some Chinese."

"I'm starving! This looks great, thank you."

"You're welcome. You told me that you had something you wanted to say but it could wait?"

"Yeah, I do. I can't see anyone else in my life…anyone else I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want you to be a part of my life…always."

"You do? I figured you'd say 'once a playboy, always a playboy' and that no one could break me of that."

"You've changed…a lot, Rick. I didn't think it was possible, but you surprise me every day."

"The twelve year old isn't going to completely disappear, in case you were wondering."

"That's good to hear."

"Would you like to stay at the apartment with me tonight? We can just lay in bed and I'll do nothing except hold you and kiss you."

"Oh…well….sure. I'd like that. Maybe you can get ideas for the next Nikki Heat book."

"Maybe. But I promise you, nothing you've told me will end up in the book."

"Okay. Thanks. Did I ever tell you about my collection of your books?"

"You have all of my books?"

She nods slightly. "Every last one of them."

"Did you ever come to one of the signings?"

"All of them. You signed the books the same way each time. 'Kate, Keep reaching for the stars.' I've never told you this, but I'm going to now. After Mom was…you know…I was walking down the street and saw this bookstore. I popped in and walked around until I found your books. I looked through one of them and ended up getting it. I can't remember which one, but I went back to my place and started reading it. I couldn't put it down."

"Wow. You continue to surprise me."

"You're not the only one with surprises…" She laughs.

"So now I know just how big a fan of mine you really are and it wasn't Sorenson who told me."

"No, it wasn't. You didn't weasel it out of me either."

"I have something to tell you, too and you have to promise not to tell anyone."

"Your secret is safe with me."

"I'm thinking the next Nikki Heat will be called In Heat or Summer Heat. What do think?"

"I like Summer Heat best."

"I thought you might. I just wanted more input from you this time around."

"Thank you for asking….but don't let me take away your artistic integrity."

"There's not a chance of that happening with you. Ever."

"If you ever don't like any of my ideas, just tell me. It won't hurt me."

"I like all your ideas. But you know what I like even better?"

"What's that?"

He takes her hand and gently tugs her onto his lap and kisses her softly.

She pulls back and shakes her head. "I don't like that…"

He pouts. "You don't?"

She smiles and kisses him softly. "I love that."

He returns the kiss and holds her close. "Let's go get you an overnight bag packed and over to my place. You can even leave a bag over there just in case."

"Sounds good to me. Rick…I…"

"What honey?"

She takes a deep breath. "Iloveyou."

"What was that?"

"I said…I…." She looks over towards the elevator and sees Ryan and Esposito.

"You can save it for later if you don't want to say it in front of anyone else," he whispers.

"I'm not ashamed of it. I said I love you."

Ryan and Esposito just exchange a glance and smile. "Castle and Beckett…sitting in a…"

"Finish that sentence and I'll Taser you both."

"She has a lot of bark, but not much bite," Ryan said.

"I wasn't kidding, you two. I'm not amused. Especially after the day we've all had."

Both detectives looked at their shoes and muttered, "Sorry."

"You're forgiven…this time."

"Let's get out of here, Kate. I don't know about you, but I'm beat." Rick said as he followed her into the elevator.

"That's the understatement of the year."

**

They get to her apartment and make quick work of packing an overnight bag. She grabs some extra things and they head for his apartment, but not before she grabs an extra outfit to keep at his place if she ever wants to have a sleepover again.

**

As soon as they get to Castle's apartment, they are greeted by Alexis. Martha has gone for another rehearsal for her play but left a note on the counter telling Castle that there is leftover pasta in the fridge and a bottle of half-drunk champagne.

"Hi, sweetie," Castle says to Alexis as soon as he finishes reading his mom's note.

"Hi, Dad…and Kate." She smiles. "I've got homework to do, so I'll leave you two alone."

He watches her walk up the stairs and sighs. "It seems like just yesterday she was…oh never mind."

Kate sits down at the counter and invites him to join her. "I used to be a teenager once, remember?"

"I just wish she was still my little girl…you know…pigtails and everything. She's grown up too fast."

Kate nods. "I know. My dad told me the same thing."

Rick stands and heads towards the refrigerator. He pulls out a carton of ice cream. "Want some now or later?"

"Later."

He puts the carton back and takes her hand. He leads her to the living room and his couch. He stretches out and smiles. "Come join me."

"Now just where do you expect me to sit hm?"

He grins. "You can lay beside me."

"But…Alexis."

"She's upstairs doing her homework. If she asks anything we'll just tell her you had a rough day at work and I didn't want to be away from you tonight." 'Or any other night for that matter.' He thinks to himself.

"You have a blanket?"

"Yeah. Let me go get it for you."

She nods and sits on the love seat waiting for him.

"Here ya go," he says as he drapes the blanket over her and sits beside her.

She sighs contently. "This is really nice."

"Yeah, it is." He studies her for a minute.

"You look awfully intense. What is it?"

"I was going to ask you if you wanted a massage but…"

"I'd love one. You don't have to be so shy, you know."

"I don't want to push you and I definitely don't want to ruin this great thing we've started."

"Shut up and give me a massage before I handcuff you for not knowing when to shut your mouth, Rick."

She shifted her body so she was practically in his lap so he could give her the much-needed massage. It was at that moment that her temperature went up about five degrees and she found herself removing the blanket. Not only that, but she swore he could feel her attraction to him. It thrilled her to think about just how attracted she was to him at that moment, and she couldn't wait to see what happened next.

"You're not cold anymore are you, Kate?" He whispered as he watched her smile. "Guess what? Neither am I."

"Good, but there's just one problem."

"What would that be?"

"The fact that your daughter is upstairs and if she caught us…well…um…."

"You can say it, Kate. We're adults."

"Making love, what would she say?"

"I know exactly what she would say."

"You do?"

"Uh huh. She would say, 'It's about time."

Kate laughed and proceeded to kiss him, the way she'd wanted to from the first time she'd laid eyes on him.

He was the first to pull away, reluctantly. "Well, someone's been saving their energy for a while now."

She smiled and said, "Makes me think of your text to me when you were helping out on the kidnapping case with Sorenson. 'You guys making out?' I never thought I'd see the day when I couldn't get enough of you….the day when I want you so much it hurts."

"I swear to you right now that I will never take advantage of you. Especially not after everything you've been through these past few hours. You've been through…well…."

"It's okay, Rick. I know what I'm doing and you are definitely not taking advantage. If anyone is, it's me."

"Baby, look at me."

She looks up at him ever so slowly.

"You aren't taking advantage. You had a rough day and you finally admitted that you love me."

She nods. "Yeah."

"And guess what?"

"Don't make me guess Richard. I'm not in a guessing mood."

"Okay…I won't make you guess. But I love you too."

She kisses him lightly. "Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day and we can see where things go between us. I'm just afraid that if I go to sleep and wake up, that all this will be a dream and I don't want that. I want this to be real."

He smiles and pinches her arm lightly.

"Ow!" She smacks his chest.

"Ouch…you sure pack a punch there."

"Why'd you pinch me?"

"To prove to you that this is real. And when you go to sleep and wake up in the morning, I will still be here. We'll still love each other."

"Promise?"

"That's a promise I intend to keep. If you're really tired, you can go to sleep. I'll be right here until you do."

"Okay, I could really use it. It's been one heck of a day."

He watched her fall asleep, and when he knew for sure she was, he kissed her forehead and just watched her for a while. After a few hours, he laid beside her and pulled the blanket tighter around them both.

**

At around five AM, he was jolted awake by Kate screaming his name at the top of her lungs.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, Kate. You had a nightmare."

"What?"

"You just screamed my name- like- and I mean this seriously….bloody murder."

"I did?"

"Yeah, I was lying beside you when you did."

"I don't remember a thing. It must have been all the stuff with my mom coming back again. You'd think after ten years and therapy I'd be mentally stable….but apparently…"

"Apparently nothing. You are one of the most put together, tough woman I know."

"Flattery will get you whatever you want, you know."

"I mean it. I'm not just saying it to get anything from you."