Rick repositioned himself over the bathtub, fixing his hold on Kate's arms as he carefully lowered her into the warm water. The cut on her head where she had been grazed by a bullet had been stitched up but the blood from it still covered part of her face, her hands and arms were covered in Esposito's blood from her performing CPR on him.
Her eyes closed as she sank into the water, he quickly caught her arms and pulled her back to the surface. Even though he was still fully clothed, he climbed into the bathtub behind her, holding her so her head was against his chest. "Open your eyes, Kate," he begged softly, running his fingers across her clean cheek until he saw one brown eye look into his.
He carefully ran his hands across her arms and hands, rinsing away the dried blood caked on her skin. Her hand turned over in his, her eyes barely focused as he washed away what was left of their friend. "He's gone," she murmured, so softly Rick barely heard her.
"I know," he whispered, moving his fingers between hers. He carefully turned her head toward him so he could wipe away the blood on her face.
"Castle…"
"Shh. Just try to relax, ok?" He examined her body, looking for bruises or other injuries now that the blood had been washed away.
"He's gone," she said again, staring at the wall. He squeezed her hand softly as she repeated the words, her voice growing softer every time she spoke. He kissed her neck softly as her eyes drifted shut again.
They were just going to talk to a witness. None of them expected a gun battle.
"Gun! He's got a gun!"
All three detectives had their weapons drawn in seconds. The first shot went into the ceiling. "Beckett, watch out!" Esposito shouted from somewhere behind her as their witness- now suspect- turned his gun to her.
Her hand went to the side of her head as she heard and felt the bullet fly past her. "Kate!" She looked at the blood on her hand and opened her mouth to tell Rick she was alright but before she could look at him, she heard Ryan.
"Esposito down!"
Her ears went deaf, everything started moving in slow motion as she watched both men run to Esposito, who was lying on the floor as blood ran freely from his chest. He was just feet away from her, his gun still in his hand and smoking from firing a shot into their suspect, whose body laid unattended nearby.
When her senses came back, she rushed to his side, falling to her knees and began compressions on his chest.
"Kate, you're hurt."
"Beckett, I got him."
"No!" she said, looking into her third partner's lifeless eyes. "Come on, Espo. Come on." Tears began falling from her eyes, mixing with the blood running from her injury. Drops of her blood fell onto his chest as his blood pumped through her fingers.
She opened her eyes again so she was back in her bathroom, sitting in the murky water with Rick behind her, his arms securely around her. She lifted her hand to touch the bandage on her head, just centimeters from her eye. The bullet would have killed her if Epsosito didn't call out and warn her to move as slightly as she did. "He took my bullet."