I just watched the first scene of Rise and I had to write this in response. I can't wait till September 19th! Thats halfway through September! Halfway! I dont own Castle. Halfway!


He's huffing and puffing, his legs feel like jelly, but he doesn't stop running. He has to keep up with them, with her.

He's a little less than ten feet from the gurney, too far for comfort, but close enough to hear what Lanie is saying.

"Don't die on me. Don't die on me Kate Beckett. Don't die!" She was screaming, salty liquid falling from her eyes.

An Indian doctor comes out the door and speaks medio-babble to Lanie, a language Rick doesn't understand. He only understands when the Indian doctor says "You have to leave. We need to get her to the E.R"

Lanie, still yelling through tears "No. She's my friend do you hear me! She's my friend!"

He quickly says back "Then let us save her."

Lanie looks at the doctor quickly, then back down at Kate. With one swift movement she's off the gurney and staring teary-eyes at the doors. He finally catches up to Lanie, missing the initial target.

Lanie grabs his collar and sobs into his shirt.

After a few moments she begins half-heartely hitting him. "Why weren't you faster? That should be you! Not her, you!" she screams before sobbing again.

Every few seconds she would mutter, "Not her." Or "Youyouyou!", before Esposito came from around the corner and Castle slid Lanie into his arms, which she seemed to fit better in.

Castle knew that Lanie didn't mean what she said, it was all the emotion, seeing your best friend be shot can do crazy things to your head, but he also knew that some of what she said was true. If he had moved a millisecond faster, if he had just connect the flash of light to a hit man faster, Kate wouldn't be in the E.R. At the very least, it would have been him.

He sat in the waiting room, hating the uncomfortable chairs, but thinking he deserved it.


Please review. Halfway!