This is my FIRST EVER fanfic, and I have NO idea if it is any good or not. Please read and review, even if there is nothing nice to be said about it. Disclaimer: I have not, do not and will never own Castle. This is purely for my own (and hopefully others) enjoyment.

Kate POV

The bullet tears through my flesh. The pain makes me gasp and I find myself falling. I know what is happening even though my fevered brain won't accept it. I'm dying, and I know with absolute certainty that that small fact it the truth. How many times had I been in a situation that could wind me up in this position? Surely dozens, but I had always come out fine. I never felt fear when a barrel of a gun was pointed at my face. You could always reason with a suspect, talk to them in a calm, cool voice, and make them drop the weapon.

I could stare into the face of death and feel no fear, but now that I was physically in the hands of Death himself, I was terrified. I said once when I was freezing to death that I thought that by being a cop that I would die by the hands of a bullet, but I was delirious. Truthfully, I had not given any thought to how I would die. Maybe when I was old, had lived a good, happy, long life with my family by my side. Or maybe dying in my sleep: that didn't seem bad either. But not bleeding out in a cemetery, at a funeral, for god sakes! The pain is overwhelming and I can hardly think straight. I hear a frantic voice coming from somewhere above me. Even in this state I can recognize Castle's voice.

"Kate! Stay with me, okay?" I hear him plead.

I'm trying, Castle, but it hurts so bad, I want to say, but my mouth is not working.

"Kate, I love you. I love you, Kate." Finally, the words I have waited to hear for three years, but I am angry. Why couldn't he have told me earlier? We could have had years, decades, eons, but no. I am dying, and I can never have him.

I am not a religious person, but at that moment I screamed out a silent prayer to any deity that would listen.

Please! Please let me get better, I love him too! I love Richard Castle!

But Death is cruel, and blocks my prayers. He smiles at me and grabs me. Death is so strong, pulling me away from the man I love. I try to fight him. But even as cruel as Death can be, he is also merciful. The pain is gone here, but on Earth, there is pain every day. I suddenly have no fight left in me, and I let myself fade into Deaths welcoming arms.

I'm so sorry, Rick. I love you too. Always.

Rick POV

No. No. NO! This can't happen. This doesn't get to happen! Not to me, not to Kate! That is all I can think when I see her beautiful green eyes close.

"MOVE!" and I get thrown aside by an unknown person. The rest of the world is a grey blur; all I can see is Kate.

No! Someone is taking her away from me, putting her on a stretcher and then into an ambulance. As soon as the red doors are slammed shut, the vehicle is off, racing against time to reverse the damage. I try to get up to follow, but my legs wont work. I feel strong hands on either side of my arms and realize both Ryan and Esposito helping me to my feet.

"Come on, Castle. We're going to the hospital." Those are the only words that can make me move. I manage to stumble into the waiting police cruiser and we take off, driving well above the speed limit, lights flashing, sirens blaring. I drop my head into my hands and let out a sob that has been building up in my chest.

It is all my fault! How could I have been so STUPID! I chant over and over again until the car pulls up to the emergency room door. I throw open my door and sprint inside. Ryan, Esposito and Lanie are right behind me.

"Katherine Beckett!" I practically shout when I reach the nurses station. The young redhead receptionist jumps and begins looking at charts on her desk. She grabs one, looks at it and pales.

"Are you family?" She asks timidly, almost as though she fears the answer. We all nod.

"Wait one moment," she almost whispers and runs off. Fear starts to bubble up in my chest. An older doctor comes around the corner followed by the fearful looking redhead. The doctors blue scrubs are painted in a strange red liquid. My knees start to feel weak. You can read the doctors face like an open book. We were too late. My breath comes out in quick bursts. My world starts going black around the edges, and I can no longer feel my legs. The doctor politely tells us to sit. I do one better. My legs completely give out and I go crashing to the floor.

I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry.

That is the last thing I am aware of, then the world goes mercifully silent.

Bad? Good? Please let me know - there might be a sequel, but I am not sure - NP