This has been sitting on my laptop half-finished for nearly three years because grad school and because I needed a break; from the show, from the internet, from the drama. But after a long hiatus, I recently started re-watching Castle from the beginning, and it's helped me remember why I loved this show so much in the first place. And why I loved writing fic for it. So I finally got around to finishing this.

A million thank yous to Alex for keeping me from writing myself into a corner (and for helping me crawl out when I did), and to Andy, my ever-enthusiastic beta and cheerleader!

Disclaimer: If you recognize it from the show, it's safe to say it's not mine.

Prologue

(November 10, 2014)

"You saved my life, Mr. Castle. Why?"

"Because I love you."

Richard Castle's eyes opened slowly, first one and then the other, blinking rapidly as they adjusted to the bright fluorescent lights. He was surrounded by white walls, more machines than he could count, and everything smelled clean. Too clean.

Where was he?

Off to his left, a movement caught his eye and he followed it instinctively, wincing harshly when a sharp pain shot through him. More movement, and his brain could just barely process that it was the outline of a person rising, leaning over him. He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth against the feeling of knives being driven into his chest.

When he opened them again, someone was there. A face, blurred around the edges at first but slowly becoming clearer. A face he recognized, but he wasn't immediately sure from where.

Brown hair, beautiful green eyes that had been haunting his dreams since the first moment he saw them.

Slowly, recognition dawned.

"Captain Beckett?"

He blinked, opened his eyes again, and sure enough it was her. She was leaning over him with a look of concern clouding her beautiful features, entirely too reminiscent of the last time he'd seen her face, eyes full of shock and fear and sadness as she knelt above him, hands pressing against the holes in his chest, trying in vain to stop the blood from flowing.

He'd been sure he was going to die. That he'd never see her again.

But, wait...

"You're here," he stated in utter confusion.

She nodded deliberately, an attempt to maintain her stoic façade.

"I'm..." He hesitated, a hundred words wanting to make themselves heard all at once, but none could find their way past the pain and drowsiness.

"You were shot," she reminded him gently. "You saved my life."

Right. It was coming back to him now. The mysterious object, being kidnapped at gunpoint, Kate showing up at precisely the right time to save the day. Gunshots. Lots of them. From her gun. And then two from theirs, aimed at her. Castle hadn't even had time to think it through. He'd just instinctively jumped.

The rest was obscured in a haze of burning pain, ripping through his chest and shredding his heart and lungs. But he clearly recalled her face above his, soft words spilling from her lips, pleading with him. Asking him why he would do such a thing. And he'd replied...

Oh god. He'd told her…

"Kate," he began, voice hoarse. His throat was so dry but he couldn't lift his head to look for a glass of water. God, why did his entire body seem to be both numb and on fire at the same time?

"I just came down here to thank you," she interrupted with a smile, putting an abrupt end to the impending conversation.

Thank him? His brain felt like mush, completely unable to follow her train of thought. What were they even talking about?

"For saving my life," she reminded him. "It was probably the stupidest thing you've ever done...jumping in front of a bullet for someone you barely know."

"Stupid seems to be my strong point," he lamented, voice gravelly. He fixed her with what he hoped somehow resembled his trademark charming, lopsided smile. He really couldn't tell if it was; he seemed to have only minimal control over his movements at present.

"Well, I'm grateful." She stood. "I should be going."

"Kate," he pleaded roughly, not ready to say goodbye, not when he was just beginning to be granted another chance with this extraordinary woman. He wasn't supposed to see her ever again. He wasn't supposed to see anyone ever again. "When I was lying on the ground..."

"You should get some sleep," she encouraged, backing away from his bedside. "Good night, Mr. Castle."

TBC...