I do not own Castle or any of the characters. I just really like them.
VWAP!
Castle writhed in pain as the iron bar swung into his side again. He heard a crack and knew it was his ribs breaking. He wanted to scream and shout for mercy. But Castle could barely breathe let alone make sound travel out of his throat. He mentally shouted for Beckett to come to his aid.
BAM!
A ringed fist slammed into his temple, cutting any semblance of thought he had left. Blood spewed down is face. Why isn't Beckett here yet? Sweet, sweet Beckett, with her hair and her eyes, and the way she laughs and teases; he loved it, loved her. Castle needed to see that face again. And she would come, he had faith that she would find him. So, he would wait.
Another blow to the chest. He didn't scream, he never would allow the enemy that kind of satisfaction. But he couldn't breathe. Why couldn't he breathe? It was like a two ton elephant decided to sit on top of his chest. The pain was too much. Just as he felt his consciousness slip away from him, a storm of NYPD cops broke through the doors with their guns out and ready. Beckett rushed to him, cut the rope tying him up, and cupped his face in her hands.
Close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his skin. Looking deeply into his eyes, she said, "Castle… Castle are you okay? You're going to be fine. Do you hear me? Fine."
Castle just looked at her. He could feel himself slipping away. He wanted to tell her that he would be fine as long as she stayed with him—that every ounce of this pain was worth being able to spend every day with her—that he could spend eternity in this pain if she would stay this close to him. If only he could bring himself to move, or speak, or fight off the ensuing darkness, he would close the last few inches between them.
But instead he let the blackness wash over him.
"Rick… I love you too."
He closed his eyes; that was all he needed to hear. She was still talking… something about hanging on. And he would. Castle knew that he would do anything within his power to stay alive for her. But not now. Now, he was powerless against his pressing unconsciousness.
…
When Castle woke up, he had no clue where he was. He tried to sit upright, sending pain shooting into his ribs. Glancing around, he remembered the case, getting beaten relentlessly, and lastly he remembered Katherine Beckett's last words to him. He saw that he was in a hospital room and became aware of a person at his side grasping his hand.
He looked at Beckett. He never wanted to stop looking at Beckett. She was looking past him through a window. Her eyes were red and puffy like she'd been crying and she clearly hadn't realized he was awake.
"Kate?"
"Castle. Hey. Look at you. You're a hot mess, you know? Broken ribs, collapsed lung, stitches, and a concussion. You look like you've been hit by a truck." She chuckled at this, unsuccessfully trying to make it sound like she wasn't mentally freaking out.
"Did you mean what you said? Before, I mean?" He didn't care about his injuries. He didn't care that he was in the hospital. He looked straight into Beckett's eyes. Puffy and red, they were still the most beautiful pair of eyes he has ever seen. His hand was still in hers, and he was glad she hadn't withdrawn it as soon as he awoke. A moment later, he was still awaiting an answer.
"Kate?"
He called her Kate. That always did things to her. Her stomach did little flips and she tried desperately to keep a straight face.
The thing was, Kate Beckett knew she washead over heels in love with Richard Castle. It was a matter of finally letting him in. She couldn't do it if she wasn't ready. It wouldn't be right, and with Castle, she had to do this thing right. And now he knows that she loves him. There was no point in denying it anymore. At last, she felt ready. Hopefully.
Inhaling sharply, she let it all out "Castle, I have never loved anyone the way I love you." Her cheeks reddened, but she willed herself to keep eye contact and not hide away.
An expression washed over his face like a four year old at Christmas. Elated, Castle tried to angle his body towards Beckett, wincing at the pain in the process.
Beckett saw this wince. She knew he was in immense pain. It was her fault. She was the reason he still worked with the NYPD. She felt personally responsible for every injury inflicted upon Castle.
Before she could get out her next words, Castle had his free hand at the base of her skull, pulling her into him. He kissed her with every ounce of love he had held back for the last three years. He kissed her passionately, but sweetly. She quickly gave into the kiss, giving everything she got. She felt his tongue asking for entrance and she complied.
Neither of them was prepared for this kiss. It was more intense than the most intimate of kisses; and while each one has had their respective relationships, never has a single kiss had so much meaning and so much love.
Beckett shifted from her chair to sit on the bed beside him. She bent over his torso and began trailing kisses down his jaw and onto his neck. Castle let out a deep moan. Beckett then moved her hand to rest on his chest for support, and Castle yelped.
Kate leaped away from Castle, wakening from her trance. She remembered his injuries and her guilt.
"Sorry," she said. "I… I… I'm sorry Rick. This is all my fault. You're hurt because of me. And you shouldn't care about me. You shouldn't want somebody like me in your life. I'm not good for you."
She was nearly in tears. Castle couldn't believe it. He had her. And he blew it in less than five minutes!
"Is this about the kiss? I thought it was pretty good myself." Of course, this was an understatement. Beckett's kisses could very possibly be as necessary as oxygen to him now.
"Best I've ever had," she chimed in quietly, almost in a whisper. "But all I can do is hurt you more. I'm dangerous Castle. I can't do this to you. I can't wrap you into all this." And with that, she ran from the room, she had no patience for the elevator, so she ran the seven flights of stairs, ran into the streets of New York, and kept running, blinded by her tears.