Pre-Caskett. This is a Kill Shot fanfic. Going Alternate Universe during the ep. What if Castle had followed her after she ran away?

I know this has been done, but I wanted to have my own shot at it.

It starts up pretty dark and angsty, but will get lighter as the story continues. Who doesn't love a little angst, know there will be fluff and happiness in the future? :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle.

'Kate!'

She ran faster putting her hands on her ears, as if blocking out the sound of Castle calling out for her would actually fade away the fact he was there.

She ran, opening the first door she saw, trying to lose all the prying eyes. And Castle. Please, let him not follow. She prayed silently, while tears were streaming down her eyes.

She inhaled violently, recognizing it as the beginnings of a panic attack, which only made it worse. She threw down her jacket, badge and gun, while trying to get her breathing under control.

Losing her balance, she slid down the wall, gasping for breath.

'Kate, Kate please open the door!'

She screwed her eyes closed, trying not to listen to Castle calling out for her. Nothing had ever felt so hard, nothing had ever felt like this, like something was trying to rip her apart. Her limbs, her wall, her heart. Everything was one big mess.

'Please Castle,' she gasped, to soft for him to hear, 'please stop, please go away, please stop'.

She was shaking her head, her body still wracking violently with tears and fear. She heard gun shots and voices and saw flashes of grass. 'Kate, I love you, I love you Kate'.

No. That wasn't real. That wasn't happening.

She backed further against the wall. Not knowing what was real and what wasn't anymore.

Calm down. Calm down, Kate.

She pressed her nose between her knees, shivering violently, suddenly feeling cold. Her ears were full of noise and her head was spinning. Her hair and face wear sticky with tears and sweat.

'Kate!'

She felt someone grabbing her arm and she screamed, hitting the person assaulting her square in the chest.

'Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone' It was like a mantra running through her head. She couldn't be sure if she was the one saying the words, or if it was a voice in her head.

'Kate'

This time she heard it loud and clear, immediately aware of the very familiar voice.

She curled away deeper between her knees, hoping she would eventually dissolve into thin air.

No such luck.

Hours, or minutes, later, her head began to clear. The fog at the front of her forhead slowly clearing up, the tingling in the palm of her hand intensifying.

What had happened?

Still pressed between her knees and her eyes screwed shut, she slowing relaxed her right hand, only realizing now that it was still bald into a fist.

Hissing at the piercing pain coursing through her hand and arm, she slowly came up. Blinking her eyes against the bright light after having been shut for so long.

Her mind went blissfully blank, staring at the wall front of her. She had no idea where she was, or how she had come her, but she felt save. Untouchable.

'Kate?'

Her throat closed up and she jerked her heard with a snap to her right. Her eyes went comically wide.

'W-what?' her voice was hoarse and barely recognizable.

She blinked twice before her vision was able to focus on the person sitting all too close next to her.

Castle.

She unconsciously pressed herself further into the wall to put some space between them. His eyes flickered with a small hint of hurt, but immediately filled themselves with concern.

Kate felt her airways tighten, barely getting any breath. Castle feeling hurt was bad, Castle being as openly concerned as this?

Nothing could be worse and more overwhelming.

T.B.C.

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