I do not own any of Castle or its characters. Nor do I take credit for or state that any of the dialogue is correct or directly from the show. This is simply my version of an alternate ending to the episode "Cops and Robbers".

"Listen here jackass, if you hurt anyone in that room I will personally come in there and put a bullet through your head."

After a brief conformation from another partner involved in the robbery the current individual dressed in scrubs and face mask replied to the menacing voice on the other end of the line.

"Alright Kate. You've got twenty minutes."

XXX

Richard Castle looked at his mother as soon as the handgun was drawn away from his face and took his hand in hers. They didn't speak to each other but just smiled knowing their angel in an armored vehicle right outside the bank doors bought them more time to live until she could handle the situation further.

Katherine Beckett threw the headpiece off and onto the desk and stormed out to her two awaiting partners and a frantic redhead on her cell phone with a soon to be ex-boyfriend. She knew Alexis was strong, thankful she stayed behind the barricades as she instructed but quickly went over to Ryan and Esposito.

There wasn't much of a pause as soon as the commanding officer in charge of hostage negotiation instructed his team of what to do after hearing about the situation Beckett recently filled him in on.

XXX

"Over there! They're over there! I see them!"

Kate could barely make out the figures to ensure if they were indeed Castle and Martha but she knew they were alive. As soon as she placed one foot in front of the other a voice yelled out to her.

"Yo Beckett! Come here for a sec! You need to check this out."

If it wasn't her going towards her goofy partner she was happy it was his daughter. Smiling at their tight embrace, she caught the eye of Alexis mouthing a "thank you" and Beckett nodded in return before strolling over to Espo who had more information on the robbery and investigation.

XXX

Castle was only a few feet away, holding his mother and daughter's hands and hugging Alexis on occasion when he glanced towards Espo, Beckett, and Ryan talking.

He was already watching her as she pivoted on her boot heel and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear in an effort to go touch base with him. Glancing up from where she was stepping, she was welcomed by a warm and thankful smile and tender gaze in Castle's eyes.

As soon as their eyes locked, Beckett's face fell into a painful grimace. She and Castle both were unaware they had an audience, all intrigued by how they would interact with one another after yet another life or death situation.

"Oh my God Castle, I was so scared!" Beckett breathed into her plucky sidekick's neck after running quickly towards him and jumping into his already opening embrace.

He smiled at her words, folding his own head to fit into her neck as they held each other.

As he set her back down on the ground, the author spoke, "Hey, I was wor…."

Beckett didn't hesitate in the slightest, in a quick and forceful motion she reached up and placed both hands on Castle's cheeks and passionately smashed their lips together.

What the he…. He started to think, tensing at first. It wasn't difficult for him to put himself into the kiss though, picturing the wall inside of her crumbling down just as the bomb did to the bank.

The contact of their lips was tender and warm, so familiar for the both of them. It was short and brief but oh so perfect and filled with longing and want.

Beckett brought her face away from his, eyes gleaming and her mouth curving into a cute grin she attempted to hide away.

Ryan and Espo were standing with a slack-jawed expression while Martha and Alexis exchanged a knowing stare between each other and hugged once more.

"Maybe you should switch banks Castle," the female detective smirked as she looked up into the awestruck eyes of Richard Castle.

"I uh… umm.. I…. yeah.." he stuttered, his arms at her side, hands placed firmly on her waist, their midsection and chests still touching.

"I'm so glad you're okay Castle, I was so worried you guys didn't make it."

She pulled herself into his loving embrace and placed her head against his fluttering heart.

Pushing her back, but not breaking contact with her he titled his head.

"I'll make sure any bank I want to do business at from now on is fully approved by the best homicide detective in New York City, okay?"

She blushed, heat rising in her cheeks as Castle bent down and cradled her face for another very short and brief kiss again.

Clearing her throat she stepped away, breaking their contact with one another and headed towards Martha and Alexis. She hugged Alexis for a moment, and then went straight to Martha for a dramatic hug and thank you.

The eldest red head held Beckett out at arms length, holding her hands and with a misty look in her eyes spoke, "Darling, please come back to the loft with us for dinner. This day was eventful and we should be thankful for living through it. As well, we need to thank you for saving our lives now."

"Oh Martha, your hug and seeing you guys now is thanks enough. Really!"

"Nonsense! Richard?" She glanced at her son who gave a pitiful look of defeat to the woman he just shared two kisses with.

"Sorry Beckett, I can't argue with mother this time. You managed to save a best-selling author and famous actress, dinner is the least we can do to repay your good Samaritan duties."

He smiled and reached for her hand as she rolled his eyes and playfully acted as if she was being drug towards the loft.

XXX

"Everything looks and smells wonderful Martha, you really outdid yourself."

Beckett tipped her wine glass to clink with hers.

"Well, with what went on today I figured why not celebrate life! So tonight, we shall feast!"

Glancing around to the kitchen Martha called to Alexis from upstairs.

"Alexis dear, please come help me finish putting place settings out and we'll prepare the food to put on the table. Please and thank you!"

She tied her apron back around her waist before directing Beckett, "Darling, I believe Richard is in his office."

Pointing wards the den, just past the bookshelves, "Mind taking him a glass of wine and telling him dinner is almost ready?"

"Sounds like a job I'm used to Martha. Telling Castle what to do and all." She poured a glass of wine and carried it in her other hand as she strode across the living area.

He looked intent typing away at his laptop. He had filled Beckett in that the explosion and robbery made a great new Nikki Heat book idea, plus he would add in being rescued by Detective Heat herself.

Knocking softly at the already open door, it broke his frowning look of concentration to look up at the tall, brunette female who greeted him with a smile.

"Wow Castle, do you only ever get writing done when you almost die?"

Beckett walked to the side of his desk as he turned his chair towards her, graciously accepting the glass of wine her hand offered to him.

"I can't help it I guess. I must be addicted to the thrill or the adrenaline I get when I'm in harmful situations. It probably helps a little bit when your publisher leaves a screaming voicemail for you after you've been held hostage all day too." He smiled at her.

She looked down to her hands holding her own wine glass as she leaned against his desk naturally. A small laugh from his joke escaped her mouth and she felt the heat rising in her cheeks.

"Well look at that, Katherine Beckett laughing at a joke I made."

"Trust me Castle, you aren't funny. After today though, you making me laugh definitely made the day a little better." She smiled.

Castle stood up to face himself in front of her, only a few inches in between their bodies.

"Thank you for saving me Kate, I don't know what I would do without you." He reached out with his free hand to stroke her arm.

"I'm not sure what I would do without you either Rick."

She stepped towards him and encircled her arms around his waist. His hugs were so safe and reassuring to her, but now she wanted to have the ability to have more than just a hug from him.

His heart skipped a beat. She rarely used his first name ever, so when she did it was serious. However, her tone this time didn't depict a bad sort of serious, this time it was meaningful.

Blinking, she looked up at him. "I was told to um… told to come tell you dinner is almost ready." Her breathing was hitched for a second before she continued.

"Oh of course, we wouldn't want to leave the two red heads waiting for long!"

He went to take a step back from her before feeling her body hesitate. He didn't speak, but stood and looked at her intriguingly.

"I just, umm.. You see, I just wanted to tell you that the kiss we had at the explosion site…"

"Hey, Kate. It's okay, we were both caught up in the moment of you saving me and seeing each other after the fact. If you want to forget about it, trust me I'll be okay with it."

She knew he was lying; he could act as if it had never happened but the feeling of what the kiss represented was still there and she didn't want to ignore those feelings any longer.

She smiled at him softly, still in his embrace. She shook her head and laughed to herself, not realizing it was audible to him.

"What… Why are you lau…."

"Castle, stop!"

Beckett reached her hand up, placing one on his broad chest and another around his neck. She could feel his body tensing up, unaware of her actions but she guided his head down to hers.

Noses touching, and both of them breathing heavily she spoke at a whisper.

"I don't want to forget that kiss, or this one, or any more kisses or unmentionable contact we have in the future Castle. Trust me, that wall inside came crumbling down just like the bank did today."

Thank you for reading! I've only done other other Castle fic before this one. Please review and leave feedback! Let me know what you liked or didn't like. Not sure if this is going to be a one shot or if I can continue it. I'm open to suggestions though and would love to hear back!