So... this fic assumes that you have seen Valkyrie. I cannot promise that it will remain spoiler free beyond that (though at this stage it is purely speculative), so I advise the non spoilers in our community to use their discretion.

I am of the opinion that the DC move is the best thing the show could have done. It shook up a formula that was running the risk of becoming quite stale and they've really allowed the actors on the show to grow because of it and as far as I'm concerned, they can take their time heading back to NYC (Yes, I know that's the foundation of the show and they are heading there...they're just going to have to really sell me on the why Kate would want to go back). I'm a MASSIVE McCord fan and I firmly believe that her character is an important plant for future story action. I also think the idea that McCord is a cautionary tale is a little bit of an oversimplification (and does a bit of disservice to the work of Lisa Edelstein, who has created quite a layered character, IMO) and with that in mind, I will be exploring the fairly detailed backstory I have cooked up for her in my head... so if you're really neg on McCord and DC generally, this may not be the fic for you!

By that awfully long author's note, let's all assume I don't own Castle (I don't, btw)

The toxin that Castle had been exposed to… it was horrific. Bile rose in Kate' throat as she remembered watching him fall prey to the neurotoxin; the vibrant man who made her simultaneously laugh and want to wring his neck slowly being reduced to a shadow of himself. She ran a hand through his hair. He was heavily sedated. The doctors said he would probably need to sleep for a few hours; his body had been through significant trauma and it simply needed time to recover.

She was probably supposed to be filling out paperwork, or giving a statement. Hell, she should probably be figuring out how she was going to explain allowing a civilian to assist investigating a highly classified case. There were definitely work related things she was supposed to be doing. Kate reached behind her neck and undid her chain, slipping her engagement ring off and onto her finger. She was far too weary to be Agent Beckett right now. She simply wanted to be Kate, a nervous fiancée who was going to get to have a really exciting conversation with her soon to be stepdaughter and mother-in-law. She didn't know how she was going to make this one okay.

She wrapped her hand around his, planting herself on the edge of his bed. There was no way she was going to let him wake up alone. The tiny white room was claustrophobic and she desperately longed for a window to throw open, if only to disrupt the sterile stillness of the room.

She missed New York. There was always noise in the city that never sleeps. The DC hospital room was eerily quiet, the silence punctuated by the steady beep of Castle's heart monitor. There had been concerns that the toxin would do irreparable damage to his organs, but so far, the tests had all come back clean.

There was nothing to do but wait.

"That's a gorgeous ring," A voice called out behind her.

Kate turned around. "Hey, McCord," she greeted her, voice scratchy with exhaustion. She didn't know why her partner was at the hospital; and she also knew she didn't have it in her to be reamed out. Kate desperately hoped she wouldn't cry.

"Rachel, please," she gave Kate a hesitant smile.

"Call me Kate then." She tightened her grip on Castle's hand, willing him to wake up and smooth over this awkward tension in the room. Her partner had been instrumental in finding the antidote to the toxin Castle had been exposed to. She'd seen Kate at her very worst and neither woman was sure of the social mores of the present situation.

"The pair of you make an amazing team," McCord offered.

"I fought it for a long time," Kate confessed quietly. "Starting to regret that now." She turned back to face Castle, wishing sheer force of will could force him to wake up.

McCord cleared her throat awkwardly. "I came by to let you know that I've dealt with everything. I's have been dotted, t's are crossed, the brass are satisfied. The only thing you need to worry about is him."

That shocked Kate. She knew she had a good, solid partner in McCord, but she'd never expected that McCord would go anything beyond the line of duty for her. "Thank you," she answered hoarsely.

McCord inclined her head slightly, "I'll go. I just thought you'd want to know."

The words slipped out of Kate's mouth before she could filter them. "I wouldn't mind if you stayed."

Kate was shocked; she meant every word. The feeling of unity, knowing that she was part of a team- she missed that. Perhaps this was the way to start bridging the gap? DC was a different world, and she needed to rely on the people she worked with in a way that she clearly couldn't rely on Castle anymore. She needed to protect him from the world she'd found herself in. Keep him safe from the insidious threats that had never existed before.

"I can stay," McCord agreed, stepping into the room and pulling up a chair.

There was a strange sense of comfort in knowing that she wasn't alone. "I am not looking forward to calling his daughter," Kate sighed. She looked over her shoulder to her new partner. "She hates me."

"You're stealing her Daddy away. I can imagine she's a little scared."

Rachel had, of course, hit the nail right on the head. "Angry almost stepdaughters, long distance relationships and exposure to experimental pathogens. Welcome to my life," Kate griped. "You sure you signed up for this?"

"I'm tougher than I look," McCord replied drily. A heavy silence fell over the room. Only the steady beep, beep, beep of the monitory accompanied them. "You know he's going to be okay, right?"

Kate let out a slightly damp chuckle. "He thought he was bitten by a vampire. Then he thought he fell prey to a Mummy's curse. And then there was a cursed DVD," she rolled her eyes at McCord's disbelieving stare, "We have faced dirty bombs, being locked in a freezer. We went for a dip in the Hudson. Hell, we even survived a rogue tiger. I can't believe our luck finally ran out."

"He'll wake up, Kate. Give it time."

"The doctors said," Kate gave a shuddering gasp, "They said that there's no way of knowing if the toxin caused permanent brain damage." She couldn't continue. Bile crept up her throat… his mind, that beautiful brain of his that she loved so much and that had given her so much- that could be gone forever. She could feel tears begin to leak down her cheeks as panic seized her body. She'd only just agreed to forever; this couldn't be over yet.

"Kate, you need to stand up, walk outside and count to ten, then walk back in here. Don't let this be the first thing he sees," McCord whispered seriously.

"I don't want to leave him alone," Kate admitted.

"He won't be," McCord insisted. "Now go pull yourself together."

Kate nodded, dropping her feet to the floor and rising to stand on unsteady feet. She gave Castle's hand one final squeeze and moved toward the tiny bathroom.

Castle's grip on her hand stopped her in her tracks.

He let out a loud groan.

oooh! Cliffhanger! I imagine that this fic will be about 2-3 chapters, FYI.

Let me know what you think! My inbox also enjoys smiley faces and episode related flails