A/N: So, I was asked to continue this story, and I decided to do it, even though I only intended for it to be a one-shot. So here you go. Let me know what you think.

Love you, mean it. Cassie


Isabella found herself thinking often of Rick, praying for he and Kate. She couldn't imagine how hard it must be to watch the slow death of the person you love. Sure, she herself was dying, but that was different. To face your own fate meant to deal with it yourself. It was between you and God. But to face the fate of someone you love, someone you can't imagine your life without...that was different. That was something even Isabella, for all her insight, could not fathom.

About three weeks after she had first met Rick, Isabella found herself in the church again, sitting in the pew, thinking and listening. She had been thinking, again, of Rick and Kate, when the sound of heavy footsteps made her turn. She smiled when she saw that Rick was making his way down the center aisle, and Isabella couldn't help but realize that all too often, God works these things out. She had been praying for Rick, and there he was. He glanced up and smiled slightly when he saw Isabella, but the once-bright smile faded quickly, leaving behind tired features and scared eyes. He joined Isabella in her pew, sitting down with a sigh.

"Hi, Rick," Isabella said after a moment.

"Hi, Isabella," he replied.

"I was just thinking about you," she said. He glanced over at her.

"You were?"

"Yes. And then you showed up. Guess God isn't finished using me to get to you," she said simply. Castle just sighed again.

"How's Kate?" Isabella asked.

"Declining rapidly. She had her first seizure last week, another yesterday," he said. "She can't work, she's starting to have pain when she moves much. She's deteriorating right in front of me." Isabella gave him a sympathetic look.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said.

"I just...I don't know what to do," he said helplessly. "I don't know how to help. I want to, any way I can, but I just don't know what to do." Isabella took a moment to think, to gather her thoughts and ask God for guidance.

"Would you mind if I prayed with you?" she asked. Castle met the teen's eyes.

"I don't mind at all," he answered.

Isabella bowed her head and Castle followed suit.

"Hey God," Isabella began simply, "We lift up our hearts and our minds to you, putting our cares in your hands, Father. I ask you to please protect Kate in these dark days. I ask that you give Rick the courage to find his strength and be the man she needs, Lord. Allow them both to find comfort in your arms, and allow your love to be the light at the end of a dark tunnel. I know this is hard for both of them, and I ask that you be the comfort they need. I ask that you be their shelter, Lord, and give them acceptance of a plan that makes no sense right now. We praise you for your goodness, Father, and we ask that you continue to use us as your hands and feet, allowing us to be your light. In Jesus' name we pray and play, Amen." Castle opened his eyes and felt an overwhelming rush of gratitude toward Isabella.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"No need to thank me, Rick," she said. "I'm not a savior, I'm not a Messiah. I'm not the one you should be thanking. Thank the one I serve. He's the one who deserves the thanks."

And with that, Isabella smiled and stood, gone before Castle even had time to say anything. But, even so, Castle knew in that moment exactly what he had to do.