Dr. Burke is waiting at the front door when they arrive. He can see the tension between them. He's never seen them together, but instinctively he knows that this isn't their normal behavior. Kate has her head down. She's playing with her fingers. That itself is an indication that something isn't right. Kate never looks defeated, ever. Rick is the only one that's ever seen her look like she does now. He's not sure what Rick's natural stance is, but from what Kate has told him. He can assume that he never walks that stiff, like a Sunday shirt with too much starch.

Once they're inside, they follow him up to his office. The elevator ride is silent and they are still standing at least a foot apart from each other. They follow him down the hallway to his office. He pauses to unlock the door and then opens it for them to walk through. Closing it behind him, he pauses again to reset the alarm and then he motions them through to his office. They follow him. Each of them making sure to stay far enough away from each other that there's no possible way they could touch. He close the door behind them, Rick looks around the office. Seeing for the first time where Kate had come to make herself better. So they could be together. All that time and fight has come down to this, she's running again.

Kate settles into her usual chair. Rick looks at her and then chooses to sit on the couch across from both of them. Dr. Burke settles into his chair. For several moments there's silence before Dr. Burke says. "Rick, you called me for this. Can you tell me what's going on?"

He's looking at Kate when he speaks. "She's running again and she knows it's not right. She knows what she wants, but she's scared." Kate's head snaps up.

"I'm not running."

"You're not. Then explain to me why you've spent the last three hours, since you walked out of the loft, out on me, in the lobby of our building."

"I'm protecting…."

"Bullshit Kate, you're scared. You're grieving and for whatever is going on in your head, you think this last case was your fault."

"It was my fault!" She cries.

"No, it's the son of a bitch's fault that's trying to cover his own ass." Rick exclaims.

"Okay, let's calm down."

"I'm not even…."

Kate sat there and really looks at him, looks at him like she's never really looked at him when these issues come up. Oh she's paid lip service to understand how he felt these past eight years, struggling, scratching and clawing for whatever part of herself she would give him, deem his worthy of having.

"Rick, may I call you…?" Kate tunes back into what Dr. Burke is saying

"That's fine."

"Okay, you say she's running. Would you tell what happened that makes you believe she's doing that?"

Sighing, Rick glances at her. She gives a nod. She wants to hear this time, really hear him when he tells the story. "It started the day she was to take over her Captaincy at the 12th. We woke up that day, and I had a surprise for her so I baked her a large cupcake."

"It was pretty big." Kate says, as both men glance at her.

"Inside the cupcake was a jewelry box with a platinum bracelet, with a series of diamond chips set in it. I had the word always engraved inside it. That's always been our word. It stands for everything we've gone through and everything that's to come. It means that we'll always be by each other's side. Anyway, while I was giving her the cupcake, she got a phone call and she asked me to get it because she had icing all over her hands. So I did and I gave her a tissue to wipe her hands off.

I gave her the phone after the caller asked for her and while she was talking. I tried to make a basket with the tissue. I didn't make I glanced back to see if she saw. She was involved with her call, so I sort of snuck over and picked it up and when I came back she was telling the person on the other line that she wasn't interested and then she hung up. She said something about there needing to be stricter laws about telemarketers and I mention that she could've done that if she'd run for senate. We had a brief discussion about her choosing not to run and taking the Captain's exam. And again I reassured her, that this was what was right for us. She left then, saying she had a meeting at 1PP."

"What happened after Kate left?"

"I went to my PI office. I had it remodeled and I wanted to see the changes. Alexis was there. It was a bit of shock but that's nothing compared to the shock I felt when I found out she lied to me."

"How did she lie to you?"

"Ryan and Espo caught a case. Espo called me to see if I knew where Kate was. And I told him she was supposes to be at 1PP. They told me about the case and asked me if I wanted to help them with it. I told him I would be by. When I got to the address Espo texted me, there were three dead bodies and while we were working the scene, I found the bracelet that I had given her. We started tracking the case and I followed Kate to the prison where she had gone to speak with Senator Bracken." Dr. Burke looks at Kate.

"Kate?" He asks.

"He was the only one I knew of that could explain what was going on." She says, still watching Castle.

"So this case involves the former senator that ordered the hit on your mother." Dr. Burke says, while Kate closes her eyes. Knowing what the statement meant.

"It's not like you think. He wasn't coming after…."

"He wasn't coming after you but you still refused to tell Rick what was going on. You lied to him."

"I was given the highest possible distress code an agent could give when I spoke with Vikgar that moving. I couldn't just ignore that."

"You're not an agent, Kate. You haven't been an agent for three years." Rick spits out, his jaw clenched.

"And if I got a distress call from Espo or Ryan would you want me to ignore that?"

"Of course not, I expect you to trust me, tell me what's going on. You looked me right in the eye and you lied to me. I thought you were safe, in a meeting at 1PP, and then I found the bracelet that I just gave you lying in a pool of your blood. I had no idea what was going on? Why you were there? All I knew was that you were hurt."

"And I had no idea where you were for eight weeks, six of which you can't explain because you don't remember what happened."

"And I had three months of waiting, hoping…."

"Okay, let's step back. This isn't going to help. You've both disappeared on each other." Dr. Burke says

"No, let him say it." Kate says, looking at him. "He's told me, but I don't think I've ever really felt what he felt that summer." Kate says, looking at him. He looks at her.

He's silent for a moment. Taking a slow breath to get control of his emotions "Kate, I watched you die that day in the ambulance. And when I came to the hospital, I was so hopeful and then you told me you needed sometime. I guess I should've guessed that, considering what I told you and what had just happened, but I had finally gotten the courage to tell you how I felt. I didn't think about Josh, or how you would feel after the surgery or what had happened. I was hoping you would be there. And when you said you needed some time, I was disappointed but as I walked out of that room. I understood why. I waited for three months for you to call and I guess after the first couple weeks I thought you had made your decision. You were choosing to ignore what I had said and continue with Josh. That was…." He pauses for a moment before he sighs. "I was angry about all of it."

"Are you still angry Rick?" Dr. Burke asks. He looks at the doctor.

"I… I'm angry about the fact that you hide from me. You did it then and you're doing it now. We're supposes to be partners, married and a couple and you hide from me. I'm your husband. I should be the first one she turns to but I'm not. You push me away Kate, and I don't get it. I don't get why you think every disaster that comes your way is your fault."

"I don't think that. But my whole AG team was killed because I did a search looking for similarities of kills related to Bracken."

"You were still working your mother's case. We both were. I would've been surprised if you hadn't've done a search on Bracken when you were in DC. But what I don't understand is why you think you have to go titling at windmills every time something comes up that involves your mother's case. He was caught Kate. She had justice. Why is your first instinct to hide from me and go head strong into something when you have no idea what is happening. He gave you a distress code. You couldn't've told me that."

"Kate?" Dr. Burke asks.

"He said if I brought anyone else into it they would die."

"And you took that at face value. He gave you a distress code, I do get that Kate. But look at how all of this turned out, we're both alive. Vikgar is alive. And it is not your personal responsibility to find the culprit for everything related to William H. Bracken. Why can't you let it go?"

"Kate." Dr. Burke asks after she doesn't reply.

"I don't know."

"Kate."

"I know you don't like that answer Dr. Burke. You say there's a reason for everything. But I don't know why? I feel responsible, just like I would feel responsible if Rick, Martha, Alexis, Espo, Ryan, Lanie or my dad were hurt or killed because of my mom's case. I did a search on Bracken while I was at the AG's office. I never got a hit. I completely forgot about the search because it didn't bring anything up."

"So if you forgot about it, how is your team's death your fault. Because you couldn't remember a search you did that gave you no information." Rick says. "How many searches have you done through out your career that yielded no information helpful to the case you were working, Kate?"

"There's no way to of… I have no idea."

"So if one of those searches contributed to a murder would you feel responsible for that person's death." She looks at him. "You left me tonight. In your way of protecting me, I understand that. But did you ever stop to think that the best way to protect me is to simply let it go. Let the people trained to find this stuff out, let them do it."

"I'm trained…."

"No Kate, you're not. Not for what that case was involved with. You said that you hoped that after you finished this that I would be able to forgive you for leaving. I won't Kate."

"Rick, it's not beneficial to threaten."

"I'm not threatening. I'm answering her question. You walked away from me tonight. You put this obsession you have with anything pertaining to your mother before me and I'm through. If you really want to choose that over us, then I can't do this anymore."

"Rick…."

"No Kate, I think you know what you want. That's why you spent three hours sitting at the security desk of our building. You know you want me. You want our life. My question is, can you let go of the control and let someone else tilt at windmills and simply be my wife, the future mother of our kids, Alexis step-mother, Martha's daughter-in-law, your dad's daughter, Ryan and Espo's captain and Lanie's friend. Can you do that Kate?"

There is a long moment of silence with Rick staring into Kate's eyes. Hoping she wouldn't turn her back on him. The last time he made this ultimatum, she ended up hanging off the side of a building and almost dying. Silent he prays. "Please let her learn from those mistakes. Choose me Kate, choose us."

"Kate." Dr. Burke props quietly.

Reaching up, she wipes at her eyes. She hadn't realized she was crying. "They're dead because of… Rick." She says softly.

He's up in and instant, gathering her into his arms. "Shhh love, it's okay." He says, holding onto her.

"They're all dead because…."

"They're dead because someone is trying to cover themselves. You didn't know that search would lead to this, you know that." He says, pulling her in tighter.

"God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Rick. I walked away. I didn't even realize what I was doing until I was faced with finding a place to go. I thought about my apartment but that felt like a giant step backwards and then it hit me, I left. And how is that not a giant step backwards as well. Eduardo found me standing in the middle of the lobby. I was crying, but I couldn't tell him what was wrong, only that you were okay and upstairs."

"Let's sit down." Rick says, leading her over to the couch. They sit down. "It's okay. Or it will be okay." He says, stroking her hair while she clings to him.

"He led me over to the security desk. I know I'm not supposes to be behind it, but I couldn't let him call you. I was afraid of you turning your back on me. I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me, not now." He says, looking at Dr. Burke.

For several seconds, he holds her, stroking her hair, while she cries. On occasion he would tell her "It will be okay."

When she settles down, she looks up at him. "I love you Rick."

"I love you too Kate." He says, gently caressing her cheek. She settles back against him. And he looks at Dr. Burke. "Thank you for coming."

"You're welcome. But I think both of you need to continue seeing someone. Kate, I can schedule you another appointment for later in the week." Kate looks at him and nods. "I go do that then." He says, moving to get up.

"Dr. Burke, you can schedule one for me as well." Rick says quietly.

"I will." He says, getting up to leave.

Once he's out of the building, Rick holds her for a little while longer before he asks. "Are you ready to go home?"

"Yes." She says, looking up.

He releases her. Holding onto her hand as she gets up and then he follows hers. Taking her hand again, he leads her out of the office. Dr. Burke is at the receptionist's desk, holding to cards. He looks at both of them. "I have no issue with seeing both of you but you both need to understand that each session is confidential and I will not discuss it with either of you. Is that understood?"

"Yes." They both reply.

"Okay." He says, handing them the two cards.

"Thank you again Dr. Burke." Rick says, and Kate turns to leave. "Kate can you give me moment to speak with Dr. Burke?"

"Sure, I'll be in the hall."

"Okay." She leaves the waiting room. Castle turns to Dr. Burke. "I told you on the phone I would pay you triple what 1PP pays you…."

"I'll consider this your first session Rick. When you come in for your first appointment, we'll work out the payment, Okay."

"That's fine. Thank you again." Rick says, holding his hand out. They shake hands and then Rick leaves. He finds Kate waiting like she said and they leave together.

A/N: Okay some of you may have already read this story. I went back and deleted the original posting and reposted it under this because I didn't like that I included the Chapter numbers in the title of the story (it's a little OCD, I know) The one's that have read the first posting stated that maybe I should carry this on. If I do that, I'll need someone to help me with the sessions for Rick and Kate w/Dr. Burke. So if you're interested in helping me, PM me and we'll talk... But before I carry this one on, I'll finish my first story Southern Heat so it might be a bit before a new chapter is posted...