Castle didn't know where the shot came from, but he heard it over his shoulder and barely ducked in time to avoid being hit by a bullet. It shattered the window right next to his head and covered him with shards of glass. The glass left several small cuts on his face and neck. He looked around and didn't see anyone suspicious.

After being interviewed by a police officer, Castle hurried back to the hospital. His shirt was covered in blood and he knew that there was no way he could hide it from his wife. So, he walked into the hospital and hoped that he could put her at ease and not cause her to run again. It wasn't a coincidence that he had been shot at. He knew that whoever was behind this whole thing that had caused her to go on the run was gunning for him again. He wondered if he had led them right to her. He would take her on the run if necessary. He just hoped that he could protect his wife and unborn son.

When Castle came back he paused outside Beckett's hospital room. Kate was dealing with her own crisis at the moment. He heard her doctor tell her, "I still think you should consider your options. At least discuss it with your husband."

"There's nothing to discuss. I told you before that there is nothing to consider. It's my decision and that's final."

Castle turned around and headed back towards the nurses station. Shaking his head he wondered what Kate and her doctor were talking about. He thought that they were on their way back to finding each other. Only to be smacked in the face with the fact that she was still keeping secrets from him. He was honestly very tired of it.

He saw her doctor leave her hospital room and walked over to him. He asked the doctor, "Is everything okay?"

When the man answered Castle could hear the resignation in the man's voice when he said, "As good as it can be."

"What's wrong?"

"I wish I could tell you Mister Castle, but Kate is my patient and she's adamant that you not be told about this. You will have to ask her."

Nodding, Castle thanked the man and headed back towards her room. He took a deep breath and walked inside. Kate was lying on the bed with her hand resting on her stomach and her eyes were closed. Castle stared at her and tried to get his feelings under control. He was honestly sick of all the secrets.

He asked her softly, "Is everything okay?"

She turned to face him and nodded, "It's fine. It will be fine soon."

Taking a deep breath, he asked, "What's wrong Beckett?"

"Why do you think there's something wrong?"

"You look sad and I overheard the doctor talking to you. It sounded like there's something wrong with the pregnancy, the baby or both."

Kate closed her eyes Castle watched as a tear slid from her eyes. She whispered softly, "It's about the baby. I…."

Castle put the bags and cups on the table beside her bed and walked over to sit beside her. He took her hand in his and held them tightly.

This made Kate cry harder and she turned away from him and whispered, "I suppose it's all my fault. If I hadn't ran then maybe this wouldn't be happening. Maybe, just maybe he wouldn't be…"

Castle brushed the stray hair out of her face and looked at her, "What's going on Kate?"

Shaking her head, "I don't want you to hate me. I already hate myself. I wouldn't blame you if you left me and never looked back. In fact, I want you to. Just leave and never come back. I don't deserve you Rick."

Castle sighed, "Kate. Please tell me what's wrong. Whether it's with you or the baby I…."

Shaking her head, she whispered, "My doctor wanted me to have an abortion. Said that it's probably the best thing. For everyone. He wants me to get rid of our baby."

"Why? What's happening?"

Kate took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "They performed an amniocentesis and they suspect he has Downs Syndrome. You'd think in the day and age it would be an issue. He wants me to discuss it with you. Apparently some people want to terminate the pregnancy rather than have a baby born with a deformity. I...I can't get rid of him Castle." Taking a deep breath she whispered, "I'll understand if you want out. I'll take full responsibility for him and.."

Castle leaned forward and silenced her with a kiss. Her sob was muffled by the kiss and she closed her eyes and her hands settled on her stomach. She felt her son moving inside of her. He was turning around and moving more than he had in some time. Castle's hand joined hers and he whispered to her softly, "I don't plan on leaving either of you. You're my wife and he's my son. Whether he's born with a birth defect or not doesn't change that. I will love him just as much. Nothing will ever change that Kate. He's perfect to me."

She took his hand and held it tight on her stomach. Their son chose that moment to kick her once again. She smiled and closed her eyes. Then she whispered, "I found out months ago and wanted to call you, but I was so afraid. Afraid that you wouldn't want us. Afraid that you would blame me. Afraid that…."

Castle leaned over and silenced her with a kiss. He placed his hand on her face and she closed her eyes. Leaning into his touch. He whispered into her ear, "I would never blame you."

"It would be my fault. Alexis is perfect. She's.."

"Hush. Even if he's born with Downs Syndrome we will still love him. He will be the most loved baby ever. We will spoil him and shower him with hugs and kisses. He will know how much his mom and dad love him. How much our family loves him."

Kate nodded and whispered, "If he does have this it will mean a lot of medical procedures and.."

"We can handle this. We've been through worse things before. I promise you. I don't blame you for this. No one is responsible for this. We will wait and see what happens when he's born. There's always a chance that the doctors are wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. Or the last time. We will make it through this."

Nodding Kate smiled and laid back against her bed and closed her eyes. She knew that once the news set in Castle might change his mind. Might decide that it wasn't worth it. That she wasn't worth it. Then there was the fact that she was in love with this place. She loved Alabama and wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere near New York. She knew that there was a lot to talk about and they would have to take things one day at a time and hopefully they would work through all the obstacles in their way.

When she finally calmed down some more, she looked at her husband and asked, "What happened to you? Why do you have blood all over your shirt?"

"I cut myself shaving and…"

She gave him a sideways look and he knew that she didn't believe him. So, he finally admitted, "There was an accident on the way back here."

"An accident? What kind of accident?"

Castle didn't want to tell her. Didn't want to admit that she might not be safe here anymore. That they might have to leave this place that she had come to call home. He wondered if they would have to go on the run. If he'd only known what she was running from, he would have been more careful. However, he hadn't known that she was running from someone. He'd thought that she was running from him. Running away from their life together. Now that he knew the truth, they could all be in danger.

So, he looked at her and whispered, "I think someone tried to shoot me."

She sat up in the bed and practically screamed, "What?! Why didn't you tell me this sooner. Dammit Castle. You need to get out of here. The longer you're around me the greater the danger is. Please. Leave. Protect yourself. Please…."

Castle shook his head, "I'm not leaving you alone. I'm here with you. We are stronger together. Remember that Kate. I love you and we can do this together. If we have to run, we will run together. We will do whatever it takes to keep you and him safe."

Kate closed her eyes and snuggled closer to him. She buried her head in his chest and whispered, "Whatever it takes. Together we will do whatever it takes to keep us all safe…"

Castle kissed the top of her head and held her tight. He held her until she fell asleep in his arms. He laid her down on the bed and decided that he needed to bring in reinforcements. Needed help in keeping his family safe. And the person that he called would help him protect her and keep her safe.

"I need your help and you can't say no. Kate and I are in trouble."

Listening for a few more moments, Castle nodded and then he said, "Okay. Will do. Thank you."

Castle hung up the phone and texted the address to the person he was talking to. Knowing that this was a life or death situation. Everything depended on it…..

Please, remember that this is all AU and dreamed up only in my mind. If you like it, please leave a review. Even if you don't like it leave a review. Constructive reviews help me grow as a writer, nasty reviews won't... Thanks again for reading...