AN: This chapter took a wild turn for the emotional. I still like it though, so hopefully you guys will too!

Moonlight streaks glowed through the apartment windows and illuminated the sleeping figures on the living room floor. Soft inhales and exhales were the only sounds to be heard. Underneath a cozy pile of blankets, Castle and Beckett slept.

After a night of eating, talking, and laughing along to a movie, they fell asleep beside each other on the apartment floor.

Beckett laid on her side, facing Castle's direction, while he laid on his back. Her fingers rested on top of his hand. Everything about the night seemed peaceful.

The serene night scene was soon interrupted. Castle's slow breathing suddenly turned into rapid, uneven, frantic gasps for air. A thin layer of sweat painted his body.

In his sleep, he spoke. "No! Kate! Please don't leave me! Stay with me!"

His body tossed and turned. Tears seeped through his closed eyelids. His body shook. Again he screamed.

"You can't die, I need you! I'm so sorry!"

Beckett shook him out of his nightmare. Castle's teary eyes snapped open. He saw Beckett kneeling above him and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Kate, you're alive!" Panting and gasping for air, he tried to collect himself.

She replied softly. "Castle, you were having a nightmare." She put her hand on his face and brushed away his tears. "I've been next to you the whole time."

Castle came back to reality and he remembered where he was and why he was there. He sat up next to her.

"I-I'm sorry I woke you." He stuttered.

"Shhhh Castle." She pressed a finger against his lips to silence him. "Don't be sorry."

Castle's red and salty eyes stared into her worrying eyes.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" She asked. He tore his gaze from hers, and looked into the darkness in front of him.

He sat up and faced her directly.

"I have the same nightmare almost every night," Castle confessed.

Beckett was silent and waited for him to continue.

"Every night, since the day you got shot, the image of you dying in front of me replays in my mind. Only, in my nightmares, you don't survive." New tears started to fill his eyes. He continued.

"Every night I watch you die and I can't do anything about it. The thing that bothers me the most is that it's all my fault. Some nights I see you freezing to death in that freezer, some nights I see you bleeding out at Montgomery's funeral. It's so real. It's like I can almost feel the chill of the freezer, or smell the blood from when you were shot. Sometimes they aren't so detailed, but I guess our tiger experience yesterday triggered that big one..."

He paused for a moment and continued.

"There's a second part of the nightmare too. The second part is your funeral. I'm giving the eulogy and suddenly the casket opens, and you're just laying there, pale, lifeless, and cold. That picture haunts me every single night. I nearly killed you. I thought that having you next to me might help, but I guess not. I'm so sorry you had to see that."

He looked back at Beckett. A mixture of shock, sympathy, and sadness masked her face.

"I'm so sorry Kate." He repeated.

Beckett placed a finger to his lips and shushed him. She took his hand and placed it over her heart, and held it there.

"Castle, do you feel that? My heartbeat?"

Castle smiled a little smile and a tear rolled down his cheek. He nodded.

"You're the reason it's still beating."

Beckett paused for a moment and then continued.

"After my mom died, I became depressed, lonely, scared, and I didn't know how to move on. Then one day, I picked up one of your books. Something about them gave me the strength I needed. I've never told you this before, but that was the first time you saved my life. You saved me from myself."

Beckett moved her hands from her chest and put it on Castle's face once again. Her left hand stroked his jaw line while her right hand stroked another tear streak.

Castle whispered, "You save me, and I save you. It's what partners do."

Her mouth formed a small grin and she stared into his glossy eyes.

"That's right. Bullets, freezers, bombs, and even tigers are no match for us. So, if you think that you are the reason I almost died that day at Montgomery's funeral, think again. The son of a bitch who shot me is the reason I almost died. You're the reason I survived. You're the reason I'm not pushing daisies right now."

Castle swallowed air, nodded his head, and spoke.

"Watching you die that day was the most awful thing I've ever experienced. I felt so helpless and numb. The thought of never seeing you again just-"

"Castle, shhhhh. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."

Beckett scooted closer to Castle and wrapped her arm around his body, engulfing him in a bear hug. Cautious at first, he slowly put his arm around her. Once they completely embraced, he held her tight. Castle closed his eyes and Beckett closed hers. He savored the moment. He memorized the feeling of her warm skin against his, her quiet breathing, the way her brunette locks lightly brushed his skin, and the feeling of her heartbeat against his chest.

Beckett broke the silence and whispered, "We should go back to sleep."

"You're right," He whispered back, still entwined in her arms. "I just don't want to let go."

Beckett giggled. "Good thing you don't have to."

She scooted under the covers and Castle joined her. He rested his head on the spot between her neck and shoulder, lying on his side, his arm wrapped around her body. Their legs entwined. Beckett laid on her back, with an arm around Castle. She held him close as her fingers gently twisted and played with his hair.

"Will you wake me if you think I start having the nightmare again?" He asked innocently. It was obvious that this nightmare really did terrify him.

"Of course. Just remember, I'm right here. I'm alive and better than ever. When you wake up, I'll be the first thing you see."

Castle smiled. "I could get used to that." His voice hummed in her ear.

Beckett grinned to herself in the darkness and bit her lip. "Me too, Castle."

"Thank you so much." Castle whispered.

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for surviving. And for being you."

She laughed slightly.

"You're welcome. Now will you shut up so we can sleep?"

Castle quietly chuckled. "Alright. Until tomorrow, Beckett."

"Until tomorrow," she sleepily repeated.

AN: It will probably only take 1 more chapter to wrap up this little tale. It will be more lighthearted and funny again, I promise. PLEASE REVIEW IN THE MEANTIME. Have a good day, and thanks for reading. :)