*So…here we are again. Over a full year later. I really have nothing to say other than I'm so, so sorry for the delay.

(Kate)

She'd been at the precinct for an hour and a half, studying the murder board and the case file and making sure nothing was out of place, when Ryan and Esposito walked into the bullpen together. She gave them a brief smile when they greeted her, but turned back to the board quickly, her throat tight. She didn't want to lie to her guys, but she knew it would be better to wait to tell them until they'd brought in their suspect.

Kate studied the DMV photo of Matthias Gatlin. "You're sure this is our guy?" she asked.

Ryan and Espo nodded together. "We're having Will and Hannah Foster come in to confirm it," Ryan said. "But we're positive it's him."

"And this is definitely his last known address?"

Espo nodded again. "His job, bank, and parole officer all confirmed it. Gates wants confirmation from the Fosters before we move on him, but at least we know where he is." He put his hand on her shoulder, waited until she looked at him to speak. "We're gonna get this guy, Beckett."

Kate nodded. "I know." She glanced away, bit her lip as the guilt gnawed at her insides. To hell with it. "Look," she said, turning to face Ryan and Esposito. "I can trust you guys to keep a secret, right? Not for long," she assured them when their expressions turned apprehensive. "A day or two at most."

"You know you can, boss," Ryan said.

She sighed. "I, um, got this phone call last night," she started, her voice low.

"Detectives." They all turned to Gates, who was standing just outside of her office. "Security just called. Will and Hannah Foster are on their way up now."

"Thank you, Sir," Espo replied. "We'll let you know what we find out."

Gates nodded and stepped back into her office, closing the door behind her. The guys both turned back to Kate expectantly. "Later," she told them, nodding towards the elevator. Hannah and Will were just stepping off, heading for the three detectives.

Hannah reached them first, breathless with anticipation. "You said on the phone that you have a lead?"

They all nodded. "We have a potential suspect," Kate told her. "We'd appreciate it if you and your brother could take a look at the photo and tell us if you recognize him."

"Anything," Will said, while Hannah nodded her agreement.

Ryan handed the photo over, and Kate showed it to Hannah and Will. Hannah gasped. "That's him," she said. "That's the guy Jamie was arguing with. I'm sure of it."

Will, however was focused on the name at the bottom of the photo. "Gatlin," he said. "Matthais Gatlin?"

Kate and Espo shared a look before she turned back to Will. "You know him?"

"We went to school together," Will said. "He graduated with Jamie and me. We were never really friends but he hung out with Jamie a lot. Last I heard, he'd gone into the military, but that was years ago."

"Do you-do you think he did this?" Hannah asked softly.

"Like we said, he's a potential suspect," Kate answered. "When we know more, we'll let you know."

"You're free to go for now," Espo chimed in. "But be careful."

Kate watched Hannah and Will walk away for a moment before heading to Gates' office. She knocked, but didn't wait for permission to enter. "Both of the Fosters recognized Gatlin," she said without preamble.

Gates nodded. "Did we learn anything else?"

"Gatlin graduated with Will and James Avery," Kate said. "He and Avery were friends. He's military, or former military."

"Go pick him up," Gates instructed. "I'll try to dig up his military records while you're out."

Kate nodded once and strode out of the office, heading straight for her keys and coat.

"We got the green light?" Espo asked.

"We did," Kate confirmed. "Let's go get him."

(Castle)

They were in the middle of a physical therapy session when the phone rang. As usual, Agent Roberts took the phone into the back room of the safe house so that Castle couldn't eavesdrop. Luckily, it didn't take him long to return, and when he did, he was almost smiling.

"It's your lucky day, Mr. Castle," Roberts said. "The man that shot you is in custody, and even without a confession, there's enough evidence to put him away for life."

"Does this mean what I think it means?" Castle asked, hope swelling in his chest.

This time, Agent Roberts actually did smile. "Let's get your bags packed, Mr. Castle. You're going home."

(Kate)

"You must have really enjoyed prison, Mr. Gatlin," Kate said, closing the interrogation room door behind her. "Paroled in December, and already you're trying to go back."

Gatlin scowled. "I haven't done anything wrong."

Kate shrugged. "So you keep insisting, but, in my experience, innocent men don't run from the police." She paused for effect. "Or try to shoot them with a sniper rifle."

"Simple misunderstanding," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "Thought you were burglars or something."

"I see," she said. "And did you mistake James Avery and Richard Castle for burglars, as well? Or were those not "misunderstandings"?"

Gatlin clammed up, looked down at the table. Kate finally sat down, leaned in a little. "Believe it or not, Matthias, I'm trying to help you here," she told him.

He snorted. "Yeah? How's that?"

"This," she said, gesturing between the two of them, "is really just a formality. We have more than enough evidence to put you away for both shootings. We're talking ballistics, fibers, phone records, stolen security cam footage, items belonging to one of the victims in your possession, the whole nine yards. The D.A.'s talking life without parole, maybe even the death penalty. You confess, cooperate? Maybe I can convince him to be a little more lenient."

Gatlin considered her offer for a few minutes before nodding. "What do you wanna know?"

"Did you shoot James Avery and Richard Castle with the intention to kill?" Kate asked.

He sighed. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Jamie screwed me over," Gatlin said, shrugging. "He's the reason I got locked up in the first place. Wouldn't be my alibi, y'know? Said if I was stupid enough to sell drugs to kids, I deserved to go to prison. While I was locked up, I heard through the grapevine how he was making a living. So, when I got out, I tracked him down and offered to go into business with him. I figured with my military experience, he'd jump at the chance."

"But he turned you down," Kate guessed.

Gatlin scoffed. "Said that he "had a reputation to uphold" and that he didn't need any lowlife ex-cons messing things up for him. Pretentious bastard."

"And Mr. Castle?" Kate prompted.

He shrugged again. "Strictly business. 1.5 mil is hard to ignore when you can't pay your bills 'cause no one will hire you."

Kate nodded, slid a pad of paper and a pen over to him. "We're going to need that in writing. I can't guarantee anything, but I'll be sure to let the D.A. know that you confessed."

Ryan and Espo were waiting for her in the observation room. She hugged them both, whispering her thanks, and then lead the way to the bullpen. They exchanged a few significant looks before they reached their desks, but it was Ryan that finally spoke up.

"Beckett, we, um, noticed something odd about your interrogation with Gatlin," he said, shuffling awkwardly.

Espo nodded. "You never actually mentioned murder."

Kate took a deep breath. "That's because Gatlin didn't murder Castle."

They exchanged looks again. "But…Gatlin confessed to shooting Castle," Ryan said.

"I'm not saying that he didn't shoot him, guys," she said. "I'm saying that he didn't murder him."

"I don't follow," Espo said.

Kate looked down at her hands, lowered her voice. "In order for someone to be…murdered," she said, "they have to actually die."

"Beckett," Espo started, "are you trying to tell us that Castle isn't dead?"

"That's exactly what she's trying to tell you."

They all jumped at the sound of Gates' voice. Kate locked eyes with her, tried to tamp down the surge of anger that was welling up. "You've known the entire time?"

Gates nodded. "I made the arrangements that have kept him safe, while you tracked down his would-be killer." She studied them all for a minute. "I don't regret the decision I made," she finally told them. "It was for his protection, and for yours. And I would do it again."

Question after question started racing through Kate's mind, but Espo asked the one that was most important. "Where is he now that we've got the guy?"

"I alerted the Marshall that's been serving as his protection the moment you made the arrest," Gates told them. "He should be arriving at the precinct within the hour."

"He's coming here?" Kate whispered, unable to stop her voice from shaking.

Gates nodded. "He's coming home."

*We're so close to the end, guys! I can't believe it. Next chapter is the long-awaited reunion, and then possibly an epilogue. Thank you so much to everyone that's stuck with this story from the beginning. I really do love and appreciate you all so much.