A/N: I do not own any of this.

Well, this is it. I have a sequel of sorts in mind that I may write. Thank you to everyone for reading. I really appreciate all the reviews, alerts and favorites.

Hazy

What if I fall and hurt myself

Would you know how to fix me

What if I went and lost myself

Would you know where to find me

If I forgot who I am,

Would you please remind me oh

Cause without you things go hazy

"Where is he?" Beckett all but screamed at Esposito.

"Beckett, he's OK. He's in that bus." He said pointing to the ambulance that was sitting about 50 yards from where they were standing. Before he could tell her anything else she was gone, sprinting toward the lights. Her heart was pounding hard against her chest, breaths coming short and ragged. The lump that arose when she heard he'd been hit was attempting to fight its way out.

She finally reached the front of the vehicle quickly scrambling her way to the back. He was sitting on the back bumper, feet firmly on the ground. His shirt had been cut off along with his vest that lay on the ground at his feet. Her eyes immediately found the bruise forming across his torso. She couldn't stop the strangled sob that broke free. His eyes flew up to hers. He looked scared. Or maybe it was just a reflection of how she felt. They maintained eye contact while the paramedic finished wrapping his ribs. The woman then mumbled something neither one of them heard and disappeared to the front of the ambulance.

"I'm OK," He murmured. She shook her head as the tears she'd been holding in finally spilled over.

"Rick," she breathed as she closed the distance between them wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. She kissed his neck and began to work her way up to his jaw and finally reaching his mouth. They kissed frantically for a minute before breaking apart. Castle winced as he tried to pull some oxygen into his lungs. "Sorry," Kate mumbled. He gave her a small smile.

"Please, don't ever apologize for kissing me." She smiled softly at him brushing her fingers across his cheeks.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too."

"What in the hell happened Castle?" She sighed.

"First, I would like you to know, for the most part I listened to you..."

"For the most part?"

"...But when I heard the shots fired I got out of the car." Her eyes grew wide but he barreled on. "To put my vest on which as it turns out was a pretty good idea," he finished quietly. Tears had worked their way out of her again. Castle brushed them away with his thumbs as he mumbled assurances to her.

"What am I going to tell Alexis?" She asked.

"You let me worry about Alexis," he replied resting his forehead against hers. They stayed that way until the paramedic returned offering Castle a blanket. He nodded his thanks.

"Is he going to be all right?" Kate said addressing the woman. The paramedic then quickly glanced at Rick and back to the detective.

"I'm fine Kate-" She held up a finger effectively silencing him.

"I wasn't asking you," Kate said firmly.

"I suggested he go to the hospital, just to double check that there's no internal bleeding. He refused." She threw Rick an apologetic look and once again made herself scarce.

"Really, I'm fine-" Kate began shaking her head vehemently.

"If the situation were reversed would you let me go home?" She asked raising her eyebrows. He sighed and his shoulders dropped, no verbal confirmation needed.

"That's what I thought," she said quietly, nudging his knees apart and settling herself between them. His hands lightly gripped the back of her thighs. Her hands found purchase in his hair, her nose against his neck. She breathed deep, inhaling that scent that was unique to him. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry baby," her voice was raw and shaking. He pulled back finding her eyes.

"Hey, it's not your fault. And I'm fine, OK?" He said as he cradled her face in his hands. "Got it? Not. Your. Fault." He pleaded, begging her to believe him. She nodded her head and then pressed another kiss to his mouth, making sure to keep it short and not quite as breathtaking as the last one.

"I love you, so much." She said against his lips. He pulled her into another embrace, returning the sentiment over and over again. Finally, giving his neck a final squeeze, she pulled away from him. "Let's get you to the hospital."

He grumbled but didn't argue.

With intertwined hands they made their way across the crime scene toward her Crown VIc. Along the way they came across Espostio and Ryan, who clearly had been watching their interaction and hiding it poorly.

"Hey guys, do you think you can finish up here? I'm going to take Castle to the hospital." They both nodded, apparently unable to form words. It had been over a month since they outed their relationship but adhered to strict no PDA rules while in the precinct or any work related event.

"You just shattered every single one of your rules babe," he mumbled to her as they walked away from the boys. She suppressed a smile and shook her head.

"I think the circumstances warranted it," she said seriously.

"So does that mean..." He was cut off before he could finish the thought.

"No. You don't get to break the rules. I made 'em, I get to break 'em," she stated.

"Well that's no fun," Castle mumbled as he gingerly lowered himself into the passenger seat. "Good thing you break them kind of a lot." He added as she turned the ignition. She leveled a half-hearted glare at him.

"I do not," she lied.

...

Four hours later they were finally back at the loft. Kate had put Castle to bed immediately. She then showered before joining him. As she laid on her side, propped up on an elbow watching his chest rise and fall, the emotions of the day washed over her. Her hand lightly trailed his hairline. And just when she thought she had expelled all the tears she possessed when she broke down earlier in the shower, a fresh batch made their way down her cheeks. She silently accepted something she'd been fighting for years, a smile stretching across her tired, damp face.

He was her one. She was done.

I watched you sleeping

Quietly in my bed

You don't know this now

But there's some things that need to be said

And it's all that I can hear

It's more than I can bare