God, hell of a week. Sorry for the late update!

No beta-reading for this chapter so far, I will edit on the weekend ;)

And just for your info, this story will definitely have a happy-ending. No more dying!

Hope you enjoy :)

Chapter 10

Out. Just out of here. He's running through the corridors, down the stairs, out of the hospital. He doesn't know where he's heading, he just keeps on running.

Why him? Why is it always him? First, Alexis getting kidnapped, then Kate getting shot and on top of all, his little daughter dying. And everything within not even a week. This is not normal anymore, what the hell is wrong with this world? He didn't do anything, yes, back then, before he met Kate, he may was living the typical rich playboy life, but also there, he never did anything that could be a reason for all of this.

He doesn't even realize that a storm was coming up, the rain sloshes in his face mixing up with his tears. He doesn't know for how long he has been running now, but he is totally out of air and soaking wet. He bends forward and bases his arms on his knees taking some deep breaths. After he has calmed down he looks around. And what he is seeing is a very well familiar place, call it irony of fate- the swings. Should this be a sign for him to go back to Kate? To think about it again? Not to leave her alone back there? Of course he's regretting what he told her, and God no, he didn't mean it. He knows if this is someone's fault, it's his. But he can't explain her, she would never understand. In her place he wouldn't do either. He just had to see her one last time to be completely sure if it really is the right decision to go. And God, he doesn't know it anymore.

Kate really managed it to escape from that building, she has to find him. Every five seconds she checks her phone, desperately waiting for a text message from Lanie. Without it she has nowhere to start, this is New York- he could be anywhere. But suddenly her phone screen lights up.

We located him, somewhere in Central Park, he must have been there for a while, I doubt he's doing anything stupid there but if you want we can check?

Love you, L

No, I think I know what he's doing there, no need to check. I just try to call him. Thanks for your help!

Love, K

Of course, the swings , the swings where they had probably the most important talk after her shooting, the swings she went to before she finally let all her walls down for him. Their swings. She waves over a cab and tells the driver where she wants to go and after about 15 minutes she finally is at the book store she went to see him almost 2 years ago. She quickly hands the driver the money and manages to get out of the car with her crutches. It's raining, just like the last time she came here. Is that a good sign? Slowly she walks over and there he is. It's too dark to see his face but she knows it's him.

Maybe he should call her, it wasn't right what he blamed her for. She's must be hating him right now, he can't lose her too…if he decides to stay.

Suddenly someone's sitting down on the swing next to him. Kate. Putting her crutches down on the ground.

She just sits there, slowly swinging back and forth.

"Thank you" She says, it sounds like she's whispering or maybe it was just the rain almost drowning her words.

He looks up, right in her eyes, just like he did back then.

"For staying, I mean. I thought I'd lost you…too."

It takes him some time to answer, not finding the right words.

"You almost did. Until I came here I had really thought it was the only way to escape from this. But then I stood here, and call it fate, but I started realizing that running away is just stupid, I mean you know the best what I'm talking about. You were right, the best thing I can do is honoring my daughter, showing everybody that she was the most amazing daughter in the world. When she was a little girl, she always told me she wants to change the world, and she definitely would have made it. I can't do that for her but what I can do is letting people know about her, getting inspired by her. And I inspired murders with my Storm series so I should be able to inspired little girls with my words, right?" His lips form a slight smile. She definitely prefers that side of him.

"I think that's a lovely idea, she really is a role model for girls out there, so intelligent, caring and ambitious."

"Yeah, a little bit like you, she really adored you Kate." He was smiling, finally there were not only bad memories coming to his mind, finally he remembers what really matters.

They sit there in silence, no words needed. They were both thinking about their moments with Alexis, but this time only the good ones and there are so, so many.

After some time Kate stands up on one feet, grabs the crutches and nods over to the street. "Let's go home Rick."

It didn't took them long to come home, the traffic was surprisingly calm for New York, maybe because of the weather. They just wanted to get home, after all this they need a familiar place where they can finally be on their own. Castle opens the door to his loft, she standing close behind him. She could feel how exhausted and tired he is, he doesn't say anything and he doesn't even have the power to put off his coat. So inside the loft, Kate leans the crutches at the door, unbuttons his coat and hangs it in the closet next to the door.

"Wanna eat sth?" She asks him with a calm voice.

"No, thanks I think I just go to bed, I'm really tired." He smiles weakly. She's not even mad? How does he deserve this woman?

"I know, me too, come." She kisses him softly on his cheek touching the other one with her thumb. Then she takes the crutches again and they go into the bedroom, Castle's hand on the small of her back.

She knows there still is a lot to talk about, most important about Alexis funeral. She was still in forensics but a funeral has to be planned well, it's something they will always remember when they think of her, Kate knows that just too well. But also there were some other things, she has to talk with him about the things he said in the hospital and Martha, she's still with her new boyfriend, Theodor, he seems like he could really be a man for this woman, he manages to calm Martha, to comfort her in the probably most horrible situation in her life. She asked Kate if it was ok to go, she knows that she wouldn't be very useful at home in the first few days because she had to get used to the fact of Alexis being dead on her own before she can help her son getting used to it. That's why Kate had no problem with it, she really could understand. But now it's time for all of them to have their family, to go through this together. Kate may will call her tomorrow evening. But that can wait. Now she needs to be there for him.

He closes the bedroom door behind her and then goes to his woman. She obviously can't put off her clothes on her own - how did she do that at the hospital?- so he gently puts off her shorts and pants and pulls one of his shirts over her tiny body. Then he changes his own clothes, he has no power for a shower anymore so he just helps Kate into bed and lies down next to her. Kate curls into his side, her head on his chest and tucks them up.

"Good night, Castle." She whispers into the dark.

"G'night." He replies already half asleep. "I love you."

"I love you, too." And with a smile on her face she finally falls into a deep sleep.

Maybe not the best chapter, but I hope you keep on reading my story :)

Please leave a review, it's much easier to write when you get feedback on your work!:)

Love