She stood under the shower, the steaming hot water scalding her skin. She hissed as the steady spray hit the bruises on her body. The saw tooth abrasions on her wrists stung. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the discomfort in an almost masochistic pleasure. The pain gave her an odd sense of comfort.

She was alive!

She brought her hands to her body and rubbed her skin red and raw in an attempt to wash away the invisible slime that the animal's hands had transferred on her. The slime still stuck. Even after an hour under the shower, even when her skin was ready to shrivel and fall off, the greasy filth had not left her.

She bit her cheeks in frustration. How long would it take before she felt clean again? Days? Weeks? Years?

She felt his presence behind her but did not look back. She just moved aside to give him space. His hands came to rest on her shoulders. He said nothing as his hands continued to slip lower on her wet skin. They travelled over the strong muscles of her arm till they reached her fingers. When they left her body, she yearned for more. They came back to her body like iron drawn to a magnet and caressed her shoulder blades. His fingers rubbed gently along her spinal cord in an effort to release the tension in her muscles. It seemed to work as her shoulders relaxed. He caressed her flanks and made his way up, making sure to avoid her bruises. Ultimately he turned his attention to her neck which had been bunched up in tension. She moaned. He yearned for her touch. He closed his eyes but kept quiet. This was not supposed to be sexual.

This was supposed to be about her.

When he opened his eyes, he found her facing him. He could see the moisture of her lashes trying to hide her tears but in vain. He looked into her eyes as her hands came up to his cheeks to brush away his tears. Since when had he been crying?

She tilted her face up and parted her lips in a silent invitation, her eyes never leaving his.

He couldn't deny her the kiss. He leaned down to press his lips softly on hers. She took his lip in between hers and sucked on it with a startling roughness before claiming his mouth with her tongue. Her fingers clenched around the bulk of his biceps with unusual strength and she pushed him against the cool tiles of the wall before leaning into him. She resumed her assault on his mouth. He was taken aback and his hands rested limply by his sides.

They broke apart with a groan when the water turned cold.

He fumbled with the shower knob before turning it off. She stood there and shivered. He took her hand in his and led her out to the bedroom. As goose bumps ran over her skin, he came up to her with a warm towel and started drying her off. His hands were gentle and his touch was light, like he was handling something brittle. Well, she was brittle.

When he stood in front of her after finishing his task, she placed a palm on his chest and pushed him back. He was confused. She kept pushing him until he fell on their bed. She crawled on the top of him as he lay on his back.

His hands came to her shoulders as he stopped her halfheartedly. "Kate, you're hurt."

She peered into his eyes. Her hazel orbs wanted to drown in his ocean blue. She was silent for a minute before she whispered, "Make me feel alive, Rick."

He removed his restraining arms off her and laid back in a gesture of surrender. He was hers. She could do whatever she wanted to do with him.

Her firm palms ran over his muscular legs, tracing the contours of his calf, circling around his knees, running along the tendons of his hamstring and quadriceps. As her feather light touch traced the insides of his thigh, he couldn't deny his needs any longer.

He clenched his jaws and shut his eyes tight as her hands made their way to his navel, ignoring the organ that demanded her attention the most. As she leaned down, he could feel her warm breath on his manhood. He throbbed in anticipation but the relief never came as she ran her tongue along his navel. Her cascade of hair tickled his most sensitive areas. He shuddered and growled, his fists tightening around the sheets.

She slid along his body until her soft breasts rested on his hard chest. The bruises stung but she didn't wince. She was only reassured that she was alive… that he was alive… they were all alive.

Warmth radiated from her stomach and bathed his cock. Her soft skin brushed against the tip.

He shuddered violently, "Kate!"

She didn't answer in words. She placed her knees on the bed on either side of him and straddled him. Her moist core rested against his stomach. She leaned down and placed her lips on his.

The warm moisture seeping through his skin made him painfully hard and he couldn't help but kiss back in a frenzy. She sat up. She took hold of his fists, flattened them and drew them to her breasts. His palms cupped the soft flesh on their own accord.

She leaned back and lifted herself, only to lower herself on his erect manhood.

Both of them gasped.

She started rocking gently, shooting waves of pleasure through their joined bodies. His fingers instinctively rolled her nipples. Both of them ran out of breath as they started increasing their pace. His hip rose up from the bed on its own accord to meet her, rhythm by rhythm, not wanting to lessen their contact.

She held his blue eyes captive in a steady gaze. Her eyes were wide and pupils were dilated with arousal. He knew his own eyes must've held the same look. He felt his insides being wrung in the pleasure. Her hands rested on his chest and her fingers dug in. He could sense his climax approaching fast. He sensed that hers was too.

"Don't hold back, Rick…" she panted hoarsely. Her breath was hot against his cheek.

Before he realized, his orgasm erupted, shaking his body from head to toe. The pull in his loins made him curl his toe in ecstasy.

The sight of his climax triggered her release. She cried out as her internal muscles clamped around his shaft, milking every drop of pleasure. Her eyes rolled back inside her head. She flopped down on him.

The two of them lay entangled, their eyes closed and breath ragged, his arms protectively curled around her back. After what could be a few seconds or a few hours, she shifted, settling on the bed beside him. His arm around her didn't slacken. She placed a leg in between his and her palm skidded over the slick sweat over his pectoral muscles. They lay there in contended silence, listening to each other's breathing.

After sometime, he opened his eyes and looked down to find her watching him.

"I'm yours… Only yours…" She whispered hoarsely. Her eyes were fixed in a fierce determination.

A primal protectiveness washed over him. "Yes, you're mine," he growled. "… and I'm yours. Always."

"Always." She echoed.

(…..)

She woke up in the middle of the night. She didn't know why. She felt his fingers running gently through her hair.

Her face was still buried in his chest. She reached up to touch his cheek. Her fingers touched something wet.

He was crying.

Her chest tightened. She moved her head to face him. He didn't look at her. He was staring at the wall behind her.

"Rick," she whispered softly, her fingers caressing his moist face. "Don't cry. Please."

She felt him swallow painfully. "I don't deserve you, Kate." His voice was small and trembling.

"Shh… don't say that."

"All the time you were in there, you fought to save our daughter's life. You fought to save my life. What did I do? I watched."

"You had no choice."

"I had a choice, Kate. I could fight. I didn't. I stood there silently while he dictated his terms."

"He'd have killed Alexis." Her heart clenched painfully tight.

"All the time you decided to walk over to him, I thought of so many scenarios. I thought about how we could get Alexis out of there… about how to trick that bastard. I hoped you'd come up with a plan. I even wondered if he'd really spare Alexis if you…" he trailed off and shook his head. He gulped and continued, "Not for once did I consider you choosing yourself over Alexis. I didn't give you the chance, even in my thoughts. I'm such an animal." He couldn't stifle the sob that escaped him.

"She's your daughter, Rick. You'd be an animal if you wanted me to choose myself over her." She ran her finger in circles over his back.

"I don't deserve your love, Kate. I don't know what you see in me."

"Don't say that." Kate's voice was firm. "Richard Castle, you saved me in more ways than one. I've never told you this before but… when my mom died, I was in this really bleak phase, I considered… considered killing myself… more than once." She felt him stop breathing. "Your books saved me… You saved me even though you didn't know me then."

"Oh God, Kate!" He pulled her to him.

"You don't know how many times you've saved me. Before we met. After we met. You've pushed me away from a bullet so many times. I was drowning in my Mom's case and you pulled me out. You've given me happiness. You've given me a daughter. You've given me everything. You're a gift from God. How could I ever repay you?

"Just stay with me, Kate. Just… don't leave me. Stay with me. Always"

"Always," She promised.

(…)

They sat in the Captain's office. Beckett had put on her poker face. Castle didn't bother to hide his annoyance.

Gates spoke, "Detective Beckett, you've behaved recklessly yesterday by rushing into the scene the way you did."

"Sir, we were responding to an APB alert."

"You didn't wait for back up."

"I had back up."

"A civilian!"

"My partner."

The Captain huffed in impatience and fixed Beckett in a stern stare. Beckett didn't flinch. She stared back.

The Captain started again, "You grievously injured the suspect. He suffered severe damage and had to undergo emergency penectomy."

"He'd to have his penis removed?" Castle was obscenely overjoyed at Brandon Maxwell's misfortune.

"Yes, Mr. Castle. That's what penectomy means." Gates paused for a second. "Detective Beckett, as I'm aware, you were acting out of self defense. Still, there'll be an IA investigation."

Beckett nodded.

"The IA meeting will be in two weeks. You're ordered to rest until the verdict. Given the circumstances, you're also advised to visit the department psychiatrist."

Beckett sat in silence.

"The good news is all evidence could be tied up to the suspect. He's being charged with multiple counts of murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, wrongful confinement and attempted assault on a NYPD officer. The DA's office is pushing for the maximum… life imprisonment without any scope for parole."

Kate's shoulders relaxed.

Gates looked at Beckett for a moment and turned to Castle. "Mr. Castle, if you'll excuse us."

Castle hesitated but left.

Gates turned to the woman sitting opposite to her. "Detective, what you did was stupid… but brave."

Kate stared at her, this time in genuine surprise.

"But mind you, next time you may not be so lucky."

Beckett nodded again.

"The animal tried to sexually assault a NYPD detective. Although I'm not supposed to say this, I'll make sure that you're cleared by the IAB. In the meantime, take rest. Spend time with your family."

Kate wasn't in the mood to open her mouth, so she nodded in agreement and stood up.

"Nice work, detective."

Kate's eyebrows rose involuntarily in surprise. "Thank you, sir." She walked to the door. As she placed her hand on the knob, Gates called out...

"Detective Beckett… Have a nice vacation."

When she walked out of the office, Castle was pacing restlessly outside the door. As soon as he saw her, he stopped pacing.

Her face must have still borne the vestiges of surprise at Captain Victoria Gates' "humanness" because Castle asked her, "What happened?"

Kate shrugged, "I think I just witnessed an Apocalypse."

(…)

Kate opened the door while Rick bowed pompously. Alexis rolled her eyes and entered the loft, not bothering to hide her smile. Her parents entered behind her.

Martha rushed forward to greet her. "Oh Alexis! Welcome home, kiddo!"

"Really Grams, it's been a day!" She smiled sweetly at her dramatic grandmother.

"Is it? It seemed like a century to me!"

"Are you talking about yesterday or your lifetime, Mother?"

"Ha ha, funny man… say whatever you want. I meant to say, bad times tend to prolong themselves."

"You're right, mother. Maybe that's why I feel like you've been living in the loft forever."

Kate poked Rick in the chest. "Behave, mister. You're talking to your mother." The three ladies laughed when Rick looks sufficiently admonished.

Rick shook his head and muttered, "Not fair! So not fair!"

The dinner was fun. A close brush with death seemed to have reaffirmed their faith in life. They ate and drank merrily, including Alexis, who didn't usually like to drink with her family even though she was twenty two. Somewhere in the course of conversation, Alexis acknowledged how stupid she'd been and apologized profusely. When Rick felt the environment growing heavy, he successfully steered the conversation to jolly fun and madness.

After a couple of hours, they engaged in a big family hug. Shortly after, Martha went upstairs to sleep. Alexis and Kate sat together on the couch while Rick excused himself to the liquor cabinet for a bottle of red wine.

Kate looked at Alexis for a moment before speaking. "How're you, honey?"

Alexis shrugged, "You know, after the Old Haunt, I don't remember much. I don't even remember how he looks!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! I remember someone grabbing me from behind in the alley. I swung a punch. Someone covered my face with a cloth. The last thing I remember is a sweet smell."

"Hmmm... still, Alexis, if you need to talk, don't hesitate. It can be really helpful."

Alexis hesitated. "Kate, I was thinking about visiting the campus counselor. I know dad would want me to visit someone more expert but…."

Kate cut her off. "Alexis, for any therapy to work, you've to be really comfortable with the counselor. If you want to talk to your college shrink, so be it."

Alexis turned to Kate and suddenly hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Kate… for being there for me... even though I didn't listen to you."

"Anything for you, sweety…."

"Kate, you've had to endure so much, all because of my stupidity."

"Hey, you're not stupid! Just don't do anything like that again, okay?"

Alexis nodded.

"By the way, how much do you know?" How much did Rick tell her?

"Dad didn't tell me anything. He only said, when you say you'd do anything for me, you mean literally anything."

"Of course, Alexis! We're family."

The younger woman rested her head on Kate's shoulders and sighed, "Yes, we're family."

Rick stood at the door, listening to his wife and daughter. He was a lucky man. He'd strive throughout his lifetime to keep them safe. He owed it to them.

He reigned in his emotions before floating into the room with a bottle and three glasses, "Okay, who wants a drink?"

A/N: What do you think? Tell me.

Gloriajv, you're right! (moms are always right :P )I tried to clarify the thing that you pointed. But there're only so many words I could put in their mouths… Did the dialogue make the thing clear? For the rest of you who don't know what I'm talking about… hehe… that's a little secret ;)

All the loose ends are tied. This story is almost over. There's an epilogue coming up in a few hours. Who wants an epilogue? Raise your hands ;)

Disclaimer: If Mr. Marlowe is reading this, he's still not impressed enough to give me a job… but there's another chapter left, so… maybe there's hope!