I DREAM of you...

Summary: "Oh God, no! Don't die, Kate! Please, don't do this to me. Don't die!" Rick cries out into the night, holding the woman of his dreams close to his chest. The woman who filled his nights finally made it into his days and now he was going to lose her. Forever. *AU*

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters; they belong to the fabulous A. W. Marlowe and ABC.

A/N: Sorry that it took so long again for me to update this story. I had a little trouble with this chapter and rewrote some parts and arragend it differently multiple times. But now it's finally ready. :-) And it's another long one. ;-)

Enjoy!


Let the old dreams die
Like stars that fade from view
[...]

You see your shame
But I see your glory
You've read one page
I know the story

(Dreams I Dream For You ~ Avalon)

When Everything Finally Makes Sense

Previously: With a jolt she sits wide awake in her hospital bed, the feeling of the kiss still on her lips.

At the same time, Rick also jolts awake on his couch, a thousand thoughts fire through his head.

What the hell was that? Was I – was she – ? Is she - ?

He jumps up, suddenly wide awake again, although a look at the clock shows him that he's only been sleeping for about 20 minutes. Running a hand through his hair in front of the mirror right beside his wardrobe and getting the next best jacket and his keys, he runs out of the loft again.

As soon as he rushes out of the elevator, he gets out his phone with shaking fingers and dials Captain Montgomery's number. His heart is beating like crazy and the few seconds the Captain needs to pick up feel like hours.

"12th precinct, Captain Montgomery speaking."

"Hello Sir, this is Rick Castle. Is there any news on Detective Beckett? Did she wake up yet?"

"No, Mr Castle, I'm sorry. As I promised, I'll call you as soon as I hear something from the hospital."

"Okay, thanks. I'm coming over to the precinct now." Rick informs the Captain while he waits for a cab.

"I told you to get some rest, remember?" Montgomery's stern voice sounds through the mobile phone.

"I know, but I just can't relax now, Sir. I slept for about 20 minutes and now I'm wide awake again, please just let me help."

"Of course, Mr Castle. I understand. I'll be in my office on the 5th floor."

"Thank you, Captain. I'll be there in 20." Rick says relieved, getting into a cab and telling the driver the address of the precinct while putting his phone away again.

He still wonders what just happened in his dream. She was there, and she was awake, talking to him and he was even able to touch her. Did that really mean that she was dead? Like her mother – who could talk to him and touch him in his dream? The thought causes a cold shiver to run through his entire body. And suddenly his mouth is dry, all the liquid gone to the palm of his hands which are uncomfortably sweaty. No, this can't be. There must be another explanation. He refuses to believe that he's lost her. Maybe it was just a special dream? And then he remembers that there were even two other dreams previously that were similar. The one when he saw her standing at the crossroads – and he was sure she saw him, too – and the one while she was lying unconscious in the hospital the last time. When they almost kissed. And now they actually did kiss. Definitely. He can clearly remember the softness of her lips beneath his own.

No, she isn't dead, there is another explanation why she was in his dreams those three times – contrary to all those other dreams he saw her in over the last years - he just has to find it.

His ringing phone rips him out of his thoughts.

"Castle." he answers, still dwelling on his previous thoughts.

"Mr Castle, it's Captain Montgomery again. The hospital just called. She woke up, a few minutes ago. You really have to explain that. You call me asking if she woke up yet, and two minutes later the hospital calls and tells me that she did. Now tell me, did you have something to do with that?"

But Rick doesn't answer. After Montgomery said 'She woke up' he stopped listening. He couldn't help it, the world suddenly started to spin around him and he only heard these little three words – these marvellous words – repeating in his head over and over.

She woke up.

Best. News. Ever.

"Mr. Castle?"

"Uh, sorry Sir? I was... I just..."

"Okay, okay, I get it." Montgomery answers and Rick can hear a smile in his voice. "Just come here and then we'll talk calmly."


"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?" Lanie asks her best friend while entering her room in a rush. "I was just on the way to you when they told me you woke up!" She exclaims while sitting beside Kate on the bed and glomps her.

"Ouch, Lanie. Careful." Kate winces.

"Oh sorry! I'm so sorry, it's just – I'm so glad you're back." Lanie answers, looking at her gently and settling for just caressing her right arm.

"It's okay." Kate smiles. "I'm glad to be back, too. I never thought - " I'd wake up again when I closed my eyes in my apartment. She doesn't need to say anything like that aloud, she can see in Lanie's eyes that her friend understands.

"So, how are you? Can I do something for you? Are you thirsty? Or - "

"I'm fine, Lanie, thank you. It's just... My whole body hurts and my head is killing me, but it's okay, really. My dad is just gone to get me a little to eat, but I don't think I can get down much. And I'm still feeling a little dizzy, but the doctor said that this is normal. They were all pretty surprised that I woke up so suddenly."

"Yeah, me too. Do you remember anything from the coma? Or is it just all a big black hole?" The M.E. asks, curious. Not only because Kate is her best friend, but also because she is a medic and that brings a natural curiosity for things like this with it.

Kate hesitates for a moment. Should she say what she remembers? Or will everyone think she's crazy when she tells the truth? And suddenly a deep sadness rushes over her, Castle's words in her ears. 'You'd never believe me if I tell you the truth.'

What has she done to this man?

"Kate? Everything OK? Shall I call the nurse? Are you feeling -"

"I'm okay. I'm fine, it's just..." Kate interrupts her friend. "I do remember one thing. But please promise me that you'll never tell anyone."

"Of course, dear! You have my word. What is it?" Lanie asks excited.

"I remember something about Castle." she finally states.

"Castle? The Richard Castle? Who saved you again?"

"Oh, you know, too? It already did the rounds, huh? My dad told me that he and Ryan came to my apartment last night and - Well, you know. They let Castle go, didn't they?"

"Yeah, Captain Montgomery sent him home this morning. I really can't believe that he told the truth all this time. It's incredible that this is even possible!" Lanie exclaims, shaking her head.

"Yeah, right? I feel so bad, I really did him wrong."

"No need to, girlfriend. We're all just humans and this is really... a weird thing."

Kate hums in response, closing her eyes for a moment. The impact of all this hitting her hard. How does it come that this is happening to her?

"Honey, if you need some rest just tell me. We can talk later." Lanie tells her, laying a reassuring hand on top of Kate's, carefully avoiding the white bandages at her wrists.

"Yeah... Can you come by again later today? I think I'll be better then." Kate sighs, not opening her eyes. It's just all a big mess in her head and she really needs some time to unravel everything. And she's still so very tired.

"Okay, I'll come tonight after my shift. Get better soon, sweetie. And welcome back."

Kate doesn't even catch her leaving the room, she's already asleep again.


"Okay, Mr Castle, I don't know if I really understood all this." Captain Montgomery says slowly, looking over to the Detectives Esposito and Ryan. The four men are standing in the bullpen, right before Captain Montgomery's office. The whole place is abandoned, Montgomery told Rick that every officer is currently out there, looking for a man that a neighbour of Kate saw walking down the floor moments before Rick and Ryan arrived there. He told them that she was one of them and that they have to do anything in their power to get her out of this nightmare.

Rick knows they don't need to be told twice.

"Man, are you telling us you really dreamt of her for years now? And – and that you talked to her mother? And that you kinda 'met' her in your last dream and helped her to wake up?" Esposito asks once more.

"Yeah, I'm afraid so." Rick answers truthfully, realising that it sounds really weird summed up like this. He told them every little thing he experienced over the last few days, but he left out the things Johanna told him about Ryan - earning a relieved smile from him – and the fact that he kissed Kate in his last dream.

"Although this sounds – well – you know... Evidence is speaking for you. Let's set aside the fact that we can't explain this. We need to use that now to our advantage. Mr Castle you need to call me immediately from now on, when you see that Detective Beckett is in danger, you understand me?"

"Of course, Sir."

"Good. Ryan and Esposito will fill you in now." he gestures to the murder board standing at the far edge of the room. "Show him everything we've got so far, maybe he can help us see some things clearer." He tells the two Detectives, who still don't even look at each other.

While Captain Montgomery returns to his office, the three other men walk over to the murder board, a picture of Kate hanging in the middle of it and some pictures from surveillance-cameras and corresponding information, written by three different hands surrounding them. Rick also finds a picture of him hanging there under the inscription "suspects". Ryan, who must've followed his look, takes it away immediately.

There's another photo of a man hanging there, right under the spot where his own picture hung moments ago and Rick can't take his eyes off of this man, while sitting slowly down on a chair beside a desk. It's the guy who tried to kill his Kate in the hospital. Those cold, grey eyes of his seem to follow him wherever he goes.

Esposito is talking about time-lines and possible scenarios, but Rick doesn't really listen. He's too captivated by the man's face. He still cannot get rid of the feeling that he's already seen this guy, even before he collided with him at the hospital.

"Castle? Everything OK?" Ryan asks him, fawning his right hand before his face.

"Uhm... Yeah. I mean, no... I – I don't kn – SHIT!" Rick exclaims, the penny finally dropping.

"Guys, I've seen this man - " he jumps up from the chair beside Kate's desk and picks the picture up from the wall, "before. And I don't mean at the hospital. It was -. Oh my God. No, this can't be, this... Oh no."

"What is it, man? Where did you see him?" Esposito wants to know, a side glance to Ryan, but his partner looks away immediately.

"I – I don't understand this. I have completely forgotten about him. He was supposed to be my friend and – Tell me, what exactly did Paul McKennzie say about me."

"How's that relevant? I mean, sure, we need to talk about that, too. He called us to bring you in, so I asks myself what was this about?" Ryan asks.

"I've seen this guy coming out of Paul's flat when I visited him a few days ago." Rick states, the whole betrayal of his so called friend slowly sinking in.

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I remember him. Especially his eyes. Those cold, grey eyes gave me the chills. And they still do. And this explains why Paul told you I wanted to flee the country. He always told me to stop trying to save Ka – Beckett's life. And when you came for me, he was the one who held me there, trying to make me stay. I remember now that he seemed nervous, looking out of the window and checking his watch. He said it would be the best for me, but he only thought about what was best for him. And there's only one explanation for all those things - " Rick states slowly, taking a deep breath and hanging the picture of their suspect back to the wall, "My so called friend Paul is involved in all this."


When Lanie enters the hospital room the next day, Kate already sits in her bed and looks way better than the day before.

"Lanie, good to see you. Do you have some news for me? Captain Montgomery doesn't tell me anything." Kate greets her best friend with a huge smile.

"Hi honey. You really seem better, huh?" Lanie smirks.

"Yeah, I'm feeling really good again. And the doctor's pleased with my blood-results, he said that whatever I'd been injected with won't have caused any permanent harm. Bad thing is, it didn't leave any traces, either. So they still don't know what it was. Anyway, he said that if my condition improves even further, I can try to walk a little tomorrow – as well as I can with this damn walking cast - and I can get out of here early next week. Could you take care of my apartment till then? Maybe clean everything up a little? I'll make it up to you ASAP, I promise."

Lanie, who opened her mouth to try to say something three or four times during Kate's enthusiastic speech, was a little speechless by now.

"Kate, sweetie, forensics' not ready with your apartment and even if they are by next week, you can't possibly want to go back there then. Have you still not learnt anything? They almost killed you. It was minutes. Only minutes, Kate! We wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation, if Ryan and Castle hadn't found you just in time. Besides, Montgomery already talked to me and we think it will be best if you move in with me for now. And your father will be moving to his cabin. We'll get everyone near to you and Castle away, so - "

"Castle? What about him? Why - "

"If you would just let me tell you, you'd know." Lanie interrupts her this time with a raised eyebrow, but the smirk doesn't leave her face and her eyes are sympathetic and warm.

"Okay, fine." Kate gives in, the prospect of not returning home turning her mood sour.

"Good. You know that we all just want the best for you. As long as those people who want you dead are out there, it's too dangerous to let you just go back home. The best would be to send you far away, but everyone who knows you can tell that you'd never accept that. So the Captain, the boys and I thought it would be best if you'd move in with me until it's safe again for you. And for Castle... Well, apparently those people know that there's someone who helps you. And they're trying to find him. He sent his mother and daughter to Europe and is not allowed to contact you in any way. For his own safety. He wanted to come here and check on you and I shall pass on his well-wishes. He'll be in danger, too, if they find out that it was him who kept you safe." Lanie answers seriously.

"Oh Lanie, this is all my fault." Kate murmurs.

"No. Absolutely not. And you know that. It's their fault."

"You're right." Kate sighs, closing her eyes for a moment. She didn't see this coming.

"So, that's settled now? I'll come and get you out of here as soon as the doctor gives the green light. They don't know that we're friends, so they won't suspect that you're at my place. But we have to be careful nevertheless."

"Yeah, sounds like a plan." Kate answers slowly, trying to hide her frustration about the situation. But Lanie knows her friend and doesn't take it personal. On the contrary, she really looks forward to spending some girl's nights at her apartment with her best friend.

"So, and now tell me what you wanted to talk about yesterday. You said you remember something from the coma." Lanie asks excited.

"Yeah... I do." Kate states slowly, looking around the room. "Okay, Lanie, I'll tell you. But I'm serious, I haven't told anyone so far – not even my dad or Montgomery – and I don't want anyone else to know, okay?"

"Sure. What is it? What's your big secret?"

"I remember seeing Castle. In some sort of a dream. I don't know what it was. I kind of 'met' him."

Lanie's eyes get bigger and bigger.

"He... He talked to me. Held me in his arms, because I was so tired I couldn't even move. He told me that I was still alive and in some sort of coma. Told me I needed to wake up."

"Oh my God, Kate! This is – this is..." Lanie can't even remember when she was that speechless.

"Yeah, right? Completely crazy! I know..."

"And that's why you woke up? Because he told you you have to? Wow, this is - "

"No, there's something else." Kate takes a deep breath. "He kissed me."

"He – what?"

"He kissed me, Lanie. And right at that moment I woke up. But it felt so real. I could still feel his lips on mine and... I don't know. All this is just so -"

"Weird? Yeah, most definitely. But honey, don't you get it? It all fits together. It proves your connection to him once more. Or his connection to you, whatever. Don't you see how amazing that is? And he kissed you awake! This is sooo swe-"

"Don't you dare to say something like that." Kate says in her best no-nonsense detective voice.

But Lanie only laughs happily.

"This is absolutely not funny. It scares me like hell."

"I'm sorry, Kate. You're right. It might be magical - "

"Oh damn, Lanie. Now you said it."

" - for someone else, Kate. But when I think about how I'd feel if this happened to me... I understand that it's not funny for you. I do. But... Try to leave it aside that this sounds crazy and just be thankful for it."

Kate just sends a glare over to her.

"Anyway, everyone knows that this man is head over heels in love with you. How do you feel about him? After this kiss?"

"It wasn't a real kiss - "

"You said it felt real."

"Lanie. Stop it. I'm not talking about it any more."

"Fine. But we'll spend many many evenings together and I'll get you to talk someday soon." Lanie smirks, way too pleased with herself for Kate's taste.


It's already deep in the following night when Ryan, Esposito and Castle decide to take a little break and get something to eat. Castle immediately jumps up from his chair and announces that he'll go and get some Chinese. Finally something useful to do for him.

Esposito and Ryan stay alone in the break room, an awkward silence surrounding them.

"Hey Ryan - " Esposito begins, but Ryan turns and walks towards the door.

The Hispanic Detective holds his partner back by his arm.

"Come on, bro. Listen to me. Look, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I realised that I made a terrible mistake. But you can't blame me for not believing this man. I'm only a human and his story was – I know I always make fun of you for being so sensitive, but I promise I'll never do that again. I'm glad that you are open for those things when I am not. We're partners, after all. And we're Beckett's partners, as well. She needs both of us, Kevin. I know you're angry and you have every right to be, but can't you put that aside? Until she's safe again? We need to work together here, as a team. She counts on us, we can't let her down. Can – can we agree on this?"

Ryan didn't say a word during his partner's speech, but his face softened with every word. Finally Esposito admitted that he wasn't as tough as he wanted everyone to believe. And he could feel that he meant every word. Well, so it was hard shell, soft core after all. How could he possibly still be angry with him?

He slaps his friend on the shoulder and smiles at him.

"It's fine, Javier."

"Thank you. Now let's get our boss out of this mess."

"But what options have we got left? This grey-eyed monster doesn't say a word, we still haven't found the man who attacked Beckett in her flat – although she was able to describe him perfectly this afternoon - and this Paul-guy has vanished into thin air."

Esposito opens his mouth, but he doesn't know what to answer. Ryan is right, unfortunately. They got nothing.

"Food's here." Rick announces while entering the break room again and putting the white cardboard boxes onto the table.

The three men sit down to eat when Rick receives a message on his phone. His face turns white, while he reads it.

"What's up, man?" - "What's wrong?" Esposito and Ryan ask him simultaneously.

But Rick is not able to answer. He just turns his cell around and shows the two Detectives the message he just received.

"Rick, you have to believe me that I'm really sorry. But I have no other option. They know you are my friend and threatened to kill me if I don't tell them everything about you and your involvement in their failed attempts to kill this Detective. I'm on my way over to them. Run! -Paul"


A/N: Yeah, I'm back with a cliffhanger - sorry. But it's just so much fun! :-)