I hope everyone got to read the last chapters. I have no idea why they didn't show up at first. Anyway thanks for all your great feedback and on we go.

I'll be skiing for the next week, not sure how much time I will have to write and if I'll have internet. I'll do my best.

Thanks to my lovely betas... xxx

XOXOX

They sat side by side in the ambulance since Castle had refused to let go of her hand ever since they'd left the warehouse. Not that Kate wanted him too; still, it was a bit crowded with the two of them and three paramedics.

They had patched Castle up and cleaned the cut above his eye, deciding it wouldn't need stitches - a fact Castle was immensely grateful for, he hated needles. Of course Kate didn't need to know that. After his heroic rescue mission, she didn't need to see him act like a baby. His bloody and swollen knuckles had been iced and bandaged and his ribs checked for greater damage, but aside from some minor bruises he was okay.

Next to him Kate was currently attached to an IV supplying her with fluids and electrolytes, while she chewed on a sandwich Ryan had organized. She looked a bit lost in the oversized NYPD hoody someone had handed to her, but whenever she looked at Castle, caught him watching her, she smiled reassuring him she was doing okay as well.

With one last squeeze Castle finally let go of her hand and when Kate looked up surprised she saw why. Gates was making her way over to them, her face grim and her movements quick and precise.

Gates quickly glanced at Castle, shooting him a look he couldn't quite read. Something between anger and, he didn't dare to believe it, pride? It didn't last long anyway and he was soon treated with the usual silence, while their Captain took a closer look at her rescued detective.

"How are you doing?" Gates asked, a gentleness in her voice neither of them had ever heard before.

"I'm okay." Kate replied, putting on a brave face. Gates gave her a once over and Kate felt like she needed to elaborate. "Dehydrated, but once the IV has run through I'm good to go."

"Good," her Captain simply stated. "I'm glad we got here in time." There was that look again, directed at him. Castle gulped.

"Yeah," Kate said, since she didn't know what else there was to add. After a moment of awkward silence she asked. "What about Ranston?"

"He just regained consciousness," Another pointed look into Castle's direction, "Ryan and Esposito will accompany him to the hospital and question him as soon as possible."

"What about my statement?" Beckett frowned.

"You can come in for it tomorrow, from what you told Ryan I don't see why it couldn't wait another day," Gates reached out giving Kate's knee a squeeze, "Get some rest, Kate. You too, Mr. Castle."

Kate nodded, Gates was probably right. There wasn't much for her to contribute at this point after all. She didn't know much. Castle was too stunned to say anything, he had been sure Gates would rip him into pieces for going in on his own, when he had been told to stay behind. But apparently Gates let him off the hook, at least for now.

Gates was about to leave, but turned around once more, narrowing her eyes at both of them, "I assume you will stay with Mr. Castle?"

Beckett eyes went wide, "What?"

But Gates just went on has if she was totally unaware of Kate's reaction, "I will have a security detail positioned outside Mr. Castle's building until we figure out what this is all about and who's behind it."

With that she left, not glancing back once at the two of them, too busy trying to hide the smirk plastered all over her face.

"Does she?" Kate turned to Castle, panic in her eyes, her voice shaky.

"I think she does." Castle confirmed her suspicion.

"Oh God," burying her head in her hands, Kate shook her head over and over, "Castle."

For a very long minute he didn't answer and then she heard him laugh, actually laugh. Seriously?

"You think this is funny?" She raised her head, narrowed eyes glaring at him.

He just kept laughing.

"Castle! This is not funny," she exclaimed.

Still he didn't stop.

Kate kept glaring at him until he finally calmed down enough to share what was on his mind and what obviously had to be the joke of the year, "I think she has known for quite some time now, she just pretended she didn't."

"What? How?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure she did. You haven't seen her the past couple of hours, the way she treated me, I'm sure she knows we are more than just partners." Sighing, he sobered up a bit more, seeing as Kate didn't think this was amusing at all, "Look, isn't it a good thing though? If she has known and didn't say anything she's probably okay with it, with us."

Kate wasn't convinced, complementing his words while chewing on her already bothered bottom lip.

"Anyway, she let us off the hook for now, so please, let's just go home, get some rest. We can worry about it tomorrow."

Kate sighed, agreeing in the end, "Okay, I guess you're right. Let's go home."

XOXOX

They finally walked through his front door three hours later and were greeted by Alexis who threw herself into her father's arms, causing him to wince in pain.

"Easy pumpkin," Castle hissed, "your old man is a bit beat up."

Alexis drew back immediately, studying him carefully while she took in his bruises, bandaged hands and the cut above his eye. "Are you okay?" She asked worried, glancing from her dad to Kate, who didn't look much better. Castle had called the loft in advance, letting Alexis and Martha know they had found Kate and would be on their way home shortly, reassuring them they were both doing as fine as could be expected under these circumstances. But Alexis still had to make sure.

"Yeah, we're okay. We'll be as good as new in a couple of days," Castle smiled back at his daughter, before pulling Kate into his side, to place soft kisses on both of his girls heads.

"Thank God," Alexis sighed in relief. "I'm so glad you're both back in one piece."

"Thanks," Kate smiled, not missing how Alexis had included her in her statement.

"Where is Grams?" Castle asked, when walking over to the kitchen island to get Kate some water. The word dehydrated still ringing in his ears.

"She just went to the pharmacy around the corner to stock up on painkillers after she heard what happened." Alexis explained stopping her father's affords with a hand on his arm. Signalling him to sit down next to Kate, while she produced two bottles of water from the fridge and handed them over, "She should be back any minute."

"Good," Castle nodded, wanting his family close as long as they didn't know what was really going on.

"Are you guys' hungry?" Alexis suddenly asked, frowning from Castle to Kate, taking in their appearances once more.

"Starving," both of them stated at the same time, earning a chuckle from Alexis who saluted them, before turning towards the stove, "Message received."

XOXOX

"That was sweet of Alexis," Kate stated when they retired to his bedroom half an hour later, bellies filled and stocked up with enough painkillers to take out a horse.

Castle smiled in agreement, obviously proud of his daughter, "Sorry about my mother though. It's the actress in her, she just can't stop exaggerating."

Kate shook her head at him, "They've both been really sweet."

"I'm glad," he said, with a bit too much seriousness in his voice for her liking.

Walking over to him, Kate snaked her arms around his waist, leaning slightly back to be able to look him in the eye, "You do know I adore your family, right?"

"Yeah?" It came out as a question.

"Yes, silly." She pulled them closer together, "I really do, just the way they are, with all the drama and all the laughter and all the craziness that's obviously a part of being a Castle or a Rodgers."

This time the smile he gave her lit up his whole face and then he leant down, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss, pulling her flush against his chest. When they broke apart, Kate sighed, tucking her head under his chin, just letting him hold her. They stayed like this for awhile until she placed a kiss over his heart, mumbling into his chest, "Thanks for getting me out."

Castle leant back, brushing a strand of golden curls from her face, her hair was a tangled mess, and he would probably need to help her straighten it out tomorrow.

His eyes were clouded when she raised her head to look at him, "Castle?"

"Did he?" Castle swallowed, "Did Ranston … when I walked in he …," he couldn't say it.

But to his relief Kate shook her head, "No, you were there just in time."

"Thank God," he sighed, pulling her close again, burying his nose in her neck, fighting against the tears that suddenly threatened to fall.

She held him until he got his bearings back and finally taking him by the hand, let him towards the bed, "let's get some sleep, Castle."

They stripped down to their underwear, both too tired to manage anything else. Crawling in behind Kate, Castle pulled her into his chest, feeling her warm hand over his, pulling both of them over her chest.

He sighed, finally content again now that he had her back and she was safe, at least for now. There was time to face the world and fight the evil tomorrow, for now sleep called out to both of them, "Love you," he whispered into the dark, before they both slipped under and drifted off.