It is official. Your suffering was worth it…well at least for me. I go to a prestigious university that hates giving people good grades…and anyways I got my last final grade back and got straight A's. Hopefully that makes you feel a little bit better. At least it was for a good cause.

Anyways here's chapter 14. It is still a short one because I wrote it during the whole 'finals consuming my life' period.

And a huge thank you to all of the wonderful people who reviewed!

Last Chapter: Rick and Kate were enjoying lying around and talking. Castle was pulling on Beckett's pigtails as usual. After finally dragging themselves out of bed they were making pancakes when Rick got a rather alarming phone call.

"What's your name? Who are you? What do you want with her?" he asked feeling more and more enraged by the second.

"Tisk, Tisk, you're asking all the wrong questions. You already know what I want to do to her. I want to kill her." The voice replied in an unnervingly calm tone.

"Why?" Rick asked trying to mask the anger in his voice.

He had this guy on the phone.

He had to see what he could get out of him, and that wasn't going to happen if he let his emotions get the best of him.

"Now you're getting the hang of it." The voice continued to taunt him, "And as much as I'd love to chit chat; I do have a reason for calling… It would seem my little note did not elicit the desired reaction. I want you to send detective Beckett away. You're only going to hurt her."

"Me? I'm not the one that's trying to kill her." Rick spat back.

"No." the voice continued calmly, "I'm saving her. And I should warn you Mr. Castle. If you don't I can't guarantee there won't be any collateral damage when I do take her. If you don't I can't guarantee I'll give her five more days…Oh and Mr. Castle. You have 24 hours. If she's not gone by then, I'll come after you. "

Castle was about to defend himself. Tell this guy that he would never turn her away, no matter what the risk, and no matter what the cost.

But, then he heard a click as the phone was disconnected.

He tossed his phone onto the bed and sighed as he sat down, putting his head in his in his hands.

He needed to compose himself before he went back out to see Kate.

She couldn't know.

After everything they'd been through, he knew she would leave if she knew her staying would put him in harm's way.

This is exactly why she had wanted to leave before, to protect him.

And after they had come so far he wouldn't, he couldn't, risk what they had.

He lifted his head and let out another sigh before standing up and walking back into the kitchen.

He'd been gone long enough that the pancakes were done cooking, and Kate was putting them onto plates.

"Hey." She said, looking over her shoulder when she heard him enter the room. "I guess I was right before. The real reason you want me to stay here is so you don't have to cook." She added with a smile.

He walked up behind her and wrapped him arms around her.

While she continued to get the last few pancakes onto plates.

Letting go of her with one hand he reached forward and turned off the burners.

She leaned over a little bit to put the plate down on the counter, before turning around in his arms to face him. She could feel something was up.

"Was it Alexis on the phone?" she asked as she slid her arms up to his shoulders.

He paused for a second before answering. "Yeah." He was still looking at her like, if he stared into her eyes for long enough he would find the meaning of life.

"Kate…" he said after a moment, "You know how much I care you about you?"

"yeah.." she exhaled, running her hand over his cheek, her concern was written all over her face.

"Yeah, I know." She finished.

"Good. " He said softly, pulling her tight to him.

She rested her head on his shoulder and held on tight to him, still so confused.

Whatever had happened between him and Alexis on the phone would remain a mystery to her, but what she did know was that in this moment he just needed to hold her.

Like he was trying to ensure that she hadn't left, and wasn't planning on going anywhere.

He stood there for a good while just hugging her to him, taking solace in her even breaths.

He loosened his grip on her a bit, and she lifted her head off his shoulder, searching his eyes for what caused the sudden change in his demeanor.

He gave her the faintest hint of a smile before leaning over and placing a single gentle kiss on her lips.

When he pulled back he said, "Come on, let's eat. The pancakes are getting cold."

He reached for a plate and Kate followed suit. Thinking Who cares about the damn pancakes, what the hell's going on.

This time it was she was wanted to know the right thing to say.

To take away the pain and worry from his eyes, but how was she supposed to do that when she had no clue what was wrong.

Both of them spent the majority of the meal lost in their own thoughts.

Rick couldn't stop thinking about anyone that could be considered collateral damage. Everyone at the 12th was a cop. They were more than capable of taking care of themselves.

It couldn't be his family. They were both out of town.

Who else could it be? And it made him feel like the most awful human being, that he knew if it were anyone else, he would be willing to take that risk. If it meant keeping her safe.

Kate's thoughts wandered between what was said during his call with Alexis and if it could be her fault.

What if he had told her about the case and the serial killer?

If he had told her the whole story, was Alexis mad at her for putting her father in danger? Was Rick feeling like he had to justify his choice?

Then suddenly her thoughts quieted as she realized that every misstep in their relationship, or partnership, or whatever you labeled it as, was caused by their totally inability to communicate.

Her mind was telling her just to use her words.

God, it sounded like something you were supposed to say to a child.

She snapped her eyes up to look at him.

She could tell he was wrapped up in his thought, just like she had been.

She watched him for a second as he mindlessly chewed his pancakes.

"Rick?" she asked quietly.

The sound of her voice was enough to snap him out of his daze.

"What?" he asked gently seeing how genuinely concerned she looked.

And with that she let all her thoughts come tumbling out.

"What's wrong? Is Alexis Angry? I mean, did you tell her? Is she worried about you?" she asked quickly.

"No, no," he said, "I didn't tell her yet. You know me. I'm a writer. Sometimes I get a little dramatic. You can probably thank mother for that…but Kate even if she was it wouldn't change a thing…I'll tell you as many times as you need to hear me say it. I would do anything to keep you safe. No matter what… Even if that means I have to get lectured by my daughter."

"You're sure everything's okay?" she asked, just to be sure.

"Yeah, everything's going to be just fine." He said.

Kate felt a small weight lifted from her shoulders.

Letting out a sigh, they both turned back to their pancakes for a minute, before Kate's curiosity got the better of her.

She asked, " So, you said you hadn't told Alexis yet….. Does that mean that you're planning on telling her?"

"Yeah, I think I will tell her. I really thought about what you said, about her being an adult, and how difficult it was to be blindsided. And I want to tell her… But, I don't want her to spend her entire trip worrying about us. And I know that she would. Plus, it's not exactly an easy thing to slip into conversation." He said.

"Yeah not really a topic you can ease her into…" she responded letting her voice trail off before adding, " Though, for the record: Did you just say that you listened to something I said?"

"Detective, I'm afraid I'm going to have to plea the 5th on this one." He said in a joking voice.

"So close." She said, scrunching her nose, before shaking her head at him.

"And yet so far." He added leaning over to her and placing a finger under her chin, he tilted her head so that he could lower his lips to hers.

Her lips had the faintest taste of sugar from the syrup.

As he pulled away, he ran his tongue briefly over his lower lip, still able to taste her.

By that time they had both finished eating, and he scooped her plate up along with his and headed to the kitchen.

Kate followed him and made a move to help him, but he held up his soapy hand saying, "No way, you made the coffee and cooked the pancakes. I can handle the dishes. Plus, just what I need; you telling Ryan and Esposito I make you do all the work…. They'd kill me. .." he said.

She laughed at him " I promise not to tell if you don't. " she said with a smile.

"Oh trust me, " He said, "my lips are sealed."

With a sigh she looked over at the clock.

Time to get ready for work. She thought

But she was not in any real hurry to get to work right away, Tech hadn't called her yet. So, she stayed with him for a while as he finished the dishes.

After he put the last dish on the rack he turned to face her.

"Time for work." She said with a sigh, " I'm going to go upstairs and change." She added, turning to leave.

"Let me know if you need any help with that " He said.

She turned around and rolled her eyes at him saying, "Thanks, but I think I've got it. "

He laughed as he watched her disappear up the stairs.

He made his way into his own bedroom to get changed.

When he was done he paused to listen for her. Not hearing anything he decided she was still upstairs getting ready. He took his time and re made his bed.

As he pulled up the sheets and comforter, and placed the pillows against the head board his inner writer couldn't help thinking how much sharing the same mattress and sheets had changed their relationship.

Solidified it.

But as far-fetched as it sounded, that so little could do so much, he knew it wasn't a hoax.

It felt different. Something had changed between them, but at the same time they were still exactly the same. Castle and Beckett.

Grabbing his phone and walking out of his room he went into his office and gathered the rest of the stuff that he needed for the day and went out to wait for Kate.

Well there it is. As always I'd love to hear what you think!

Always,

Elizabeth