Wow! Where has time gone? I'm so sorry it has taken so long to update. Life and hot weather has sapped my creative mojo. I think it may be back now. This chapter is really short, an I apologize, but I hadn't really planned it, it just came to me as I was preparing the next one. So, here is a little something while I finish the next one. Hopefully will have it up yet today. Was contemplating wrapping it up soon, but other ideas struck. Hopefully you guys are still there and would like to see this continued. Happy reading!

Beckett stood staring through the glass.

"You really think he knows something?"

"He seems to know quite a bit. If there's more or not I don't know. There's only one way to find out." Castle placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm here. No matter what you decide, you're not in this alone."

She leaned into him, finding comfort in his words as well as his touch. She stood silently staring into the interrogation room, a million thoughts running through her mind. Finally she broke the silence, but barely, as she whispered. "What if I don't want to know?"

Castle looked into her beautiful green eyes tinged with fear, and hurt, and loss. His heart broke for her. "Then you don't ask. But the Kate Beckett I know would never let this chance slip through her fingers."

She looked into his deep blue eyes, heart in her throat as she spoke. "What if I don't want to be her anymore?"

"Kate," he brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear, "this is a part of you. It has helped make you who you are. The incredible, fierce, passionate woman that I love. While it hasn't always been easy, and I would never wish it on anyone, I would never want you to be anyone else. You are extraordinary, Kate."

She gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I think I read that somewhere."

"Then it must be true." he said with a smile.

"I dunno, it was a work of fiction." She gave him a flirty smile and he was glad to see she was still his feisty Kate.

He placed his hand on her face, lightly stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Yeah, well, sometimes they get it right."

Suddenly she didn't care that they were in the precinct, she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, taking in the comfort only he could give her.

"I thought this was over, Castle. I thought I could finally move on. Let it go. Be more than what I was. For myself. For you." She clung to him, feeling as if she was back on that rooftop hanging on for dear life. She could keep holding on. Holding on to him. The life she wants more than anything. Or she could let go. Let go and let herself fall back into this case with murder, and danger, and lies. She had already made her choice once, and she wanted him. Just him.

He stared down at her, seeing the turmoil swirling in her eyes, reading her mind in the way only he could. "Let go."

She looked up at him. Fear and hurt in her eyes. "What?"

"Let go."

Pain flashed in her eyes as she dropped her arms from around him and stepped backwards away from him, tears forming in her eyes.

It was then that Castle realized what he had said, what she must have thought. He quickly pulled her back into his embrace. "Not of me, Kate." He stroked her back soothingly. "I didn't mean me. Never me. I'm sorry." He wiped the tears from her eyes. "I meant of the fear. The truth can't hurt you, Kate. I won't let anything hurt you ever again. We are in this together and if you want to let go & jump back into this, I'm jumping, head first, right there with you. You're not alone and you don't have to choose."

"But, Castle..."

"Shh, no. I almost lost you once by trying to make you choose. I won't do that to you again. To us again. This is your life, and YOU are my life. So that makes this my life too. So if you really don't want to know, I'll support your decision. But if you want to know, like I know you do, then let's go see what he has to say." He took her hand in his. "Together. Partners. Always."

She smiled up at him, gratitude shining in her eyes. She took a deep breath, her detective mask snapping back into place. She squeezed his hand before letting it go. "Let's go see what this son of a bitch knows."