Thank you all so much. Always. For reading, for reviewing, for sticking with me, for the encouragement...the list goes on and on. To all of you who have read, are reading...thank you. I know updates have been choppy, but it means the world that you've all been patient and keep coming back :)

I loved Kill Shot, I think Stana Katic killed it that episode. I think Nathan Fillion also deserves major props because he brought a strength to Castle in taking a backseat. That being said. Castle and Beckett apart is never as good as Castle and Beckett together, so I would like to see how they work through it together. Especially since in my world they spent the summer dealing with her PTSD. So...we'll see how it goes. Thank you all again, so much. For everything.

Sniper.

How could one word rock their world so much?

The word that had traumatized their summer echoed in Castle's mind as he paced in his living room, the coffee he had prepared long since forgotten about. He willed his cell phone to ring, needed to hear Beckett's voice telling him she was okay.

He should have said something sooner, should have tried harder to help reach her. Castle had seen the signs forming; the jumping at the sirens and the dark circles that were now forming under Beckett's eyes. Castle had found Beckett asleep twice on the couch this week, the nightmares once again plaguing her dreams. She had brushed him off, told him she was fine. He should have tried harder.

She was scared, whether she admitted it or not. He knew when Beckett had snapped at him at work, the first time she had truly yelled at him. Castle had only been trying to help, wanted to get her to see that it could happen to anyone. He still felt the sting of her angry voice, despite knowing it was not intentional. Esposito had told him to brush it off, that suddenly the lid was coming off the box and she having to live through it.

Live through it with me, Kate. He closed his eyes tightly and wished he was back at the precinct with her. She'd asked him to leave, saying she needed to finish up some paperwork and would be over as soon as she was done. Esposito had seen the panic rise in Castle as they walked to the elevator; Castle would always be eternally grateful Esposito said he wouldn't leave until she did.

Last night was the first night in months they had been apart. Beckett had said she was going to her apartment. Beckett said she wanted to be around the comfort of her own belongings. Castle had tried to argue that most of her things had now migrated to the loft, but knew better than to push the issue. He'd asked if he could come there, spend the night with her. The pain over her saying she just wanted to be by herself, needed to figure out how to get through it as Beckett before she could bring him into it, cut deep.

"Richard, are you okay?"

He glanced up at his mother as she descended the stairs. He stood rooted to the stop as he thoughts were consumed with Beckett. Images from their summer and the fear that had plagued her now tormented him. Castle shook his head as he resumed his pacing, completely ignoring his mother. Martha crossed the room and touched his arm, breaking him from his reverie.

"Richard?"
"She's pulling away, Mother."

Martha tugged him over to the couch, pulling him down next to her. Castle pushed his hands through his hair as his fears began to tumble out.

"I don't know how to help her. Kate thinks I didn't see it, but she's got a cut on her arm. I saw the bandage. Something happened last night at her apartment but she won't tell me. She's jumping at every noise. She's not sleeping. She's falling down the rabbit hole but she won't talk about it, just keeps saying she's fine. I don't know what to do."

He hung his head and rubbed his tired eyes, taking a quick glance at his watch as he did. 11:15. Was she still coming? Was she off by herself, falling apart? Was he failing her? Martha's voice cut through his discombobulated thoughts.

"Kate Beckett is one of the toughest women I know. She will get through this, Richard. You give her the space she needs until she comes to you. She loves you Richard, she won't keep you at arm's length for too long. It's just too much for her to share right now."

Castle turned his head and met her eyes, needing to see the reassurance she seemed to feel. Martha gripped his hand, her eyes holding his unsure gaze.

"She is going to be okay."
"We were just moving past it, Mother. We were finally in a good place again and now-"

A weak knock sounded at the door, interrupting their conversation. Castle hurried across the room, almost tripping over the rug in his haste to see her. Martha's sharp voice rang out, drawing his attention.

"Richard, you need to slow down. Let her lead."

Castle let her words wash over him as he took a deep breath before opening the door, not wanting to worry Kate with his reaction to seeing her. Beckett looked small on the other side of the door. She had been crying. Her red-rimmed hazel eyes met his as she shrugged wordlessly. Castle frowned slightly as she tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes glued to his. The air was thick with tension, neither knowing what to say first. Castle, unable to stand it, spoke up just as Beckett did.

"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."

Her smile matched his, for the first time in days. Castle released the breath he had been holding, stepping over the threshold and pulling her into his arms. Kate came willingly, her slender arms sliding around his waist. Castle dipped his head as he cupped her face, whispering as he pressed his lips against hers

"Are you-"

Beckett didn't let him finish, shaking her head as she rose up on her toes and kissed him gently. Beckett swayed into him as Castle let his fingers tangle in her hair as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.

"You two could come in, you know."

Beckett laughed out loud as she pulled away from him, grinning around him to Martha.

"I'm sorry, Martha."

His mother crossed the room and pulled Beckett into a bone crushing hug, healing Castle slightly. Beckett's acceptance by Martha and Alexis showed how much of an impact the detective had not just on his life, but on their family.

"Don't apologize, you two should be kissing like that all the time. I'll just excuse myself."

Martha waved at the two of them before heading to the stairs. Castle had just taken a step closer to Kate as his mother turned around and said bluntly, in true Martha fashion

"Kate. Hang in there, kiddo. You'll be okay."

She didn't want, or wait, for a response. Castle swallowed the lump in his throat as she headed up the stairs, his eyes focused solely on the stunning woman in front of him. She looked more like herself, he noted. Beckett turned to face him, her bottom lip tucked securely between her teeth. Castle raised his hands and rubbed her arms, saying as he hopefully soothed her, hoped to keep her grounded

"What happened?"
"You told Espo to talk to me, didn't you?"

Beckett met his eyes, her hazel ones somehow swimming with questions and clarity all at once. Castle stilled his movements as he searched for an answer, afraid of upsetting her. You have a right to try and protect her. As he steeled himself to deal with the outcome, Castle cleared his throat and confessed

"Yes, I did. I just didn't know what to do, Beckett. I see what this case is doing to you and I don't really understand it other than what I saw this summer, but I don't know how to help now and I just-"
"Rick. Stop."

He trailed off as she grasped both of his hands, squeezing gently to get his attention. Kate's hazel eyes were now swimming with tears, a watery smile now firmly in place on her perfect mouth.

"Thank you."

Castle pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and trailed his hand down her beck, kissing her softly before he whispered, knowing that his words weren't nearly enough

"That's what partners do."

Beckett's smile faltered a little as she led him to the couch. She tugged down on the jacket of her sleeve as she sat, but Castle stopped her with a soft touch. With a slight shake of his head, Castle admitted

"I've already seen the bandage. You don't have to hide it. I just want to know what happened."
"I drank too much last night because I couldn't handle the fear. I knocked a vase off the table and fell, cutting my arm. I spent all night curled up in a corner with my gun, terrified to go to sleep."

Castle flinched at the bluntness in her voice, the facts rolling off her tongue effortlessly. Beckett shrugged almost helplessly as she declared truthfully

"I know I should have told you sooner, and I'm sorry I didn't. I know I shouldn't have tried to handle it by myself. It was just too much, and I didn't want to worry you. But the truth is you're going to worry anyway, and I've got accept that. I've got to quit acting like I can just go back to work like nothing happened. The shooting is a part of me. I'm damaged goods, Castle. And I've got to accept that."

Castle shook his head and began to protest, but Kate moved into him and silenced him with a kiss. It was soft, sweet, reassuring. Almost as if he needed the comfort instead of her. When she pulled away, Kate traced his lips with her slender finger as she whispered

"Rick, it's okay. It's okay to admit I'm scarred. It's time to make it a strength. To quit hiding behind it, but to use it to my advantage."

Beckett's words flooded him with pride at the confidence he heard in her voice. He heard Kate, he heard Beckett, he heard her all in that one moment. He silently thanked Esposito for whatever miracle he had performed as he said quietly

"There she is."
"Who?"
"I've been waiting on my partner. Pretty girl, thinks she can leap tall buildings in a single bound, carries the weight of the world on her shoulders yet still manages to laugh at some of my jokes."

Beckett grinned at him as she quirked an eyebrow, drawing an impish grin from Castle.

"She sounds like a handful."
"Tell me about it. She also owes me about 100 coffees."

Beckett pressed her forehead into his chest as she laughed softly. They were quiet for a minute, both wrapped up in each other and the darkness that seemed to surround them. Somehow, despite the circumstances, they found joy in each other. Castle sighed softly into her hair as Beckett whispered into his shirt, almost as if asking a question

"We're going to solve this, and we're going to be okay?"
"Of course we are. We're going to be great. And we're definitely going to solve this. Together."

He held her tightly as they crossed yet another hurdle together, healing one another in ways only they could. Castle wasn't sure how long they sat there, didn't care. He would sit there all night if it meant helping Kate. He hoped to be the one sitting there with her forever.