Thanks for all the reviews and follows, people! :)

So, this is the chapter a lot of you have been waiting! You can leave your theories in the reviews, and if they are close to the truth, I'll give you some plot-spoilers ;)

V and A

Josh was euphoric. Finally things had started to go right for him. He couldn't believe it! And to think that just 10 hours ago he was being exiled by the Merry Men to distant lands! Now he was going back to them, like the prodigal son, to rescue his family, to set right some wrongs, to take revenge against Richard Castle.

Richard Castle. He hadn't just stolen Josh's rightful place next to Beckett, but he had framed Josh for something he hadn't done. Now he'd pay. He'd pay at the hands of the Merry Men and then at the hands of the sheriff's men. He would become one of the most hated men in the country. A traitor, to both sides. He was a rat with no loyalty to anyone but himself, and rats needed to be exterminated.

Not for a second did Josh think of looking back, of making sure no one followed him; after all, the new sheriff had promised that no other Merry Men would be harmed, and the new sheriff was a man of his word - or at least that's what they said.

As the exiled Outlaw rode his horse back to the camp through woods and bushes he couldn't help but daydream about how everyone would welcome him as a hero - it took guts to go back after being exiled by Beckett. Beckett. Maybe she'd finally see him for what he was, a handsome and brave man: the perfect match for her.

As soon as Josh jumped off his horse, two daggers and a sword were pointed at his body. He raised his hands, showing he was unarmed.

"I have important news to share," he gasped eagerly.

Without giving the order to lower weapons, Javier walked towards Josh. "Why would we believe you?"

"Because I'm not the traitor."

Javier spat on Josh's feet.

"I have proof," Josh said.

"Show me." Javier defied him. With one hand Josh reached for his jacket's pocket and handled a piece of paper to the man.

Javier unfolded it. On the bottom margin the words 'Wanted: Richard Castle' were written, above them a drawing of the man in question.

"Kev," he turned to his companion. "Go and get Beckett."

The Queen of Thieves arrived in no time. She took the paper from Javier's hands and studied it.

"The sheriff wants him for treason," Josh added, "I talked to him myself."

"You talked to the sheriff yourself?" Josh nodded, waiting for the flow of praise at how brave he was to start. "Are you stupid? You could have led them straight -"

"Beckett," Castle interrupted as he made his way towards her, pushing past some Merry Men on his attempt to get closer to their leader. "They're here."

"Explain yourself, Castle" she spat, shifting her sight from Josh to Rick.

"The sheriff's men," Rick said. "They found the camp. They are a few miles away, but it will take them minutes to get here."

"What I meant is," Kate walked towards him. "Why is your picture on a wanted poster?" She brandished the poster at him. "Why is the sheriff looking for you?"

Rick looked at Josh. Hostility crackled between them.

The sheriff's motive for Castle's capture was pretty clear. He had stopped reporting, stopped sharing news, stopped doing his job. The spy knew that this day would come, but he just didn't expect it to come so soon.

"I was going to tell you - eventually."

"Eventually?" She was mad. Really mad. "So you decided to frame a decent guy in the meantime."

"Josh is not a decent guy!" Castle protested. "He's selfish and arrogant and possessive!"

"He's not a traitor!" she screamed at him. "He did not save Bracken's life!"

"I was just doing my job." Kate slapped him. "You can slap me all you want, but I did you a favor. Once you go down the revenge path, it is really hard to stop."

This time Kate punched him in the stomach. He fell to the floor, desperately gasping for air.

"Beckett!" Javier stepped forward to hold her back, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and tugging her away from the writhing man on the ground. "We have more important problems."

Right. They were under attack. She looked at Castle. Was it sadness and disappointment in his eyes? Impossible. He was one of them. An enemy.

"Kevin," she called to her little brother, fury simmering in her every move. "Take all the women and children to the safe place. Killian, you go with him." The men in question nodded and began to move. "You protect them with your life. Understood?"

'Aye' was muttered by both and they left to fulfil their duties. The leader of the group quickly studied her options.

"Slaughter, Javier and Demming you'll take five men and go to the following places. Javier: north," Javier nodded and rounding up five others, began to ran. "Slaughter, you take east. Demming, south." The two men nodded and, with their troops, went to their positions. "The rest of you are with me. We take west."

Kate started walking without looking back. She knew something was missing by her side, but she was not brave enough to admit it. She only stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. His hand.

"What about me?"

"There is no place for traitors among my men," she replied shortly.

"But - "

"Leave me alone, Castle." Beckett said. Fighting her tears back, she gripped a fistful of her tunic to ground herself. "Just – leave me alone."

Richard let go of her, and as he watched her leave he decided to do one thing right, and respect her last wish. Kate Beckett would never see him again.