AN: I find it utterly perplexing that it takes me a couple of hours max to write a few thousand words of FanFiction but like sixteen hours to write an essay (I think it may have had something to do with the solid twelve hours of procrastinating). Nonetheless, to reward you for your patience, here's my longest instalment so far. Keep that in mind when I mention that I'll be off the internet all weekend at a music festival… What would you like to see wrapped up before I bring this story to a close?

Chapter Thirty-Six

They really were two halves of the same whole.

Beckett pushed herself off the hospital bed and tried to stand. She was unsuccessful, her legs were shaky and the room was spinning.

"Don't worry about it," Esposito said gently. "I got you," he nudged her back onto the bed. She curled up reluctantly.

"Thanks," she murmured with a breathy sigh. "Alexis…" she patted the space next to her and the girl made her way over, with unsteady quaking steps. She pulled her into a tight hug as she joined her on the bed.

"All good?" Esposito queried, at their nodded responses he pushed the bed slowly from the room. Ryan followed with Castle's bed. Dunnings corpse forgotten, at least temporarily. Ryan kicked the scalpel from his reach just for the sake of it as he moved from the room. Dead or not, he wasn't taking any chances, if ever there was a time for taking overly cautious precautions, this was it.

Beckett felt like she wasn't really in moment, like it was the end of a movie and she was watching the slow montage of everything coming together. As they were wheeled back into the functional part of the hospital Gates was berating a nurse, demanding answers. Her Dad was standing nearby, his expression pure concern, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Martha was moving briskly down the hallway behind him, her face pure anxiety. Her eyes flitting between relief and fear at the sight of them. It was over. It really was over. They were a mess. Alexis was sobbing in her arms, her eyes redder than Beckett had ever seen them before. Beckett was in pieces, her wrists were raw and bruised from her fierce attempts at yanking them free, her expression was wild and she felt practically catatonic. She really couldn't focus on the scene playing out in front of her. Gates was speaking, to her, to the room in general, to the boys. She missed all of it. Her father moved to her side, kissed her forehead. She barely felt it. She was dazed. All she could see, all she could hear was Castle. His chest steadily rising and falling, the sound of soft puffs of air being inhaled and exhaled, his beating heart. Her beating heart. One and the same.

Medical professionals rushed around them, ushering their beds and trauma-ridden bodies back into a hospital room. Martha gently extricated Alexis from Beckett's arms so that a doctor could look them both over. Alexis clutched her grandmother's hand fiercely as she shook and nodded her head in response to an inundation of questions. The doctors murmured something about shock with a terse look in both Alexis and Beckett's directions. She swallowed the tablet that was offered to her and slipped into an easy sleep, exhaustion taking her in. She wanted to keep her eyes open for Castle, in case he woke up or if the doctors said anything pertinent to his medical condition but whatever drugs she had taken kicked in more potently than she expected so sleep became her only viable option.

X-X-X-X-X-X

She woke in somewhat of a panic hours later only just remembering that she hadn't told anyone about what had happened to Castle in the hour of insanity under Dunnings' rule.

"Castle… Defibrillator…Dunnings," were the first words out of her mouth as she pried her eyes open.

"Shh," her father murmured gently, pressing a hand to her wrist, steadying her. "Alexis told us what she saw and with Castle's condition the doctors were able to piece it all together. He's healthy, he has a strong heart, it managed to return to a normal rhythm all on its own," he smiled softly.

"Oh," Beckett expelled, innately relieved. She shifted her gaze from her father and took in the extent of her surroundings. It was intensely refreshing to wake in a hospital room surrounded by loved ones and free from the presence of a menacing psychopath. Esposito's profile framed the door, Ryan was a few feet from him, arms crossed and gaze focussed entirely on the hallway and the mixture of people milling about within it. Her father followed her eyes and chuckled affectionately.

"They're refusing to go home until the both of you checkout. Something about lowly uniforms not doing a good enough job of protective detail… I'm glad," he added sincerely. "It's been a hell of a day, Katie," he sighed. She nodded noncommittally.

"Mmm. But we're all okay now, right Dad? My boys are looking out for me. I'm safe. We're safe," she attempted to reassure him, the stubbornness that had eluded her somewhat under the intense pressure of Dunnings' revenge returning. She may have broken down but she was going to come back from this stronger than ever. If she was honest with herself, her reaction to the events that had transpired reminded her of the breakdown she had after the sniper case. Her boys had rescued her then too. Esposito with his empathy and Castle with his constant support. With her team around her she could survive anything. It didn't stop her from feeling a little vulnerable at times though, like when a sociopath was torturing the man she loved. That was just a little bit traumatic. She realised her father was still watching her intently, searching the depths of her eyes to ascertain if she really was okay. She tried to look resolute and strong. He bought it – or at least, he elected to take her stoic stance as the truth.

"I'm so glad you're safe. I don't know what I'd do without you. You're my little girl," he chewed on his lip as he spoke and Beckett saw herself reflected in his eyes. Her mother's death and alcoholism may have torn them apart but they were all glued back together now. They were family, and now Castle, Alexis, Martha, the boys, Lanie, they were all family too. Albeit an eclectic and eccentric mix but family all the same. She tore her eyes away from her father and turned her gaze on the opposite side of the room where Lanie was sitting beside Castle's bed, holding his hand and whispering indistinguishable things to him, her mouth moving a million miles an hour, Beckett missing the bulk of what she was saying. Lanie felt Beckett's eyes on her and looked up.

"They put Alexis in another room, just to check her out. Martha's in with her. Figured I'd look after your man while you were busy," she shrugged. "Just filling him in on what I'm going to do to him if he hurts you," she winked.

"Liar," Castle's voice cut through the air, sending Beckett's heart rate racing. Lanie gasped –

"You heard all that," she emitted a little giggle, somewhat embarrassed.

"Heard what?" Beckett intoned, a slightly frustrated edge to her tone, she liked being in the loop. Nothing was worse than missing the joke, the outskirts were no fun. "Lanie!" she whined.

"I, err, um, I can't say," Lanie blushed.

"I can," Castle admitted gleefully. "She was recommending sex positions!" Jim cleared his throat loudly. "Oh… Oh… Lanie," he growled playfully. "Um, Lanie is obviously a bad influence." As Jim rolled his eyes in response, Castle made eye contact with Beckett and mouthed, "Good influence, very good influence." Beckett gave her best typical eye-roll at that and Castle's expression softened into a crinkled endearing smile. "You okay, Kate? Seriously?" he added, all joking forgotten.

"I'm fine, Castle," she replied softly. "I'm much more worried about you. How do you feel?" He shrugged.

"Ah," Lanie cut in. "Jim, want to come get a coffee?"

"Sure," he smiled. "As long as you promise never to bring up that conversation you just had with Castle," he shuddered comically. When he joked, Castle could see the parts of Beckett that were from him. He immensely liked the more relaxed version of Jim Beckett, not the one pleading with him to stop his daughter from doing something stupid or sitting beside him as they waited to see if the woman they considered family survived. This Jim was a man he could certainly grow to love and respect. The kind of man who would be an amazing grandfather. Or a fatherly confidant. After all they'd endured over the past couple of days Castle could see that image more clearly now, of Jim the father and grandfather, playing a major role in his life, in their lives. It was an image he was very much looking forward to, the reality of it all spilling closer into view with each passing moment.

Lanie huffed in response.

"Believe me, I was never planning on having that conversation with you in the first place. Someone here isn't using their internal filter very discerningly," Lanie laughed, with a dramatic glare at Castle. He attempted to look hurt, but all he managed was a slightly skewed smile. He was alive. Dunnings was nowhere to be seen. He was surrounded by people he loved – people who loved him. He had all the reason in the world to smile.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Moments after Lanie and Jim left the room, Esposito stuck his head around the door and flashed a smile at them before pulling the door shut and taking up his protective stance framing the door once again. They revelled in their moment of quiet aloneness, gazing intently at one another, drinking the relief radiating from the both of them.

"Are you really okay?" Beckett entreated softly. Hurt sparked in Castle's eyes but he pushed it back instantly, clearing his throat.

"Not the best day I've ever had," he admitted reluctantly. Beckett swung her feet to the floor and gingerly made her way over to him.

"Shove over," she demanded. He happily obliged, grunting a little at the movement, worry flaring on her face.

"I'm fine," he assured her, pulling her down beside him and holding her close.

"You know you're not going to get away with being this clingy under usual circumstances," she teased, curving her body further into his as she spoke.

"I'm sorry, who's being the clingy one?" he arched an eyebrow at her.

"Really, Castle? Complaining?" she laughed. It was a tantalising sound. He wanted to hear it again.

"Hell no," he growled, tugging her even closer, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Cling to me all you want," he whispered seriously in her ear, his breath leaving raised flecks of skin in its wake. She shivered at the sensation.

"I will." She smiled as his lips brushed her neck, again and again. She couldn't stand the torment any longer; this was torture in a wholly more welcome capacity. She twisted her body to face him and pressed her lips hungrily to his. He opened his mouth eagerly to her tongue, permitting her entrance. The kiss was hot and fierce, an apology for putting him in danger and a promise to protect him better the next time. He gripped her tighter still, wishing they were anywhere but the hospital – his bedroom, her bedroom, the precinct storage room – anywhere but here. He wanted more of her, he wanted all of her. A throat clearing at the door reminded him all the more that now was not the opportune time or place for that. They pulled apart, flushed and panting. Beckett's eyes were frenzied and her hair was mussed, it took every ounce of Castle's concentration to pull his gaze away from her and to the door. She slowly broke the eye contact, turning her head, her body remaining locked fiercely in his grasp. He felt her body tense at their guest, that was enough to break his stare, he shot a glance at the door, his reaction mimicking hers. A tiny gust of air popping from his lips as they fell into a surprised –

"Oh." Gates rolled her eyes at their reactions, her arms crossed firmly across her body.

"You're both making it exceedingly difficult for me to pretend to be ignorant," she sighed in exasperation. Castle felt more than saw Beckett blush and bite her bottom lip in response.

"Sir," she attempted weakly. Gates shook her head, cutting her off –

"Later. Today is not the day for that discussion," she waved her hand dismissively. "I'm here to reclaim a couple of my detectives. They're refusing to return to the precinct and we have a case…" At her words Esposito was in the room, clearly eavesdropping from his post at the door, Ryan at his heels.

"We're not leaving," he stated adamantly. "I don't care that Dunnings is dead." Castle gasped at that, having been unconscious as those events transpired. Beckett nodded at him, reassuring him that Esposito was speaking truthfully. He emitted a sigh of relief, the last remnants of tension draining from his body. Ryan nodded his agreement with Esposito's declaration.

"Useless uniforms," he muttered, aiming for under his breath but in reality loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

"If you recall you were a uniform and probably a little useless once," Gates remarked steadily, but Beckett could perceive the hint of humour underlying her serious tone. "Anyway, as admirable as your stand is, with Beckett – and Castle," she added a little reluctantly, "already out of the field I need you two back at the precinct. I," she stated with a tone of finality, "will be the protective detail until you return." She pulled a chair from beside Beckett's empty bed and placed it in the hallway beside the door. "Surely you can entrust your friends safety to me?" she asked with arched eyebrows. The boys nodded, matching gaping expressions shaping their countenances. Beckett stifled a giggle. With a last look in Castle and Beckett's direction, they trudged begrudgingly from the room – not without a quick innuendo laced wink as Esposito appraised the somewhat compromising position the pair were in, limbs locked together with their boss looking on. Castle grinned in response. Gates smiled tightly at them before taking up her seat outside the door and pushing it succinctly closed with a muffled bang.

X-X-X-X-X-X

He nuzzled her ear, teeth nipping at her neck.

"Guess having Gates eavesdropping at the door kind of puts of damper on things," he whispered, working his lips teasingly across her jaw as he spoke.

"Castle," she warned before sighing and pulling her lips back to his in a tender kiss. "Behave," she muttered against his skin, peppering his neck in soft kisses.

"Okay," he said, before kissing her softly one more time and pulling back ever so slightly. She glanced up at him, a little bit shocked that he'd loosened his grip on her at all. He nodded in the direction of the door and Beckett could make out two bobbing heads of vibrant red hair paused at door, obviously engaged in a casual conversation with Gates. She rolled away from him, separating their bodies just enough to converse with his mother and daughter without embarrassment. No sooner had they untangled when the door opened and Alexis soared into the room. Her eyes much brighter than the last time Beckett had seen her. Castle opened his arms and admitted his daughter; she clung to him with a determination that was to be expected.

"You okay, Pumpkin?" he asked gently, brushing his hands through her hair and over her back soothingly.

"Medically? Completely. Emotionally? I'm feeling a little unstable," she admitted.

"Me too," Castle sighed. "But you know what? It's over now and we're all going to be just fine." He glanced over Alexis' shoulder as he spoke, locking eyes intently with Beckett.

"All of us," she agreed on a whisper, but there was a firmness to her tone. It seemed that Beckett's words reminded Alexis' of her presence. She unwrapped one of her hands from her father and clasped Beckett's hand in her own. She didn't speak and neither did Beckett. There were no words to say. In that moment, nonetheless. Naturally, there would be unresolved issues between the two of them stemming from Alexis' concern about her father's ongoing involvement in the work side of Beckett's life. The knowledge that Beckett feared for her father's safety as much as she did was enough to quell the argument, at least temporarily. For the time being it belonged on the back burner. For the now, the only thing that mattered was being together, safe and happy. Alexis could clearly see her father needed Beckett to achieve that purpose. It heartened her to realise that Beckett also needed her father to fulfil the very same purpose.

Martha stood in the doorway, watching the scene play out before her with a soft smile. She felt a presence behind her and turned her head to see Lanie and Jim with gentle smiles that matched her own as their gaze drifted to the tangle of limbs and love that was sprawled on the bed before them.