What if Conan had winged Rick when Kate took him down.

"Roy … please."

"That's right Roy nice and easy. Nice and easy."

Castle brought his head back sharply, feeling his skull connect with Conan's nose, then moved to the side, hitting the wall with his shoulder. Behind him, he could hear Conan stumbling then getting back to his feet. He made himself as small as possible and waited.

Beckett saw Castle move and once he was clear, she turned her attention to Conan. He got back to his feet slowly, still holding the gun, Beckett quickly aimed at him but didn't pull the trigger. She paused for a fraction of a second before she saw him bring his gun up, aiming at Castle, then she pulled her trigger, hitting him in the chest.

As Conan feel his finger spasmed and a shoot run out. Everyone around dived for cover but then quickly reappeared when they realised there were no more shots incoming.

Beckett kept her eyes trained on Conan, then as he hit the floor the gun fell out of his hand and she rushed forward, she had to try and save him, he had information that she desperately needed. She knelt over him, begging him to live.

She was totally oblivious to what was going on around her, concentrating on Conan, but then something broke through the noise. It was a very soft voice but it was Castle's and he was saying her name slowly, over and over.

Beckett looked up, trying to find where Castle was. She hadn't seen what had happened to him after he'd head-butted Conan, she'd been concentrating on the hitman. She was surprised that he wasn't next to her, that's where he usually was, and then she worked out why. He was leant up against the wall, his face pale and a red spot on the wall behind him.

"Castle!" she exclaimed. She rushed over to him. "Castle, what happened? Is that your blood?"

"I'm sorry Kate," he said, "If I hadn't gotten so close he wouldn't have been able to grab me and this would never have happened."

"Not now Castle," she ordered, "Is that your blood on the wall?"

"Might be," Castle said weakly, "I think he winged me a little."

"Ok," Beckett said, trying to calm down, aware of people moving around her, "Where does it hurt?"

"Doesn't hurt anywhere," Castle said.

"Where's the blood coming from Castle?" Beckett pressed, her hands shaking slightly as she ran them over his body, trying to find where the blood was coming from.

"My leg," Castle said.

Beckett's hand immediately went to his leg, pressing against the wound. There wasn't any blood rushing out so she knew that he hadn't been hit anywhere major, but he was definitely going to need an ambulance.

"Call an ambulance," she said over the noise, "Castle's been hit."

The noise around her intensified and soon Esposito was kneeling beside her, a first aid kit in his hands.

"Let's have a look," he said, snapping on a pair of gloves.

He pushed Beckett's hands to one side and took over applying pressure.

"It's not too serious," he said, "Just a little bug bite."

"Do you think it'll leave a cool scar?" Castle asked.

"Sure buddy," Esposito said.

"Awesome," Castle said. He then looked at Beckett, "Hear that Beckett? I'm going to have a cool scar. Girls love a scar."

"Ok, Castle," Beckett said, her voice shaking, "Yeah girls love a scar."

"Do you love a scar Kate?" Castle asked, his voice now taking on a drunk tone.

"Ask me tomorrow Castle."

"Ok." Castle sat leaning against the wall smiling vacantly at Beckett.

Esposito kept pressure on the wound until the paramedics arrived and they took over. They very quickly got Castle all settled, helping out with a shot of morphine, and then stretchered him down to the waiting ambulance.

"I've rung Martha and Alexis," Ryan said as he helped Beckett to her feet. "Let's get you cleaned up and then we'll head down to the hospital."

Beckett nodded. "Do you need me for anything Captain?" she asked Montgomery, who was still standing over Conan as they sorted out that mess.

"No Beckett," Montgomery said, "Go to the hospital, we'll take care of this. Go be with Castle."

She nodded and made her way shakily towards the elevator, Ryan and Esposito flanking her, both with looks of concern on their faces.

They made it down to the garage and then Ryan drove them to the hospital.

They made it in good time and heading in, Ryan making a beeline for the reception desk to get some information, while Beckett peeled off to one side suddenly and rushed to the nearest restroom, leaving Esposito standing alone in the middle of the room.

Beckett pushed her way into the restroom and ran to the toilet. She crouched down and was immediately sick. She hung her head over the bowl until there was nothing more to come up then she moved so her back was against the side of the cubicle. She pulled her knees up to her chest and sat shaking, unable to fully process what had happened.

There was blood on her hands she realised for the first time and she scrubbed them together, trying to get it off. It was a mixture of the man who had killed her mother, and her partner, and she was responsible for both of them getting shot.

The shaking got worse and she started getting a pain in her chest and her breath was coming in ragged gasps. Tears started streaming down her face and the gasps became sobs as she tried, and failed, to hold it together.

Sitting there on the cold bathroom floor she cried her heart out over everything that had happened.

"Time to get up dear," a voice then said, breaking Beckett out of her hysterics.

She looked up and saw Martha standing over her.

"Oh," Martha said when she saw Beckett's face, "Oh my poor dear." She knelt in front of Beckett. "He's going to be ok," she said quietly, "Flesh wound." She took a good look at Beckett. "But it's not just Richard you're upset about, is it? Something else happened."

Beckett nodded and in a shaky voice explained what had happened. At the end of her story, Martha stood up and pulled Beckett to her feet. "Let's get you cleaned up," she said, "Then you can go and see Rick. He's asking for you."

Beckett nodded and walked to the sink and began to wash the blood off her hands. Once they were clean she splashed her face a few times with cold water.

"Thank you," Beckett said to Martha when she was done.

"You're welcome," Martha said, "You've been through it a bit today dear, but everything will be ok."

Beckett nodded and then froze as Martha pulled her into a hug. "Martha your clothes," she started to say but Martha cut her off.

"Oh shush, it's fine."

Beckett hugged her back, hard, and then took a deep breath and made her way out of the restroom. She let Martha lead the way and they were soon standing in front of Castle's room. Ryan, Esposito, and Alexis were all sat around his bed while Castle was sitting up eating a cup of jello.

"Beckett," he said happily, "You're here."

"I am," she said as she stepped into the room.

"He's had a lot of pain killers," Alexis explained, "So he's a little loopy."

Ryan and Esposito were both smiling so Beckett had a feeling that she'd missed some fun while she'd been… occupied.

"How you feeling Castle?" she asked, standing at the foot of the bed.

"I'm gooood," Castle said, rolling the word around his mouth, "I was a very brave boy according to the doctors." His attention drifted off and Alexis carried on.

"There's no serious or permanent damage," she explained, "Just a flesh wound. He's had some stitches and they're running some tests to make sure the other man wasn't carrying anything that gotten into Dad's blood. He'll have to stay here overnight as he's had to have a blood infusion and they want to keep an eye on him. Once he's out he'll be on crutches for a while but he should be absolutely fine." There was a slight edge to her voice but Beckett barely heard it, she was just happy to hear that Castle was going to be ok.

"And I'll have a cool scar," Castle slurred, gesturing with his now empty jello cup, "I asked the doctor and he said I would." He was nodding happily to himself.

"I think that's enough dad," Alexis said, the hard note still in her voice, stepping up and taking the empty cup from him and putting it to one side, "Maybe you should get some sleep."

"Ok sweetie," Castle said. He lay down and closed his eyes.

Esposito caught Ryan's eye and jerked his head towards the door and the two of them quietly left, Beckett not far behind. Martha and Alexis also followed them out.

"Do you want us to hang around Mrs R?" Esposito asked once the door had shut behind them.

"No dear," Martha answered, "He'll probably sleep until morning so there's no need to stick around."

"Call us if you need anything," Ryan said.

"Of course."

Ryan and Esposito then turned to leave. "Coming Beckett?" they asked.

"Could you stay Detective? I wanted to talk to you." Alexis asked.

Beckett nodded. "See you tomorrow guys," Beckett said to the pair.

"Beckett," Esposito said, "Unless Montgomery calls you in I'd suggest you stay home tomorrow, it's been a hell of a day."

Beckett shrugged. "I'll call him later and see what he says."

Esposito looked at her for a moment before shrugging and turning to leave, Ryan waving as he followed after his partner.

Beckett looked between Alexis and Martha. "What did you want to talk to me about Alexis?"

"Can you give us a minute Grams?" Alexis asked Martha.

Martha looked between Alexis and Beckett before leaning in close and saying something to Alexis. Beckett couldn't hear what was said but Alexis frowned slightly. Martha then pulled away and then headed back in to sit with her son.

Alexis then turned and started walking down the corridor. Beckett frowned slightly then followed after her. She stayed silent as she followed after the girl. Alexis seemed to be headed somewhere in particular so Beckett stayed quiet and followed after her.

Alexis eventually lead them up to a rooftop garden. It was late in the day so the place was deserted. Alexis headed over to one of the benches and sat down. Beckett paused for a moment then went and sat next to her.

They sat in silence for what felt like a lifetime but Beckett didn't want to be the one who broke it. Alexis wanted to talk to her so she'd let her talk.

"This was your fault," Alexis said in a quiet voice, "You're the reason that my dad is lying in a hospital bed with a bullet wound." Beckett opened her mouth to say something but then shut it again when Alexis glared at her. "Grams said that I don't know the whole story, she said this all had something to do with your mom's death so to go easy on you, but I'm sorry, you got my dad shot Beckett and I don't know if I can forgive you for that."

Alexis stopped talking and Beckett looked at her, trying to gauge if now was the time for her to talk or if Alexis had just paused for breath. She realised that Alexis was now waiting on her.

She licked her lips nervously then took a breath to order her thoughts. Looking straight ahead she kept her voice quiet as she spoke, taking her time so she didn't say anything she hadn't thought about.

"I could give you a speech about how your dad knew the risks when he started following me," Beckett began, "But that's a load of crap and we both know it."

"I never planned on this happening Alexis," Beckett said, "I've always tried to keep him out of trouble, even when he didn't want to stay out of it." Alexis gave a tiny smile but then her face went back to the angry mask it had been. "And I will keep trying to do that if he comes back to work with me and the guys. But this case went somewhere we never expected it to. I had no idea I was putting your dad at risk when we were talking to that guy, and I really never expected him to try and walk a hostage out of the precinct." Beckett shook her head. "But it doesn't matter what I thought, you're right, I got your dad shot, and I don't blame you if you don't forgive me, I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive myself for what happened." She turned her body so she was looking Alexis straight in the eye. "All I can say is that I'm truly sorry Alexis, I never wanted your dad to get hurt following me, and I really never wanted anyone else to get hurt because of my mom's case." Hesitantly she reached out and placed her hand over Alexis' where they were clasped in her lap. "I really am sorry Alexis. And I do hope that one day you can forgive me."

Alexis looked at Beckett's hand on hers and then looked back into Beckett's eyes. "Thank you," she said, "Do you think dad will come back to work with you?" Alexis' voice was still quiet but now there was a note of concern in her voice. Beckett was glad that the angry note was gone but wasn't entirely sure how to deal with a concerned teenager.

Beckett shrugged. "It's up to your dad, the Captain, and probably the mayor, and definitely your dad's lawyer."

"But you'll have some say in it won't you?" Alexis pressed.

"Maybe," Beckett admitted.

"Would you let him come back to work with you again?" Alexis asked.

Beckett thought about it, she didn't want to give a snap answer but then she realised something. "I would if that's what he wanted," she said.

"Why?" Alexis asked, "I thought you were against dad following you in the first place."

"I was, to begin with," Beckett said slowly, "But I've got used to him being around, and he is surprisingly useful, he has a totally different way of looking at things that come in handy." She paused for a moment before continuing, "And on a purely selfish note, I'd miss him. He's helped me so much with my mom's case and I'm pretty sure we're friends now and I really wouldn't want to lose that."

Alexis digested what she'd said. "It's up to him if he wants to go back or not," she said slowly, "But if he does then I'll try and be ok with it. I just need you to promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me you'll always try to bring him home."

Beckett hesitated for a fraction of a second. "I promise I will try my hardest to make sure he comes home to you after every case," she said seriously.

Alexis nodded. "Thank you," she said, "I really appreciate it, detective."

Beckett got to her feet and offered a hand to Alexis. Alexis took it and Beckett pulled her to her feet. "Let's get back to your dad."

Alexis wrapped an arm around Beckett's waist and after a few seconds, Beckett wrapped her arm around the girls shoulders.

"Thank you for looking after him, most of the time," Alexis said in a quiet voice.

"I'm sorry I didn't do so well this time," Beckett replied quietly.

They walked back into the building and headed back towards Castle's room.