Continuation of chapter 26 following on at the end of the episode.

Kate was still cold, she'd warmed up slightly throughout the day, and then had felt really warm with all the adrenaline flooding her system when she and Rick had been standing in front of that bomb, but now that was wearing off and she was feeling it again. Looking around the room though, at her friend and colleagues, she smiled and felt a warmth in her heart. She was so glad that they'd found the bomb and that Rick had somehow managed to disarm it.

The conversation currently happening in the room was covering that as well.

"Captain's right," Esposito was saying, "You guys don't know how lucky you are."

Kate looked at Rick, who looked back at her and they both smiled softly. "Actually," Rick said, turning back to Esposito, "I do." He glanced back at Kate before looking at his bottle of beer, and she knew that he wasn't just referring to the bomb.

She was just about to make a suggestion that they all head home, she and Rick really needed to have a conversation when Fallon knocked on the door and then walked into the room. He nodded a greeting to everyone then concentrated on Rick and Kate. "Can I talk to the two of you please?"

They both nodded and headed out of the room and joined Fallon in the hallway.

-/-

Fallon had talked to them, Rick had asked to be warned next time something like this happened and then they'd both headed back in to join the others. They'd all finished their drinks and then started to get ready to head home.

Ryan and Esposito had suggested going out for more drinks to celebrate but Kate had told them that she was exhausted and just wanted to go home. Rick had looked a little put out but then but she'd caught his eye and tried to convey that yes, while she was tired, she wasn't actually planning on going home, she just didn't want to go out with the guys, she wanted to talk with him.

Esposito and Ryan had left at that point, both wanting to get home. Ryan was desperate to get home to Jenny. He couldn't tell her what had happened today, but he really wanted to see her and just hug her tight. Esposito also really wanted to see Lanie, for the same reason. It had been a hell of a day and both of them just needed some human contact right now.

Kate was moving slowly, getting all her stuff together. Rick sat in his chair, watching her every move. He wanted to talk to her, to get her to hurry up, but he held his tongue.

Kate grabbed her jacket and then turned to look at him, smiling. "Thanks," she said in a quiet voice.

"For what?" Rick asked, getting to his feet and grabbing his own jacket.

"For waiting," Kate said, starting towards the elevator, "And for being quiet."

Rick smiled at her. "It was a challenge I will admit," he said with a laugh.

They got into the elevator and stood in silence for a moment. "Are Martha and Alexis still away?" Kate asked him.

Rick nodded. "Yeah," he said, "They should be away for at least another day. I'm going to have to ring them to tell them to come back, but I was planning on doing that in the morning. I need some time to get everything straight in my head."

Kate nodded. "Do you want to be alone to do that?" she asked shyly, "I was going to ask if you wanted to come to my apartment, or maybe we both go to yours, to talk, but if you need to be alone then it can wait."

The elevator came to a stop before Rick could say anything and they were surrounded by other officers and detectives and Rick didn't want to talk as they might be overheard. Instead, he took hold of Kate's hand and the two of them walked out of the precinct in silence.

Once they were out in the fresh air Rick pulled Kate to one side, out of the flow of traffic along the sidewalk. "I don't want to be alone," he admitted, "I need to sort things out but a big part of that is related to you, so yeah, let's talk."

Kate smiled at him. "Your place or mine?" she then asked him.

"I'd say mine," Rick said, "Because I know I have actual food in my fridge, and not a Styrofoam temple, which means we can cook something for dinner."

"We can just order something Castle," Kate protested.

Rick shook his head. "I like to cook," he told her firmly, "And we both need a hot meal."

"That we do," Kate said, fighting back the urge to shiver.

Rick pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Shall we go via your place?" he asked, "That way you can grab some warmer clothes and maybe some clean clothes if you want to stay the night?"

Kate raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not trying to be presumptuous," he said quickly, "But I really don't want to be alone tonight so I figured I'd offer you the spare room, that way we can talk for as long as we want, and drink if we want, and not have to worry about you getting home safe."

Kate smiled at him. She extricated herself from his grip and then grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the road. She hailed a cab and got in and then gave the driver her address. She then pressed herself against Rick's side, trying to leech some heat from him. Rick wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer still.

-/-

Rick waited in the back of the cab while Kate ran up to her apartment and grabbed what she'd need to spend the night at Rick's. She grabbed her warmest set of pyjamas, as well as pulling out a jumper from the back of her wardrobe that she reserved for the depths of winter. She pulled that over her head and then headed into the bathroom. She debated on whether or not she should take her makeup remover with her, she wasn't sure if she was ready for Rick to see her without it on, but then she shrugged. She'd nearly frozen to death in his arms, and then she'd stood in front of a bomb with him, her not wearing makeup this evening wasn't going to be anything on that.

With one last look around Kate looked to see if she'd forgotten anything before she left her apartment, locking the door behind her and shoving her keys into her jeans pocket. She headed back down the cab and shoved her bag in the trunk before sliding back in beside Rick. He smiled at her as the driver pulled away from the curb, Kate figured that Rick must have already given him the address while she was inside.

They sat in silence, just enjoying the warmth coming off the other until they reached Rick's building. Rick paid the driver and then both of them slid across to get out of the cab. Kate went to grab her bag but Rick beat her to it. He pulled the bag out and then offered Kate his arm. She stuck her arm through his and then they both headed into the building. Rick nodded to the doorman while Kate just smiled, and then headed for the elevator. They rode it up to Rick's floor, still arm in arm, Kate leaning against Rick, her head resting against his shoulder. He looked down at her and smiled softly.

They reached his floor and headed for his door. He let them in and then dropped Kate's bag on the stairs before pulling off his shoes and jacket. "I'm just going to go and grab a thicker jumper," he told Kate, "And turn the heating up. Do you want anything?"

Kate shook her head. "I'm ok," she told him.

"Well make yourself comfortable," Rick instructed, "I'll be right back."

Kate nodded and then watched as Rick walked into his bedroom. She was going to make herself comfortable on the sofa but she suddenly didn't want to be sitting still, she felt really fidgety, and she knew that if she sat down she just wouldn't be able to stop moving. So rather than sitting, she made her way into the kitchen.

She knew where Rick kept most of his stuff, provided that he hadn't had a massive rearrange since she'd spent time in the flat after her apartment had exploded. She found what she wanted almost immediately and got to work.

When Rick came out of his room he looked towards the sofa, expecting to see her there, and then frowned when he couldn't see her. He then turned as he heard her moving about and headed for the kitchen.

"Whatcha doing?" he asked as he got closer.

"Hot chocolate," Kate explained as she stirred the pan.

"Ah perfect," Rick said, "Now would you like cream and marshmallows with yours?"

Kate laughed but nodded and then watched as Rick pulled two large mugs from one cupboard, a bag of marshmallows from another, and then a can of squirty cream from the fridge door.

"Can I interest you in a baby bird?" Rick then asked, pulling the lid off the cream and offering it to her.

Kate laughed again and shook her head. "And you're not having one either," she told him sternly, "You'll ruin your dinner."

Rick pouted but Kate just gave him a stern look and he put the can down on the side.

"This is nearly done," Kate then told him.

"Perfect," Rick said, "Well how about you finish it up then fill the cups while I make a start on dinner?"

Kate nodded. "So what's the plan for dinner chef?" she then asked him as she grabbed a ladle from the side and started to spoon the hot chocolate into the two cups.

"Well," Rick said, opening the fridge again, "Let's see what I've got." He studied the fridge for a moment before continuing to speak. "How about lasagne and homemade chips?"

"Sounds perfect," Kate said as she added marshmallows to the cups before grabbing the cream and squirting a healthy amount onto the top of both cups.

She handed one to Rick and then cradled her own between both her hands. "Do you want a hand?" she asked him.

Rick shook his head. "I've got it under control," he assured her, "Plus you just made hot chocolate so it only seems fair to let you sit and drink it."

Kate smiled and moved round the counter so she could sit on the barstool and watch as Rick started to prep everything he'd need.

They fell into an easy silence as Kate sipped at her hot chocolate while Rick took occasional drinks from his as he continued to cook.

"Right," he said after a while, wiping his hands and throwing the dishcloth onto the side, "It just needs to cook." He looked between Kate and the sofa. "Shall we?" he asked, nodding towards the sofa, "Or do you want a top-up first."

Kate glanced at her mug and then shook her head. "I'm good for now," she said, getting to her feet and leaving her empty mug on the side, "We need to talk."

Rick nodded and then the two of them headed for the sofa. They got comfortable, sitting at either end and then turned their bodies so they were facing each other. Kate pulled her foot up and sat on it and leant against the arm of the chair.

"So," they both said at the same time. They both stopped and then laughed.

"You first," Rick invited.

Kate took a moment to organise her thoughts. "I'm not as good with words as you are," she admitted, "So just bear with me here ok."

"Of course," Rick said, "But I'm pretty sure that whatever you say it'll be brilliant."

Kate rolled her eyes at that. Rick gave her a goofy smile and she shook her head. "You're a goofball," she informed him bluntly.

"But you love me anyway?" Rick said, posing it more as a question than a statement.

Kate laughed. "But I love you anyway," she agreed.

Rick beamed at her and Kate couldn't help but beam back. They smiled at each other like idiots for a moment before Kate spoke. "I think that really says it all," she said, "I can't think of a better way of saying what needs to be said."

Rick nodded happily. He scooted across the sofa until he was sitting with his knees touching Kates. "Now as you said I am better with words than you," he said, his voice low. Kate rolled her eyes again. "But I think all I need to say is that I love you too."

Kate smiled at him and then closed the gap between them and kissed him softly. They kept it light and then Kate pulled away and rested her foreheard against his.

"So," Rick said, his voice barely a whisper, "Does this mean we're now an item Detective Beckett?"

Kate pulled away and shook her head. "You just can't take anything seriously can you," she said, swatting at him.

"I can be serious when the occasion calls for it," Rick assured her, catching her hand and pulling her back to him, "But I wanted a way to ask what this meant for us that didn't make me sound like a girl."

"You are a girl," Kate said, her other hand coming up and resting on his cheek, "But you're right to ask the question." She bit her lip for a moment. "I want this to be it," she admitted, unable to look Rick in the eye as she spoke, "But I don't want this to affect our partnership or our work. I don't want to screw this up and lose you as a partner."

"Hey," Rick said softly, placing his hand over hers where it was still resting on his cheek and pulling it round to hold between them. "You're not going to lose me ok," he assured her, "We're going to make mistakes, that's a given." He raised his free hand and gently turned Kate's face so she was looking at him. "But we're strong enough to work through anything. We've known each other for nearly four years Kate, and we've been through a lot in that time, and we've always come through. Sometimes it took longer than others, but we've always been partners at the end of it." He moved his thumb in small movements on her face. "So long as we're honest with each other I think we'll be absolutely fine." He then chuckled self deprecatingly before continuing. "I've had two failed marriages Kate, and a daughter, I've got a lot of baggage…"

Kate cut him off before he could continue. "I love your daughter Rick," she assured him, "And you're not the only one with baggage. We've both got pasts Rick, and we've always been able to make it work in the past. As we get closer then I think that we'll be able to be even closer."

Rick smiled at her. "Thank you," he said honestly, "And Alexis loves you too, you know that right."

"She barely knows me Castle," she told him.

"You and the guys are some of the very few people who see me for me, not Rick Castle the famous author, or the son of the semi-famous actress Martha Rogers, and you all accept me for who I am really am, and she knows that," Rick told her gently. "Other than my mother there hasn't been a truly stable female figure in her life. Her mother is." He paused for a second. "Well you've met her," he said with a shrug, "And I never really let Gina get close with her, I'm just too protective of her I guess." He shook his head. "But she really looks up to you…"

He trailed off again as Kate reached up and cupped his face between her hands. "She's an amazing kid Rick and I'm really glad that you're willing to let me be part of her life."

Rick smiled at her. The two of them stared into each other eyes until they were interrupted by the sound of the kitchen timer going off. "Dinner," Rick said, getting to his feet.

Kate got to her feet as well but grabbed Rick's hand and pulled him back round to face her. She reached up and kissed him. "I love you, Rick," she told him, "But I don't want there to be any miscommunication ok."

"Ok," Rick said, drawing out of the word in his confusion.

"I love you and want to be with you but…"

"But you've only just broken up with Josh," Rick interrupted, "Don't worry Beckett, I want you to stick around and I'm willing to wait for as long as you want." He glanced over at the oven. "Tonight we eat and then maybe watch a movie and snuggle under a blanket or whatever, that's all."

Kate beamed at him and then the two of them headed into the kitchen.

Kate was glad that she'd said what she'd said and that Rick had heard her, and that Josh had been so understanding of the whole situation. She was looking forward to making a go of this.