A/N: Surprisingly, this is the last chapter. I took some creative license and adjusted the timeline between the final episodes of season 3 since it fit my story better. Keep in mind there is an epilogue that will follow tomorrow and that should wrap up some things, I think.
On the day that marks three months of marriage, Captain Montgomery is killed. Kate and her team find out he had played an indirect part in the death of Johanna Beckett and in an airplane hangar he sacrifices himself to save Kate. That night, Kate cries herself to sleep wrapped in the embrace of her husband in the bed that she now considers theirs.
It took a few weeks for Kate to move her important possessions into the loft and she still has an active lease on her apartment so she isn't in any hurry. The death of Montgomery gives the couple a new view on life, so they decide to officially announce their marriage when their grief isn't as raw.
Rick and Kate get ready for the funeral at Kate's place since that is where her dress blues still are. Kate stands in front of a mirror and fixes up her hair into a bun and slips on her white gloves.
Rick sits on Kate's bed, putting on his tie when he looks over to his wife and says, "It almost feels wrong to say how hot I find you in your uniform." He smiles innocently at her when she turns her head to glare at him.
"I'm hoping you won't see me in this uniform again for a long time." Kate finishes getting ready then turns to stand in front of Rick and fixes his tie after he messes it up again.
When Kate slides the knot to his throat, Rick wraps a hand around her wrist to get her attention. She gives him a somber stare.
"Are you doing okay, Kate?"
Kate bites her lip to fight back the tears. "Rick…" she breathes out and Rick pulls her into his lap so she is straddling him and hugs her tight. She wraps her arms around him and weeps into his shoulder. "I love you so much, Rick. I don't know what I would do if I lost you."
"Oh sweetheart, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere. You can't get rid of me that easily."
Kate lifts her head from Rick's shoulder to look him in the eye. "There's something I need to tell you, but I want to wait until after the funeral. I need to focus my energy on dealing with this before I can think about anything else."
Rick nods, then sees Kate's tears and pulls a small packet of tissues from his pocket. "Here. I came prepared. Like a boy scout."
Kate chuckles. "You were never a boy scout."
Rick smirks and wipes away the tears from Kate's cheeks.
Standing at the podium, giving the eulogy of her mentor, Kate looks to her right and sees her husband standing with her. She knows he will always stand with her, even before they said their vows, she knew he would always be there for her. As she reads her speech, not truly comprehending what she is saying with her mind on other things, she hears Rick shout her name and a second later he is on top of her. A cacophony of screams surround her and Rick slumps against her then falls into the grass beside her.
Her mind is buzzing, trying to make sense of what is happening. She sits up and sees her husband lying next to her with labored breathing and his face pinched in pain.
She screams his name. A dark splotch begins to grow by his right shoulder and on instinct, she presses her hands against his bleeding wound.
Rick looks up at her and tries to say something, but can only make his mouth move and not make a sound.
"Rick, baby... Oh baby, please stay with me! Please stay with me!" Kate shouts. Tears streak her face and blur her vision, but she dares not remove her hands from Rick's shoulder to wipe away the moisture. "Rick, I love you," Kate says more quietly, leaning in closer to his face. "I need you to stay with me, Rick." She pauses and takes in a shuddery breath. "I'm pregnant, Rick, and I can't do this without you. I need you to stay with me."
Rick is able to fight through the pain to whisper four final words before he passes out. "I love you, Kate."
A/N: Don't hate me, please. Just wait for the epilogue.
Tumblr: MonaLyssa33
Twitter: AlyssaWriting