Author's Note: Here's chapter two. Thank you to all those who left me a review and add this story to alerts. This story is not all done but it's getting close. Im currently working on chapter 7 and I'm hoping to have it finished in a few more chapters.

Thanks to lone_Pyramid for the beta. You can find him on livejournal. He really helped me make this story better.

Chapter Two

Kate squinted in the bright sunlight even though her hat was pulled low over her eyes. Today should be raining and dark; it was a day of mourning and the weather should reflect it.

Drawing a deep breath, she fidgeted with her pristine white gloves before walking up to the podium. She paused for a heartbeat as her gaze met Rick's; there was still a lot to be said.

A call from Esposito to talk about Roy and what they'd learned, had thrown a monkey wrench into any plans for them to talk the day before, and they hadn't been alone since. She promised herself she'd make that time once this ordeal was over.

Knowing there was nothing else to do but get this over with, she began to speak.

Richard Castle stood in the sunshine but he didn't enjoy a second of it. Today wasn't a day for joy. To his left Kate was speaking, every word a tribute to a great man, though not a perfect man. In the end Roy Montgomery had made a great sacrifice to save Kate, and for that alone, Rick had to admire him, no matter what his mistakes in the past.

"Roy Montgomery taught me what it meant to be a cop. He taught me that we are bound by our choices but we are more than our mistakes. Captain Montgomery said to me once, there is no victory, only battles, and in the end the best you can hope for is to find a place to make your stand, and if you're very lucky, you'll find someone willing to stand with you."

Kate caught Rick's eye and the two of them stared at one another for a moment before she turned back to the crowd. Rick knew time was running out and they were closing in on the dragon, but at the same time dragon was drawing closer to them. Last night's meeting had included compiling a list of suspects and now they just had to be patient and collect the evidence. Eventually he had to make a mistake and expose himself.

Every moment counted, Roy taught Rick that and it was time for him to step up. Kate had made the first move when she showed up at his door the night before. Now he had to make sure she didn't have a chance to rabbit. He loved Kate and he wasn't about to let her go, not now-

As he looked away, he caught a glimpse of something far off in the distance and a deep-seeded fear settled in the pit of his stomach. Kate continued to speak, oblivious to Rick's panic or the potential danger.

"Our captain would want us to carry on the fight. And even if there is..." Kate's voice broke but she recovered, continuing to speak until the shot rang out across the cemetery. He saw Kate tremble ever so slightly under the impact of the bullet.

"Kate!" Even though Rick began moving the moment he saw the flash, he was too late to do anything other than knock her out of the way of a potential second shot.

All around him people screamed as they scrambled for cover.

"Beckett's down; Beckett's down." Castle could hear Ryan calling out over the radio and he knew they would get to Kate as soon as it was safe.

Kate lifted her hand, her white glove marred with blood. Seeing the red stain, Rick almost fell apart. He had only one thought:, she couldn't leave him. Kate tried to speak but he cut her off as he cradled her body. He held her tightly as though this alone would keep her alive.

"Kate...shhhh. Kate, please; stay with me. Kate, don't leave me, please. Stay with me, okay. Kate, I love you. I love you, Kate."

A single tear drifted out of the corner of her eye and she tried to speak, but her eyes fluttered and she fell unconscious.

Rick didn't even try to stop the tears as Lanie appeared with Ryan. "Lanie get over here, Kate's been hit."

Keeping to out of the way Ryan asked, "What about you, Castle, were you hit?"

"No, I'm fine; it's Beckett we have to worry about." Rick paused and looked around. "Where's Esposito?"

Ryan didn't look at Kate, but kept his eyes on Lanie as she check Kate's pulse. "He's leading the team to where they the shot came from. He'll update us once he knows more." Ryan looked down at Kate. "How did this happen? We had tight security, this wasn't supposed to happen."

Not looking away from Kate, he spoke. "Kate thought something like this might happen. She was wearing her vest; I made her promise. Why is she bleeding, Lanie? She should only be bruised." Rick stepped closer reaching out for Kate.

Lanie pressed her jacket to the wound. "Stay back, both of you. I need space to work. The bullet hit just below the vest. It's through and through, but I think it nicked her kidney. That's why there's so much blood." Lanie touched Rick's shoulder as the ambulance's siren could be heard in the distance. "Castle, they're coming for her. She's going to be fine; you have to believe that."

Rick nodded but he didn't let go of Kate's hand. "I always knew this could happen, but to see it." He wiped his eyes. "I can't lose her, Lanie."

Squeezing Rick's shoulder once more, Lanie brushed away her own tears. "I know, Rick, and she knows too. She's just too stubborn to admit it. I expect you to act on it once she's out of the woods. My girl is going to need you, because things aren't going to get any better. If they took a shot at her here in the open like this, everyone connected to this is in danger."

"You're right." He turned to Ryan. "Can you make sure Mother and Alexis get out of town until this is all over? I know you guys are short staffed, but could you make sure someone goes with them?"

"No problem. I already sent an officer home with them, but we'll find somewhere safe for them to go. They shouldn't go anywhere you've been before. No friends or family. We won't even tell you for now."

"I'll feel better knowing they're taken care of. Tell Mother and Alexis I will call as soon as I can."

Ryan shook his head. "No, you need to talk to them now before we take them off the grid. Once they disappear you can't contact them. It would be too dangerous."

Rick looked down at Kate as she was surrounded by EMTs who asked him and Lanie to step away. He knew there was nothing he could do right here, right now, but he could make sure his family was safe.

Once Rick was done with his call, he turned back to Kate. The paramedics had transferred her from the ground to a gurney and they were prepping her for transport.

"Is she going to be all right?" He took a step to follow, but one of the ambulance attendants blocked his way.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Richard Castle, her partner. I'm coming to the hospital with her."

The EMT looked at Lanie, who'd identified herself to them, and when she nodded the man let Rick pass. "She should be fine. We'll get her into surgery and they'll fix her up. You're lucky Dr. Parish was here. We might have lost her otherwise."

Rick slapped the man on his back. "Thank you for getting here so quickly." Then he hopped into the ambulance, taking Kate's hand as he sat down, grateful for this small victory.

There you have it leave a review and make me smile, I'd love to hear from you. More on the way next Wednesday, but chapter two is up on my website. You can google me or head to my profile to find the link.

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