She is watching him sleep. They are 'not sleeping together' again. He saved her life, again. She asked him to stay in the car again. And he didn't, again.

He blocked the shot from her and he ended up getting shot, fortunately he was wearing his vest. The impact knocked the wind out of him and he was slammed into the concrete floor, she broke his fall, but he ended up with a minor concussion. He was out for a few seconds and in that short amount of time when she was sure her own heart stopped beating, she knew there was no going back. She was all in. Whatever doubts she had were gone.

It took a minute or so for Castle to come to. Kate was still on the ground, sitting with his head in her lap, calling his name. A sigh of relief escaped her as he started coughing and sitting up. It wasn't long before the EMTs were there. They suggested he go to the hospital to be checked out, he was of course refusing. Kate promised she would be there shortly to take him home. Without even thinking she kissed him and sent him on his way. She walked back towards Ryan and Esposito who had collared the shooter, raking a hand through her hair.

"You OK, Beckett?" Ryan asked as he placed a hand on her arm.

"Yeah, fine….um…..where are we with this….?" She looked around but wasn't really able to focus.

Esposito looked at her and said, "Beckett, we've got this, go."

Just then Montgomery showed up and said, "That's right Beckett, we've got this, go and I don't want to see either of you for a few days."

"Really, Sir, I'm…."

"It's an order Beckett, go, now."

She walked back towards the ambulance that was leaving and Karpowski came over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on Kate, I'll take you."

She made a quick call to Martha and reassured her that he was fine. She would see her at the hospital.

She waited in the waiting room with Martha and Alexis retelling the story. It wasn't long before he appeared with a pretty nurse at his side. His face lit up however when he saw his family waiting for him. The nurse looked at them all and said, "He'll be fine, just had the wind knocked out of him. Minor concussion, watch for nausea and excessive sleepiness."

After hugs all around Martha and Alexis went to get the car and Kate stood with him at the entrance to the ER. He put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek. "I need someone to watch me sleep tonight; I don't suppose you'd like that job?"

She rolled her eyes at him and raked her hand through her hair. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her on the forehead.

"I um, need to go home first and get a few things, OK."

"Yeah, like my shirt." He felt her giggle.

"It's the only thing I have of yours; I think I'd like to keep it for awhile longer."

"Kate" he pulled her away and placed his finger under her chin and made her look at him. "You have my heart and you always will." He kissed her lips softly and pulled her back into a hug.

She sucked in her breath and held him tight until Martha pulled up with the car. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a keychain and handed it to her. It was small and made out of metal and the name 'NIKKI' was etched on it.

"It's a key to the loft."

She smiled and took it from him and said goodbye to everyone, and took a cab to her place.

When she returned a little while later he was on the couch, curled up with Alexis. She looked up at Kate and smiled and disengaged herself from her father. The sudden movement woke him up and he kissed her on the forehead.

"I'm going to go up to bed. I've got a chemistry exam first thing tomorrow morning."

"Make sure I'm up before you leave, OK Pumpkin."

Kate rolled her eyes at him and Alexis just smiled and went up to bed.

Kate went into the kitchen and got some water for both of them and took his hand and pulled him up from the couch.

"Where are we going, Detective."

"Don't get too excited there Prince Charming, but I'm taking you to bed." She left him off at the bathroom and he came out a few minutes later with Star Trek pajama bottoms on and a t-shirt. She shook her head and laughed at his choice of night time attire. She instructed him to drink the water and she went into the bathroom herself. When she came out he was already asleep. She climbed into bed and he reached for her, she curled up beside him, laying her head on his chest and quickly drifted off to sleep. They both slept fitfully but it was enough for her to know that he was ok.

Her internal alarm went off at 6:30 and she untangled her body from his. He started to grumble and tried to pull her back. She kissed him lightly and said, "I'll be right back, I need water." He mumbled something incoherent in reply. She just chuckled and grabbed his robe and put it on and went to the kitchen and made breakfast for Alexis.

"Hey, how's Dad?"

"He slept fairly well, he's grumbling now so I think he's fine." She smiled at Alexis.

"You didn't have to get up with me."

"I know, it's kind of nice though. I never have to take care of anyone."

"Well, thanks, I really appreciate it. Um….Kate?...Is he going to be OK, should I stay home with him?"

Kate reached a hand over to Alexis' and said, "Yeah, he's going to be fine. Just rattled his noggin' a little. And Montgomery doesn't want to see any of us for a few days so I'm planning on staying here with him."

Alexis looked reassured and smiled at Kate and ate the scrambled eggs and toast in front of her.

"Do you need a lunch?"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to make it last night, I can grab something at school."

Kate opened the fridge and pulled out stuff for a salad and gave her a questioning look."

Alexis smiled and said, "Ok, sure, Thanks Kate."

Kate threw a lunch together for Alexis while they made small talk. Just then Martha came flying into the room and gave Alexis a hug and went to get coffee and hugged Kate on her way.

"Can I get you anything Martha?"

"I should be asking you that; how's the patient?"

"He's fine, I figured I'd let him sleep in."

"Good choice, Well, I'm off, don't anyone wait up for me, I'll be VERY late."

"Bye Gram."

Martha winked at Kate and flew out of the loft.

Alexis grabbed her stuff and then looked at Kate, "Do you think it would be alright if I just said goodbye to my dad?"

"Of course."

Alexis poked her head into his room and walked over to his bed, he turned and looked at her and then at his clock, "Oh, hey Sweetie, you didn't get me up."

She reached over and planted a kiss on his cheek and sat beside him. "It's ok; Kate got up and made me breakfast and a lunch."

"Is she still here?"

"Yea, she is."

"OK, are you off to school?"

"Yeah, I have violin this afternoon so I won't be back until later."

"OK" he reached up and gave her a hug.

"You feel OK?"

"Just tired." He rolled back over and she quietly left the room. She thanked Kate again, gave her a hug and grabbed her stuff and took off to school.

Kate finished up the dishes and grabbed a coffee and some toast and brought it into the room. She was intending to give it to Castle but he was asleep. She curled up in the window seat with her knitting and nibbled on the toast and sipped on the coffee. She didn't really get much knitting done. She sat there contemplating her situation. She couldn't imagine being anywhere else right now. This is what she wanted, maybe just what she had been looking for all her life.

He had woken up to her staring at him. She was a million miles away though. Sitting in his window seat, knitting draped on her lap, her wayward curls cascading over her shoulders. She had stolen another one of his shirts, and placed a throw over her legs and peeking out from under he could see her bright green and pink polka dot socks. She looked like she could have been one of Alexis' friends. She blinked and realized he was awake. He smiled at her. "Watching me sleep, Detective?"

"That is supposed to be why I'm here isn't it?"She slipped off the window seat and slid into the bed and reached over to his face and brushed away a piece of hair and caressed his cheek and jaw. How are you feeling?"

He reached up and took her hand in his and said, "Well, I'm in bed with a beautiful woman so not so bad."

She rolled her eyes at him, and scooted over so she was closer to him. He slid his arm over her waist and around her back and pulled her closer. Placing little kisses on her neck and making her giggle. She pulled her face away and looked at him.

"You scared me last night."

"You scare me every day, Kate."

She moved in closer wrapping her arms around him and holding him tight. He rolled her over so most of his body was on top of hers; he was supporting his body on his elbows and kissing her. He stopped briefly and looked in to her eyes. He was about to say something and she stopped him with her lips.

"Thank you for not staying in the car."

"About that.."

"Let's not think about the 'what ifs' and the 'what could have beens', OK?"

He kissed her eyelids and then started working his way down her neck and started unbuttoning her shirt. "OK, but do we get to talk about what's next?"

Her hands were under his t-shirt now caressing his waist. "I think you should just stop talking."

He raised his eyebrows at her and grinned and went back to kissing her and taking her mind off of last night and what could have happened.

They spent the rest of the day 'not talking about what happens next.'

I'm sure you were hoping for something a little more detailed here, but that's as far as the muse would let me go ;o). Hugs!