Disclaimer – I do not own Castle

A/N – I made Martha 59 in this fic. I am pretty sure she is older than that but in this fic she isn't.

Monday Morning - 02:03 – Rick's bedroom

Rick was having a tough time sleeping. He has been having a tough time sleeping ever since Kate had gotten shot and sure he had gotten in a few hours here and there. But after Kate invited him to share his bed, Rick had waited a few hours before heading in, knowing that she had taken some pain pills before turning in. But he wanted to wait until she was actually asleep otherwise it would have been too hard to resist her.

When the author had finally gone to bed two hours ago, his eyes wouldn't shut and his mind wouldn't turn off. The curse of a writer is even when you're dead tired, your brain is active and all of these scenario's run through your head, which prevents you from sleeping.

It also didn't help that a beautiful woman was sleeping beside him.

"No, no, I forgive you ... No ..." Kate mumbled beside him. She was thrashing back and forth, hitting into him since Rick had been facing her.

He studied her for a moment, her eyes lids were fluttering, and she was obviously having another nightmare about the hanger.

"Kate, wake up, sweetie. Wake up," Rick began gently shaking her.

"NO" she shouted as she shot up in the sitting position covered in sweet and in tears, loud sobs escaping her throat, placing her hands on her ribs.

Rick's instant reaction was pulling her into his arms, gently rocking her back and forth as she cried.

As Kate cried on Rick's shoulder, it was like everything she had been holding in since the funeral coming out and hitting her at full force. And she couldn't stop the tears, the pain. She wasn't sure if she wanted to stop the tears and of course he was being so sweet.

"It ... is ... my ... fault... Roy's dead," she confessed in between sobs.

He was stunned, still rocking her back and forth trying to calm her. She blamed herself?

"Listen to me Kate," Rick began, not stopping the rocking. But needing her to hear what he said, her sobs calmed a little. He continued. "It is not your Fault that Roy is dead, he was connected to this thing way before you even came into the picture, Kate. It was his mistake that got him killed," Rick told her, honestly.

He held this broken version of his partner in his arms. "It's not your fault," Rick whispered. Letting a few tears of his own slip from his eyes.

After a few more minutes of crying, the detective finally controlled herself and that's when Kate realise that she was tangled in Rick's arms in his silk sheet's that most likely cost more than her apartment. She instantly felt stupid.

She had just cried her heart out in Rick Castle's arms.

"I didn't mean to wake you," Kate finally pulled back, the moonlight filling the room. His silhouette muscular features took her breath away, his stony blue eyes looking at her with such admiration. He was still holding her and that didn't bother her.

She actually like his embrace it made her feel loved.

Rick looked at her genuinely, bringing his hand up to her face, cupping it. "Hey," he spoke with raw honesty. "I told you that I am here for you Kate, Always." Rick answered, brushing the strand of hair from her face."And I meant that," he finished in a whisper.

Kate couldn't tear her eyes from his, all well knowing that if she didn't soon then something big might happen between the two and even though she really wanting them to go to the next step, right now wouldn't be the best time.

"You going to be okay to sleep now?" he gently asked.

Once again Kate was surprised. It was like he was reading her mind. When had they gotten that in sync with one other? When she actually thought about it, they did finish each other sentences and he always knew when she needed to laugh or when she just wanted quietness.

Raising her hand and placing it over the one he had on her face, pulling it away and then inner-locking their fingers. "If you're beside, I can get through anything," Kate confessed, breaking her eye contact from him and bitting down on her bottom lip.

A Hugh grin spread across his lips, which was basically Kate telling him that she loved him, in her own little way. He knew she wasn't big on affection but she did have her own little ways of showing people she cared about, how she felt.

"Stick by your loved ones, even in hard times. We are stronger together then alone," the famous novelist quoted.

A soft giggle escaped the brunette's lips, raising her gaze to meet his eyes once again in the moonlit atmosphere. "That is one wise Chihuahua," Kate replied, with a smile gracing her lips.

Resting her head against his chest, listening to his heart beat. He wrapped his arms around her and the two just sat there in one another's arms, no words were needed.

Kate wasn't really shocked, because when she needed him to be the grown up partner. He was. He showed his heart.

Rick was on her one and done. Kate now knew that.

Martha's Room

The actress was lying awake in her bed. She couldn't sleep, even though several hours ago after dinner and claiming a headache, she had made her exit. The truth was that she found it hard to be in the same room as her old flame.

'I loved him a lifetime' she had once told her son and that was true. She had loved Donavan. She was still in love with Donavan and seeing him again. Every time she saw him, it bought all of those feelings back to the surface. For almost forty years, the actress had been holding onto a massive secret, from both her son and his father, all because she was too scared.

As Martha twirled the dog tag around in her hand on its chain, her thoughts drifted back to the night she had said goodbye to him, tears slipping from her eyes.

Several Hours Later – 07:11 – Rick's Room

Kate was having her first good sleep that she had managed to have in months, ever since rediscovering new things about her mother's case, the homicide detective had found it hard to sleep peacefully without her dreams been turned into nightmares.

Slowly stirring awake, the savvy brunette's eyes began to flutter before fully opening. As she took in her surroundings, Kate instantly knew that she wasn't in her own bed or the hospital either, as she let her eyes adjust to the light that was filtering through the dark chocolate curtains, she felt something tighten around her waist.

That's when her last memory came flooding back to her. Rick had woke her up because of a nightmare about Roy and he comforted her as she cried. A smile graced her lips as she remembered how sweet he had been just holding her.

Kate could feel his body moulded into the back of hers, pressed against her. Their legs tangled together, their fingers still intertwined and his arms around her, his chin resting on her shoulder. She could feel his breath on her neck, sending shivers down her.

Even though they were fully clothed and nothing happened last night. She could get use of this, waking up with Rick wrapped around her. Who needed a snuggie when you have a Castle? Kate thought that waking up with him would terrify her, but it was the opposite. She actually quiet enjoyed it. Kate was pulled from her thoughts when she heard a female teen voice mutter.

"Oh," Alexis replied when she had walked into her father's room. When she had woken up on the couch, that's where her father was meant to be sleeping. She had gotten curious to why he didn't wake her.

Kate lifted her head and looked towards the door as the teen who was heading out of the room. "Lex, wait," she called after the girl.

The teen stopped and slowly turned around.

Kate tried getting up but Rick pulled her tighter mumbling "No." A chuckle escaped from her lips, she then grabbed his ear and twisted, the writer let go of her and shot up in his spot.

"Apples!" Rick exclaimed, grabbing his ear and rubbing it.

She gave him a stern look. "we'll let go when I am trying to get up," she told him.

Rick grinned at her. "But you're so cuddly."

Kate bit her bottom lip, smiling through a chuckle. It was a small voice at the door that got their attention.

"Guys, um still in the room," Alexis informed them, both eyes turning towards her.

Kate held back her laughter as she saw the look on the fathers face, it was so cute.

"Pumpkin, um, I am here because ... well you see that ... and um also because ... um ...yeah," Rick mumbled.

Kate slipped from the bed and walked towards the door towards the teenager, linking arms the two walked out of the room.

It was Rick that was left there sitting in his bed, dumbfounded.

Kitchen – 07:20

Alexis and Kate were sitting on stools behind the breakfast bar. They both had a steamy mug in front of them, their second cup each. The teenager had made them some of her 'special tea' again, since Kate was still healing and not working, there was no need for her to live off coffee like she usually did when she is working on a case.

Kate had explained to Alexis that she had been the one to tell her father to leave her on the couch and sleep in the bed with her. She assured the girl, nothing happened, leaving out the whole waking up in tears and Rick being there for her.

Alexis didn't need to know that much about Kate.

Donavan was behind the stove, the former marine had been up since sunrise. Not that he really had gotten much sleep. His mind had been filled with past memories. Why the woman did that to him. He would never know.

After he had gone for a jog to clear his mind, then check in with his boys on watch and avoiding the swarm of pest out front with their cameras. The older man tended to the food that was sizzling in the frypan, he looked up and across at little Castle and the muse.

A smiled tugged at his lips when he thought back to yesterday and her cute threat. Rick looked like he was going to have a heart attack when those words left her mouth. Donavan had been in his own thoughts that when Rick did enter the kitchen and walk towards the coffee machine, pouring himself a cup.

The older man didn't take noticed until the younger man placed his mug free hand on his shoulder.

"Morning Boss," Rick replied, even though the two hadn't worked together in over a decade, he still referred to him as Boss. It was a sign of respect.

"Hey Kid, get the plates." Donavan ordered. Rick nodded and did as told.

Kate watched her favourite Author as he moved around the kitchen. He had showered and changed. She had wondered what took him so long. He was in a pair of casual blue jeans and deep red cotton v neck sweater, the fabric clinging to his perfect outline toned upper body.

"See something you like Detective," the teasing tone came from the older blue eyed gentlemen.

Kate had been taking a sip of her hot liquid when she had gotten caught starting at Rick. The liquid going down the wrong pipe, Kate began to choke.

Alexis began patting Kate on the back until the older women assured. "I'm okay, just went down wrong," she confirmed, shooting a glare at the older blue eyed man, who had a smirk on his face. He was like the older version of Rick.

As Kate observed the two, she tried to work out the age difference. Rick was 39, not that she was counting or anything and Rick's friend she guessed was around 59, if he was the same age as Martha, so that was what, twenty years difference? Martha was around twenty when she had Rick according to her wiki page. She had been young and took him on the road with her. Rick had said that they were old friends? But how old? He must be close with the family if Alexis is calling him 'uncle Donavan' and she had to admit, the two kind of looked alike.

07:23

The four were now seated at the Breakfast Bar. The two men on the right and the ladies remained on the left, they were all digging into the scrambled eggs, fried tomatoes, pork sausages and pancakes.

"I love your aussie breakfast, uncle Donavan," Alexis pipes up.

The older man smiled at the young girl he considers his granddaughter.

Kate is slowly eating, mostly pushing the food around with her fork, not really hungry. Her mind was elsewhere.

Rick had picked up on her lack of appétit, looking across at her concerned. "You okay, Kate?" the concern in Rick's voice evident.

Kate was completely zoned out. Her mind was in overdrive, there were so many things on it at the moment. Her new development with her Rick, whatever that was, being a big one. The mystery behind Donavan, Martha's sudden disappearing act and this shooter that is still at large.

"KATE," Rick practically shouted at her.

Lifting her gaze from her plate and looking across at the voice that was calling her, blue eyes filled with worry. "Um ... what?" Kate asked in a daze. Had she just really zoned out? Maybe the pain pills were playing with her head.

Now he was really concerned, still in her plaid PJ pants and his black tee shirt she had claimed since the hospital, her hair was tussled from the sleep but she still looked stunning.

"Dad asked if you were okay. You haven't touched your food," Alexis pointed out.

The brunette turned her eyes from her partner and towards his daughter; both sets of blues were watching her with deep concern. Kate didn't mean to worry them. She had just gotten lost in her thoughts.

"Sorry guys, I'm fine, just got a lot on my mind at the moment, not actually that hungry," Kate admitted, pushing her plate forward and standing up from the stool, walking off towards the couch.

Father and Daughter looked at one another, talking with their eyes before turning back to their food.

Rick kept one eye on his partner to who had seem to gone into some sort of shell.

Rick's bedroom – 08:01

Alexis had gone off to school, but not before her father assigned a plain clothed body guard with her. The kid looked around Alexis's age but Rick informed her that he was actually twenty two, just baby faced. That's why he blended.

Kate had since had her morning shower and was now sitting on Rick's bed, one of the most comfortable sleeping aids on earth. She had changed in black yoga pants and a loose army green tee shirt, that at the moment she was holding up, just covered the bottom of her breast.

Rick was applying the anointment to the wounded area so it didn't get affected, before applying the new bandage.

Soft rock music was playing throughout the bottom floor of the loft. Rick has surround sound, and Alexis had plugged in the iPod as Kate listened to the current song that was playing her thoughts drifted to the writer in front of her.

"Well I never quite knew where I stood with you and my safest bet was to disconnect, yes it's been so long but the chemicals are never wrong. Don't you get me wrong, you see I don't mind falling in love again, my heart on the line again, no I don't mind, when I'm on your side. See I'm not ready to go alone, so no one told you that a heart could be forever."

"When I'm not leaving cause were in this thing together and I don't know which way will take us home. I'm not ready to go alone, so no one told you it don't matter where the road leads cause where were going no we won't need anything and this is not goodbye, I'm always on your side..." Thriving Ivory belted out.

"Thank you for being there last night," Kate answered out of the blue, sincerely.

Rick didn't miss a beat correcting her. "Technically it was early this morning," his hands started to wrap the bandage around her. He raised his eyes to meet hers before answering with a smile. "Always."

A smile tugged at her lips, he always could get her to smile. His finger occasionally brushed against her soft skin sending chills shooting through her body, trying to get her mind off his hands touching her.

"So how did you and Donavan meet?" Kate asked trying to sound casual. "Was it in Australia? Why do you call him Boss?"

Rick had his eyes on her stomach as he tapped off the end of the bandage before sitting on the bed beside her. They were sitting so close that their sides were practically touching, but that didn't bother either of them. This new level of intimacy between the two of them was comfortable.

"Uh no, I have known him for very long time. I think I was three when I first met him. He was our next door neighbour. He had just come back from a tour and I was out front of our little two bedroom house, we lived in some little suburb in Newyork. It was when mother was trying to make it big," Rick answered with air quotes.

Kate bit her bottom lip and held in a smile as Rick continued.

"Anyway, I was climbing the tree in front of our house, mother was inside rehearsing some part for some play. I thought I was quiet the monkey, so I was climbing this tree when I lost my footing and fell. So closing my eyes and waiting for the pain to hit when I hit the ground only to feel two arms around me. I opened my eyes and looking up at this stranger that had caught me ... he was dressed in full marine dress uniform, to me he looked like a toy soldier and being a kid, I had to say what was on my mind..." Rick delivered but was cut off.

"Just as a kid? You still do," Kate teased, playful nudging him.

A smile tugged at his lips. "As I was saying, after I told him what I thought, he said 'I am a soldier, boy'" Rick answered in an Aussie accent.

Kate chuckled.

"After telling him that he talks weird, he informed me that he was from Down Under but has lived in America since he was fifteen, that he lived next door and that he was home for a few months before having to get shipped back off. That's when mother finally came out to check on me, when she saw 'the solider' she ordered me inside. I protested of course. I wanted to play with my new friend but mother got her way and I went inside and watched from the window. I saw them talking, then I saw her crying. He looked away, then walked back next door," Rick told her.

Kate was captivated by his story.

"It was a few days later that I saw him again. He was fixing his car in his driveway, mother was out at an audition and left me with a sitter to who was more interested in the 'price is right' then me. So I went over and began talking to him, since then we've been friends. He was my role model, when I was fourteen he gave me my first job. His family owned a diner and I worked there every summer up until I was eighteen, even when we moved from that house, we remained in contact and whenever he was home from a tour or mission, he would visit. Mother was always out at some play or with some husband, so the two of us just hang," Rick smiled, reminiscently.

Kate could see that he had a special bond with the older male. Even though the first time she meant Martha and he had joked about having 'heaps of role models' making a pass at his mother. It was good to learn that he actually did have someone to looks up to. Kate bet that's where he learnt how to be a great father from.

A moment of silence passed before Rick confessed. "Growing up, I secretly wanted Donavan and mother to get married, so he could be my dad. But they always kept a distance from one another," he admitted before standing up and walking out of the room.

Lounge Area - 08:44

Ever since the talk and Rick leaving the room, the writer had spent the next thirty minutes in his office before Paula showed up outside the door. She then spent the next fifteen minutes talking him into talking to the press in front of his building. They had been bombarding her with phone calls.

Rick turned towards Kate, his arms folded across his chest. He looked worried. So Kate just smiled at him and nodded, not needing to say any words, their eyes said it. Letting out a heavy sigh, he turned back to her and nodded.

"Okay, I will say something. Just give me fifteen minutes to secure everything. You can go let them know that they will get there feed of me," Rick dramatically added.

Front of Castle's Building – 09:01

Rick was worried about the sniper still being on the loose, so he made Kate stay up in the loft with Donavan by her side. The author still had his private security guys in their hideouts in the area.

Rick was standing behind a small podium. Where Paula had gotten that, he could only image. She probably kept it in her car so whenever she wanted him to speak somewhere, she would get it out and he would have to.

He had a guard to both sides of him but they were dressed in plain clothes and looked like doorman, as he looked down at the flashing camera's before him, he kept his face serious as he began speaking.

"Good morning everyone, I know that I've been quiet lately which is rare, especially for me. As you all most likely know by now, Kate or as you all know her as Detective Nikki Heat, was shot when we were at a great friend's funeral a little over a week ago. And all though I cannot give any specifics about that day or the gunman, I can inform you that Kate is doing well and recovery as expected. I would ask for you respect to let us be ..." before the writer could finish his speech, a popping sound filled the air followed by screaming, then Rick falling to the ground.

Castle's Loft – Lounge Area

Kate and Donavan were watching the press conference on the plasma since Rick said it was too dangerous for her to go out there. As Kate listened to her partner talk, still waiting for them to correct them about their 'marriage' when all of a sudden there was a popping sound and they then heard screams. The Camera turned to Rick and he was on the ground, with one of his 'guards' on top of him. Rick wasn't moving.

Kate's eyes widened and she shouted. "RICK!" then turned and looking at the older man beside her.

Donavan spoke into his ear piece "Diaz, Brooks, report."