She didn't think that he'd be around for long. A couple months at most but he had stayed. For four years he had stayed. By her side. Only teasing her. Never pushing her farther than she was wiling to go and only ever protecting her. 'Why was he doing that?' 'Is he protecting me for himself?' 'I don't think I can...'
She didn't know why he kept coming back she hardly ever allowed him into her personal life and when she did, it had been accidental - but as of late things had changed. He'd become actively involved at being by her side whenever her mothers murder began to creep up on her. She knew who had organised her assassination. She knew why. She knew that they would end her if she spoke out of line. She knew that it had been the big guys. She knew she didn't stand a chance.
As the senator strode into the 12th precinct, fates heart quickened and Castle had immediately tried to contain her emotional response. He knew it was coming. She needn't say a word. He knew. They stood in the break room - silent- and watched through the glass panels as Bracken was escorted into interrogation room 3.
'I know you can do this but you know just as well as I do that you don't have to. Ryan and Espo can handle it'
He knew she'd refuse so he kept quiet and understood that her word was final. It always was.
They walked side by side, closer than they usually did and came to behold the room which was inhabited by a man that not only Kate, but also Castle had come to resent. He turned and nodded in confidence to her as he took a step to his left to occupy the so called secret room - 'the room on the opposite side of the mirror room' - but then she did something she had never done before. She almost yelled for him as she did. She reached out and groped his palm in hers.
Although not in any way upset by the action, he was surprised. She had never been the one to initiate touch without absolute necessity. 'There's no way I'm going in there alone'. No more words were needed. He looked into her eyes and let go of her hand as he reached for the door knob and motioned her inside.