:::::::::: Dr. Weston's office ::::::::::
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She sat in her usual spot on the couch, across from Paul. Leaning forward, with her forearms rested on her lap and grinning she said "So... Doc, you're finally getting rid of me."
Paul leaned back in his heavy black chair and crossed his leg. He took a while to respond, and read her body language. He stopped to think how he would miss that part of the therapy. "See, that's sort of funny because it seemed to me, all this time, that it was you that wanted to get rid of me..."
Kate nervously laughed and thought "Seriously? You wont give me a break, even on my last day?" She leaned back, opened her arms to posture confidence and said "Paul, c'mon?... I'm ready. You know I'm ready. All I need is your signature and I'm off desk duty and back on the field."
Paul, with worry, looked down upon his notes that lay on his lap and said "Kate, about that..."
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::::::::::::::::::: Abandoned warehouse ::::::::
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"Did ya miss us, Sundae Pie?" No reply. He hollered, "Hey, I'm talkin' to you muffin, hey!, sit up!" He poked at the body that was slumped on the floor. Still no reply.
He hurried inside and called out to his partner that stood in the doorway. "Yo man,... man... something's wrong!" He lifted the limp arm. It fell lifeless on the floor stained with fresh blood. "We may have ourselves a problem..."
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:::::::::::::::::::: Dr. Weston's office ::::::::::::
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Kate paced the room furious, trying to contain her strongest desire to send the pristine model boat sailing into Paul's diploma lined wall. "With all due respect doc, you have no idea what you're asking me to do."
"I'm not asking you to do anything Kate, and that's precisely my point. Now could you please sit down?" He motioned to the empty couch before him that was left vacant upon his delivery of what would have to happen in order for Kate to be fully reinstated at the 12th. She looked at him defiantly. As his polite demeanor did not falter, she conceded and sat. She ran her fingers through her hair and started again.
"Let me get this straight. You are saying that for you to sign that sheet of paper, I have to give up on my partner?"
"You partner Kate? Is that what you are?"
"You know that doc, why do we always have to come back to this?" She sighed and got up, dangerously eyeing the model sail ship Paul had on display. Her voice was tired, her arms limp. She turned towards the big window and crossed her arms defensively.
"Kate, you have suffered severe trauma, both physically and emotionally. You are still recovering. You might think that after today you are done with all this, but you're wrong. You have to take care of you."
"I take care of myself just fine doc. And Castle is no trouble." Kate tightened her folded arms.
"Well your Captain and I seem to disagree with you on that."
Kate irreverently opened her arms upwards, "So this whole 'drop Castle' was all her idea?"
"We believe that it is best for you start off with an actual cop as your partner. Castle is a civilian. You can't worry about him and take care of yourself."
"You know damn well Castle has... and more than once..." She stumbled to get the words out right. Sucker punched, again. She took a deep breath, and in effort said "Castle saved me. He saved me. You know that." What he said touched a nerve, and her right hand unconsciously touched the surgery scar on her chest.
Paul rested his head on his left hand and pungently asked "He saved you? Do you mean, he saved your life? That he prevented you from dying?"
Rattled, Kate took a step back "That's what I said."
Paul leaned forward "No Kate, you said he saved you. And I think it's important we understand what that means."