Chapter 5 - Still in love

A/N: Leave a review for me, will you? As my inbox's flooded, I don't check e-mails that often... so reviews are more appreciated. You can PM me too though.

- So sorry for the delay. I had SO many assessments and projects.

- This chapter is dedicated to all of you who reviewed! Your reviews made my day :) Keep them coming!

- Pardon my grammatical errors please :)

Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me, Andrew W Marlowe and ABC are doing a damn good job with 'em.

Castle stood there with the files in his hand. They belonged to different people, important people who were involved in the conspiracy. These files were the only thing keeping Kate safe. Once Cole Maddox got a hold of these files, he would definitely kill her. Esposito had Beckett's back but he very well knew how big a risk they had taken, going after him alone. The thought of Esposito knowing all along where the files were had him vexed... how did he know?

'How the hell did these get here?' Castle asked, looking at Esposito for an explanation.

'I was with Beckett... a few feet away when she had the little fight with her sniper, I was about to interfere but then she gave him quite a kick which had me controlling a scream... Beckett didn't pick the files up at all actually, she just hailed a cab to your place which was a sign for me to take care of the files lying there. I ran and picked the files up before that bastard was on his feet... I needed to find a place to hide them, Maddox had seen me, the only place I could think of was yours... the address Beckett gave that cab driver was ringing in my ears but with what's going on between you two I didn't think it was a good idea...I was thinking of Beckett's dad and I took a cab there but then you called, telling me she was admitted...I rushed to the hospital instead...' Esposito took a deep breath and continued.

'I needed a place that was safe, that was closer to her... which was easy to access when time came, with all the officers outside your building in disguise right now, with Gates telling you to keep Beckett in the loft, I sneaked out of the hospital with the yellow manila envelope still hidden inside my coat...I went straight to your place, I was easily allowed, being a detective... that's it, that's how they got here!' Esposito finished, looking at the floor, slowly raising his gaze to meet Castle's.

Castle was silent for a minute, processing it all in his head. They shouldn't have done it; this was no way to get at Kate's sniper.

'Why didn't you arrest him there?' he asked Esposito.

'He had a gun gripped in his hand and it seemed a better option at the time to wait for another chance than to get killed with the files' Esposito simply said, not holding anything back.

Castle was trying to understand but the fight Kate had with the sniper was now haunting his thoughts. She always knew how to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Whatever her reasons were to leave him that morning, she at least came back to him. But if the sniper had for instance stabbed her where he had aimed for, what would he have done? His mind was having flashes of Kate Beckett, lying on a sandy ground with a knife pierced through her heart, blade shining in the sun, standing perpendicular to her breathless body. Kate Beckett's funeral knell echoing throughout the cemetery, slowly killing him from the inside, taking control of his body. He walked slowly towards Kate, standing there with her shining hazel eyes, observing him. He lifted his hand a little, fingers touching her chin gently.

'What would've I done if the near miss wasn't a miss?' he asked her, forgetting all about that moring at that very moment. It was just an honest question which showed his vulnerable side to her. He still cared, he still loved her. She could see the concern oozing out of every limb in his body. She needed to comfort him. She moved her hand through his silky hair, cupping his face like she had done earlier except this time, he didn't remove her hands. He just closed his eyes, taking her warmth in.

'I'm not going anywhere... I'll never leave okay? I'm safe, you're safe and that's only what matters to me...' she said, looking into his now open eyes. Trying to show him that she just needs one more chance to prove how much she loves him. She slowly moved her hands to his chest, making circular patterns there, stabilizing his heart rate.

'Be safe Kate, I need you to be... ' he said, realizing how helpless he would have been if someone had actually confirmed that she was dead a month ago. Its right, she had been dead to him a while back but actually the relationship had been dead for him, not her literally.

'We're safe...' she whispers, holding his hands now, squeezing them softly.

'We're fine...' she says again, giving him a smile. They were just staring into each other's eyes like old times when suddenly the sound of someone clearing their throat made them realize that Esposito was still in the room. He had been looking at the floor, at the cabinet, towards the kitchen, at the door... anywhere but them.

'Ugh, I...' he started. Thankfully Castle and Kate had parted and were now looking at him, a little embarrassed.

'I even found this note when I came in...' he said, giving Beckett the small piece of paper. She saw what was written, her eyes widened and she immediately handed it over to Castle.

'Mr Castle, I hope you haven't involved anyone else. This is just a reminder to tell you that you have 5 days left now. The clock's ticking. I hope Detective Beckett here understands the importance of time. How would you like to die Mr Castle? By a stake, knife, gun or a blast?'

Castle stood there, staring at the paper for a few more minutes.

'Whoaa... your sniper has a gross sense of humour' Castle said after a while.

He knew that he couldn't involve Esposito in this. They had to follow the rules.

'I'm already involved... ' Esposito said, as though reading his thoughts. Kate was with Esposito here. She knew that they would need him.

'Okay...' Castle said, nodding in agreement.

'He'll kill us when he gets the files as it is...' Castle said, looking at them. They needed a plan. They had 5 days but still they had to figure out a way to keep the files as well as get Cole Maddox without anyone getting hurt.

'You're in only if we include Ryan... we need him too!' Castle said, standing his point.

'No way!' Esposito protested but Kate was quiet. She knew that this wasn't a piece of cake. It was bigger than all of them.

'I'll talk to him okay? I'll explain it to him...' Castle continued, ignoring the death stare Esposito was giving him. Esposito was now staring at Beckett, a look that said *what do you have to say?*.

'Castle's right Espo... we need him' Kate said, trying to make him understand.

'Try your luck bro' Esposito said, handing Castle the phone lying nearby.

-CB –CB –CB –CB –CB

After ten minutes of conversing with Ryan, Castle came out of his room, keeping the phone in his pocket.

'Well... Ryan agreed! He wants in!' Castle said.

'What? That's it? I'm sure there's more to it writer boy! Don't hide anything okay?' Esposito said, in a brazen tone.

'There's nothing to hide! He'll come tomorrow and all of us will figure it out together -kay?' Castle said, giving them an innocent smile.

'Castle you sure there isn't-?' Kate started but Castle just said 'I'm doing what's the best for you, I know how risky this is!'

Kate nodded in return. There isn't anything to worry about.

'Espo... we'll see you tomorrow, after lunch?' Kate said, giving him a positive smile. Esposito just nodded and said 'take care you two...' before closing the loft door, though he was also muttering his disagreement for the new involvement taking place. Now they two were alone again. Kate was looking at Castle now, staring at him, putting all her mind as if he was a puzzle. He looked a little disturbed and also guilty, unsure? but for what? Even Castle had a totally different side to him which was still a mystery to her. She suddenly remembered his words to her in LA.

'You're a mystery I'm never gonna solve...' Kate said, seating herself down on the couch, beside him. Castle just smiled.

'You remember that?'

'Of course I do! I opened the door that night but you closed yours...' she continued.

'That's ironic!' Castle said, tilting a little, facing her. He couldn't control himself from commenting about the irony here. He was still aching though the pain was less. He even had a few other things going on in his mind, decisions he wasn't sure of... decisions about her safety.

'Many missed opportunities Rick' she said, looking at him, regret on her face. He could see that she was sorry, apologies were clearly visible on her face.

'I'll do what I can to keep you safe Kate, I can't take risks...' he said, trying to make her understand. She just looked so sad.

'I know...' she replied, keeping her hand on his knee. He simply loves the feeling he gets when she touches him. Maybe they have a chance. Behind the cloud of anger that has blocked his mind, he could see a bright light. After all, thats what great love stories are made of right? Beating the odds. He covers her hand resting on his knee with his. He holds her hand, a sign that clearly shows that he isn't going to let go any more, he is still holding on to her... the grip is tightening day by day. He'll be always there for her... 'Always'

Kate knows that scars take time to fade, clouds of anger take time to scatter, life is bound to have many bumps, ups and downs before levelling and perfectly pacing forward instead of backward. He is coming to terms with the bitter fact that she left but at the same time he is also realizing and remembering all the sweet memories that they've had. She's had two encounters with her sniper without Castle but with her one-and-done standing with her, she can win this third fight, maybe he's her lucky charm.

They both know that they're more than friends now. Though they maybe perfectly happy being friends for now, they may actually love it right now but... they know that eventually they'll have this incredible urge to kiss each other, this urge will not go away… and also, this feeling will keep on running in their mind that they're perfect together as the truth cant be hidden for long behind the cover of friendship.

They were just sitting there, lost is thoughts, holding hands. They didn't care about lunch as they were well past that now, still it wouldn't hurt to call for a pizza though it was an odd time for it. Castle gave Kate the cordless to place an order, telling her what he wanted. While Kate was ordering, Castle sneaked inside his bed room to make a call. Tring-Tring.

'Hello, one more thing, I don't want Esposito and Kate to know about the precautions we're taking until it's absolutely necessary... when we make our move in the alley, I don't want you to send the back up until the situation calls for it...' Castle said, speaking softly.

'We got that Mr Castle, though we've had many misunderstanding these past few months which included you accusing me for losing her, I'm glad you made the right decision this time. Don't worry, we'll not interfere if you all are able to manage it. You and Ryan keep me posted on the plan...' with that Castle kept the phone down. He couldn't afford to lose her again. In no way he was going to let Esposito's and Kate's stubbornness get them killed. He agreed with Ryan, as they had a common method to get through this and keep her safe.

It was Gates on the other line... he had involved her as well and she was in too, willingly. He just couldn't afford to lose Kate again, after all... he's lost without her.

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