Chapter 6 - He's Coming Back

A/N: I'll be updating twice a week at least from now, maybe more if I get time. Leave me a review, even a word would do as they are always quite encouraging. Thanks for all the favorites and alerts. It means a lot.

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

They had been watching TV, though exchanging awkward side glances the whole time but they had managed to sit together for two whole hours after they were finished with the pizza. Both were abstemious and didn't believe in over eating as this week was going to test both of them physically as well as mentally. They sat on the two ends of the couch but at least it was the same one. Slowly Kate dozed off on the couch itself, the sound of the TV acting as more of a lullaby. She didn't want to be alone and being near him allowed her body to rest instantly. She just wanted to curl up to his side and use him as a pillow while she slept. She remembered the warmth of his body from that night, the smell of him, and the soothing rhythm of his heart beat, how his chest moved up and down with every inhale and exhale... he smelt of home. Home is not a place but a person, someone whom you come back to and for her it was now him.

Castle watched her as she slept. She looked so peaceful. Her gorgeous eyes were closed which allowed him to focus on her other features, not only her eyes. She was perfect, at that very moment she looked like an absolute angel. He stood up and adjusted her hanging feet on the couch, removing her slippers. He came back after a few minutes with a blanket and draped it over her, covering her legs and tucking it under her chin. Before walking away, he looked once again at her sleeping form, thinking she would wake up in the night and lead herself to her room.

As Castle lay on his bed, he glanced at his phone, thinking whether it was the right decision to involve Gates and Ryan. He remembered his conversation with Gates when she had disappeared.

'How could you be so fatuous to send her after him? By all means Sir, I respected you, but I guess not anymore! If something happens to her... if she gets sh- hell no! Find her... ALIVE! I want her breathing... how can she leave me? It's all because of you!'

He could still hear his accusing voice. He could still hear Gate's apologetic tone.

'Mr Castle, we had no idea that we'll lose her... its unpredictable with her! She's one of the best and I just need you to calm down... we're trying, trying to find her! I had no idea that matters would become...'

'STOP! I guess it's done! I'm... I can't', he had cut the call before Gates could complete what she was saying.

He could still hear the ringing of his phone, Ryan's, Esposito's, the calls he had dodged, the crashing sound of his new phone as he smashed it against the wall in frustration.

He forced his mind to stop thinking, he forced his restless body to cooperate, he forced his eyelids to close shut, he forced his heart to stop racing but it was all in vain, he was unable to sleep. After a few hours he decided to check up on her, the reason of his restlessness.

He walked out of his bedroom into the living room where she was still lying asleep. He looked at her for a moment and decided to wake her up and take her to the guestroom. That couch would surely give her back ache in the morning if she slept there all night.

'Kate...'

Castle bended and softly whispered to her. Beckett was fast asleep on the couch. It was almost midnight.

'Kate...' he whispered once again. She opened one eye, the other one still flooded with sleep. She looked so adorably innocent.

'Let's get you to bed, come one...' Castle said, helping her up the couch. He put his one arm around her, taking her upstairs to the guest room, her room. She pressed herself closer to him as he helped her up the stairs and to the bed, but instead of climbing onto that cosy bed, she hugged him. Both her hands clasped around his neck and her head resting on his warm chest. He was hesitant at first, but he decided to live in the moment. His hands slowly and gently moved from her shoulders, down her sides and wound around her waist. He pulled her close, removing the space between them. He just held her.

'Rick...' She moaned in desperation first.

'Castle...' she moaned again but her voice broke. She was holding back tears. Her voice was shaky.

'I'm so sorry...'

'I didn't think, I just ran, I don't deserve you, I distanced myself, I thought it was the right thing to do but, please... I-' she let it all out between tears, between sniffs.

'Shh...'

Castle moved his hand soothingly on her back, comforting her. She took deep breaths calming herself down. After a few minutes she was quiet, breathing normally. She had calmed down.

'Feel better?' he asked and he could feel her nodding against his chest.

'We'll get through it... with time...' he said, his arms still around her, trying to shield her from all the darkness that had covered their lives.

'Time, we don't have enough...' she said in a feeble voice. He just helped her lie down and tucked her in. He looked into those shiny eyes of hers, seeing the fear of rejection but also hope. He didn't want the past to enervate their relationship.

'We'll make time then...' he said and bended down to place a kiss on her forehead. She would definitely cherish the moist imprint made by his lips as it was the first time his lips had touched any part of her body after that morning. There certainly was hope left.

'Sweet dreams Kate...' he softly said, giving her a smile. She smiled back. She wanted him to stay, she decided to ask him... but he was gone.

She wanted to say so many things to him, but emotions always took control of her when he was there. The occasion was never auspicious.

She closed her eyes and remembered...

Her second visit had been much like the first, with him in another world, dreaming. But this time he was sleeping on his desk, the laptop lying nearby. She came near him. He had been working on frozen heat, his next novel. His hands were lying crossed on the desk and his head rested over them. His mouth was half open and she could hear soft snores. It was shocking how tough this man could be. The cute and facetious appearance was just a cover. He was the one who stood by her and helped her through her shooting. He had still managed to crack jokes and make her smile even after she had said indirectly that she needed time. He waited for four years. She just knew one thing for sure; she was unconditionally in love with a nine year old on a sugar rush. Three words were out of her mouth even before she knew it.

'I love you...' she softly whispered.

'hold on to that...' she sighed and left the loft to find her sniper, get closure and come back to him, for forever.

-CB –CB –CB –CB –CB

The next morning had gone by fast with Castle and Beckett finishing brunch and not talking about the previous night as usual. Castle was also for about forty five minutes on the phone with his daughter, explaining things to her and asking about her schedule. Very soon Esposito and Ryan arrived, bringing with them a master plan.

'We all should be armed you know...' Castle said, looking at the three of them. The idea of holding a gun elated him.

'Yes we'll be armed, but let's go over the plan again' Beckett said.

'Shall I?' Ryan asked and all of them nodded in agreement.

'Wait- Kevin, can I count on you to have our back?' Esposito asked, looking at him seriously.

'Yes! I'll do what's safe for all of us!' he answered, looking at Esposito and then at Castle. Castle was the only one who knew what he actually meant.

'Okay bro... Continue then!' Esposito said, softening his expression a little.

'Yeah, so... the alley, according to Beckett here, it's the one where... her mother was...' he stammered.

'You can say it Ryan' Kate said, raising an eyebrow.

'Right! This alley, we have to give him the files but we'll be giving out fake ones. He doesn't know about Javi and my involvement so Beckett will be going in with Castle here, I will be just a few blocks away, and I'll barge in if something goes out of plan, you two will be wearing a wire... Esposito will be at a distant building which has quite a clear view of the entire alley, he'll be our very own sniper and will take him down if arresting him isn't possible...' he finished.

'He'll be having more men I'm sure, I don't think it'll be that easy!' Casle said after a while. This was still risky.

'Yes it's risky, I think Castle you shouldn't come with me, you should accompany Ryan or even Espo...' Kate said. She was worried.

'No way, I'm not gonna let you out of my sight!' he simply stated. He wasn't going to listen to anyone. They've had this conversation about four-five times since morning but he hadn't budged from his decision. Kate sighed in defeat.

'We'll put the plan in action day after, tomorrow we'll get ourselves all the necessary supplies but tonight we feast...' Castle said excitedly.

'Old Haunt? I know the owner...' Kate said, smiling at him. She didn't know how everything was going to eventually go down. She just knew that she wanted to enjoy and spend all the time she could get, with him.

'And who's that?' Castle asked, settling his shirt collar and running a hand through his silky hair. Kate just nodded and gave him an eye roll. Things were finally looking a little normal.

'Yeah, It's that writer, what's his name again?' Ryan asked, looking at Esposito.

'Something to do with high walls and towers...' Esposito said, scratching his head.

'Ha-ha, Very funny!' Castle said, sarcastically, though amused. Ryan, Esposito and Kate just tried to control their laughter, as he was staring hard at them, trying to look all serious.

'Anyways... lets go!' Castle said, standing up from the chair and grabbing his coat.

'Who wants to do shots?' he shouted in excitement.

'Drinks on me!' he said, giving Ryan and Esposito high fives. The old Castle was slowly coming back. Time really does heal all wounds. Kate just stood there staring at him adoringly, she just wanted to tell him how much she loved him. She wanted to tell him everything and start fresh with no dangers and no lies. With no reason and no desire to leave him again.

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