Disclaimer: The Characters are not mine. No matter how much I would like them to be. I only get to borrow them for a little while.
When Moving On Means Something Different Epilogue
May 2018. There are many kinds of anniversaries, both positive and negative. The day they met. The first time they kissed, even though they argue about which time that really day she was shot. The day she agreed to become his wife. The day she became his wife. And the day he had no choice but to walk away. But this day, is the anniversary of the world righting itself. 5 years ago today, Kate Beckett showed up at Richard Castle's door and told him, no, showed him how much she wanted him.
So on this, the 5th anniversary of that day, Rick and Kate had plans to celebrate all they had gained since that day. The life they have together with their family, Alexis, Martha, Jim and now their baby boy Edgar. Martha arrives early to spend the day with her grandson, and wait for the caterers to arrive with food for the celebration tonight.
It happens when Castle, Beckett, Ryan, and Esposito are leaving the precinct. They rarely leave thru the front lobby, but today is the day they do, and he is waiting for them. The four teammates are standing in front of their cruisers when Espo sees the man raise his weapon aiming it right where Rick is standing.
"Gun!"
He yells as he leaps in Castle's direction knocking him out of the way, and onto the sidewalk. Other officers see what's happening and act quickly to take down the shooter. Even though Javi shoves Rick out of the way, he is still hit. The bullet hits Castle in the upper right arm, going through and through. Kate can hear the sound of Castle's breath leaving his body as the bullet hits him and he and Esposito hit the sidewalk.
"No! oh God!" yells Kate as she scrambles past the cruiser to get to her husband. As she drops to her knees she begins to see the blood streaming from her husband's wound as Javier jumps up and heads in the direction of where the shooter was apprehended. LT reaches to grab his cuffs to further subdue the suspect, just as Esposito arrives and grabs the suspect raising his fist to take a punch.
"It's not worth it bro" Says detective Ryan as he grabs for Espo's fist just before he is able to land a punch.
Castle and Beckett need us more than you need to be put up on charges for decking this jackass."
"Fine, fine get your hand off me Kevin, I understand. Let's get Castle out of here." Things seem to go into overdrive, as they all move quickly to get Castle to the hospital, where he is treated and admitted overnight for observation.
The argument starts just after Castle is brought to his room.
"Castle, Rick just rest"
"Kate what is that look on your face? I'm okay. I'm going to be ok."
"I know Rick it's just...I know this isn't the best time maybe."
"What isn't the best time"
"I think it's time for you to stop working with me on case's at all Castle. You're such a good writer and such a fantastic father"
"Beckett, what the hell?"
"I can't lose you too Rick, I need you and your children need you, more than you need to help me at the precinct. I'm so grateful for all you've done but, I just can't see you get hurt like this, or worse, again."
The argument continues until Kate realizes that things are only going to spiral out of control, if she doesn't do something.
"Look, Rick, this isn't the best time. You need to rest. Alexis just texted me, she is on her way up to stay with you and I'm going to take the baby back home for a while. We can hash this out later."
By this time, Rick is so frustrated he lashes out in a way he will soon regret.
"Beckett!" Rick says with anger edging his voice, and drugs clouding his better judgement
"You haven't run in a long time. You going to start now?"
Kate is astounded that he would even think to say something like this, Drugs, gunshot or not.
"We're not talking about this now!" Kate says, raising her voice in anger.
With nothing left to say, Kate closes her eyes for a moment, takes a breath and leaves. Leaving Castle alone with his anger.
Kate sits in the loft office, in Rick's chair holding her small wriggling bundle. She's intermittently cooing at the beautiful baby boy and looking out the office window, watching the rain as it falls angrily from the sky. It's torrential. The wind is blowing, thunder clapping as if it's trying to knock down the building. The thing is, for as crazy as the weather is outside, the storm going on in Katherine Castle's heart is much worse.
Things seem so surreal, the day started out easy enough. Five years ago today was one of the worst and best days of her life. On the dawn of that day she stood at her mother's grave, lamenting the fact that she still did not know who killed her mother, and the love of her life had walked away in frustration, knowing she was on the final path to self destruction. On that same evening she had gone to her love, thrust herself into his arms apologizing for all she had done.
Now as she sits in the office of their home, Kate wonders how this day had gone so sideways. Rick is laying alone in a hospital room, tired confused and angry. Angry because Kate asked him to not help her investigate crimes even from home. He's been doing so since Kate went back to work from maternity leave on the rare occasion that Martha or Alexis have time to spend the day with the baby. It had been a while since he was able to go to the precinct, and today was the day that someone picked to come gunning for Richard Castle.
It came down to it being the brother of the man that Castle testified against in criminal proceedings. This mans brother was upset Castle's testimony sent the him to prison for murder and made a plan to do something about it.
Kate realizes, sitting here in Rick's office stewing, when she needs to fix this now is pointless. She reaches for her cell phone to call Lanie.
"Kate, what's going on? Is something else wrong?"
"Yes Lanie, I left the hospital angry. Castle and I got in a fight about the shooting.
"Girl, don't you think he's had enough for one day"
"I was wrong, I shouldn't have gotten mad at him. I love him so much and it scared me to see this happen to him. I can't do this without him. Can you come get the baby. I need to go see my husband. I was wrong to just leave him alone like that.
"I'll be right there sweetie. Little Edgar will go home with me. I need some baby lovin time anyways. Just have everything ready."
Thirty minutes later Lanie was at the loft, carrying the carseat out the door.
Just before the door begins to close Lanie looks at Kate and says. "Look, I understand why you're scared, You love Rick, you don't want anything else to happen to him, maybe this just isn't the time to press the issue"
"Come on sweet baby, listen to that thunder, we're about to have a downpour"
"Ok Lanie, thanks. I will think about what you said."
As Kate walks in to the bedroom to grab her coat, her phone rings. The number is unknown. "Beckett"
"Kate! Oh God Kate! I'm glad you answered the phone" Says a panic stricken Alexis.
"Kate, I just got here to stay with dad,like I promised. I know they were keeping him the night for observation and I got to his room and he's just gone! His clothes, shoes everything is gone"
"I'll be right there Alexis, We'll find him."
Just as Kate has finished collecting her things and is hurrying toward the door, she hears knocking. She walks the short distance from the bedroom to the door, opening it, only to find Rick leaning into the doorframe, his left arm secured to his torso by a sling. He's soaked to the bone and wincing in pain.
"Oh my god, Rick." says Kate, dropping all her belongings behind her, helping Castle take halting, pain driven steps into the loft. They get only two or three steps into the loft as Kate lets the door swing shut. Even though Kate thinks she has a good hold on her husband, He begins to lurch backwards stopping only when his back hits the door, causing him to groan in pain.
"Shit, they said this isn't that serious a wound. I'm starting to think they don't know what they are talking about." Rick says as he finds purchase at the door.
"Castle let me get you into the bed. Have you lost it completely? Did you seriously try to walk here from the hospital?" Kate says quietly as she places her arm gently under his good arm to help keep him steady.
"No, I had the car service pick me up. The driver waited for me while I sat in the park and did some thinking. Swings aren't such a bad place to think in the rain."
"I seem to remember that Castle" smiled Kate
"I seem to remember that you and I have a relationship with this door."
"You mean a relationship on the door Castle?"
"Yeah kind of" Chuckles Rick, "But we we've given it great memories haven't we?"
Kate smiles at her husband and lays her fingers along his jaw as she kisses him gently
"Castle, I didn't want today to turn into a fight. Seeing you get shot is the scariest thing I've ever seen. I'm scared. Scared of losing you and I don't want to be without you ever. But I'm sorry I upset you."
"We can find a way to fix this Kate, I can limit my investigation to more time at home. But you know it's not just about investigating, I like to be there to help keep you safe. Because I love you."
Kate leans forward embracing Rick and gently claiming his lips with hers. Exploring slowly and sweetly, showing him how she feels. "I love you too, and I still want you very much, but tonight babe, I don't think there's going to be much ravishing". Kate slides Rick's good arm around her back and says let's go.
Kate takes a few minutes to text Alexis and let her know her father is safe at home, and once she helps Rick get changed, settled into bed, and propped up against the headboard for more comfort. He reaches out with his good arm grasping Kate's hand, imploring her to slip under the covers with him.
"This wasn't what I had in mind for us tonight, when I told you I had plans."
"Well I know, but I have a feeling somehow your plans did include the door."
Kates smiles and laughs lightly, as she leans into him carefully planting a deep but gentle kiss on his lips, stopping before they are both completely breathless.
"Ok, maybe I was thinking of including the door." Rick's face goes from adorable smile to deadly serious. "It's been five years, and that means so much. Look at what all we have now Kate. I don't ever want to lose that."
"Oh Rick, we're not going to lose that. I want you more now than I ever have. I'll always want you"
The End
A/N Thank You to all of you for the follows and faves. Diana thanks so much for the beta, I really appreciate all your advice. And Sarah, your'e great!