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Prompt from Lady Allana Solo: What if Montgomery didn't die in the hanger but still killed Lockwood? ..Thanks for sending it in!

As always, thanks for reviewing, following and favoriting, and please send in any prompts you'd like me to write!

Enjoy!

The shots rang out as Rick held Kate up against the squad car, doing everything in his power to calm her down. He'd never seen her so hysterical before; honestly didn't know she was capable of it. But she had just had her world turned completely upside down. She deserved to be hysterical.

But there were men not five hundred feet away that wanted her dead. So no matter how much she deserved to question and scream and retaliate, he couldn't let her. He would never be able to forgive himself if he let her go in there.

"Rick, please!"

"Shh, Kate, shh." He smoothed her hair back away from her face and cupped his other hand across her mouth, trying desperately to muffle the sobs that were shaking her body. She reached a hand up, placing it on his cheek in response. She slid down the side of the car, but Castle's arm caught her and supported her weight.

They stood this way for no more than two minutes when the air was filled with silence. The gunshots were a mere memory, and the faint sound of squealing tires weaved in and out, melding with the silence. Kate broke free of his grasp, making a break for the hanger. She wanted nothing more than to find Roy and have her questions answers; all she wanted was the truth.

Her heels echoed as she stormed in, zeroing in on where her captain lay. His face was pale, all the muscles contorted as he took shallow breaths in and out. His left hand was draped across the wound, the other still holding his firearm. "Sir."

"I'm okay. Just call an ambulance." Roy's voice was raspy, his eyes just barely open. His breaths were becoming shallower as the time ticked on.

"Castle!" Kate screamed frantically, eyes darting to the door that she had entered in. He appeared moments later, praying to God that she was okay. "Call nine one one. Now!" He did as he was told as she went into autopilot, applying pressure to the wound and surveying her surroundings. She was in another mindset; being a cop, until she heard a small voice.

"Kate."

She looked at him, barely realizing that he had said a single word. "No, you're okay." Tears stung her eyes. Seeing him like this, her mentor fighting for his life, was terrifying.

"I killed him."

"You what?" Her eyes widened at his words.

"I killed Lockwood." Roy almost attempted a smile, but winced as pain shot through his abdomen again.

Beckett breathed out, blinking back fresh tears. As frustrating and confusing as all of this new information was, she felt a huge weight being lifted off of her shoulders. One of the many ghosts of her past had been eliminated, but was replaced by the unthinkable: Montgomery was involved. "We're gonna get you out of here," was all she could say as the silence was filled with the distant sound of sirens wailing.

It had been three days since the shooting. They had had to tell the truth, parts of it. They seemingly left out the part about Roy being a renegade cop, because he had saved Kate's life. She had to repay him. If that meant lying to her co-workers, then so be it. Montgomery had made it, just barely. But he was alive and finally ready for visitors. As soon as Beckett heard the news, she knew this was her chance to finally get answers.

But when she left her apartment, she didn't, couldn't, go straight to the hospital. So there she was, at his door, relying on him to help her through this. The first time she had done anything like this in a long time. "What am I even going to say to him? He was involved with it all and I never knew. He lied to me." She paced the floor, hands on her forehead; she could feel a headache coming on.

He stood off to the side, his arms folded in front of his chest. "I know, but you need to talk to him. You need to hear the whole story. You deserve to."

She stopped pacing and looked at him. "What if I'm not ready to hear it?"

"You're ready, Kate. You've been ready for a really long time." He eliminated the gap between them, pulling her into his arms.

She didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around his waist. She just needed a hug. She needed him and she had no problem admitting it. "Will you go with me? Please?" She broke free from his embrace and looked him in the eyes.

"You really want me to?" Castle folded his arms again.

Kate nodded and bit her lip. She really did.

They entered the hospital, getting directions from the nurses as they went. The corridor twisted and turned, turning into different wings and rooms. Finally, when they made it to recovery, they stopped. The nurse that had been leading them addressed them both.

"Roy Montgomery is in three twenty, first door on the left. We'd appreciate only one visitor at a time, but if you're quiet, it should be okay for both of you to go in." She smiled at them before returning to her post.

"Ready?" Castle faced her, trying to soften his express. But his nerves were just as wired as hers.

"I guess so." She bit her lip and took a deep breath before pushing open the door to three twenty.

The room was all white; an unsettling antiseptic smell perfuming everything. The sounds of a heart monitor beeped every few seconds signaling a life still lived. Montgomery sat in bed, his eyes fixated on something out the window. He was alone.

"Sir." She choked out, breaking the silence.

Roy looked at then, his eyes tired, but fully aware. "It's good to see you two."

"You as well, Sir." Castle nodded in his direction. The atmosphere was tense; the questions lingering. The elephant in the room apparent to all three.

Kate sat in the chair next to the bed facing him, not wasting any time. "I have a few questions." Castle stood behind her, a supportive hand resting on her shoulder.

Montgomery looked both of them in the eye. "And I have answers."

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