Disclaimer: The wording is mine but the characters aren't

OOOOOOOOO

Stevens came hard and fast, forcing her to retreat a few steps. She dodged his shots and aimed her returns at his lower back and kicked at his knees. He was a lot better than his girlfriend or his boss and his shots were tight. Pain lanced throughout her shoulder as he clipped her when she sidestepped. She ground her teeth and dropped to a one legged crouch, sweeping his feet out from under him, following with a heavy elbow to his diaphragm.

He landed hard and it took him more than a few attempts to roll to one side where he wheezed.

Stacy had regained enough breath and she crawled for him.

Kate left them and ran for her partner.

…

OOOOOOOOO

46.

The barkeep was on the phone, to the police from the sound of it.

"Don't bother. They're already on their way," she shouted at him.

They bloody well better be.

One man was down. Another was cradling his arm and had blood running freely down his face. Looks like Castle had aimed his ball just right.

Castle himself stood in between the two pool tables, holding his cue like a sword. The two remaining men had mimicked him and were watching him warily. Not wanting to startle them into a double attack she skirted as far around as she could so she was positioned behind Carrik.

The door burst open as she secured two balls in her hands.

"NYPD!"

Carrik snarled and swung his cue but Castle smoothly disarmed him, crunching the butt of his cue down on Carrik's wrist as he did so before he moved into the larger man's guard and cracked Carrik over the side of the head with his fist, still holding the cue.

It was a move she had seen so many times in sword fighting scenes but had scoffed at as being a sure-fire way to break your knuckles.

She was sure she would find out either way. It was effective though. Carrik was out before he hit the ground.

"Drop it," Ryan and Esposito approached low, their weapons steady in front of their chests.

The remaining member spat but threw his cue down and put his hands behind his head.

She made for Castle who was still holding the cue tight, watching as Ryan cuffed the last man and handed him off to one of the officers.

"Put in a call over the radio and got the patrol units," Ryan explained.

"Just as well too," Esposito added. "Don't think we could fit all of these in one car."
"Thanks guys," she smiled wearily at them, feeling the adrenaline starting to wear off. Her shoulder was throbbing in time with her heart beat. "Get them down to the nearest station and get the charges filed there. Celia is the only one we'll need to take with us tonight. We can bring Daniels in tomorrow as a possible accessory after the fact."

"You got it," Espo turned to supervise the transport of the other members, including the couple that had been hauled off the floor.

"I'll call ahead and let them know they might need a bus for those two," Ryan jerked his chin at the two men unconscious on the floor.

"Was he your work too, Castle?" He looked at Daniels.

"No," Castle's voice was rough and he coughed a little. "Carrik gets the credit for that one."

All three looked down at the heap of a man spread eagled a foot away.

"That was a good shot," Ryan complimented him.

"Yeah," Castle returned a little automatically.

Kate's colleague frowned at the self-depreciating reply but she just caught his eyes and he headed away, pulling out his cell phone.

Castle continued to stare at Carrik but she doubted he was really seeing him. Looks like he was still a little drunk on the fight, unable to stand down.

She waited patiently but he made no sign that he even remembered she was there. It was startlingly painful. How many times had she done this to him? Gotten so caught up in something she forgot everything else. She resolved she wouldn't do it again.

Her shoulder protested as she lifted her arm and took hold of her partner's cue. Yeah, that was going to be a good bruise.

"We're good, Castle."

He felt the cue being pulled gently from his grip and he looked down at the fingers deftly prying loose each stiff finger.

"We're good, Castle." Kate assured him and he blinked rapidly, letting the cue fall into her grasp.

The adrenaline was really crashing in system now and he felt the first tremors settling into his hands and knees. She seemed to understand and took his uninjured hand in her own and just held it, her thumb brushing across the skin as three uniforms levered Carrik up and carried him out the door. He matched his breathing and his heart rate to the rhythm of her strokes.

He let out a shaky breath and she nudged him with her shoulder.

"Idiot."

"What'd I do?"

"Everyone knows you don't punch someone when you're holding onto something. Or did you want to break your hand?"

He had gotten so used to her holding his left hand when they were cuffed he didn't think she had chosen that side because he had potentially broken his right.

"It always works in the movies," he shrugged, slowly forming the words and letting them anchor him.

"Hmm," she sounded disapproving and amused.

He looked over at her and found her watching him closely.

"Does that hurt?" she asked.

"Not really," he admitted.

"Is that because you're in shock or because you're really lucky?"

"I've been in shock before and this isn't it."

She squeezed gently. "You did a good job."

"Yeah," he smiled. "We did."

"You're still going to get that hand looked at."

He groaned and she let out a quiet laugh as Ryan and Esposito made their way back to them.

"All set," Ryan said. "They'll be in booking for a while- probably out in a few hours if they're not injured. Carrik, Stacy and Stevens are getting special attention for assaulting an officer. Or they will when they're awake."

"And Celia?"

"Is in the car with a uniform. She'll be in holding overnight."

"Figured you guys would want to head home and take a run at her tomorrow." Esposito offered.

"Sounds like a plan," Kate nodded. "See if you can get a statement from the barkeep before you leave."

"Sure thing, Beckett," Ryan agreed. "Your hand okay, Castle?"

"A little ice when I get home and it should be good. It doesn't hurt much at all so I should be okay to handle the bike on the way home."

"You sure?" Esposito piped up. "I mean, I can take the bike and you can catch a ride with Ryan. Maybe Beckett will give you a ride."

"You could just ask to borrow it on your day off," Castle told him wryly.

"Really?" he lit up. "Thanks, man."

"Anytime."

"Just make sure you get a spare helmet before you take Lanie. Wouldn't want you two to get pulled over now, would we?"

Esposito's face sank.

Ryan outstretched his hand and Castle mimicked him, tapping their fingertips together.

"Well, now that we've established that, I'm going to get your hand checked and then I'm going home." Kate broke up their moment.

"She takes such good care of me," Castle grinned.

"Yeah," Esposito' face grew sly again. "We heard."

"Everything," Ryan added.

"You hear that?" Castle looked at Beckett in false-surprise. "They heard everything."

"Just as well," she worked a frown. "You better have been recording all that too."

Both boys looked uncomfortable. "Y-Yeah. Of course we were."

"Good," she announced. "Now if you don't mind we're leaving. See you boys in the morning."

She turned and walked out, her fingers still laced with his.

They didn't need words. The last few days had proven that words helped. And hurt.

But for something as simple as this?

Her hand in his and his arm around her back was enough.

You've got my back and I've got yours.

"When we have that dinner with your dad you better tell him I've proven how manly I am."

"No, Castle. I'm not going to tell my father you've proven your manliness. I kind of want to keep you around."

The lighting in the parking lot and from the police lights changed colors like Christmas lights on his teeth when he beamed.

They saw a single ambulance still parked in the lot and made for it.

"One more thing, Castle," she told him.

"Yeah?"

"Broken hand or not, shave before you come in tomorrow."

…