Hi, so you didn't have to wait long before this chapter, I hope that by the end of this you won't hate me too much, and maybe love me a bit too?

I don't own Castle, I never have and probably never will.

Enjoy!

The trio stare in shock at the man as he fills the doorway, a rather large gun by his side. He's a tall man but the gun stretches from his dangling hand down past his knees. Rick takes Kate's hand without even realising as they duck down on the sofa knowing there is still chance that Kennedy has not seen them. Esposito has crouched behind the kitchen counter and is also unseen. Hands twined they look at one another, confessions on each of their lips but the man shifts position and the situation demands all their attention.

"How did he find us? And so fast?" Rick mouths to her not wanting to make a sound. She has no reply for him and so just holds his hand tighter, hoping to convey her feelings.

Their fingers entwine once more Kennedy steps forward calling out. "Oh Katie, I know you're here, and your boyfriend too. Come out and I'll make your death quick."

Kate closes her eyes desperately trying to come up with a plan but she can't think of any. Each scenario she can think of is too dangerous. Either one of them could get shot and she doesn't even have her gun with her. She has no plan and one look tells her that Rick doesn't either. She can see Esposito who is the only one with a weapon and the one in the worst position to use it. Kennedy begins to enter the loft shouting a statement with each step. He moves slowly, almost stalking them as he looks for where they are hidden.

"It seems you have some enemies Katie, they've been rather helpful. Got me out of that jail, twice, and all I had to do is promise to kill your boyfriend too."

"It was him that set me straight on who the girl was and made me promise to wait until she was safely out of the way. So Katie tell me what did you do to piss him off?"

With a nod Esposito begins to silently move from his hiding place. Kate can see him edging away from them aiming to give her the distraction she needs. She looks at Rick desperate to make her intention clear. He does understand and his eyes widen in fear, especially at the risk the plan puts her in.

"I must say, to be given you're address as well as all the information I needed, was pretty unexpected but I planned on killing him anyway so it's basically for free. I must say Katie I expected more, surely you can face me. Don't be a coward, Mommy would be so disappointed."

Nodding Rick agrees to stay put as the two listen to Kennedy's last statement before Esposito fires upon him and signals Kate's time to move. She begins to move but as she does Rick pulls her close and kisses her with all his being, desperate for her to know how much he loves her. She returns the kiss and embrace tears in her eyes as she pulls away, not wanting to leave him but she needs to save him. As Kennedy turns and fires back at Esposito his eyes follow her as she moves into position.

Just before Kennedy turns back she mouths one last sentence to him. "I love you."

Before he can react Kennedy turns back almost startled to see her standing there in front of him.

He gestures in the direction of Esposito his gun trained on her. "So the boyfriend can shoot."

"No he can't, my brother however can." Kate stands there oozing confidence, wearing no shoes and carrying no weapon. She watches without reaction as the man walks towards her and her lack of fear annoys him.

Kennedy tries to become more menacing as he steadily approaches her. "I know you're bluffing, you're standing here with no hope. This isn't a game of poker. There is no way to beat me."

"So then why don't you tell me why?"

"Why what?"

"Why you've come after me and my family. Why you've promised to kill for someone, in fact who is it that let you out? Who hates me that much?"

"I'm not going to tell you who, I don't even know. You however probably do. Sounded like a scorned boyfriend to me."

"Why do you want to kill me?"

"Your mother abandoned me, she was the only one who believed me but did she make others believe, no. She went and got herself killed instead. I told her not to look into it but she did. She abandoned me for death. I lost so many years of my life; I lost my fiancée, my home, all my money. I lost everything I loved. So I thought, why not take everything she cared about. You."

"It's not her fault she was murdered, what did she get into?"

"I'm going to kill you; I'm not going to give you that answer. You'll never know."

Kate's heart is pounding and she is close to panic and only the need to protect the man behind the sofa keeps her from crumbling. Her mind races as she tries to stall further and twist the situation to her favour.

"Then kill me, I'll see my mum and she'll tell me, she'll tell me everything. I remember her speaking about you. She'd said such nice things. She knew you were innocent and she tried so hard to prove it. She would have hated that she couldn't help you, that she couldn't be there to show them your innocence. That's why I never realised it was you, the man she described would never do this."

"The man she knew never spent years in jail, tortured for something he didn't do. He hadn't lost everything. He had hope and he put it in her. She failed him, she failed me. You now pay for that."

"Haven't I already paid enough?"

"How have you paid for her getting herself killed? What promises did she break, how can you have paid more than me?"

Kate lets her tears fall as she speaks, not all her words are true and she feels none of the betrayal she speaks of but it still holds some truths.

"She never saw me graduate; she didn't help me with boys. She didn't celebrate my first job or teach me the things I need to know. She never saw me fall in love, she promised to make my wedding day, to help with my children, to guide me through my first pregnancy. She promised and yet that's promises broken. I've needed her a hell of a lot more than you. At least you know why she failed. I've never known. So you tell me, haven't I suffered enough."

"Fine I'll tell you but when I kill you, I expect you to make my grievances known to her."

He's about to continue when he suddenly stops, his mind looking back over her speech. His eyes narrow as he looks at her. Suspicion fills him as he looks her up and down; his eyes still flicker around the room as he searches for her companions, unaware of the number.

"Children? Pregnancy? Wedding? I was informed that it was just your boyfriend I was to kill."

"You're informant seems a bit out of date."

His eyes dart towards her stomach and she instantly covers it with her hands. He still looks sceptical and fires some questions at her. "How long?"

"Three months,"

"Told the dad yet?"

"No, so can you let me live to do that?"

"No, but I can't kill you while the child is in there, you'll have to come with me."

"What? No!"

"Oh yes, I won't kill the child so we're just going to have to wait till you have it and then I will kill you."

Panic overcomes Kate and she steps backwards until she hit's the window. She can see the city below and the cop cars that surround the base of the building. Somewhere among them is a traitor, one that hates her. Her hands shake as she tries to open the window, she can't die, not now that she's told him.

A bang echo's across the room as Roy Montgomery bursts into the room with a squad of back up but as Kate sees this them a single shot rings out and all Esposito can see is Kate falling to the floor.

Reviews please?

Don't kill me!

I promise we will get back to happy fluffy moments soon, I have some rather cute moments planned, but hey! They've admitted feelings, kind of, yeah.