So here's the chapter you've been waiting on.

Enjoy!

As Roy handcuffs Kennedy, Javier Esposito rushes across the room to check on his friends. He calls out to them not knowing what to expect as he can see glass all over the floor. Javier could see that the bullet had shattered the window and hoped that his friend was able to get out of the way in time. "Beckett, Castle? Are you two ok?"

"We're fine." It was Castle that answered, his voice confident but with a hidden undercurrent.

Javier decides to direct the question solely to his boss. "Beckett, Are you ok?"

"She's fine, I told you."

Javier hears giggles begin to echo through the loft. Everyone in the room turns to stare at the sofa, shocked. The captain raises an eyebrow and Javier proceeds to approach the sofa with caution.

The giggling gets louder with each step and as he rounds the sofa he cannot believe his eyes. Still laying upon the floor are Castle and Beckett, the latter laughing at the former. Unaware of Javier's presence he begins to tickle the detective who shrieks as she tries to escape him.

The relief of her safety has pushed all thoughts from Rick's mind as he shamelessly pulls her into his arms. No longer being tickled Kate ends her laughter and their eyes lock. Unnoticed above them Javier rolls his eyes at the pair but his jaw soon drops as the pair's lips join.

Within seconds the male detective is across the room stuttering their actions to the captain. Roy shakes his head as he listens as it's not what he would have expected from the detective. Finally she has seen sense so he let her actions slide.

Moments later Alexis and Jim burst through the door with Ryan hot on their heels and Lanie close behind. Lanie hurries across the room as Ryan shoots a questioning look Javier's way. Javier just points to the sofa before embracing his girlfriend. Lanie's questions and worry are interrupted by Alexis's shout.

The girl covers her own eyes before burying her head in her grandfather's side. "Dad, Kate! Now's not the time for that!" Alexis voices what everyone in the room is thinking. She continues talking as she looks around the room again. "I am totally thrilled that you are both ok and I am so happy about the kissing, I just don't want to see it not right now at any rate. You just faced a mad killer so stop kissing and come hug me."

Complying with the teenager's demand the pair get off the floor but before either can step closer to the teen, Alexis runs to them crushing the breath out of them both at the same time. When she finally let go she began talking at great speed to Lanie and Jim took his little girl in his arms and hugged her.

He was so proud of her for both standing up to Kennedy and admitting her feelings. Kate's smile is radiant as she looks at Rick standing close by with the captain. Jim's heart feels like it could burst as he lets go of his child and gently pushes her towards her boyfriend. Never in his life had he ever thought that one day he would be pushing her into the arms of a man. This man however comes pretty close to deserving her. Alexis joins him as he watches Kate cross to Rick and the captain. She greets them as normal before letting Rick wrap his arm around her.

Everyone present is smiling at the new couple. Then they all set to clearing everything up and while they process the scene. Finally everyone separated to go to their own homes. Kate suspects that Lanie is an exception, going to Esposito's home rather than her own and doesn't bother to hide her suspicions. She is glad that her friends have found one another.

So she hasn't been shot, or hurt and she hasn't ran away either, I know the beginning was probably OOC but I had the image in my head and the look on Espo's face would have been priceless.

There's been so many reviews for this, I am humbled that you like this enough to post reviews. And everyone is so positive! Thank you all, each and every review has made me smile.