Summer Rain

Disclaimer: Not mine... characters are property of ABC

Summary: After Kate's shooting, Castle finds he can't stay away. They discover that nothing clears the air like a summer rain.

A/N: Co-written with lms2457.

Rick and Kate ran back up the trail, laughing and giggling like a couple of love-struck teenagers, stopping from time-to-time when they lost themselves to the moment.

When they finally made it back to the cabin, Kate opened the door and watched as Castle replaced the spare key into its hiding place. "I should have known Dad would tell you how to find me."

"He knew I was worried about you, Kate," Rick said, "and I think he also knew I wasn't going to take no for an answer." He smiled, and pointed back to his car, "I have a few things packed in there. Dry clothes. I'll be right back, okay?"

She nodded, still not quite believing the events that just happened. "A little presumptuous, are we?"

"No," he answered, as he opened the car door and pulled out a suitcase. "I have reservations at a local hotel. I just chose to come here before checking in."

"I don't think you'll need them." His questioning look made her roll her eyes as she clarified, "The reservations, Rick."

His smile brightened and warmed the once-empty spot in her chest. When she stepped aside for him to come in, she realized how rain-soaked they both were, and saw the puddle she had already made on the hardwood floor.

"I've got to get this cleaned up!" Kate opened the coat closet and found an old woven blanket, and laid it on the floor to soak up the water. "This will work for now, but we both need to get out of these wet clothes."

She raised an eyebrow at the look Castle gave her, "What? We're not doing THAT. Yet. The bathroom is upstairs and to the left. I'll go up after you're finished."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he caressed her cheek, then took off his shoes and socks before he went upstairs to change.

It took a few moments before she could move. She could finally see a glimmer of the light at the end of the tunnel, and it felt wonderful. It felt like hope.

It was like she could breathe again, for the first time in ages. Kate straightened the blanket a little, then took off her shoes and socks as well.

She was about to go into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee when she heard the upstairs door click, and Rick's footsteps as he walked downstairs.

"Hey," Rick smiled. He was wearing denim pants and a dark blue t-shirt. His hair was still standing in places, but it was tamed a little.

Her heart lifted with the warmth she saw in his eyes. "Hey," she answered, "I was about to make coffee..."

"You go change. I can take care of that."

"Thanks," she smiled, and found it hard to walk away from him, but the need for warmer, and drier, clothes led her away.

Kate found her way into her room and pulled out an old police academy tee and flannel bottoms. She changed into them in her room, then went into the bathroom to brush the tangles out of her hair. She pulled her hair back and tied it at the base of her skull, then went back downstairs.

When she stepped into the living room, Rick was already there with two mugs on the coffee table and he was building a fire in the fireplace. He winked at her, "It's still a little cool in here for me. I hope this is okay."

"I was thinking the same thing," she admitted. Funny, how he always seemed to be in her head, and she kind of liked that about him.

The fire seemed to be going well enough for Rick and he lounged on the couch, one leg stretched along the side and the other on the floor. "Care to join me?"

If he'd asked her that a few months ago, she would have bolted, but this was a new day. She sat with him, and he brought his other leg to her side, completely enveloping her.

Kate took her mug of coffee and took a sip before she leaned her head against Rick's chest. It felt so warm, so natural, to be with him like this.

She wasn't sure how long they stayed that way, enjoying the presence of one another. She felt him take a deep breath and exhale.

"Now, let me tell you a story," he said, his voice was quiet, like he didn't want to take away from the moment.

"Okay."

Rick sat his coffee back onto the table and wrapped his arms around hers. "There was a man, a broken man, that is. He wanted so much to find someone who could understand him, but it seemed like everywhere he went, everyone thought they knew who he was."

"He tried several times to find a friend, but it never worked out, so he gave up trying. And the day he gave up trying, a woman came into his life. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he knew she was special. In that solitary moment, his life changed."

Kate remembered when she met him, at the release party for Storm Fall. She'd called his name, and he'd turned around with a marker set and ready to sign her chest. It probably wasn't the best first impression he could've made. She listened as he continued.

"He became enamored with her, and wanted to know more about her. It wasn't easy at first, but over time, they grew close and became partners. But one day, he made terrible a mistake, and hurt her. Once he realized what he'd done, even though he was trying to help, he promised he wouldn't hurt her like that again."

He paused for a moment, and Kate could feel her heart beat faster. What was he leading up to?

She felt him take her hand and he squeezed it gently before he continued.

"Then one day, long after he hurt his partner, she was hurt by someone else. He tried to help her, tried to take the pain for her, but he was too late. There was nothing he could do. Absolutely nothing. He told her what was on his heart, and desperately hoped it wasn't the last time, the only time he would have the chance to say those words.

Rick laid his head on her shoulder and placed a light kiss on her neck. "When she went away to heal, he had a lot of time to think, and he thought of his partner often. He tried to contact her many times, but felt pushed away, so he searched for her, because he needed to see her, to talk to her."

"When he finally laid eyes on his partner again, his heart leaped in his chest. And he realized he couldn't bear to see her get hurt again. He'd do anything - anything - for her to stop going down the path that caused her so much pain."

There was a slight quiver to his voice when he finished, "If she chose that path, he might lose her forever, and losing her would be like losing his own life."

She could feel the tears in her eyes, and the darkness of the past few months began to claw at her insides. Kate took a deep breath along with the warmth coming from the man wrapped around her. She couldn't be mad at him for asking this. Well, she could, but it would be too easy to push him away, and she didn't want that. If she pushed him away now, it might mean for now and forever, and she didn't want that kind of forever.

"If she stopped looking down that path, will he also stop?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was all she could manage. She felt him relax into her, and knew he understood.

"Always," he breathed, "he would do anything she asked."

"Good," she answered, "No one else needs to die because of something that happened on a night so long ago." After taking another sip of the coffee, she sat the mug back onto the table, and finished, "Because, if he died going down that path, her life would be over as well."

Kate placed her arms around his, as she relaxed into the man surrounding her. The fire crackled and spit as its orange glow warmed them both into a contented silence. For the first time in a long time, she felt complete.