Thank you for the reviews, favourites and follows. I wish this had happened on the show, up to now there is no romance in it.

I loved Veritas, I don't usually like angst-y ones but this blew it out of the water.

Disclaimer: I'd love to be one of the writers on the show but I'm a financial mathematician and writing was always my weakness.

Chapter 2: Rescue

He really tried to stay awake, he just couldn't though. When he woke up she was still there in his arms; that must be good, right? He looked up and saw that it was 8am. Usually she's at the precinct at this time so she really needed the sleep. He wonders how long she hasn't been sleeping properly, especially for this long.

He doesn't know whether to wake her or leave her for her to wake of her own accord. Before he can decide she wakes up, well her head moves in the crook of his neck. Now he doesn't know what to say or do; pretend to be asleep, say something or wait her out. What is it about this woman that makes his life so hard, interesting, frustrating or fun? "Good Morning, Castle."

"Good Morning?" He responds but it is posed more like a question. He had a few ideas of what she might say when she woke up but most of them involved him being told not so nicely to get out of her apartment so to have a friendly greeting and a neck nuzzle is beyond expectations. He thought that he should feel better now she's spoken acknowledging his presence however, he doesn't just more confused.

"What time is it?" Again mumbled into his neck, he's glad he shaved yesterday otherwise there'd be some scratches on her; there's still morning stubble but she did call that nice once.

"Just after eight."

"Oh."

"Oh? Is that it?"

"I told Gates...Castle let me up."

He didn't want to because he was scared she would run, run away from her problems which they needed to sort. He tightens his arms around her so that she can't go. "Wait, tell me what you told Gates."

"Castle, let me out please." He doesn't relent, keeping his arms securely around her. "Castle, I need the toilet." That makes him release his hold on her, he doesn't need her wetting the bed and then him. He hasn't got any other clothes. "Thank you." After her release she shuffles off of the bed and legs it to the bathroom.

Deciding to give her some privacy he hops out of bed and goes to the kitchen, immediately spotting the glass that remained on the floor from last night. Her sweeping brush is fortunately placed within easy sight so he carefully collects the glass fragments from the floor. As he's putting them into a carrier bag to be safely discarded she enters the kitchen and sits at the counter. She isn't saying anything which is more nerving than earlier.

"Kate, what happened yesterday?" In truth he knows or has a fairly good idea what happened but wants her to admit it. She can't start to get better unless she admits to herself what's happening. She's now just staring at her hands instead of answering. "Kate?"

"You know what happened."

"I do, but I want you to say it."

She exhales heavily, she knew one day this conversation would arise, she just hoped it wasn't so soon or with him. "I froze, Castle. I froze." Another exhale of breath and she's getting anxious, it's radiating off her. "He had his gun pointed at me and I froze. Then I got home and..." She looks around to her apartment, at the mess that she created. He didn't notice it last night, how did he miss it? He was too focused on getting to her. "I heard noises and then..." she doesn't know how to describe her panic attack so let's the silence do all the talking "...and then you were here."

"What's really wrong with you, Kate?"

"You know what is wrong."

"Say it."

She really didn't want to admit it but she had too so after another heavy exhale she responds; "I have PTSD, alright?" Her voice is now rising. "I panic when a gun is pointed at me; noises that sound like shots frighten me." Tears were filling her eyes. "I'm scared, Castle." Swallowing nervously and her voice is now barely a whisper "I'm scared." He's next to her in an instant, bringing her into his arms. She stands so she can be more securely held in his arms. The tears fall while she has her head buried in his chest. The duo stand there for a while until she calms down, it wasn't a full blown crying session but she was emotional. She had just bared all to the man she wanted because he pushed and got the truth out of her like no one else could.

"Shh, Kate." Rubbing circles on her back, "it's going to be okay."

"How?"

"We'll find a way." She just hums in response and squeezes her arms around him once as a silent thank you. "We'll find you the best PTSD psychiatrist in town."

"I've got one, Doctor Burke. He's one with the NYPD, did my psych eval. He's nice, understanding."

"That's good. Do you want to see him more often?"

"Yeh, putting the work in is what's going to get me out of this mess. I'll do whatever it takes to get my life back."

"What can I do?"

"Just be there, please?"

"Of course I can do that. You can call me anytime, invade my house if you need too."

"Might need to do that tonight, this place is a tip and I don't feel like doing tidying today."

"What about work?"

"I told Gates that I needed to go. She took one look at me and probably knew why. I told her I'd be back. I probably should ring her."

"Yes but in a bit. Now, how about some breakfast? I'm hungry."

"Yeh, that sounds good."

"So what you up for?"

"You might want to look in my fridge before you get any extravagant ideas." He unwraps himself from her and walks towards the fridge.

"Is there bacon?"

"Yeh but only a couple of pieces."

"That's fine."

"No, you need something too."

"It's fine, there are eggs right?"

"Yes but I don't know how many."

"I'm taking you grocery shopping later."

"Another time maybe?"

"No or you'll never eat anything else other than pizza or Chinese."

"If you pick the right things it can be healthy."

"No, we are going grocery shopping later."

"I hate grocery shopping."

"You make it sound like people don't."

"Supermarkets are always open and always busy."

"New York is a big place with busy people."

"Whatever, can we get on with breakfast? I can hear your stomach."

"Fine, what do you have that we can both eat?"

"I could make you pancakes? According to the boys it is way of saying 'thank you so much for last night' which I would be just not in the way they would typically think. I don't know how long I would have been there if you didn't show up or what condition I would have been in for that matter."

"It's okay, I'll do it. You got chocolate chips?"

"Yeh, why?"

"Happy face pancakes, why else?"

"I'll get them, you start on the mixture."

Hope this is what you wanted. I know it's short but I didn't want to go round in circles until she finally admitted it. With the right person, they can break you down quicker than anyone else. It was only going to be a one shot too. I have another chapter idea in my head if you want another one but you've got to review and let me know.

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