If Kate trusts Stack, and she vouches for him, then he knows that he should accept it. Kate has never been one to trust easily, so that should count for something too. Unfortunately, he just can't trust him. Maybe it was jealousy? Maybe it was because he didn't know him? Maybe Stack just isn't a likable guy? Either way, he couldn't fully get behind this. Castle thought it was a good idea, in a way, to get someone else involved. They had done so much, given up so much, for this case already. It was time to let someone else fight this battle. Yet, in the back of his mind he felt like he was betraying his promise to her. That he would be by her side when they brought the dragon to his knees.

Giving away the power to someone, like Stack, to finish the job they started felt sort of like writing a book, but letting someone else write the last few chapters. It was anticlimactic to say the least. Should they let this go? Can she even let this go? It just was so much to understand, comprehend, that Castle was struggling to even keep his head in the conversation right now. He heard himself just say, "Fine, call Stack". Now, he is staring at Kate. He is waiting to see if she will stand up and take the call in the hall so he can't hear, or if she will stay in here and let him be a part of this.

Kate can feel Castle's eyes on her. She is looking into them and seeing so much worry and doubt. She gets it. They just made a huge decision. Together. One that she can deal with and accept, but he is struggling with. It is going to be difficult to step back, let this case she has worked on for the majority of her life go, and let someone else take over. She has never before sat back and let someone do the work for her. This time is different though. She needs to be different. For him.

"Are you going to… call him in here or are you going to call him alone?" Castle finally said.

"I wasn't planning on calling him right now at all, Castle."

"Why? We just decided…"

"I'm not backing out on what we agreed. Show a little faith in me." Kate said while giving a self-deprecating chuckle. "I will call him, and when I do, you will be with me. We finish this together, like it should've been all along."

Castle nodded. He agreed. It should've never been Kate alone. He didn't need to bring that up though, they both knew it. "Why wait?" That is what he needed to know.

"You have a bullet wound in your back. You are in a hospital. This is more important."

The intensity behind her words, the truth he felt as she declared these statements was beautiful and comforting. She looked bold and determined, and ready for a fight if he dared question it. Kate was always stunning in the role of protector, and to have her feeling so strongly about him again was refreshing. It made him feel just a little bit special to have all of her attention and focus on him.

"How did you get the job offer?" Castle finally said. All of this talk of Stack brought up the questions he had involving the entire DC experience. He was dying to know what she did, if she liked it, what sort of cases she was on, and what Agent Beckett looked like. He wasn't sure he was ready to hear all of that yet, but he was curious how it all began. He never asked before she left.

"I lied to you, that night after the case with Stack. He wanted to talk to me about joining the AG's task force. He told me that I was destined for more than a NYPD Homicide Detective. That my way of thinking and handling a case would do well on a national level."

"He is right, you know. You are destined for more."

Kate left his little compliment alone. She had something else weighing on her mind. "He asked me where I wanted to be in 5 years."

"And?" Castle finally asked after it was clear she wasn't going to say anymore.

"I don't know how I should answer this." Kate finally said.

"Tell me what you said to him." Castle pushed.

"I didn't actually answer him. It wasn't his business, and it sort of felt rhetorical."

"Well obviously it's bothering you. Don't stop talking now, Kate."

"Well… I just… you need to know that my answer now is different."

"Ok…" This stalling thing was starting to freak him out. Kate's lack of confidence in this had him gearing up for an emotional blow. It was trying his patience to wait for her to spit it out.

"I thought about my job. I tried to picture myself content working in the 12th still in 5 years. Working for Gates, with you and the boys as my partners. Would I be bored? I don't think that bored is really the right word, because the murders and the victims deserve more from me than that. No, it wouldn't be boredom. Would it still be enough? Could I handle my life being exactly the same for another 5 years? I couldn't see that being a positive thing. I loved my job, and I was fine with it, but the promise of more was enticing. I just wasn't sure about everything else."

"Meaning our relationship?"

"Yes and no." Kate took in a deep breath to collect her thoughts. "Yes, I was worried about our relationship. We've talked about this already though. We'd grown almost complacent and I wasn't sure if more was an option at that point. I was too scared and stupid to ask you about it more than once. No, because I knew I loved you. I didn't doubt that you would still be in my life in 5 years. I can't see a future without you in it."

Wow. That was the most romantic thing he'd ever heard from Kate Beckett. He committed this moment to his memory.

"And now?"

"Now? I see you. I see us married, happily."

"That's it?"

"That's everything, Rick. The rest doesn't matter."

Well shit. He wishes he had recorded this whole conversation. He had longed to hear words like this from her for 5 years. It was almost too good to be true.

"Castle? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" Kate asked. She wanted to gage where his head was at. She didn't want to assume that they were headed for forgiveness. Headed towards a relationship.

"If you had asked me four months ago I would have said married to the love of my life. I'd have written a few more Nikki Heat books, and at least 2 more made into movies. I'd still be working in the 12th with you, but only when… " he paused not sure if she would like where his head was at. He decided it didn't really matter, he should be honest. "our kid was in school or Mother could watch him. You would still be the best badass detective, and an even better mother. I might have been pushing for another kid too."

It made her heart hurt and her eyes water to hear what they were missing out on. She could picture this life. She could almost feel the happiness from this dream life.

"And now?" Kate repeated his words back to him.

"Honestly?" He paused, trying to sort through his emotions, through the fear and pain, to the truth. "I want that same future. Married, kids, the whole picture. I just… I don't know where you stand professionally. I can't picture what it looks like."

Kate took a moment to collect her emotions. His words had filled her with hope. She chocked back the tears and sob that threatened to burst out of her. This was by no means a forgiveness, and she expected to work for it, but at least she had hope. The journey was going to be filled with ups and downs, but it would be worth it if this was their end.

"I quit my job. I don't know where I stand professionally either. I don't know really what I want, or what I should do, but we can talk about that later."

Did she just say we? We can talk about that later. Yes, she did. Castle couldn't help but grin a little.

"Going back to DC isn't an option. I miss my family here too much. I miss you too much. I don't know if my job at the 12th is even an option anymore, but we can worry about that when you get out of here."

"I told you once before that I would go with you." Castle replied. He would follow her anywhere.

"Your life is here. Alexis goes to school here. Martha lives here. Your job is based in New York. Our friends are here. No, I don't want to take you from your life for me. It isn't worth it."

"When did you get so wise, Beckett?"

"When I lost my life four months ago."