Wait. Did he just…

"Castle. You can't be serious."

"I am, Kate. I am tired of feeling like I'm running in circles. Every time I think we've reached a new level together, I turn back and realize you've fallen again. You've quit your job, you refuse to leave my side, and now you won't let me help you? Two steps forward, one giant leap backwards."

"Why is helping me so important to you?" Kate asked.

"Why won't you let me help you? Why are you shutting me out?" Castle countered. She needed to start talking before he loses it. He's hoping that she has an explanation more than just what he can see. Right now all he sees is her retreating from him once again.

"I told you… I made this mess. I chose to go to DC, to leave you behind. I gave up my apartment, and boxed away my life. If I let you sweep in here, fix everything that I broke, then I will feel like I am using you. That I am back for your money, not for you. I am independent, Castle. It's who I am. I don't know how to let someone else in."

"You are a lot of things, but a gold digger is not one of them. I know this, and letting me help you is not going to change that."

"It's too easy to let you help me. I don't deserve your help." Kate finally spilled. She felt vulnerable and terrified. He deserved more than she could offer him.

It was quiet.

"Everyone deserves a second chance." Castle finally replied. Some of the anger was begin to diffuse, but his lack of trust was still holding strong.

She chuckled, "I think you've given me about fifty chances, Rick."

"It's hard to be perfect like me, Kate." Castle joked.

"It must be exhausting." Kate deadpanned with a roll of her eyes.

"Kate, helping you is about more than money to me. I want to help you because that is what you do for people you love. There aren't strings or expectations attached to it, just love and caring. You didn't hesitate to come to New York when I was shot."

It wasn't a question, but Kate nodded her head anyways.

"I am not even sure I locked my door on the way out of my apartment." Kate confirmed.

"Is there anything you wouldn't give me if I asked you for it?"

"Rick, I'd give you my life it I needed to."

"Then why are you denying me the chance to make your life better when I have the ability to do so?"

Smart man. There was no denying his logic. She would give everything she had for him, to him, if he asked. She would even give it all to him if he didn't. He was more important. Period. Having him explain it this way made sense. It still left her with an uneasy feeling, accepting his help, but she couldn't deny that she needed his help.

"Ok."

"Ok?"

Kate nodded. "You are right."

"Normally I'd bask in those words, the time and date you uttered those magical words have been permanently committed to my memory, but my celebration can wait."

"I would expect nothing less." Kate smirked. She could tell he was delaying. He had something on his mind that he was hesitant to say. "It's ok, Castle. Spill it."

He took a deep breath. "I can't trust you. I don't know when something I say will send you back peddling away from me. How can we be honest with each other when I can't even let myself talk to you without being scared to death that you will leave?"

"I…" Kate started but changed her mind. She had nothing to say. She had nothing she could say. He hasn't ever had proof that he could trust her with his thoughts.

Castle was waiting. He could see the many emotions floating across her face. The concentration he saw there tipped him off that she wasn't ignoring him, but trying to find an appropriate response. He wasn't going to step in and bail her out of this question. It was a valid question, one that he needed answered if they were going to make a go of their relationship.

"You have no reason to trust me, Castle. I just proved that to you again. I've never done this before." She paused. "You know that I've been in relationships that were headed nowhere, and I kept my heart shielded from everyone. I'm not making excuses, but I need you to know that I am trying."

Kate continued, "I will clam up. I will freak out. I will not leave. I am here and I am not running away. I will try harder to be honest with you, and let you know when I am freaking out. That is my promise to you, Rick."

Castle nodded.

"Do you believe me?" Kate asked.

He looked down, "Not yet." He paused and lifted his eyes to hers before he continued. "I want to, Kate. I think I will eventually, but I can't right now. Not completely. Sorry…"

"Don't apologize. I get it… You need some time. I'll prove it to you, Castle."

"So… what comes next?" Castle wasn't really sure what else to say right now. This was a first for him.

"What would you like to see happen next? I want to know what you think."

He hesitated. "I would like to figure out what happens when I leave the hospital."

"Ok." Kate wasn't going to say anything more. She had been leading their relationship, and had done a terrible job at it thus far. It was time she trusted him, let him lead their relationship in the right direction.

"Part of me wants to ask you to come stay at the loft with me. I will need someone there with me for at least the first week, and I don't really want Martha to play nurse. She gets mean!" He let out a laugh. "Part of me is scared to let you in. We will fall back into our lives before you left, and nothing will have been changed or fixed. I don't want that to happen. I need us to be better."

Moving in with Castle? Terrifying. Calm down… he didn't just ask you to move in. He is just asking your opinion. Breathe! Kate thought to herself. He was looking at her, with questions in his eyes. He is waiting to see how she will react. This is the first test and she will pass it.

"How about this? I come stay with you for the first week. I'll move in to the guest room upstairs so I can be around to help you. I wouldn't want your mom to have to deal with your whining. We can see how it goes during the week, but I think you are right. I need to get my own place while we figure things out." Kate surprised herself with how confident she sounded.

"We can use the week to look for apartments, and to get your stuff shipped back to New York."

Ha! Another test. He was using her DC move/new apartment that he is going to help pay for. Smart, but she is smarter.

"Sounds good." Passed: 2 for 2.

He looked at her with a smirk. "You are freaking out aren't you?"

She chuckled. "You have no idea."