A/N: Just to make it clear, Rick met Meredith but he was much more reserved and he wasn't impressed with her antics so he didn't get involved with her so there is no Alexis. Thanks for the reviews, PMs and follows. Just in case somebody thinks I own the characters, I am only borrowing them for some fun.
It was all rather stunning actually. She was giving the eulogy at her captain's funeral and had in fact just looked at her partner when he was suddenly tackling her to the ground and yelling 'sniper'. After an inquiry as to whether she was alright that she managed to nod to, he was off again. She was sitting up and staring at the divots left in the ground from his quick departure. It wasn't muddy but somehow he had left divots in the hard sod of the cemetery.
She stood up and saw that most of the crowd was still in disarray but Esposito was running off towards Castle in the distance who seemed to be standing over a man, presumably the sniper. Ryan and Lanie were trying to make sure everyone was OK and she gave a thumbs up to Lanie when she glanced over at her while helping someone who seemed a bit dizzy. She saw Martha who gave her a seemingly unconcerned wave and smile. How could she be so calm?
She'd known since she had met him that Richard Castle was a very private man with secrets. She'd tried to push him to open up occasionally although she felt like a bit of a hypocrite for it. She had opened up to him eventually and he had seemed to open up for the most part. Those divots and his astonishing speed needed some explaining though. He liked to tease her with outlandish theories at times but she could only envision one of his wildest theories as an explanation for what he had just done.
She had put up a token resistance to his presence at first, mainly since he made her so nervous. He affected her like no man had ever affected her. When he turned to her at the release party it was all she could do to introduce herself and state why she wanted to talk to him. The attraction had been instant and inescapable. She don't know how she had managed to keep her distance as long as she had but when he had invited her to visit his place in the Hamptons, she had dumped Demming as fast as she could and accepted. Although they had kept it platonic until her last visit that summer, that kiss when they said goodbye the last time had affected her deeply. She thought her attraction might fade but that kiss only made it more intense. She'd had to concede that this wasn't a crush, he could very well be her one and done.
It had been a bit of a shock to her that Rick wanted to take things slowly. Normally it was her boyfriends who wanted to make things intimate first so it was rather new to her that Rick was – not reluctant exactly, careful seemed to be a better word. It had been flattering in a way, it was proof he wasn't after a conquest. However, she was very glad that period was over, the sex was fantastic. After so much time trying to get justice for her mother she was really torn on which mystery was more important: her mother's murder or her boyfriend.
At first, he just seemed eerily bright. He seemed to know everything and almost everyone and almost everyone he knew owed him a favor. That undercover date she'd had with him had been an eye-opening experience as some of his acquaintances related stories of how Castle had helped them and urged her 'to keep a hold of him'. She had already inclined to do that but that was her first hint that he might have more secrets than she did. She hadn't been there but Lanie reported how confident but controlled Castle was when the men stopped them and stole the body. It had been as if he could have done something but restrained himself. That was just a preview of her observing much the same thing.
One thing that had helped her realize she had a chance with him was his reaction to his old flame (and later she learned it had been his only serious relationship). He had avoided Kyra but she had fond memories of him and some regrets. Her telling Kate that he was all hers now had been a telling moment for her. It also helped that Rick had shown no interest in the message from the top 10 bachelorette and she had fun teasing him about the article linking them. Deep down, she didn't mind at all although the teasing she got from other officers was annoying.
Her first taste of him holding back is how he had taken down Coonan so easily and thoroughly when Coonan had realized they knew he was the killer. Unfortunately, he had died in prison somewhat suspiciously when it had begun to seem he might crack. How had he done that? Coonan was a trained and experienced killer but he'd seemed to have no chance against Rick.
What was even harder to ignore is how he had saved her from the bomb in her apartment. The way he dragged her away so quickly when they heard the voice and he placed himself between her and the bomb after shutting the bathroom door had been amazing. She was never sure but she suspected that the door hadn't been needed, he'd seemed so strong and sure as if the bomb was no threat to him.
Again, she wasn't there but he'd had no trouble taking 3XK down and Ryan had been impressed with Castle's speed. By then they were already a couple so she didn't push. On the Subbarao case he'd reacted oddly to the flash but managed to fight off two men with syringes by himself and forcing them to flee. It was unsettling when they asked odd questions about Castle at the end. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who wondered what he was hiding but obviously, she couldn't help them.
Then there was the undercover kiss. She still can't believe that she'd let herself get distracted so much that it was Rick who took down the guard (with one punch) instead of her. He even managed to take down two of the men inside when they rescued Ryan and Esposito. Then he somehow kept them warm in that freezer until they were rescued. Again he'd looked frustrated as if he could have done something more.
Then there was defusing the dirty bomb. She couldn't help thinking that he had somehow analyzed the bomb and knew pulling the wires would work. It was funny to put it off as luck but she wasn't so sure. Then there was the night in LA when they had finally become intimate. She kept that bathing suit for future use, she was pretty sure that was what finally got her into his bed.
Then there were the events that led them here. Castle almost foiling the escape from the arraignment was another sign of unknown ability but it still nearly spiraled into a huge argument that only was defused by her first admission that she loved him when she feared she might lose him.
He acted very strangely when he came with her to the hangar. All he'd say is that there was something he had promised Montgomery that he wouldn't tell but that he'd do his best to make things right. She had no idea what he meant but it was one shock after another until it was all over and Montgomery was dead. Her only hint was when Rick apparently repeated an offer to help him but Montgomery refused and told him to take her away if he wanted to protect her.
She'd tried to resist as he carried her away but those hard muscles were too much for her, she had no chance like others before her. She felt lucky that he was protecting her rather than against her although it was hard for her to be forced to wait until the shooting stopped. He'd gone with her and preceded her in and checked everyone before she could. They were all dead.
During all of this introspection, Castle and Esposito had returned with their suspect. He looked barely conscious with an obvious punch to the face and Esposito was grim as he held a sniper rifle in his gloved hands. Castle was right and he'd taken down another one of the bad guys. She gave him a look that said 'we have to talk' and she was amazed at how this confident, competent man could be reduced to embarrassed looks down with just a hint of her mood. Although he had expressed his feelings to her often, it was still sweet to see how she affected him. It wouldn't get him out of the talk this time though.