A/N: Here it is...

Happy Reading!

Previously in Turning Tables:

"Castle," she breathed. "Castle…there's something I have to tell you—"

His mouth cut her off. Softly but surely his lips prodded hers open. She was startled at first but soon responded to the kiss, deepening it and letting herself get lost in the pressure of his mouth against hers. She felt her knees sway slightly as he gripped her waist tightly. They moved so her back was pressed against the door.

They pulled apart too soon for either of their liking.

"I know," Rick whispered while his mouth was still merely centimeters away from hers.

Kate was sure he didn't know what she was going to tell him and that he was thinking of something else but she didn't prod.

"Oh, and my mother told me to invite you to brunch on Sunday. She made it sound like no wasn't an option," Rick said smiling.

"Well that won't be a problem. I'd love to come. "

"Good," Rick said before gently pressing his lips to Kate's for a quick kiss. Both of them pulled away smiling. "See you Sunday," he called as he walked to the elevator.

Kate managed to stop her hands from shaking long enough to put the key in the lock. Inside her apartment, Kate stepped out of her heels and glanced in the mirror.

She felt herself blush when she realized she was smiling like an idiot but she couldn't seem to stop.

He found himself smiling all the way down the elevator and Rick was still grinning ear to ear when he joined Alexis in the cab. She didn't ask but she felt like she knew what he was smiling at and found herself smiling as well.

The next day was uneventful for both Kate and Castle. Kate slept in as long as she could before rolling out of bed. Her mind was reeling with memories of the night before. She thought of the play. She thought of their dinner at Remy's. She thought of seeing Gina. And she thought of how she was so close to telling Castle everything but she'd been cut off by his lips on hers and that Kate didn't mind so much.

Kate's stomach churned at the idea of telling Castle her lies but she decided he had to know. After promising herself that she would tell him the next day at brunch, Kate proceeded to catch up on paperwork.

While Kate spent her day working, Castle spent his Saturday challenging Alexis to guitar hero battles.

Sunday brunch came quickly. Kate shifted her weight as she stood in front of the Castle's door. She heard movement inside and Alexis's voice yelling 'just a minute'. Kate's stomach was doing flips as she thought of all the ways she could tell Castle.

Her nerves vanished briefly as the door flew open, revealing Martha, who was brilliantly dressed like always.

"Oh, Kate!" Martha exclaimed, pulling Kate into a fierce hug. "It's so good to see you. I felt like we barely got to speak on Friday night. And thank you so much for coming to my performance."

"Oh Martha, thank you for the ticket. Again, it was spectacular. You did wonderfully." The older woman bowed her head graciously and led Kate inside.

Alexis was sitting and the island and before her laid a vast arrangement of food. Rick stood on the other side slicing up the last of the strawberries and placing them in a bowl filled with other fruits. Kate's stomach gave a loud grumble as she approached the table causing the entire Castle bunch to laugh.

"I take it you're hungry," Alexis joked.

"That would be correct," Kate laughed.

"Then let us feed you," Castle happily announced. "But first, the coffee." He handed Kate a mug which she graciously accepted before sitting down next to Alexis.

"Help yourself dear," Martha said before spooning fruit onto her own plate.

"Everything looks amazing, Castle," Kate said as Alexis passed her a plate. He simply smiled.

They ate with idle conversation and lots of laughs. Kate did her best to smile and laugh along but she couldn't help that little voice in the back of her head that kept telling her what she had to do later that evening. She decided that she wanted to tell Rick while they were alone. She wanted to have his full attention and be able to explain her intentions completely. She groaned internally but none of the other people in the room noticed. Kate decided that until then, she would enjoy her time with the Castles.

After brunch Martha thanked Kate for coming but excused herself to go get ready for another performance that evening. Once Martha was gone and all the plates were cleaned Alexis turned to her father with a sneaky look in her eye. Rick returned that look with a mischievous smile. Kate, always the detective caught on quickly.

"What are you two up to?" she asked putting the last dish in the dishwasher.

"We have a surprise." Alexis replied.

"What is it?" Kate asked slowly.

"Dad?"

"Here it is." Rick answered excitedly, moving to the hall closet. He pulled out three laser tag vests with bright, flashing guns attached to them. "Wanna play?"

Kate stood stunned.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "I thought it was kinda yours and Alexis's thing."

"It was my idea," Alexis chimed in. "And we would love for you to join us."

"Well then," Kate said, "let's play."

Rick was hiding in the dark behind the bookcase that separated the living room from his office. Alexis was positioned on the floor by the window, concealed by a chair. Kate was crouched behind the kitchen counter, her finger hovering over the trigger of her laser gun.

There was silence.

Kate exhaled. Someone would have to move eventually and it wasn't going to be her. But when the time came and someone else faltered, then she would use that time to strike.

Alexis breathed softly. Her legs were cramping from being bent so long. She was itching to move.

Rick was fidgeting. He wanted…no needed to move. What could the harm be? He was fairly certain he knew where Alexis was hiding. If he could just get behind the pillar…

Slowly, Rick made his way to the edge of the bookcase. He saw the light flashes from the laser tag vest lightly glowing in the other room. Rick knew he had to move quickly. He inhaled deeply and took the chance.

Rick darted across the living room. The noise made both Alexis and Kate step up from their hiding spots. Both rose just in time to see Rick's foot catch the edge of a chair and sending him hurtling downwards.

Castle fell forward, his head slamming against the side of the coffee table.

"Dad!"

"Castle!"

Both women ran towards Castle who was lying face down on the carpet. Alexis made it to him first, her vision blurred with tears but none falling down her face. She put her hand on his shoulder and shook him gently.

"Daddy…Daddy," she prodded. Kate joined her on the floor next to Castle.

"Castle…Come on, Castle. Open your eyes," Kate whispered. Kate reached out and clutched Castle's hand, squeezing it.

Rick let out a long groan. Both Kate and Alexis let out long sighs of relief.

"Castle…hey Castle. Can you speak?"

Castle let out another long groan and moved to roll over.

"Not yet," Kate ordered. "I need you to try and move your feet and hands before you try to roll over, just to make sure your neck is okay."

Castle did as he was told before rolling over onto his back. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked upon the two ladies in front of him.

"Alexis…Kate," he moaned. "You're okay." Both women looked at him confused.

"What Castle? You're the one that fell."

"The shooter."

Kate exchanged a worried glance with Alexis and then transferred her gaze back to Castle.

"Castle. I need you to tell me everything you remember right now," Kate ordered.

"Montgomery's funeral…there was a light…and a gunshot. I woke up in the hospital and you…you…" Rick trailed off, his eyes widening at his realization.

Kate moved back and Castle began to sit up.

"You lied to me," he whispered. It was not an accusation. It was a statement of fact. "You said we never worked together." The anger was building up in Castle's voice and his eyes were locked on Kate's, whose were shining with unshed tears.

"Dad," Alexis started but Rick cut her off.

"No! You both lied to me. You said that I never worked at the station. You tried to stop me from remembering." Rick's gaze tore away from Kate and fell on his daughter. "Alexis…you are usually such a smart girl. How could you?"

Alexis was crying.

"Rick let us…"

"No!" Rick shouted again more forcefully. "I said I LOVED you Kate. With what could have been my dying breath I said I loved YOU and this is what I get in return. Sure, I'm not the easiest to work with; I make inappropriate jokes but was it really that awful to be around me? What did I ever do to deserve this? Hell, on top of that, I saved your life and you try to take away part of mine. What possessed you to…I can't even…I'm done." Rick jumped up and swayed a little when he was upright. Kate put her hands up to help him but he swatted them away. His eyes were red. Tears were threatening to break free. He tore off his laser tag gear, and threw it roughly on a chair as he stormed off.

"I can't do this…" he said before moving to the door and walking out of the loft, the door slamming behind him.

Kate was in silent shock as Alexis rose from the floor sobbing. Kate tried to stand up but her legs gave out underneath her. She fell against the pillar and managed to stay upright. She didn't cry. She wanted to cry. She felt the tears in her eyes but her cheeks remained dry.

Alexis moved to the door quickly but when she saw the empty hallway turned back into the loft, her line of sight immediately going to Kate.

"I thought you said he'd understand?" she whimpered.

"I knew he wouldn't," Kate whispered to herself. It was the sentence that had been building up inside of her since she'd come up with the whole stupid plan. She thought it was quiet enough for Alexis not to her but it wasn't.

"I can't believe you! You made me believe we were protecting him! You made me believe this was the best for him! How could you do that to him, to us?" Alexis screamed.

Tears rapidly fell from her eyes. Kate was leaning against the pillar in the living room, her eyes locked on the door Rick had just walked out of, Alexis in her line of sight.

"I actually believed you cared about us Kate. Ugh! You're such a coward! That day I came over to your apartment, just after Dad was shot, I wanted to yell at you Kate. I wanted to scream at you, but I saw how sad you looked so I held back. Why couldn't you just tell him you didn't feel the same? Honestly, it could NOT be that hard. But no, Kate Beckett has to think of herself first and drag the rest of us through the mud. Why would you string him along like this? Do you get enjoyment from watching men give you their hearts only to stab them?

"I loved you Kate. You were more like a mom to me these past months than my real mother ever was. Dad loved you. He always, ALWAYS lit up when he saw you. You looked so happy when you were with him too.

"What on Earth possessed you into thinking you weren't hurting anyone with scheme of yours? Or did you realize it would hurt all of us and you just didn't care? I can't even form coherent thoughts I'm so frustrated. I can't believe you, Kate!" Alexis took a few steps towards Kate, her cheeks wet and her eyes shining. She brought a hand up to slap Kate, but exhaled heavily and instead stormed to the door. In a swift motion she opened it and turned back towards Kate.

"I think it's time for you to leave now," was all she said before sprinting to her room. Kate stood motionless. She didn't cry. She couldn't think enough to even register what happened. Her throat was dry and her heart had fallen out of her chest and was dying on the floor in front of her, or at least that's what it felt like. She felt like she was suffocating. Haphazardly, she ripped off her laser tag gear and laid it on the floor beside her. She replayed everything in her mind over again. Everything that had happened that day, everything that had happened that month, that year, her entire life flashed through her mind and all the mistakes she'd made killed her a little more. The tears didn't start until she heard Alexis sob from upstairs. They started slowly until Kate was sobbing in the middle of the living room herself. Her knees gave way underneath her and she slid down the pole into a heap on the floor. She sat there a while until Martha's question of why the front door was open echoed through the hallway. As she walked in and laid eyes on Kate she immediately rushed to the woman's side.

"Good heavens Kate, what happened?" she asked, very frightened.

"I do...love you all...so much...It was stupid...I was stupid...I had honestly convinced...myself it was right...I'm so sorry," she said between heavy sobs. "I need to go now." Kate was shaking as she tried to stand up, her vision blurred with tears.

"Katherine Beckett, you will not walk out of this door until I know what's going on," Martha asserted, her tone quite forceful. Kate inhaled deeply, trying to hold down her sobs.

"He remembered, Martha. And he was livid. And Alexis hates me. And I screwed everything up. And I was never stringing him along. And I want you to know, I love your son and your granddaughter and yourself, very much. I hope one day the three of you can forgive me." Martha looked at the woman dazed. It was then Katherine Beckett did what she did best. Run.

A/N: Well, it happened. Finally, right? When I was writing Rick's dialogue, I was literally slamming on the keys. Let me know you think!