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Castle stared for a moment, so relieved that Kate was alive. But he could see that she wasn't okay. He rushed forward, engulfing her in a hug and rubbing her back softly. He could feel her tears soaking his top, but it didn't bother him. "It's okay Kate," he whispered, before letting her go so that Esposito could hug her.

"Here Kate," Esposito said softly, giving her a jumper to wear.

She shivered, allowing Castle to help her into the jumper. "Thanks, Espo," she whispered, squeezing Ryan's hand gently, seeing their worried faces. Normally, she would want to help, but she didn't even feel like she could help herself right now.

"We need to go," said Castle to the guys, knowing they wouldn't stop him. "We'll wait outside."

Esposito nodded. "Of course. We'll be right out." He had taken the scalpel from Kate when he handed over the jumper.

Ryan shook his head when they left the room. "Do you think she needs to get checked out?" It was obvious something was wrong, but she didn't seem hurt. He'd never seen his friend that way.

"I think we can let Lanie do that. I think she's in shock maybe, some kind of psychological trauma."

Ryan nodded. "She reminds me of right after the shooting. You remember...when we had that sniper case."

"I remember. Maybe Castle can help her."
****************
"Can we go home, Rick? I want to go home."

"As soon as the guys come up. They brought me here. And we need to see Gates first."

"I want to see our family."

"Alexis and mother are in Europe. Lanie called your dad, he's waiting at the precinct."

She nodded, still shaking. He cuddled her to him before opening the car door and helping her inside. She closed her eyes without realizing it and woke up with a cry.

"Shh, it's alright. I'm here."

She got as close as possible to him. Castle wrapped her in his arms just as Esposito and Ryan got into the car.

"We need to go to the precinct before we can take you home Kate," Esposito said gently.

"I know." She didn't want to, but she needed to see Lanie and her dad at the very least.

"We'll try to be quick. But Gates wants to talk to you."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"We know. She just wants to make sure you're okay," said Castle. "And we'll all be there with you, including your dad and Lanie."

"When will the girls be home?"

"I'll call them as soon as we get to the precinct."

She nodded, willing to stay there a little while if it meant their family came home. When they reached the precinct, Castle held Kate as they walked. She seemed like she was going to cry as all the officers they passed gave her smiles and welcomed her back. He wasn't expecting her to stop when the elevator opened though and he had to coax her out.

"I can't go in there. I can't." She seemed almost frantic.

"Lanie's there, Beckett. She wants to see you. Your dad does too." Esposito tried.

"It's okay Kate, I promise. You don't need to look at anyone. We'll go straight to Gates' office and get your dad and Lanie to come there," said Castle soothingly, still holding her.

She held on to Castle. They walked out together, Esposito on her other side and Ryan behind them. Castle led her to Gates' office, helping her to sit down. Lanie didn't have to be told anything. She hurried to Gates' office, Jim at her heels.

"Lanie," said Esposito, "can you check her please?"

She knelt in front of Kate, seeing the bruises on her arms. She wanted to check her pulse, but couldn't find a place where she could without hurting her. Jim sat next to his daughter, talking softly like he had when she had been little and had had a nightmare. He tried to distract her while Lanie did her job. She indicated for Esposito and Castle to join her outside the office where Kate couldn't hear.

Castle and Esposito stood and followed her out. "What's going on? Is she okay?" Castle asked,

"She's bruised, she's got cuts, but I think the worst part is shock. It explains the silence and the fact that she seems to be freezing."

"What can we do?" asked Esposito.

"Let her get used to being safe. Being home. I can have a friend prescribe something to help her sleep if she needs. If it lasts more than a week, have her talk to her psychiatrist. It might help her some anyway. I tried to get her to go this summer, but she wouldn't."

"Should we get her statement now?"

"Be easy with her, Javi. Don't push her this time, huh?" It worked last time, but she was afraid that it would have the opposite effect this time.

"I will Lanie." He looked into the office, watching Kate cuddle up to her dad.

"Have you called Alexis and Martha?" Lanie asked, watching the same, knowing that Ryan had gone to tell Jenny the news.

Castle looked up. "No, but I will now."

"Would it be okay if I called her? That way you could stay with Kate."

"Yes, thank you Lanie." Castle looked at Esposito. "You should come in too. She trusts you more than the captain with things like this."

Lanie nodded, rubbing Esposito's arm gently, indicating he should go. "I'll be right in there. Ryan too."

"Thanks Lanie," said Esposito. He and Castle walked into the office.

Jim gave them a smile and thanked them. "Rick, you should be sitting here," he said, getting up, though he still held his daughter's hand.

Kate's eyes looked red, as if she'd been crying, haunted. Castle sat next to her, an arm around her, but he motioned for Jim to sit too, knowing Kate needed both of them right then. Gates was talking to her gently, trying not to push her, but Kate barely responded to half the questions.

Esposito sat down, across from Kate but off to her side. She could still see him, but he wasn't threatening. "Kate, tell us what happened. Take your time."

"Do I have to?" She looked not at him or Gates, but Castle.

Castle sighed. "Kate, we won't force you, but you have to talk to us. We're your friends and family. We only want to help."

"Tyson." She looked around like he was going to come through the door at any time.

"Detective, he's dead. He can't hurt anyone anymore," Gates said soothingly. "You and Mr Castle are safe."

Kate shook her head. "We've said that before. Again and again and again."

"I watched him die Kate. Right in front of me. I saw him bleed out. He had no pulse when Ryan checked."

Esposito nodded. "I shot him Kate. And you know I'm a better shot than Castle is."

Kate almost smiled at that, nodding.

"Did Tyson hurt you?" asked Esposito softly. He truly hoped she said no.

She shook her head.

"What about Nieman?"

She got an almost panicked look on her face and Gates wondered if she could even breathe.

"Kate?" Castle looked over at Esposito. "Maybe we should get Lanie back."

Jim shook his head. "She's okay." He pulled her into a hug, whispering something that no-one could hear but her, rubbing her back gently.

She nodded as if she knew what her dad had told her and tried to calm herself down, but she was trembling again.

"Do you want some water?" Castle asked her.

"Here, honey," Lanie said, coming back in with Ryan, handing her coffee. She'd been careful not to fill it too full that Kate could burn herself.

"Kate, what did she do to you? You can tell us," said Esposito, trying to keep the anger from his voice.

"Javi," Lanie warned.

"Sorry."

"Javi, Castle," Ryan said, indicating for them to step outside for him. "It's important."

"We'll be right back Kate. Lanie and your dad are still here," whispered Castle before he kissed her and left.

Ryan showed them the picture tech had pulled of Neiman's computer. "Look familiar?"

"That's Kate. Wait, where did you get that from?" asked Esposito.

"It's not Kate. It's Neiman. Or it would have been. It was on her computer."

"Oh god! I'm gonna be sick," said Castle before running to the bathroom.

"No wonder Beckett's not talking." Ryan said.

"She was going to take Kate's identity and run."

Ryan nodded. "After killing Kate, maybe more."

"Do you think Kate saw this?"

"It would certainly explain a lot."

"I guess I don't blame her for being scared. We need to show Gates. But I think we need to get Kate home first. Or maybe to her dad's place."

"Let her choose where she wants to be right now. Where she feels safe."

"Okay. Let's get in there. Oh, we should also check on Castle."

"I'll do it. You go in there."

Esposito nodded. He went back inside. "Sir, you need to see something." He had a sudden idea. "Kate, can you look at something for me?"

She nodded, Lanie looking at him puzzled, but Kate trusting him, even as she looked around for Castle.

"It's okay if you can't look. I just want to know if you've seen this before." He handed her the picture, letting her turn it over when she was ready.

She nodded, burying her head in her dad's shoulder.

"Is that you or Nieman?" His voice was soft, gentle.

Lanie turned the picture over. "You're safe," Gates assured her again. "You're safe."

"Where's Castle? I want Castle," Kate whispered.

"Ryan is seeing if he's okay. He felt a little sick."

Kate could understand that, she felt sick herself. "Honey, that wasn't you, was it?" Lanie whispered.

"It...She scanned my face," Kate whispered, looking pale, like she wanted to join Castle.

Esposito growled. He gave the picture to Gates, then walked out, desperate to hit someone or something, to let out his anger. Lanie knew Gates and Jim could take care of her, so she hurried to check on Esposito.