Castle danger

Kate looked up, smiling, relieved when Castle came in. She just so happened to be talking to Ryan and Esposito about a case so they understood why her tired face lit up. Castle smiled back, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Ryan started trying to visit with Castle, but it was Esposito who excused them both, leaving them alone, closing the door behind him. "What's wrong, babe? Are you okay? Alexis and Martha?" She hugged him.

"Everyone's okay. I'm just tired."

"I wish you hadn't taken this new case. With the deadline looming too, you're doing too much." She knew he was trying to keep up with her though, since her new job was taking more than ever.

"I know. I wish I hadn't either actually."

"I know better than to suggest you quit. You're already hooked, aren't you?" She smiled, her hand stroking his hair gently, lovingly. "What if I clear a weekend, after the book's done, after the case, and we go to the Hamptons? Just for a few days."

"That sounds wonderful, Kate."

"Before graduation and Martha's new play and Ryan goes on baby watch, it'll be nice to get away." Castle nodded. "I don't want to talk about work. What do you feel like eating?"

"I wouldn't mind take out. Maybe Chinese or Thai."

"You don't want to go out?"

"I thought you were too busy?"

"I am and, if I stay here, even if people stay out of the office, they'll call. What about the comfort food truck?"

Castle's eyes actually lit up. "Yes."

She walked out with him, telling only the boys where they were going, knowing from experience that they'd try to cover for as long as they could. She held hs hand on the elevator. "You want to talk about the case? It always helps, right?"

"Not today. I just need a break."

"Okay." Her heart hurt, wishing that she could make him feel better.

"What about you? Want to talk about your case?"

"I don't have one case anymore. I have hundreds." She paused. "It's not that bad. The boys have been...amazing. I just miss you."

"I miss you too. Would you like me to come back?"

"I do. I'm just not sure how it would work. I sure don't want you having another partner," she teased.

"I could work with the guys. That's what I did while you were recovering from the shooting, at least until Gates kicked me out. We work well together."

"I remember." They walked outside and she saw his demeanor change. "Castle."

"Yeah?" He was looking around him almost frantically, without realizing he was.

She turned to face him, her back to the street. "Babe, you've gotta tell me what's wrong."

"It's nothing." He forced himself to smile, reminding himself Kate had her gun and wouldn't let anything happen.

"That's the way this is going to work."

"Pardon?"

"You're going to stand there, look in my face, and lie to me."

Castle hesitated. "I can't tell you. You have enough to worry about."

She didn't say anything, but she was obviously pissed. "Let's just get something to eat."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to upset you. I just don't want to add to your worries."

"Castle, just..." She started to say something and turned to see a familiar glint. "Down. Down now." Castle dropped instinctively, trusting her judgement.

The shot fired. Castle looked up, glad to see that Kate wasn't hurt. "Kate, we should get back to the office. There's something I have to tell you, and you have to promise me you won't get angry with Esposito."

"Let's get inside," she said softly, quietly, putting her gun away, calling Esposito, wanting to get the truth quickly.

Castle closed the door to her office a moment later. "I'll start at the beginning but first, Esposito was helping me because I forced him to. He wanted to tell you and I said no."

"You know, I don't even want to be mad right now. I just want to deal with whatever the hell is happening before I lose my family. Javi, come in. You too, Ryan."

Castle sighed. "Someone was outside my office this morning. I don't know who it was, but I got this funny feeling about them that they were not there for help. There was something in their hand; I'm not sure what. I drew it for Esposito. Kate, I'm sure that the person who shot at us just now is the same as the one this morning."

"Was Alexis there? Did they see her?"

"She's at school."

"I'll get her," Ryan told Kate.

"Thanks." She looked relieved. "Don't tell her what. Just that she needs to meet us at the apartment. And can you..."

"I've got Martha too. They're fine, Beckett," he disappeared.

"Beckett, don't blame Castle. He wanted to protect his girls and wasn't sure how to tell you," said Espo.

"Javi, I'm not going to get mad at anyone right now. I'm going to focus on getting my family somewhere that they're safe."

"I did some research. The weapon is unusual but has been used before. Castle's very lucky that it wasn't used on him."

"Don't you think I know that!" She yelled and closed her eyes, opening them again. "I'm sorry, Javi. I didn't..."

"It's all right. I didn't mean it like that."

"I'm not going to get mad. I can't promise that I'm not going to yell, but I'm not going to get mad. I'm also not going to focus on the fact that my husband could have been killed or that we could have been shot by a sniper today, like..." She stopped. "I'm just trying to focus. Tell me what you've done so far."

"Just the weapon. It's pretty rare but I found a couple of shops that might sell them. I was about to go check it out when you called."

"We'll drop Castle off at the apartment wth Ryan. You and I will check it out." Espo nodded. "Give us a minute, okay? We'll meet you downstairs." Espo left, closing the door behind him.

Castle sat down. "This is exactly why I didn't want you working with us anymore. You're supposed to be looking for poodles or people cheating on their spouses. You're...you're supposed to finally be safe."

"I was looking for a missing spouse."

She realized why he'd taken the case as soon as he said that. "What is it going to take to make you see I don't care about that anymore? I don't want to live our lives in those two months. And I sure don't want to lose you, again, because of them."

"Kate, that's not why. It's a case and I haven't had one for a very long time."

"It doesn't matter. We need to get you home so Espo and I can start trying to figure this out. Just...do me a favor. If Ryan says get away from the window, move into another room, don't go outside, if he says stand on your head, just do it. Make sure the girls do as well. I can't lose anyone else."

"Lanie, what's going on?" Ryan asked in a bit of a panicked voice.

"It's Kate and Javi..." She was almost incomprehensble through her tears.

"What happened? Where are they?"

All that could be understood was something about a hospital.

"I'm coming," Ryan ushered everyone up so they were out the door before he had even hung up the phone.

Castle held his mother's hand for strength even as he held his daughter, whispering to her, hiding his own tears. If Lanie was that upset, something had to be wrong. He'd only seen her unglued three times: once when Esposito had been kidnapped, once when he had been trapped in a burning building, and then Kate's shooting.

"Castle, you need to prepare yourself, cause it could be bad," Ryan told his friend as softly as he could.

Castle shook his head. "Kate said she was coming home. She always does."

"She will come home, just like always. I promise she will. And whatever happened, whoever did it, will be dealt with."

Lanie was still crying when they arrived. Jenny had found a sitter for Sarah and was sitting with her friend, something Ryan and Castle were both grateful for. Castle heard Alexis whisper somethng. "What, sweetheart?"

"I want my mom," she whispered again, tears making her eyes as red as her hair.

"So do I, sweetie. So do I." Castle held her to him as they approached Jenny. "What's going on? Where are Kate and Esposito?"

Lanie took over Martha and Alexis so that Jenny could talk to her husband and Castle. "They're still in surgery. Javi was trying to protect her. If he hadn't been there..." She held her own husband for a second.

"He wouldn't ever let anything happen to her."

"He was awake when they came in. Lanie got to see him for a little while. Kate was in and out, but when she was awake...She wanted you," Jenny told Castle.

"Where?"

"Castle, she's still in surgery. Alexis needs you out here," Ryan started.

Jenny held her hand out for Castle's. "There's a room where you can watch. Lanie watched some of Esposito's."

"I need to go now." She walked with him and Alexis, curious, followed.

"Thank you."

Esposito shook his head. "Doesn't feel like it's enough right now."

Martha appeared in the doorway. "Richard."
"Mother?"

"She's awake. Alexis is sitting with her, but Katherine wants you."
Castle lit up. He followed his mum out.

Kate was sitting up, talking to Alexis quietly, but her face lit up when she saw Castle. All Martha could see was how pale and tired she looked.
Castle hugged her gently. "I'm so glad you're okay," he whispered.

She held him as if she would never let him go, with one hand, her other side still holding Alexis' hand.
"Esposito wants to see you."

"Is he okay?" Her voice even sounded different.
"He's better than you, but not great."

"I want to see him."
"As soon as possible."

"Rest now, Mom, so you feel better," Alexis said, still scared.
"She's right Kate, rest."

"Stay?"
"Not leaving."

"None of us are," Alexis said, looking at her grandmother for confirmation.
Martha nodded. "I'll let everyone know you're okay, then come back."

"Thank you, Martha," Kate said, her eyes fighting to stay open.
"Get some sleep."

She drifted off still holding her family.