Rick stood quietly to the side as Kate questioned the real Henry Jenkins further. When Kate pulled out her cell phone to call CSU, Rick shook hands with Jenkins, thanked him for his help and walked outside. He was staring off towards the dock when Kate emerged from the trailer.

"Castle, let's head back to the city," Kate said as she gently touched his arm. Rick turned to her with glistening eyes and nodded his head. He turned towards the car. Kate tried to grab his arm as he passed her, "Castle, look at me." Rick just kept walking. Beckett closed her eyes for a moment and brushed away a tear as she followed him to the car.

Rick was waiting at the car with his back to her. He turned when he heard the car doors unlock. He spoke with the quiet control and biting edge of true fury. His eyes had unshed tears barely contained by his lashes. "Beckett, what did these people do to make you doubt me? How could you believe I would willingly walk away from you? After all these years, all we've been through." Rick paused to catch his breath and wiped his hand across his face, "You know me, so you have to know that I would NEVER put Alexis thru two months of not knowing where I am. Hell, I wouldn't even do that to Gina. And you thought I could do that to you?" Rick slammed his fist on the roof of the car in attempt to release some of his fury.

Kate flushed with shame, "Castle. I'm so sorry. The evidence wa"

Rick interrupted her with a bitter response, "When Tyson framed me for murder, you believed in me despite the evidence. How could you EVER think I would willingly run away from our wedding? What evidence did you have that made you even consider that possibility? There is so much I don't understand. I was gone for two months. I was shot for God's sakes! They put me in a boat and left me to die. I have no idea what else they did to me. They stole our wedding that we worked so hard for, our honeymoon... Rick's words trailed off like a battery running out of charge. "Kate, who did this to us?" The last words were barely more than a whisper as a single tear escaped from his right eye.

Kate steadied herself, grabbing the top edge of the car frame, "In my heart, I never stopped believing in you. I looked for you every day. I was surrounded by voices telling me to believe the evidence. My mind battled with my heart day after day. Whoever did this convinced the FBI and most of the NYPD that you got cold feet and disappeared."

"But surely, when you came home at night, Mother and Alexis helped you see that I would never do that," Rick sounded almost desperate to make her believe.

"We will figure this out. I'll show you the evidence later. I have copies of everything at my apartment. Right now, we need to get back to the precinct," Kate tried to placate him for the moment.

"At your apartment? Didn't you stay at the loft?"

Kate looked down at the ground and spoke so very softly, "I couldn't sleep in our bed alone. It was too painful. I couldn't be there without you. Alexis was angry with me for leaving. I think Martha understood, but she didn't like it either. I haven't slept in the loft since the night before..." A sob caught Kate by surprise, and she stopped.

"Let's go back to the precinct. I'll show you the evidence. We can't resolve this here in the woods."

With a hint of a smile, Rick nodded and joked, "Amnesia, really? I had to get amnesia! How unimaginative. I would never write such a cliché story."

After they were both seated in the car, Kate reached for Rick's hand. He turned to look at her, and she used both hands to cup his face. "Richard Castle, I love you. I never stopped loving you. I ached for you every day you were gone. I am so sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you. We will find these bastards and make them pay."

"Does that mean I can kiss you now?" Rick asked with a lopsided smile and one raised eyebrow. Kate didn't answer him. She just pulled him close enough that her lips could join with his.

A/N: I wanted to see Rick get angry with Kate. She owed him an apology.