Author's note: It sometimes seems like everyone except me has written a version of this particular moment, and its aftermath. Let's give it a try.

(185 seconds)

Castle strode from the elevator towards the bullpen, two coffee cups in his hands. It was even busier than usual, owing to the high-profile nature of the case. They had all been shocked, but they were making progress. It wouldn't be long now.

And then, when it's over, we'll talk, he thought. It's time.

A smile played around the edges of his lips, and he suppressed it with difficulty. It was inappropriate to be smiling given the atrocity they were investigating, but he also knew that his life was about to change radically. He could feel it.

It had been in her eyes, too, when he'd tried to talk to her earlier, but they'd been interrupted as usual. It had been on her face when she'd said that at times like these, you realised that there were things in your life you didn't want to put off anymore.

It was in her smile, too, that he saw more and more often.

It's time, he thought, feeling his chest fill with warmth, excitement, nervousness, and relief.

He'd been poring over witness statements for hours now, more eager than ever before to solve a case. He'd stepped out to clear his head and fetch some proper coffee for both of them.

(159 seconds)

He walked across to her desk, but she was nowhere to be seen. He set her cup of coffee down, glancing around, and saw Esposito.

A quick exchange established that they'd caught the suspect, and Beckett was interrogating him even now. Again the sense of anticipation rose up within him. He carried his own coffee with him as he crossed to the door that led to the observation room.

(102 seconds)

He watched her through the glass, full of admiration. This extraordinary woman, capable of such strength and fearlessness, but also able to be tender – as she seemed more and more willing to show him lately.

The young male suspect was evading her questions, but he was flustered, frightened, and clearly grasping at straws.

(58 seconds)

She stalked around him, changing position, never letting him finish a sentence. Relentless. Breaking down his defences. Wearing away his resistance, and his ability to lie.

She's… magnificent, Castle thought, allowing himself a grin.

(20 seconds)

She had the suspect cornered now, with no more excuses. The man was trying to claim that he'd had a lapse in memory, and the disdain was evident on Beckett's face.

She parked herself on the edge of the table, just a foot away from the young man, crowding him and staring right through him.

Going in for the kill, Castle thought.

(10 seconds)

"You don't get to use that excuse," she said darkly, pointing at the frightened man. He tried again to claim he couldn't remember, that he was suffering from traumatic amnesia, but she cut him off.

"The hell you don't remember!"

Go get him, Kate.

(6)

"Do you want to know trauma?" she spat.

Castle gave the barest hint of a grin. He loved to watch her work. This was her in her element. A lioness.

(4)

"I was shot in the chest,–"

(2)

"–and I remember every second of it."

…

(Zero)