Author's note: I wasn't going to write anything until I finished the Stargate story I'm stuck on right now, but after watching the finale of Castle last night, like many of you, I just can't leave it at where they stopped it. My own has a twist, though, and I'm certain I won't be the only one who plays with it. This is probably just a one shot thing, but we'll see if anyone likes it and wants me to take it further.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle, or the characters, I just play with them. And I'm not making any money off this story!

OOOOOOOOOOO

"Kate!"

Distracted by Castle's cry, Beckett turned, just in time to see him lunging at her. Before she could ask him what the hell he was doing, or realize that he suddenly looked terrified, she heard a crack that sounded impossibly like a gunshot – and a high-powered one at that, her mind added automatically. She felt an impact and was dragged to the ground, her breath forced out by the weight of Castle's body on her own.

"Castle…"

She was confused, having trouble understanding what had happened, and she met his gaze with her own.

"Kate…"

His voice was a whisper, and his body heavy on hers. Immediately she realized there was something horribly wrong, because he didn't grin at her with that impudent 'look what I just did' smile, and he didn't move when he had to know that he was holding her pinned painfully to the ground. She was aware of a lot of shouting and running around her, but she only had eyes on Castle just then.

"Castle?"

She wriggled under him, and he winced but made an effort to move. Beckett looked down at her pristine white dress gloves and found the one that he'd had pinned between them was smeared crimson.

"Oh, God…"

She wriggled harder, sliding out from under him and rolling him onto his back. He groaned softly, but managed to meet her concerned and scared eyes.

"Ow…"

"Oh, no… no, no, no…"

She turned to look around, hoping a doctor might magically appear beside her. There were black-clad people sprawled on the ground everywhere, held down by police officers who didn't have weapons but were scanning the area for threats while those few with radios were yelling orders to officers who were scrambling to obey them. Abruptly she felt herself pushed down again, this time onto Castle – who gasped. She turned and saw that Ryan had managed to get to them. He was looking around like all of them were, but he glanced over at her.

"Stay down!"

"Castle's hurt."

The other detective swore, taking in the pale skin and the blood instantly. He nodded, though, pulling himself together quickly as he'd been trained to do.

"Stay with him, and stay down. I'll get a doctor."

She didn't need to be told twice. He moved away, staying low, and she turned back to Castle, grabbing his hand almost desperately.

"Stay with me," she told him.

He nodded, but it was clear he was in trouble, because his eyes were getting that glazed look that she knew only too well. She was losing him.

"Castle," she whispered, trying to keep her voice down and praying that someone had the sense to hold Alexis down so she wouldn't come running over and see her dad like this – or worse, get shot by some stray bullet should whoever took the first shot decide to make another try. "Stay with me."

"Kate…"

It seemed like it was all he could say, and even that was a gasp. She pressed her free hand against the bloodiest spot on his shirt trying to stop the life from flowing out of him. Beckett felt her eyes burning with sudden tears and she had no way to wipe them away.

"Help's coming." She told him, pleasding. "Stay with me. Don't leave me, Castle…"

He gasped again, obviously trying to catch his breath against the pain. She thought his grip on her hand might have tightened just a little, and she squeezed it as hard as he could.

"Rick… please…"

She never called him that, and even in his pain induced haze his expressive eyes cleared just a little at the sound of his name. She brought his hand to hers and kissed it, desperate to keep him with her now that she seemed to have his attention.

"What were you thinking…?" she asked him, brokenly, despite trying to remain calm. "What-"

"I love you…"

It was so soft that if she hadn't been so close she never would have heard it. He was watching her, his eyes dull with pain and shock.

Beckett sniffed, holding the hand even tighter and using her sleeve to wipe her eyes.

"Stay with me, Rick… Don't give up… Help's coming."

In the distance she could hear the sirens. She didn't look up though. Her eyes were locked on his, as if only by holding his gaze could she keep him with her.

His eyes closed, but the hand on his chest could feel the pulse beneath his shirt.