Castle's partner

Assurance

"I'm sorry. I should have told you. I understand that and I'm sorry. But I can't reverse what I've done. And I don't want him to hurt you guys."

They look at each other.

"Alright. Get a vest on, we don't know if this dude is coming back or not. I want to see your phone."

I hand it to Beckett as Ryan hands me a vest that I quickly slip on.

She leads Ryan and Castle into the bedroom and starts inspecting the crime scene.

Espo stares after them.

I approach him slowly and hug him.

"You saved my life Tío. Thank you. I'm sorry my stupidness put you in danger. And now your apartment is destroyed. And it's my fault."

"Samantha, I'm not mad. I'm glad you're ok. But one of these days your stubbornness is going to get you killed. Do you understand what it would mean to us if that happened?"

I nod.

"But I don't think you do."

He walks away, and I am left standing in the middle of something that maybe I don't understand.

The phone rings in Beckett's hand and she answers.

"Yeah one sec."

She hands it to me.

"It's for you."

I take it from her.

"Hello?"

"Samantha are you ok?"

I turn away from the team.

"Yeah. Oliver how did you even hear about this? Wait, wait let me guess. Beckett to Lanie and Lanie called you?"

"Maybe?"

"Oh."

"So are you ok?"

"Get me out of here. Please. You're not that far away are you?"

"No I'm at home. It's like five in the morning where else would I be?"

"Good point. Please come get me."

"I'll be there in ten."

I sit in the corner for the next few minutes watching as CSU does their thing.

The door knocks and I jump to answer it.

Oliver stands with his hands in his pockets.

"I'm leaving!" I yell and don't look back before exiting.

I breathe a sigh of relief as the noise behind me disappears.

I take off my vest and lean it against the wall right outside the apartment.

Oliver pulls me into a hug.

I feel safe in his arms, and my wall crumbles just a little.

"Let's go."

He takes my hand and we walk side by side, our shoulders almost touching.

The sun is rising slowly over the buildings.

We proceed to his apartment in silence and take the stairs to the roof.

I wander to the center and lay down. The concrete is warm against my back, and the sun feels good on my face.

Oliver copies me.

"Are you tired?" He asks.

I shrug. "No."

"I'll take that as a yes. You can go to sleep. You're safe. I'll keep watch."

"Its ok. You don't need to."

"I want to. But first, I want to tell you something. I love you. Do you love me?"

My heart skips a beat. I stare at him like an idiot, my lips trying to form words they don't seem to know how to say.

"Oliver, I-I." I shake my head.

"I don't know how to love."

"That's not true. I know that. I see the way you look at the team. At Ryan and Beckett and Espo and Castle. The things you say to Lanie and Alexis, I know you love them. You just don't want to love them. You loved your family. The way you feel about them and how badly it hurts you to lose them, you feel that way about the team. But do you feel that way about me?"

He's right. I do love them even though I don't want to admit it. Losing them would hurt.

Losing Oliver would hurt.

I look at him, and a tear falls from my eye.

"I don't want to lose you. That's why I don't want to love you. But I do."

He smiles.

"You won't lose me. Ok? Now, go to sleep."

He kisses me on the forehead.

"Wake me up if something happens ok?"

"I will."

"And if you don't want to keep watch anymore wake me up."

"I-"

"And if the team calls-"

"Samantha! Stop. You're safe here. It's ok."

I close my eyes.

"You're right. Ok I'll go to sleep now."

I lay back down and he balls up his sweatshirt for my to use as a pillow.

I know he'll keep me safe.

I don't want to lose him though.