Finally Falling

Prologue

As the sunlight hit her face, Kate Beckett's eyes fluttered open. Her eyes looked around the room as she took in her surroundings. She was in the hospital. Strange, how did she get there? She suddenly felt dizzy. Her hand reached up and touched her head and she found that her head was wrapped up in bandages. What the hell happened?

Her attention shifted to the man sitting on a chair beside her bed. It was none other than her partner, Richard Castle. Kate tried to call him but she found her that her throat was dry.

"Castle," it came out as a faint whisper. She hoped that he could hear her.

"C-castle," she tried again.

Rick Castle stirred in his sleep. He lifted his head and rubbed his sleepy eyes. When his eyes adjusted, his blue eyes met her hazel green eyes. A smile crept on his face.

"Kate! You're awake!" Rick said in relief.

"W-water," was all she said.

Castle rushed to get a nurse. Soon, a nurse entered and gave Kate a cup of ice chips. She instructed Beckett to suck on the ice chips first before she could give her water.

Beckett did as she was told. She sucked the ice chips and she could feel the ice melt in her mouth and the cold liquid go down her dry throat. It felt good. Once her throat was better, Kate tried speaking.

"W-what h-happened, Castle?" she asked.

"You..." He looked down. As if what happened hurt him greatly. When he looked back up, Kate could see the pain in his eyes.

He took a deep breath and continued, "You fell off a cliff after you fought Maddox."

"What? No... I didn't. Ryan caught me in time," Kate said as she tried to recall what happened.

"Ryan was there but he was a few seconds too late," Rick explain.

She couldn't believe it. She didn't fall. That wasn't what happened.

"No! That's not how I remembered it!" she exclaimed.

Suddenly, she felt her head throbbing. He asked her to calm down and not stress herself. She took deep breaths to try to relax herself.

"Okay then. How do you remember it?" Rick asked.

"Ryan saved me at the last second. Me and Esposito got suspended but then I quit my job. Then I showed up at the loft and then..." she trailed off.

"Then what?" Rick asked.

Kate shut her eyes and let her tears trickle down her cheek. Rick suddenly panicked and asked what was wrong. How could she tell him that the best damn year of her life was just a dream? That she and him were just getting started after he proposed? All of that, didn't happen. She lost him.

"Kate, please don't cry. I've never seen you like this. Please don't cry," he pleaded.

She cried even more even though she hated herself for crying. The man she loved, the man that she was about to say yes to, had no idea.

"Tell me what to do. What can I do to make things better? Please, Kate... I hate seeing you cry," he said.

She couldn't stop herself from crying. She didn't know why. Maybe it's because the man that is in front of her, is still the man that she loved. Or maybe it's because she saw the love in his blue eyes.

Before she knew what was happening, she was in his arms. Rick held her as she sobbed, muttering soothing words every now and then. Soon, slowly, Kate stopped crying. He pulled away and Kate missed his warmth already. He got up, adjusted himself on the uncomfortable edge of her bed and cupped her face. He slowly wiped her dried tears from her cheeks with his thumb.

"No more, Kate," he said.

She looked up and got lost in his ocean blue eyes. Tears began pouring out again. His eyes held so much love, it was overwhelming. To him, the last time they spoke was when he gave up on her but to her, the last time they spoke was when he proposed.

"Hey, what's with all the crying?" Rick asked as he pulled her back and hugged her.

"I'm so sorry, Rick."

"Why are you apologizing, Kate? Because of what happened?" Rick asked.

"I'm the one that should be apologizing. I wasn't there for you. I'm so sorry, Kate."

"I love you, Rick," she confessed softly.

"What?" he asked, slightly stunned.

He wanted to ask her again but Kate had fallen asleep. He gently pulled away and let her head rest on the pillow but when he wanted to leave, she tugged on his arm.

"Don't let me go," she mumbled in her sleep.

Rick smiled at the sleeping beauty and lied back down beside her on the uncomfortable edge of the bed but he didn't care. He was no face to face with Kate Beckett. She looked so fragile and vulnerable. His arm reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, away from her beautiful face.

"Sleep tight, Kate."

Soon, Rick drifted to sleep.