Always.

Nine.

"Castle."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I ran up to him, and kissed him like he had never been kissed before. I found him, he was okay. When I pulled away, I saw in his hand a gun.

"Castle, what happened here?"

"You don't see that I've been shot in the leg?" He paused and pointed to his leg. I gasped. "He was shooting at me, so I shot him."

"Oh my God, Castle! We need to get you to the hospital. Ryan is on his way in the car." I needed to tell him about the baby, but not now. There was way too much going on.

I took him out from behind the bush to where Espo was, and together we filled Espo in on the situation.

"And Ryan is on his way..." I said as he pulled up. I gave Castle a towel from the trunk to hold on his leg, and I helped into the front seat.

"Owwww!" Castle whined as I did so, although, I didn't blame him. It was painful being shot, as I speak from experience.

Ryan and Espo automatically climbed into the back, since it was my car and they knew I was always the driver.

"Okay, there is a hospital a little ways from here. Do you think you can make it?"

"Do I have a choice?"

I was only driving for a few minutes to get to the hospital (I was going way above the speed limit, but I'm a cop, so it's alright, right?), but it seemed like forever with Castle continually wincing in pain beside me. I hated seeing him like this, in so much pain. When we pulled up to the hospital entrance, I tossed Ryan the keys.

"Park the car." I wasn't asking, I was demanding. And he willingly obliged.

"I'll go as quickly as possible."

I got out of the car, then ran over to help Castle. I slowly helped him up the steps and inside. We actually made it in fairly quickly, in spite of Castle's cries of pain.

When we got in, I started yelling for help. "He's been shot! My husband's been shot!" The nurses quickly got him into a wheelchair and wheeled him into the E.R., where he was consulted by the doctor.

"Um, Mrs. Castle, is it?"

"Please, call me Kate." I still wasn't used to being called 'Castle'. Even though we were married, we both agreed it would be easier if I went by Beckett.

"Okay, Kate. Mr. Castle here got very lucky. The bullet just barely bypassed his major artery, so all he needs is a few stitches, and he will be fine."

"Oh, thank god!" I started crying out of relief.

"Beckett, what's going on?" Castle called to me from his groggy, medicated state.

"Everything's fine! You just need a few stitches."

"Then why are you crying?" I was overly emotional, since I was pregnant, remember? But I still wasn't ready to tell Castle. I would tell him later, at home.

"Um, no reason."

"There has to be a reason. You know, now that I think about it, you've been pretty emotional this whole time. And nervous. It's just my leg. Is something else going on?"

"Well, I did just find my missing husband. Cut me some slack."

"Oh, okay." Castle mumbled. But I could tell he wasn't buying it. He knew that something was up.