Kate was coming home from a long day at the station, and just wanted to see her lovely husband. He'd gotten banned from helping the NYPD since he had mob ties, but everyone who mattered knew that he was a good guy, and still using loopholes to help the police in their investigations. Kate had never been so glad she'd met the ruggedly handsome cocky man. 

Richard Castle was the love of her life. He was a pain in her ass, sure. But she couldn't imagine a life without him. Kate had just unlocked the door and was expecting to hear some typing from his office, but there came only silence. Castle HATED silence. Something was wrong. She called him ten minutes ago and he was typing, she could hear it through the phone. What happened? She pulled her gun out of the holster and crept to his office. It was empty and his computer was open.

Okay, something had to be really wrong. He DIDN'T leave his computer open. EVER. She went through the living room and found nothing until she went over to the kitchen. Behind the island-

Kate couldn't breathe.

Before she could process what she was doing, she was knelt on the ground next to her husband and pushing her hands against his wounds. He was still warm. She could feel his chest rising and falling, agonizingly slowly.

Keeping one of her hands on Castle's wounds, Kate called for an ambulance. As soon as she put the phone down, she saw. 

Her hands were covered in his warm, crimson blood. He was bleeding out. And she wasn't sure the ambulance would make it in time. 

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Hours had passed and Kate was in the hospital bathroom, trying desperately to wash the stains of his blood off her skin. He was still in surgery, critical condition. The doctors wouldn't tell her anything else.

Before long, Ryan and Esposito showed up. They were scared out of their minds, and almost homicidal, wanting to find whoever did this to Rick. But Kate begged them not to. She needed them right now. 

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"I'm sorry for your loss."