A/N: Hello all you Castle fans! First time writing a Castle fanfic ever! So be nice if I'm not exactly in their frame of mind. After watching the heart wrenching episode last week (Tick, Tick, Tick....) I really wanted to write a fic based on that. Let me start off by saying that was the best Castle episode EVER! And last nights episode (Boom!) was also amazing and nothing like this story. So I hope you enjoy this and if you like it, please review. Thankks!
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the amaziness that is Castle. The characters and bomb part, all deserve credit from ABC and the creator.
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Richard Castle was standing at the corner of the street where Kate Beckett's apartment once stood. He couldn't believe what he just witnessed. One minute he was talking to her and then the next…boom! All he could think about was the pain that filled his chest. The sickness he felt that one of his closest friend's just died. Guilt wrenched inside his stomach.
If he wouldn't have created Nikki Heat, Beckett wouldn't have been targeted and everything would be fine. But he also realized that if he wouldn't have created Nikki Heat, he would never have had the pleasure of working with her and getting to know her…and love her? Yes, it was true. Rick Castle was in love with Kate Beckett.
When he stayed at her house the night before, he wanted to show her what it would be like if they were together. He would make her breakfast, sit down, have a conversation with her. And the fact that her and Alexis got along so well was great. He could honestly see himself marrying and starting a family with her. But now, that's all changed. She was dead, and it was all his fault.
"Hey Castle!" Ryan and Esposito yelled across the road.
They ran quickly, waiting for a couple cars to pass. The street was hell. Paramedics, firefighters, and police officers filled the scene. People were running around, scared. And he, he just stood there.
"Castle?" Ryan asked.
Castle snapped out of his train of thought.
"Huh, what?"
"Are you okay?"
He gulped. "Not really."
"Would you mind filling out a witness report?" Esposito responded.
"Ah, not right now okay?"
Castle was completely not himself. He looked like he was doing some serious thinking, and he looked like everything in his world had just came crashing down. He started walking towards the burned down building.
"Hey Castle! Where are you going?"
"Inside."
"Of the apartment? Are you crazy?"
He ignored him as he kept walking closer.
"Castle! They found remains. Just thought you should know."
He turned around.
"Were they…Kate's?" he asked, feeling a tear fall from his eye.
"Their getting an…anthro…anthro.."
"Anthropologist?" Castle filled in the blanks.
"Yeah, that's it."
"I still want to go in there. See whats left. Any belongings that are still in tact."
"We're sorry Castle, but we can't let you do that." someone spoke.
He knew that voice. It was FBI Agent Shaw.
"And why not?" he asked, a little pissed off.
"It's a crime scene. Plus, theres not that much left."
"So..you guys found her body?"
"Yes."
"Can I see her?"
"Her body was very badly burned and all the…flesh was…removed. All that's left…are bones."
He gulped, trying to fight the urge not to ball his eyes out.
"I'm sorry. But this killer is still on the loose. I have to get back to work immediately."
"I want to help."
"You cant. Now that Detective Beckett is…gone, your alliance with the team is over."
"Jordan. Please don't do this. I need to catch this guy. Do you see what hes done?" he asked, pointing to where her apartment stood less then 10 minutes ago.
"Do you see all the pain he has caused? And it's all because of me! If I wouldn't have started Nikki Heat..he wouldn't have done this!"
"Castle. Listen. He would've killed anyway. Just like I told you before. This was just an excuse to kill. If you wouldn't have created Nikki Heat, he would still be crazy, he would still be a killer, and he would still find another way to do this. Don't blame yourself."
He sat down in the middle of the street.
"I was talking to her right before this. I tried telling her that the bomb was in there. But before…she could say anything….the apartment blew up. I didn't…have a chance…to say goodbye." He said in between tears.
Ryan and Esposito watched from the corner. Was Richard Castle actually crying? This was a once in a lifetime scene. They didn't want this to be the reason they first saw Castle crying. It was sad, truly sad. They knew that Castle loved her, and sometimes, it seemed like she loved him. This was not how their love story was supposed to end.
"I didn't get a chance to tell her how I felt."
Shaw sat down beside him, not worrying about getting her skirt dirty.
"And how did you feel?" she asked, trying to comfort him.
"I love her. She was the most amazing woman I have ever met. She…changed me so much. She's funny and sweet and caring and….she's just perfect. I loved it when we bickered. I loved when people would crack jokes about us being together. It may have annoyed her but….I think I annoyed her. And if I had the chance of being with her and not get on her nerves, I would do it."
She placed her hand on his.
"Did anyone call her dad?" he asked.
"I don't…I don't think so."
He stood up, taking out his phone.
"Excuse me."
He walked down the street, dialing her fathers number.
"Hello?" a man answered, sounding half asleep.
"Mr. Beckett?" he asked nervously.
This wasn't how the first time he talked to Kate's father was supposed to happen.
"Yes this is him. Who is this?"
"Um, this is Richard Castle. I worked with your daughter, Kate."
"Oh yes, Castle. I've heard a lot about you. You calling to finally ask permission to be with my daughter?"
"What? Does this mean she talked about me? Wow. I don't know what to say. Oh right."
"Um, not exactly sir."
"Whats going on then?"
He took a deep breath and began.
"Kate and I were put on a case a couple of days ago and the murderer turned out to be a serial killer. He was using my book, Heat Wave, to kinda….give him ideas. He called Kate multiple times and called her by the name of Nikki Heat, the girl in my book."
"The one you based off of Kate, right. Continue."
"Well..he started stalking Kate and was leaving behind messages at each crime scene. After all were collected, the message was 'Nikki will burn'. So..earlier today, we thought we finally caught the killer who commited suicide. Turn's out, it wasn't him. The real killer was creating a bomb. I called Kate multiple times but she didn't answer. I was outside of her apartment building when she picked up. I told her…"
"Ok. Just tell me what happened! Damn you writers and having to add every single detail! Just get to the point."
"Her apartment blew up. She was still inside."
The line went silent.
"Mr. Beckett?"
"So uh…she's dead?"
"Yes sir."
Silence.
"Thank you Mr. Castle. I appreciate the call. If you don't mind, I'm going to go back to sleep, so in the morning I can start funeral arrangements."
"Of course. I am very sorry for your loss."
"You too. Bye."
And with that, the line went dead.
"Is it me, or did he seem like he didn't care about his only child's death?" he thought to himself.
"Castle!" he heard Agent Shaw call.
He turned around.
"Time to head back to the precinct."
"You mean…I'm aloud?"
"Of course. Now lets go. We have a murderer to catch!"
***
Shall I continue? Yes? No? Please let me know. Review!
