Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or related material.
Richard Edgar Castle, Rick to one and all, was tired, of the heartbreak, tired of the jabs and the rubbing in his face of all the men she found worthy, passing over him, never him.
He was tired of the acting, a smile on his face.
He was tired of other people's normal.
It was time, he had decided, to go back to where he belonged. Back to his normal.
It was time to Rendezvous With Destiny once more.
Katherine Houghton Beckett, Kate to friends, Beckett to colleagues and Detective to anyone she meets, was worried. It had been two months since anyone at the precinct had seen Castle. He'd said 'Goodbye', that wasn't a Castle thing, said 'until tomorrow', less final he claimed.
Beckett saw Alexis, eyes red and puffy, walking slowly but with purpose towards her, and Kate's concern only grew. Alexis was clutching something to her stomach and from her seat all she could see were flashes of white, brown and blue.
"He's gone." The teen's declaration rang in the now hushed precinct floor, her tears flowing again. Blind through the tears Alexis revealed to her watchers, now the whole floor, the folded framed flag. A Souvenir Of Sacrifice, brass plate and all, 'In memory of Captain Richard Alexander Rogers, 101st Airborne'.
AN: Thank you for reading, obviously some liberties have been taken.
This oneshot is written in honour of, all active duty and reserve members of the armed forces around the world dedicated to preserving peace and defending their nations, all the police forces across the world, in particular those fighting against a rising tide of hostility, keeping the peace and protecting the innocent. This piece is particularly dedicated to the 101st Airborne of the United States Army, I did use their motto after all.