Everybody makes mistakes

Chapter 1: Truth

Detective Kate Beckett stared after the infamous Richard Castle and his ex-wife number two, still not quite believing what it was that had just happened. Never before had she experienced something like this. Usually, she got what she wanted, especially when it came to men, but with Castle, it was different – then again everything was different about Richard Castle. She had broken up with her boyfriend for another guy and she secretly cursed herself for not realizing her feelings sooner, before she had to drag someone along and potentially hurt them. Tom was a nice guy and probably, when he got his head around what had happened, a good friend, but nothing more. Castle really was different and looking back she knew she shouldn't have kissed Tom that day. Of course, he would have had to see them.

Remembering that moment, suddenly, she realized something. Tom had told her that he'd seen Castle watching them – yet why was it then that he had continued kissing her? He knew Castle liked her, it seemed that everyone except her had done, - and he probably also knew she liked Castle - and that it would really hurt Castle having to see them. And so, being the detective she was, she had to find out why he did that. Just for revenge? However a feeling told her that wasn't the full story.

The door to her left opened but she was already determined and well on her way. She didn't even hear Lanie calling after her, instead she just went straight to robbery. Tom was still sat there and looked up in surprise when he saw her coming. "Kate! What are you doing here?" He questioned, looking up at her since she was taller than he due to her being stood and him being sat down.

"Stop it. I need to ask you something." She stated, boldly. Tom nodded and pointed to the chair next to his desk but she refused to sit.

"I'm listening, Kate", he said, secretly hoping she was going to say she had made a mistake and she wanted them to get back together.

"That day we kissed here at the precinct, did you do it just because you knew Castle was watching?" Tom opened and closed his mouth and then looked down, avoiding her gaze in the way a child does why they are trying not to lie.

Kate gasped in horror. "Oh my god, it's true!" She almost choked out.

"Kate, wait, I can explain…"

"No way. You don't get to explain yourself because this is just… I don't even know how to describe it! You knew he liked me and did it on purpose so it would hurt him! And now, I've probably lost him forever!" She said, keeping her detective armor on as not to let her emotions overrun her

"What do you mean, lost him forever?" He questioned, confusion hazing his mind.

"That's none of your business anymore, Tom!" Kate turned around to leave because she already felt some tears coming. Of course, Tom ran after her and grabbed her arm, hoping to stop her from leaving.

"Kate, please tell me. What happened?"

Kate took a deep breath, not knowing why she should tell him, but wanting to get it off of her chest all the same. "His ex-wife showed up and picked him up. They're going to the Hamptons together so he can finish his book and she can have some fun with him!" Beckett had to fight to keep the bitterness from her tone as she spoke.

"No, that can't be true." Tom suddenly looked serious.

"No? Then how do you explain it? He left with her, arm in arm, and she told me she'd come with him to, and I quote, 'Stay on top of him while he finishes his book'" Kate tried to free herself but Tom refused let go and started rambling.

"It can't be, that's not what… It was only… No… She…"

Kate looked up. "She?"

Tom didn't even listen. "I didn't want that! I swear! It wasn't supposed to be like this!"

Kate grabbed Tom's arms and looked him in the eyes, trying to get him to stop rambling and tell her straight what was going on.

"Tom! You will tell me exactly what happened!" Kate demanded as her brain began to formulate a horrible series of events.

As he didn't even react, she dragged him up to homicide and into one of the interrogation boxes. She knew that Ryan, Esposito, Lanie and probably even Captain Montgomery would be listening but she didn't care. She sat down opposite Tom, giving him her You-better-not-be-messing-with-me-look. "Now. I'm listening. Tell me exactly what happened!"

Tom looked embarrassed and his cheeks began to flush. "Look, I know Gina. I solved a robbery for her in 2006. She probably remembered me, because a couple of weeks ago, she called me and said something had been stolen. I agreed to meet her in her office."

"Let me guess," Kate interrupted. "Nothing had been stolen."

"Well", Tom continued, "She claims she has lost her best-selling author. Apparently he hasn't written much lately and she needs to have his new manuscript by the end of the summer. She told me he's spending too much time at the 12th and, I also quote, 'he's running after this cop who will never ever let him have her'. She told me she'd need my help." By this point he was avoiding eye contact with the homicide detective.

"Help doing what exactly?" Kate asked, already guessing the answer.

"Help her get the two of you separated. You're his distraction and she said if you were dating someone, he'd probably get back to his writing."

"What?!" She asked, completely baffled by the revelation.

"She told me what I had to do," Tom continued, ignoring Kate. "And because she said she'd help my boyfriend get a job, I agreed to do it."

"Your…" Kate nearly groaned, this just keeps getting better and better she thought to herself.

"Yes, my boyfriend. We've been together for almost three years now but not many people know about us. So you're more than welcome to keep this to yourself." Kate nodded in agreement and made a mental note to tell her friends to do the same. Tom just stared at the floor, waiting for an audible answer.

"I promise," Kate assured him, "But now, I need to know what happened after you agreed to help Gina."

"You know the rest!" Tom looked up. "We met, I tried to make you like me. I kissed you so it would become clear to him. I was actually very relieved when you broke up with me because I thought this meant that you had finally accepted your feelings for Castle."

"It's too late for that now." Kate gave him a sad smile but Tom reached out and took her hand.

"It's not too late, Kate!" he said. "I'm sure she organized this just to get him back so he's been played, too. If you go to him, everything will be fine. I promise. And I'll even come with you to keep Gina away. I've known for a while that she's pretty evil and Henry got a job offer yesterday, so we don't even need her anymore."

"And what if he doesn't want me anymore?" Kate asked. "I lied to him, I hurt him. Why would he accept me?" She added, stating all the things that were running through her mind. Even after what Tom had done, she felt like he wanted to make things better now. And she decided that she already had enough enemies as it was, so there was no point in making any more.

"Because he really loves you! A good thing about being gay is that you definitely know when a man's in love. He is, and he already was before Gina showed up again."

"So now…" Kate stopped. She was still hurt because of what Castle did but if Tom told the truth, she had to do something quickly.

"No we go after your man Kate." Tom stood up and pulled back Kate's chair. She stood up and smiled at him.

"I'd really like to meet that boyfriend of yours."

"I'll talk to Henry and we'll arrange a double date." Tom opened the door and they got out.

Lanie, Esposito and Ryan were all standing at the side of her desk near the chair that was Castle's. Seeing the chair empty made her realize how much she wanted him back, and looking at them she saw them all looking back at her expectantly. Kate rolled her eyes.

"I know you listened so drop the act. I'll see you either after the weekend or in the fall."

She grabbed her coat and went with Tom to her car. Once they got in, Tom searched for Castle's address in the Hamptons to find out where it was that they had to go. Soon, they were out of the madness that was New York City and instead were driving along on a sunny road. The drive was very reasonably quiet, and despite the day's events and Kate enjoyed Tom's company. She actually preferred him now that she knew the truth.

Yet the drive seamed to last forever, and with every passing moment she just got more nervous. When they arrived at the house, Kate gasped. It wasn't just any house, this was more like a mansion! All she could think about was that she had declined his offer to come here, to this… this paradise! But then, she saw Castle's Ferrari standing in the driveway and her courage left her.

"We should leave", she whispered.

Tom shook his head. "No. You go in there and tell him how you feel. You can do this, Kate!"

She sighed, got out and slowly walked to the door while Tom waited at the car, feeling as though it was not his place to be stood next to her when she knocked on the door. After one last assuring nod from him, she finally knocked.

So... I hope you like this story, I was rewatching 2x24 and I kind of wanted to write another ending...

Huge thanks to fashiongirl97 for being the most awesome beta ever, you made this story even better :D

This is a 3-chapter-fic, I'll update soon!

And, of course, follow, favorite, review!

K xx