When one of their own is murdered how will they cope and solve the case.

This story is sad. I've gone and killed a major character, despite my love for them all.

Don't kill me.

I don't own the show, I promise if I did none of this chapter would happen. Most of the story wouldn't happen.

Richard Castle, famous author and police wannabe cannot seem to breathe. His heart has shattered as he looks at the scene before him. Never again does he ever want to see blood, never again will he joke about antics of victims.

He had just left to go get lunch but now he doesn't think he'll ever eat again. Tears are running down his face as his friends come up behind chatting happily until they see him. They too feel their hearts break as they see the room.

The silence is broken by Javier Esposito's screams of rage as he tries to deny the sight of the woman that was like his little sister, dead upon the floor, her blood running towards them, her eyes wide with shock and pain.

As his cries bring others, Castle falls to his knees, crushed by the sight. He cannot bring himself to turn away from the eyes that once rolled happily in response to his words. He cannot believe that it is her but he knows it is.

Ryan is the only one to keep it together. He calls for someone to find Montgomery and for someone to get Lanie's number. Esposito stops him here. His rough voice showing his pain as he speaks.

"I'll phone her, she'll probably be the one to come. She's the best."

No one interrupts Castle's grieving; they know how much he loved her. It's Lanie that moves him. When she arrives, tears still running freely she takes a pair of gloves from her pocket and hands them to the motionless man. She briefly holds Esposito close before walking towards the corpse of her best friend.

Montgomery is having a breakdown in his office, feeling like he just lost a daughter. He doesn't bother controlling his own tears as he watches the commotion outside. Sadness like never before washes over him as he sees a broken man walk over towards the desk he spent so much time smiling at.

"Lanie, how'd she go?"

"Stabbed, she struggled but they were ready. It was quick; they knew she wouldn't be alone for long. She would have went quickly after the knife came out. Whoever did this was big. It's the only way they could have got her."

"I bet he didn't get off clean. She'll have hurt him."

"Well once I get her downstairs we will see what evidence she managed to get us."

Lanie stands to let him have a moment with Kate.

He gently strokes her face with his gloved hand, his eyes once again trying to spill over. He speaks softly to her, knowing she's already gone but he needs to say the words.

"We love you Katie, always have always will. We will remember you forever as the strong woman you are. Whoever did this, we'll catch them. They'll be caught. I won't go all revenge on them. But I will make sure you get justice, that we get closure. Have fun with your mom, tell her I say hi. We'll meet again, someday. Goodbye Katie. I will miss you."

He stands and with one last look at the body of his wife he walks out of the room and into Roy Montgomery's office. The men don't speak; neither can believe what's happened. When a moment has passed Roy stands, waking to his window, his own view of the outside world. Rick joins him as he begins to speak.

"I've worried about her for a long time, I've worried about them all. I've watched them leave here to go get someone and every time I can't help but fear for them. Each time they come back safe, I'm so relieved. I knew the day would come when I lost one of them but not like this. Not here. Not her.

"She was happy, happier than ever because of you. Even before you got together she was living more. Why now? Why when she'd just got everything she'd dreamed of. It's not right. I know the world is cruel and nothing is right but still. Today we are both cops and victims. The world just dimmed Rick. We've lost a damn good friend."

"Yeah, it's dimmed, a whole lot. I've always let her do her thing, rarely getting protective because it's her. But I never let her walk alone in the dark. I always worried about her when I couldn't see her but this one time I didn't. She was smiling and joking and I didn't need to worry about her eating, after all that's where I was going. She's spent nights alone in this place, I never for one moment thought to worry. It's the middle of the day; I know it's deserted today but still. The guy's got nerve."

A call interrupts their conversation as a rough looking Esposito calls them from the door.

"She left us a message."

Curious the men follow him and sure enough upon the floor the white board stands, written upon it in a mix of pen and blood is a message in Kate's unmistakable writing. It stops mid word but it speaks volumes to her family.

M W Taller than RC .Brown Eyes .Blk hair RC love you forev

Rick stands tall as he reads her last words, pride fills him as he realises how much it would have taken to write it. Not many would have managed that many words. Beside him he can feel the pride coming off Roy. The man taught her everything about being a cop, he's came to love her like a daughter. The thought takes the sad smile off of Rick's face. He has a family to tell.

As he turns from the message his phone goes and pulling it out he sees Alexis' id. Sighing he answers unwilling to tell her over the phone but one sentence from his daughter makes him break down.

"Dad, Jo won't stop crying and something's wrong I can feel it. What's happened?"

Ryan takes the phone from him and replies to the young woman.

"Hey, it's me Kevin. I'm going to drop your dad off soon, he'll calm Jo. Everyone here's had a bit of a shock; he'll need you close for a while."

"Ok, but promise you'll explain when you come?"

"I promise. See you soon."

The absence of her stepmother in the conversation saddens Alexis; in the pit of her stomach she can feel the fear. In her heart she knows: Something's happened to Kate. She doesn't know how she knows but she does. She can feel the hole. She knows that the mother of her little sister won't be coming home.

In a last effort to calm the crying child Alexis turns on the TV and curls up with the infant in her arms. It doesn't work though. Jo quietens but soon Alexis is crying with her. They don't need to be told. They can feel the news.

Please review.

There will be flashbacks and Caskett goodness and I already have a touching ending planned but please tell me where this should go and what you all think.

I just can't believe I wrote this, she is after all amazing and I can't actually read many other fics that have her dead. She will however still be a central character in this, any guesses how that happens?