Author's note: This is my first foray into the world of Castle. Not sure if there will be more to this. I do have another piece, but this one may just have to be a stand alone. Not sure yet, that might depend on you guys.

Thanks to my beta Tanya Reed. You did an awesome job, but all mistakes are mine as always.

Kate Beckett paced the ladies room, her mind whirling as she hid from Natalie Rhodes, her creepy clone. At first she had been flattered by Natalie's attention but as the actress had got more and more into character Kate had just wanted the woman gone. Yesterday Natalie had began talking just like Kate and now she wanted Castle too, was there anything left that was Kate's alone? Catching sight of herself in the mirror, Kate stopped and sighed. If she was honest with herself the actress wasn't the real problem, it was Castle. It always was.

Why hadn't he slept with the Nikki Heat, or at least the on screen version of her, when he had the chance? He'd sure been all over Natalie in the elevator. What did it mean? Did Castle have feelings for her? Was Lanie right? But if that was true why hadn't he made a pass at her since those first few days. There were moments when she thought he might feel something for her, but then he opened his mouth and...

Spinning on her heel, she headed out of the bathroom and down to autopsy to talk to Lanie. Maybe she could make sense of all this. Kate had to get this all straightened out, and her friend was the best way to do it.

The doors banged closed behind Kate. "Castle-" Kate paused shaking her head as she paced the room.

"He didn't. I thought he was better than that. He slept with that... bimbo." Lanie stormed around the autopsy room. "I mean the way he looks at you-"

"No, Lanie, that's just it; he didn't sleep with her. I saw them together. She was crawling all over him in the elevator and he wasn't saying no at that point, but he did. Castle said no to sleeping with a beautiful actress. What does that mean!"

Lanie patted her friend on the shoulder. "It means what I've been saying all along. He loves you and you just need to open your eyes and see it. Besides does Josh make you as happy as Rick does?"

Kate was startled by the use of Castle's first name. "What-"

"I'm not talking about the guy that follows you around and is annoying. I'm talking about Rick, the guy he is when you two are alone. Think about the way that man makes you feel, and then decide."

Weary, Kate walked into her new apartment shedding her coat and tossing it over the back of a chair. She contemplated going to the kitchen and scrounging up something to eat, but she dropped down on the couch instead. She just didn't have the energy to do anything else. It had been a long day.

Kicking off her shoes she curled up on the couch looking around her apartment. When Castle had told her that this place was available she had thanks him kindly for the lead and scooped it up. It was just what she needed after her old one was destroyed, in fact it was even better. It was like the place had been built for her. Castle really did know her well.

With a smile on her lips she touched her father's watch on her wrist. Lanie was right, Rick did make her feel special. Who else would run to the rescue and smash down a door for her? She still remembered how worried he'd been that night. If she were honest with herself, she knew it had nothing to do with Nikki Heat. His concern was for her, Kate. Why else would he fix her father's watch?

Was Lanie right? Did Rick have feelings for her? Did she have them for him? What was the next step?

Her doorbell rang and with a sense of anticipation she went to the door. Opening it, her smile faltered. Josh stood on the doorstep.

"Hi, I missed you." He kissed her cheek and entered as reality set it. Castle was with Gina and Kate was with Josh. The two of them had made their choices and now she would have to live with it.

Closing the door, Kate asked her self why she fell cheated.

There you have it if you want more, leave a review and you just might kick start my Muse.