Author's Note: (11/12/13) It's been a good 5 years since I've dabbled into the fiction world. I write news for a living, dealing in hard facts, but this wouldn't leave me alone after seeing the promo for 'Disciple' (6X09). This is based on a couple of things from the promo - Castle appearing to be choking someone, and Beckett's terrified look in the loft, as well as the knowledge that Stana Katic missed some filming days due to promotional obligations for 'CBGB'.

Obviously, spoilers abound for Season 6 thus far. As well as for 6X09 in the broadest sense that we've seen the promo. Anything else I happen to get right is purely coincidence, though I will be very impressed with myself.

Author's Note: (11/17/13) Now that the episode has aired (in Canada, at least) I will inform any new readers that this story is strictly AU. Some things are similar, as gathered from spoilers, other things (such as the location of the takedown/the manner in which it happens) are coincidence (go me!).

As a final word, I don't own Castle. If I did, I'd have paid off my student loans by now.

She's jolted awake by the silence - her heart lodged somewhere in her throat as her brain struggles to distinguish the twisted dream from her current reality.

Kate feels her heart thundering away in her chest, the rapid intake of air as her body fights off the lingering images of Castle's body swinging in the fall breeze rolling in off the Hudson River.

It had been how they'd found Lanie, or at least the cosmetically altered version. A doppleganger who resembled her best friend in such a way that she'd had to tamp down on the urge to scream, that had required Castle to shoulder her into the warm width of his chest while the officers and technicians from the Crime Scene Unit had tactfully looked the other way as she fought off tears and a very real panic attack.

She'd had to help Ryan and Castle physically restrain Esposito. Even Pearlmutter had been noticeably rattled, and the feeling hadn't gone away once officers had confirmed that Dr. Parrish was safe in her apartment and there was no way the body belonged to her.

That had been almost 48 hours ago, hours in which leads had gone cold and the team remained as equally baffled as they were emotionally shaken.

It had been the realization that they were at a dead end that had prompted Kate, aided by the 'not up for discussion' lecture from Captain Gates, to turn the team loose. Gates had put eyes on all of them, even promised an officer would routinely check up on Alexis, declaring that she would not let some bastard go after one of her own.

Kate sat up slowly, pushing away the thick duvet cover with one hand as she rubbed away the grit from her eyes.

Still, her body remained alert, tensed for some unknown mystery that had pulled her from sleep. Was it the dream? Maybe the quietness of the loft?

The realization hits her so quickly that she swears her heart skips a beat, its regular rhythm stuttering back to life as Kate curses herself for being so slow to notice. In her year of staying regularly at Castle's loft it has never been silent. Without fail, voices, music, even the steady typing of computer keys would all fill the space.

And now there is nothing, not even the drip of a faucet.

Her breath is shallow, Kate easing from the warmth of the blankets and the comfort of the mattress to creep towards the closet and the safe where she stores her gun.

The reassurance that fills her once the alarm has disengaged and the cold metal is weighing down her right hand should probably bother her, but all she feels is the knowledge that, no matter what, she will protect herself as well as Castle and Martha.

Because something is wrong. Undeniably and completely wrong.

She's halfway to Castle's office before she remembers her phone - cutting a sharp right back to the bedside table to retrieve it and flip the switch to silent the device. She traps the white object against the waist band of her leggings for a lack of pockets, continuing her trek back through the bedroom door and into the office.

It's empty, which comes as neither a surprise or a relief, but the late evening light does little to help her view through the open bookshelves into the living space beyond.

She can hear the sound of cars and sirens on the streets below, their low whine the only sound - somehow the sirens make it worse, Kate's heart beating a steady wave of fear in what could have happened to Castle or his mother.

Because she's never been in the loft alone. She's never heard such complete silence and its terrifying in its completeness.

The clock perched on one of the shelves reads 7:47, providing her with the knowledge of a nearly three hour nap but she quickly brushes it aside, aware that three hours is plenty of time for things to go to hell and back.

And, with that in mind, Kate tamps down on her fear, shoving aside the worried girlfriend and placing on her Detective armor. Instead of emotion she will deal in facts, she will find the solution, she will solve the problem.

She can fall apart later.

Sucking in a deep breath, she presses her back against the narrow edge of the bookcase, one hand poised over the door handle while she peers through the shelves for any sign of movement. And its impossible to tell, the dark closing off everything but the single lamp that Castle leaves on in the foyer.

So she takes her chances, pulling the door open and diving through before she has a chance to think or anyone on the other side has a chance to notice her.

Kate had been expecting something, a gasp of surprise, the glint of a weapon, the weight of a body tackling her to the floor.

But she finds nothing, she sees nothing. The loft as empty and as silent as when she woke.

Her gun stays in her hand, pointed up in the air as she lightly walks over the floor to check the coat closet and the bathroom - breathing a little easier as they both turn up empty. The laundry and the upstairs are all that remain, and she braces herself, her gun moving to point towards the floor as she crosses to the kitchen and shoulders into the laundry door.

She notices the paper first, fluttering on the kitchen counter beside her favorite coffee mug as the air vent kicks on - the paper is yellow, the sort that Castle uses to scribble on when typing on his computer just doesn't do it.

She checks the laundry anyway, only turning her back on the open door when she knows its cleared but making no qualms about her need to read the note.

For the moment, its her lifeline.

Kate,

Gone to pick up food. Didn't want to wake you. You needed sleep. Be back soon

- R

Her lips form a string of curses then, the words coming hot and fast as the adrenaline from her abrupt wake up call and trek across the loft spikes and leaves her drained. Leave it to Castle to scare her with something as simple and as innocent as take out.

The stupid, careless and completely wonderful fool.

She's going to kill him when he gets back. Kill him and then bring him back to life just to kiss him and then kill him again.

Those thoughts keep her occupied as she strolls back through the loft, reentering the closet to secure her gun in the safe as her phone vibrates.

"Beckett," she answers automatically, never giving the screen a glance. Anyone she talks to regularly is used to her last name as her automatic greeting.

The connection is bad, full of static, and her brow furrows. It's possible a uniform is calling to page her to a crime scene, though it certainly isn't their job - that falls to dispatch.

"Hello?" she tries again, stepping from the closet in the hope of better reception as she strolls towards the office to take up residence beside the window.

Kate never makes it that far, her blood turning to ice at the sight of the figure looming in the doorway from the office to the living area.

"Detective," the voice greets her, the smile on his face one of complete satisfaction, "I think its time we get to know one another a little better."