Ancient, Modern, or Sexual?

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or any of its characters. I'm honored just to get the chance to play around in this universe for an hour or two at a time.

IN THE INTEREST OF CLARIFICATION:

Chapters will take place in different years. 2009 is the year we met the members of the 12th and Richard Castle. 2001 is two years after the death of Johanna Beckett (murdered on January 9, 1999) and Kate's senior year at NYU.

March 9th, 2009:

Kate Beckett strode into the crime scene, confident and poised. The youngest to ever make homicide detective, she was determined to prove herself at every scene. Her eyes scanned the flat, observing every detail, before she arrived at the body where her team was waiting for her.

She kneeled beside the body, examining it, as Lanie continued to take notes. Esposito and Ryan returned from being briefed by the patrol cops that had first secured the scene, just as Beckett asked her normal question to the victim, "Who are you?"

The scene stirred a memory in her mind, words from a book floating through her mind, but she pushed it aside, hoping it would not end up being HIS book, HIS murder. Esposito shook her from her inner montage, offering up details on the victim. A social worker with a 400 grand apartment – Dad's money.

Lanie joined the group, offering up a quip, "Who says romance is dead?"

Trading sarcastic looks, she glares at her best friend. "I do, every Saturday night."

Without a beat, Lanie shoots back, "A little lipstick wouldn't hurt. Just sayin'." From the corner of her eyes, she sees Esposito and Ryan nudge each other, enjoying the interplay between the women, and she shoots them a glare. She is, after all, their boss, and she needs to remain in control.

"So, Lanie, how did she die?" Not two bullets, not two bullets, she chanted internally. She wasn't ready for this to be a copy cat, because she knew what would come next – they'd drag him in, and she'd have to question him.

"Two bullets, small caliber, to the chest."

The similarities could not be overlooked. Even as she walked around the body, pointing out details to the newer detectives, taking the opportunity to teach them, her mind raced with the implications. She hadn't seen him in eight years, avoided all his normal hangouts. She had even made sure to buy his books with cash, wanting no trail to connect herself to him. The break up had not been pleasant, and she had never fully recovered from losing him. But now…

Esposito's question cut through. "You really get that from just this?"

And now it was time to face the music. "This, plus, I've seen this before." The detectives only looked at her blankly as she said, "Roses on her body, sunflowers on her eyes…?" The guys looked at her blankly, as Lanie's face showed recognition. She rolled her eyes. "Don't you guys read?"

Lanie breathed out, "You are talking about him! Richard Castle, best-seller author, handsome –"

Beckett interrupted her quickly. "Just because you like to admire the back sleeve, Lanie, doesn't mean the rest of us do. Boys, go call the publishing company. Find out where Mr. Castle is so I can take him in for questioning." The boys nodded, before grabbing their cell phones and heading to a corner. Lanie shot her a look. "What?" Kate grumbled, already annoyed, already dreading the reunion.

"Richard Castle. Ex-boyfriend, huh?" Lanie's voice dropped a notch as Beckett nodded at the people around them, urging her not to speak so loudly. "So now you get to question him? Please tell me you're going to torture him. Can I get a ticket? I want to see this."

"Oh come on, Lanie, it's just a questioning. Need to get his alibi, his fan letters that's all. With any luck, he won't remember me." The idea was like a shot to her gut. She knew he lead a partying life style… it was altogether plausible he wouldn't remember her from their whirlwind romance. But she wasn't sure whether which would hurt more: him remembering, or him not even knowing who she was.

Lanie shook her head. "Girl, he's going to remember, and he's going to be all over you. I hope you're ready for it." She reached over to put her hand on the detective's arm. "Just be careful, okay? It took so long for you to put yourself back together. Don't let him destroy you again."

Kate shrugged, moving off into the night. "I'll figure it out." And, as an afterthought, she shouted back to Lanie, "Remember, not a word!" Esposito walked beside her as she exited the apartment, handing over an address with an explanation that it was a book signing for his latest novel.

She knew that, actually. She had known where he would be before she had asked the boys to track Richard Castle down. But being a detective was hard enough. She was not going to let on that their prime suspect at the moment just happened to be her ex-boyfriend – and the only man she had ever really loved.

Yeah, that would be great for her reputation. She scowled as she slammed shut her cruiser's door before turning the key in the ignition. Trust Richard Castle to finally, after all these years, make his way back into her life. "Idiot!" she yelled as she slammed on her break and honked her horn at the cab who had just cut her off. She wasn't sure who she was madder at – the cab driver, herself, or him.

Author's note: Let me know what you think! I was planning on turning this into a multi-chapter fiction. It's supposed to be a "what if?" addressing the question of what would it be like if Castle and Beckett had already dated and broken up years before working together again.

Depending on interest, I'll continue to work on this fiction, or hang it up as a cool one-shot writing exercise – so please let me know if you're interested in it or not! Thanks for reading and reviewing, as always!