Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Rushing into the precinct that morning, her head full of the millions of things that she needs to do, Detective Kate Beckett swore under her breath as she noticed the time.

Reaching her office, she dropped her bag, files and the precious coffee onto her desk.

This was not how she'd planned to start the day.

She was supposed to be this strong, independent woman who handled anything that came her way with grace and poise. Well, most women didn't have to spend half the night being the escort of a famous author, with women throwing themselves all over him, did they? she snorted. She admitted that it had been fun watching him rebuff them all, and keep her firmly glued to his side, but all thoughts of fun and games had quickly disappeared when they'd spent the other half of the night dealing with not one, but two, sick children.

Dabbing at the juice stain on her shirt with a wet tissue, Beckett looks up when Detective Esposito knocks on the door. 'He'll be here in ten.'

'Ta.'

'Problems?'

'Alexis has the flu, and Sebastian woke up at 2am this morning throwing up. It hasn't been a good morning.'

'Ah. Hopefully the day gets better.'

Dismissing Esposito, and giving up trying to fix the stain on her shirt, she turned to the task at hand, gathering her files together as she prepared to meet the new DA.

Hearing the phone ring, and wishing she could ignore it, but knowing that she had to answer it, Kate quickly picked up the handset and spoke curtly.

'Detective Beckett.'

'Hey. Did you get in okay?'

'Rick,' she said, nerves settling as she listened to his voice. 'Yep, I'm here. No more disasters. How are the monsters?'

'One's asleep, and the other is currently begging for honey on toast, so I'm in kitchen obeying her demands. You ready?'

'Hopefully. We can't afford to piss off this DA. Not with the Dustbin killings going to trial.'

'Mmm. Yes I'm coming, you ungrateful child!' yelled Rick loudly as he laughed. 'Apparently I'm not doing this quickly enough for her majesty! She must be feeling better. Damn, Sebastian just woke up. I've got to go. Love you.'

'Love you too,' said Kate, ending the call, a small smile on her face.

'Ah, so this is where I can find the best detective in the precinct!' Startling at the new voice, Kate turns to the doorway, identifying what must be the new DA.

'Michael Crawley, the new DA,' said the new arrival, stretching out his hand.

'Detective Kate Beckett,' she responded, as she shook the proffered hand.

Maybe once she would have gone for that type – the smooth, educated, well spoken man – but now she felt nothing. Introducing him to her team, she listened as he had no qualms in sharing his background and history in what sounded like such a pompous tone.

Clearly, Rick Castle was starting to rub off on her. She could almost hear his voice in her head. 'If he got that stick out of his ass long enough, he might realise that he's not as good as he thinks he is! Pfft, ladies don't care about how many frames you've got on your walls. They want adventure and excitement. Just what I can provide, if I don't say so myself. But don't worry, only for you though, Katie.'

Shaking her head as she escaped what felt like a mini-JD Scrubs moment, Kate turned her attention to updating Michael Crawley on the Dustbin killings.

The day went from bad to worse as they caught a murder suicide where the family had been butchered to death. It wasn't pleasant.

Hoping she wasn't catching Alexis's flu, an exhausted Kate trooped after Ryan and Esposito into the station late that afternoon.

Taking in the sight of a dozen red roses on her desk, she teared up. Reading the note that accompanied them, she felt better instantly.

Things can only get better. R A S x