Title: Parting Thoughts
Author: brodie-wan
Characters: Castle, Beckett, Esposito cameo
Time frame: immediately following Season 2 finale.
Summary: Castle and Beckett go their separate ways after the finale, but how long will it really be before they see each other again?
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle!
Parting Thoughts
She watched Castle left; all the way down the hall and through the doors. His response of "See you in the fall" hung in the air like a life preserver to a drowning woman. And she was drowning.
In stunned slow motion she turned and looked back into the conference room. The farewell party had ended suddenly and her friends crowded in a surreal cluster at the door. They all wore sad, pitying looks. She couldn't face them now no matter how good their intentions were.
Her face remained placid, as she turned from them and walked back to her desk. She sat down, placing her face in her hands. It had been a long day, a strange case, and emotional roller coaster. She wanted to damn Castle for making her feel this vulnerable. An impulse hit her to call Tom; to tell him she made a mistake. She dismissed it immediately. She wasn't that needy.
She could feel the empty chair staring at her, taunting her for waiting till the last minute. If it hadn't been for Esposito's words, she might not have ever thought of him as more than a playful puppy; Hooch indeed.
Why did she feel so damaged? Why did his sudden departure feel like an amputation; like a vital, life giving organ being removed by an unskilled surgeon?
She looked at the empty chair again and sank deeper into a foul mood. The single coffee cup mocked her as she realized that Castle had not brought coffee this morning. It was his cup.
When did he decide to leave? What had she said to drive him away? Yes, she had done it. There was no other explanation. He loved this place, loved the job, loved…
She didn't want to guess at his feelings or their intensity. It would be unproductive. She ran her hands through her hair and let out a long sigh. She needed to get out of here. She thought of Demming again. You burned that bridge, Beckett. Forget him.
Standing, she grabbed her coat from the chair and pulled it on.
"You ok, Boss?" Esposito said, earnestly.
Beckett dropped her keys and jumped at the unexpected intrusion. When she saw it was him, she tried a lame smile.
"I've been better," she replied, kneeling down to retrieve her keys.
"Yeah," he said, acknowledging the situation. "If you need anything just let me know. Ryan and I could bring him back, you know; whether he wants to come or not."
She smiled sadly. "I know you would."
"You leaving?" he asked.
"I am," she replied, arranging her desk for the next day. She picked up the empty coffee cup and tossed into the trash. "I just need to get out of here.
She moved toward him, touching his shoulder as she passed. "Thanks," she whispered.
"Sure thing," he replied.
As Beckett approached her car, she felt the surge of chaotic emotion hit her. Her lip trembled and the feeling of loss seemed to overwhelm her. She would not let it. She bit her lip and choked down the tears which threatened burst free.
There was a strange silence in the vehicle as Rick and Gina sped toward the house in the Hamptons. To Rick's chagrin, all the talking they had done on the phone last night left them with little say at the moment. Had this been a good idea?
TBC