That day started like any other day. Kate's alarm went off the same time it did every morning. She rose from her bed just as tired as she was yesterday. She got a shower, got dressed; did her normal routine. She grabbed her things and locked the door on her way out. Even the traffic was the same. As she walked into the front door of the precinct, the same door she has used many times before, she thought about who was out there, right now, taking their last breath. Something that she rarely thought about because of the depressing nature it brought with it. She walked up the stairs, got to the elevator, and pressed the same floor she pressed everyday. When she arrived to her desk she saw the same things that were there yesterday: paperwork, pens, little trinkets from here and there. Bringing personality to her job was something she cherished, but didn't mention.
The faint sound of Esposito's voice was making its way down the hallway and around the corner. Although out of sight, Kate knew Ryan was with him. Where else would he be?
"and that's why you never wear crocs" Esposito said while looking seriously at Ryan who had a rather confused look on his face.
Kate loved that. Even with the murder and crime they faced every day, this room was always light and airy at the start. These people had become her family.
"Anyone call Castle?" Kate said.
"Nope, it's been pretty slow and he mentioned something that he had to do yesterday…" Ryan said
"…so we waited for you." Esposito finished.
Kate didn't mind Castle's absence. She liked having these early morning moments to herself. As much as she loved having Castle as a partner, she liked it being just the three of them, like old times, just for a moment.
"Look alive!" Ryan said as he threw an apple towards Esposito.
The duo sat at their desks, respectively, and chatted away before the day was to begin. It was like their "homeroom" before the long and tedious school day was to behind. Behind her, the sun was making its presence known. She could feel it on her back as she sorted through everything at her desk. As the precinct lit up with the morning, Kate saw the familiar faces straggle in. It would be a couple hours before everyone became truly awake. Everyone stays late to finish everything off before morning, the night owls of the force. Kate had left the last bit of paperwork to do this morning. The fact that her attention span decreased about half of its usual capacity last night made her quit to push everything off until today.
When she was almost finished she felt her stomach remind her of the last time she consumed anything relating to food. She almost forgot that Castle wasn't here this morning. He was usually talking with the boys when he first walks in anyway. Today was one of the rare occasions that she needed to make coffee herself and get her own breakfast.
Then the phone rang.
"Yea, okay. Do you have an address? Ma'am? Hel – " and then Ryan went silent.
Kate almost didn't notice until Esposito interrupted her thought with "Bro?"
Ryan's expression was strange and his face turned unusually white. "We have a murder."