Autopsy of a Breakup
Disclaimer: I have no ownership of these characters.
Summary: 1 Year after the event of watershed we try to examine the actions and the characters motivation that lead them where they are today.
Author's Note: First of all I do not consider myself a writer, but for over a month now I have been trying to make sense of everything that happen in the last 3 episodes of season 5 and what drove those character's to act like this. So this has been bugging me for a while and I kept waiting for a fanfic that will approach the subject I intend to bring here. Second of all English is not my first language so please be patient and if you see any mistake please let me know. I do not have a beta so I am doing the best I can here.
Fair warning: if you are looking for a happy ending stop right here. I don't want this to be really angsty or do some Beckett bashing. My intention is simply to try to get it out of my system. And some reader might not like what I intend to do with the character but I do not think this will really be out of character. Everything will be explained in due time.
Enjoy the ride.
Chapter 1 – The reunion
The plane is landing in Washington D.C., the flight has not been easy with a lot of turbulence. Collecting her belonging while waiting for the other passenger to disembark the plane, she turn on her phone to see if she have any messages. It is really hot in DC this time of year and she's never liked hot and humid weather. Probably a good thing she work in a room always tempered. Carrying her luggage she get out of the airport to grab a taxi. Looking at the window while driving to the apartment she look at the city, sure there is a lot of things to see here but she prefer New York, the city that never sleep. Who build a city on a swamp anyway?
She is still daydreaming when the cab driver try to get her attention.
"Miss"
"Miss" louder this time "We're here".
"Oh, thanks" she pay the driver, grab her carry on and get out of the taxi. She look at the building, not the kind of place you can afford on a cop salary but for a federal agent it should not be a problem. She go through the lobby and get inside the elevator, pressing the button for the 4th floor she wait for the doors to close. She is getting a little nervous, it has been way too long.
She is here now, in front of the door marked 405, she gather up her courage and knock. She wait anxiously for the door to open.
"A minute" she hear coming from the apartment and suddenly the open revealing her friend she has not seen in a really long time.
"Lanie, Oh my god what are you doing here"
"What do you think am doing here, visiting my best friend. I have not seen you in a year"
Her friend seem to be stunned for a few second before speaking again.
"Where are my manners, please come in"
"Wow, nice apartment you have here"
"Yeah, it is pretty decent. I still miss my New York apartment but this one do, not that I see much of it anyway with the long work hour and the constant travelling all over the country."
Things seem awkward for a few moment, after all it have been over a year since they saw each other. Sure they talk over the phone but it is not the same. Lanie decide to break the ice.
"Come here girl, let me give you a hug, it has been far too long since I have seen you."
Both of them are really emotional and fighting the tears.
"So Lanie, are you going to tell me why you are here"
"Well when we talk on the phone 2 weeks ago you told me that you would have the week off, so I decided to surprise you and come visit."
"It's good that you are here Lanie, honestly I was not looking forward to this vacation but my boss insisted since it's been pretty much nonstop since I began working for the Task Force. But now at least I am looking forward for it. But while we are on the subject, how long are you planning to stay here?"
"Well it kind of depends on you but I don't know 3 or 4 days"
"No that's good, 4 days is perfect. That will give me time at the end of the week to finish some stuff here that I have been procrastinating to do for a while"
"What you mean the pile of unopened box still in the corner of the leaving room" Lanie ask gate with a small smile on her face.
"Yeah, that" Kate replied.
They look at each other for a few seconds then this time it is Kate who start talking.
"Let me show you to the guest room Lanie, there is no way I am letting you stay at a Hotel"
"Good, I was not looking to try to find my way back with all the wine tasting I am intending to do here."
"Good thing I have a few bottle waited to be tasted then." Kate reply ginning.
Kate show Lanie to a nice little bedroom just beside what seem to be the master. It is a simple room with a standard double bed and a dresser. From the look of thing she did not get many visitor here.
"I will let you settle your things, once you're done you can join me in the leaving room"
"OK Kate"
Kate is about to leave when Lanie stop her.
"Kate!"
"Yes Lanie"
"I really missed you"
"I missed you too Lanie"
Kate then leave the room while Lanie open her suitcase to place her clothes in the dresser and wardrobe. Once she is finish she sit on the bed thinking about the long waited reunion that just occurred. She really miss her friend, and things have not been the same since she left. Sure they were both busy when she was still in New York and they did not see each other really often outside of work but they still see each other a lot while working cases together. She just want to understand what drove her friend away. Lanie always knew that something happen back in New York but every time she tried to get Kate to talk about it on the phone she try to change the subject or says that she had to run and ended the conversation.
Kate and she have been through the same M.O. before, she give Kate some time to bring the subject on her own but after a while she have to grab the bull by the horns and force it. Of course it was easier when both of them were living in the same city but now the matter have dragged on far longer that she intended to.
Has a medical examiner her job is to examine a body to find evidences and determines cause of death. So she will just have to do the same here. Try to understand what cause the breakup between Beckett and Castle.
Gathering up her courage, she get off the bed and headed toward the leaving room for what is sure to be one of the hardest conversation she will ever have.