The 12th precinct was quiet and most of the detectives had gone home for the night. Katherine Beckett sat in her chair and stared out the window as the rain outside poured down. When would Castle be back? This case was making her head throb, she needed Castle to be there, she needed his wild theories and childish behaviour. She needed the smile that made her heart melt and his optimism that turned a dead end into a mysterious lead. But most of all she needed him to be there with her.
He was away, in L.A for the premiere of his newest book, 'Over Heated', she missed him like crazy. The weird part and the part that worried her most was that he had been gone for almost two months now. The last premiere, High in Heat, had taken him two weeks, but two months, Beckett was starting to think that something wasn't right.
Thunder cracked and the elevator made a 'pling' noise as it stopped on her level. Her best friend Lanie Parish exited it as the doors opened. "Honey, why are you here so late? You're not siting up trying to crack this case still are you?"
"Hey, I'm just sorting through some paper work" Beckett lied.
"Sweetie...I know the case is hard and I know you miss Castle but you gotta get some sleep."
"I'm worried about him Lanie, he's never been gone this long, for anything. What if something's happened to him?"
"Darling, what do you think is going to happen to Castle? The worst that can happen is that..." Lanie stopped herself right there, she knew that there what lots of things that could happen to Castle and she wasn't about to lie to Beckett.
"Come on Honey, let's get you home, you look dreadful, maybe you should have a nice bath."
"Okay, let's go."
The left through the front door, Lanie popped up her umbrella and they stood there in the rain waiting for a cab. When at last on sped around the bend, Lanie told the driver her address and the two of them got in.
"My apartment's before yours shouldn't I be dropped off first?" Beckett asked her friend.
"No, no honey. You're coming to my place. You need some company." Lanie explained
The cab drove away, rain pelleting on the roof of it. When they reached their destination, the got out and made their way up to Lanie's apartment. As Lanie unlocked the door, Beckett's phone vibrated, signalling she had received a text. She took her phone out of her pocket and read the name of the sender, hoping it would be Castle, but it was Esposito;
'Yo Beckett, found something that might interest you.
Can come over and explain? Or ya wanna talk in the morning?
Espo'
She began to text him back;
'Espo, how important is it? Can it wait till morning?'
They entered Lanie's apartment, the warmth inside made it feel cosy. Lanie flicked the lights on, "Sweetie you go take a bath and I'll make some dinner."
As the water level in the bath rose and Beckett got out of her clothes she checked her phone for another message from Esposito, there was one;
'Yo, yeah I think it could wait til mornin' have ya heard from Castle?
Don't stay up too late thinkin' bout him though, he's a big boy, he'll be okay.'
She plopped herself into the bath but was withing minutes asleep.