Ideas keep popping into my head... maybe I should refrain from watching Castle... Nah! :)

Still amazed by the sheer number of people that have read my stories (more have read and reviewed my 2 Castle stories in 2 days, then all my other 5 stories combined in 2 years!) Thanks!

SPOILERS for 2x24 (A Deadly Game) and 3x11 (Nikki Heat) and possible SPOILERS for 3x13 (Knockdown) (based on the spoilerpics and info that came out with it). Three guesses what this one is about ;-)

Thanks go to Ariel119 for beta-ing and slipping me an idea or two. You go, girl!

So... without further ado... my third Castle story!

(Well, technically my fourth, but I'm kinda stuck on the third one, so...)

Disclaimer: All I own is an overactive imagination. Castle's not mine.

Chapter 1

Something dropped to the floor. Conditioned to respond to unusual sounds lest they should be life-threatening, she looked up. This turned out to be a mistake. The closing elevator doors showed just enough to see Castle and that... boyfriend-and-soul-stealing-Nikki Heat-wannabe making out. Her jaw dropped an inch or two and a flash of hurt and betrayal shot through her eyes. Realizing what she must look like, standing there agape, she pulled herself together and walked over to Ryan and Esposito to tell them she was heading home and they were free to go as well whenever they finished what they were doing.

All the way home, she had the radio on, trying to keep her mind from replaying the scene she had just witnessed. She only succeeded partially, but luckily she managed to get home without getting into an accident.

Back home, she ate dinner and watched some TV, but the scene kept trying to replay in her mind. She realized she needed to face it or it would keep her up all night.

Settling onto the couch, she pulled her legs under her and a pillow on her lap. Somehow, it felt safer that way. Clearing her mind, she let her thoughts run free. It didn't take long for the scene to hit replay and start again. This time, she looked at it with a critical eye, a cop's eye. She needed to analyze it.

Freezing and slow-playing the scene in her mind, she focused on Castle. While he *was* kissing Natalie, it didn't look like he was having a lot of fun. He was not leaning into the kiss, nor was he enthusiastically embracing Natalie. In fact, given their cornered position, the fervor with which Natalie seemed to be all over Castle and his basic lack of response suggested he may not have started the whole ordeal. He was not pushing her away either, but his hands on her waist only got there after some hesitation. Still, he was a man. Worse, he was Castle, womanizer extraordinaire. It didn't look like he'd have to sleep alone tonight.

Having analyzed almost everything, she sighed. Time to fess up and take a good look at the most important thing about this whole scene... WHY did she react the way she did? She was in a relationship. She was happy. Wasn't she? Why would she feel hurt and betrayed by this? Even jealous maybe, if she was honest?

She wondered briefly if she would have the same reaction if she saw Josh kissing someone else.

While she really liked, maybe even loved Josh, she doubted her response would come even close. Yes, she might drop her mouth and yes, she may show some hurt, but the deep feelings of betrayal were not something she associated with Josh if she thought about him hurting her like that. For some reason, those were reserved for Castle.

And he seemed to be invoking them a lot. First when he showed up with Gina, just as she was about to tell him she wanted to give them a chance and now when he kissed Natalie. Speaking of Gina... wasn't Castle still seeing her? Why would he give in to Natalie then? Was he a cheater? She considered him many things, but a cheater was not something she had ever pictured him being. And she thought she knew him well enough. Maybe they broke up and he hadn't gotten around to telling her yet...

Looking at the scene again, she acknowledged that it looked like Castle was kissing her, the real Beckett. She found that didn't bother her. What bothered her was the fact she was disappointed that it *wasn't* her he was kissing.

Ok. There's a good reason to call Josh and tell him it's over.

Not wanting to let herself even entertain the thought of anything beyond that observation, she got up from the couch and got ready for bed.

Lying in bed, sleep wouldn't come. She hadn't expected it to, but she had wanted to give it a try anyway.

Well. Tried and failed. Now what?

As if on cue, the scene started again. With a big sigh, Beckett accepted it and let it play out. Again. And again, until finally, she fell asleep from exhaustion.

Suddenly she realized something was different. She was no longer feeling upset when looking at the kiss. Studying the image better, she focused on Castle. He seemed to be more enthusiastic about the kiss. He was leaning into it, pulling her closer. Wait. Her? Me? Looking closer at the girl, she found that Natalie had indeed been replaced with her, Beckett. A smile crept over her face. She no longer minded the scene being played out in her mind over and over again.

Next chapter will be Castle's POV. Let me know what you think. You know you want to. Thanks!