Disclaimer: - I don't own Castle or any of the characters. I am only borrowing them for a time to play

WHERE DREAMS CAN LEAD YOU

It had been an exceptionally hot day and was looking to be an even hotter night, so when Beckett arrived back to her apartment, even though it was well after midnight she headed straight for the shower leaving a trail of clothes behind her. She stayed in there for about 40 minutes and the cooling water did help a bit but afterward she still felt hot and also a little clammy but was too exhausted to care, she walked over to her bed tossing the towel aside before slipping under the cool sheets. It only took about 30 seconds for the oblivion of sleep to over take her that's just how tired she was.

Kate wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep when she was roused from her slumber by something that felt like soft kisses on her left shoulder blade; slowly they started moving toward her spine then continued further down her back. She moaned softly at the sensation enjoying it but all the time wondering who the lips belonged to, slowly she turned over coming face the face with Richard Castle. She gasped, quickly covering herself with the sheet "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? And more to the point how did you even get in here?" she demanded trying to keep her voice steady.

"Shush now, don't ask the why or how just enjoy it" Castle whispered.

Kate wasn't sure why, maybe it was the hypnotic tone to his voice but she did as he said laying back on her pillow leaving herself open to him. Castle smiled at her as he gently pulled the sheet away then moved forward, bringing his lips to her skin once more. This time he started with her stomach and kissed his way toward her breasts paying close attention to each in turn causing Kate to moan with pleasure, then he moved higher both kissing and caressing her neck nipping gently as he went.

Kate's body had responded to every kiss, every caress that Rick had delivered and she was by now getting very aroused and a little frustrated so she reached out for him, cupping his face and bringing his mouth to hers then kissed him with a passion that had built up over the past four years but just as he responded and the kiss deepening Kate's phone started to ring.

She let out a loud groan to which came the answer "leave it"

"You know I can't" she replied and lent across the bed grabbing her phone.

"Beckett"

"Hey sorry to call but we've got a body "Esposito announced down the line.

"Ok where?" she asked and waited for Esposito to tell her "Fine can you text a conformation, then I'll let Castle know" she replied looking round her apartment for him getting ready to hang up.

"No need, he was with Ryan and me at the Old Haunt when we got the call."

"What! He couldn't have been he was just..." the words faded on her lips as she realised what she was saying "Ok Esposito I'll meet you in about thirty minutes"

Kate sat silently for a moment coming to the realisation that it had happened yet again. She had had another erotic dream about Richard Castle. Why was her brain doing this to her.

"What is wrong with me!" Beckett exclaimed into the darkness, that was the third time in a matter of days, but she couldn't think about that now she had a crime scene to get to, so shaking herself she got up and headed for the bathroom, changed then grabbed her jacket and keys before exiting into the early morning light.

Beckett arrived at the crime scene to find Esposito talking to Lanie while detective Ryan was in the process of gathering statements but there was no sign of Castle to which she gave a sigh of relief because she really needed to focus on the here and now.

As she ducked under the police tape Esposito approached her.

"So what do we have so far" she inquired, taking a quick look around.

"Our vic's name is Preston Rhedin, looks like he was out jogging when the attack happened, he still has his wallet along with his phone and watch so it doesn't look like a mugging" Esposito informed her as they approached the body.

"Hey Lanie so what's the story here?" Beckett asked looking down at the medical examinater, who was knelt beside the body doing her preliminary exam.

"Well it looks like a stab wound to the back but the shape of the wound seems different than from your conventional knife, it seems rounder somehow but I won't know for sure until I can get the body back to the morgue, clean it up and perform an autopsy." Lanie replied standing up.

"Thanks Lanie keep me updated"

It was at this moment that Castle chose to appear, as he came toward her she noticed he was holding a cardboard tray of coffee and a white paper bag.

"Where on earth did you get those?" She asked when he stopped in front of her.

"For a detective, detective you're not very observant, there's an all night diner a couple of blocks down, I noticed it as me and the guys drove past." he replied as a big grin spread across his face.

Beckett just looked at him not really knowing what to say.

When Kate didn't reply Castle lifted the paper bag and lightly shook it "I have pastries too."

'Oh my god he is so incorrigible' Beckett thought to herself as she took the bag off him and peeked inside.

"Thanks Castle" she eventually said grabbing a coffee from the tray, while handing back the bag maybe later on the pastry"

Just then detective Ryan walk up "oh coffee, thanks Castle"

"Anyone see what happened?" Beckett asked.

"Not really, there were a few people about when it happened but they seemed to be too far away to see anything useful" he replied opening his notepad checking something before he continued " there was this one lady who said she noticed a figure stumble and fall about the right time, then a minute or so later another figure walked by, stopped as if to pick something up then carried on walking but she couldn't be sure."

"Ok you and Esposito get an address for our vic and then canvass the local area. Me and Castle will head back to the precinct and see what we can dig up there." Beckett said as she started walking back toward her car.

It had been a long day; her team had run down all the available lead's regarding their victim. It turned out he was a self-made millionaire who owned a chain of deli's on the West side. He seemed to have no enemies to speak of and his financials were fine, so right now they had hit a dead end.

Beckett was still staring at the murder board long after everyone else had gone home. She glanced at the clock noting that it was way past 2am. Kate was tired but didn't want to go home so she walked into the break room and settled herself down on one of the couches there. Before long she had dozed off. Thankfully she didn't dream at all and was woken up a few hours later by one of the cleaning crew bouncing the mop bucket off the door frame as they entered the break room.

"Sorry, didn't realise there was anyone in here" came the reply to Beckett's exclamation

Knowing that she wouldn't get anymore sleep and that the rest of her team would be arriving soon she got off the couch and headed for the washroom to freshen up trying to sort herself out for the long day she knew lay ahead. Once she had changed using the spare set of clothes she always kept at work she headed back to the break room to get some coffee that would hopefully wake her up somewhat before everyone arrived. Kate sat back down on the couch she'd slept on sipping the steaming liquid and rubbed her sore neck when someone came up behind her saying "morning detective don't tell me you slept here last night.

"Ok I won't then" she replied again rubbing her neck the relief the ache

It was then that a pair of strong hands came to rest on the back of her neck.

"Here let me" Rick said as he started to slowly massage her sore muscles.

Kate went to stop him but it felt too good, so even though they were in the precinct she went with it. It was only when she felt soft lips on the neck that she jerked round to protest "What do you think you are doing?" she hissed at him only to see that the precinct had morphed into her apartment and Castle was standing there behind her in nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, at that moment she realised she was having another dream and started awake. She had dozed off while drinking her coffee. "Oh my god I need help" she muttered to herself getting to her feet, putting the coffee cup on the side and headed for the elevator. It dinged just as she got there, doors opening to reveal Esposito and Ryan who said morning as they stepped out.

"Hi guys I'm just nipping down to see Lanie, when Castle gets here tell him to wait for me, I'll only be about 30 minutes"

"Ok boss will do" they replied watching her enter the elevator and press the lobby button. Kate was standing by her car when Castle arrived and approached her.

"Morning Beckett" Castle said in his normal jovial way "do we have a crime scene to go to?"

"Morning Castle, no there's no crime scene I'm just nipping over to the morgue to see Lanie. No need for you to come, go see the guys I'll be back in about half an hour. "She said unlocking her car door and getting in.

"But can't I come pleaseee." he pleaded.

"No Castle not this time, go upstairs and hang out with the guys." she said a bit too harshly for her liking but she needed him to leave her alone so she could get going.

"Ok Beckett see you later" and with that he turned and headed into the precinct.

Beckett entered the morgue franticly looking for Lanie. She eventually found her in the lab area.

"Hey girl wants wrong you look terrible" she said as Kate approached her.

"Lanie you've got to help me, I can't take much more of this. I think I'm going insane." Kate said as she started to pace back and forth.

"Calm down girl and tell me what's wrong" Lanie commanded gesturing to a chair near her.

Kate was so het up at this point the only words her brain seemed to be able to form were "Castle, dreams and you need to help me" so she blurted these out quickly in the hope her friend would get the message.

Lanie looked at her friend starting to get a little worried before realising what she needed to do. Quickly she pulled off her lab coat, hung it up then grabbed Kate by the hand and pulled her toward the door. "Come on you and me a going for a drink and you can tell me all about it."

Beckett sat across from her friend not really knowing what to say, how she was going to tell her best friend that she was having very vivid and erotic dreams about Castle, it was too embarrassing

"So are you going to tell me what's the matter or do I have to guess?" Lanie asked looking pointedly at the detective.

"I've been having dreams," she paused for a second then said "dream's about Castle"

"Okay but why are you in such a state about it, they're only dreams"

"Oh I don't know Lanie maybe it's because these dreams have gotten me so worked up that I feel like a horny teenager all the time ready to jump anything with a pulse just to get some relief, oh and the fact that the object of these dream's is a certain mystery writer, how's that for an answer hey?" Kate said lacing her voice with sarcasm.

"Oh well have you tried you know" Lanie replied gesturing to her friend

"Of course I have but it's not enough I still feel I need more. I need him" Kate paused for a second having whispered the last part hoping Lanie wouldn't hear then continued " these dreams are so real Lanie, and when I wake up I can still feel his hands on me, his caresses also the worst part it is just as we are about to you know, we are either interrupted or I wake up which frustrates me even more, what the hell am I going to do?

Lanie was quiet for a minute before saying "Well I have a suggestion but I don't think you're going to like it"

"What?"

"I think you should go for it and jump writer-boy. You've danced around this for too long Kate. I know how you feel about him I can see it every time you look at him and if you could see how he looks at you sometimes you would know he feels the same way so as I said go for it, be happy and make babies"

Kate just looked at her friend open mouthed for a second then checking her watch, got to her feet, saying " I'd better get back see you later and thanks for the coffee" before walking out of the coffee shop and back toward the 12th