Kate was in shock.

She stood there in her mother's wedding dress with a look of torturous bewilderment mangling her beautiful face. She had to focus on the things that she knew. There was a car in front of her. It was on fire. It was Castle's car. Was Castle in it? Was he?

"Ms. Beckett?" Kate slowly lifted her head to see a detective with an all too familiar look on his face.

"Was he in the car?"

The look on the man's face said it all. She finally cracked. Kate fell to the ground and immediately began to sob in heaves that shook her entire body. Castle was dead.

Martha and Alexis arrived moments later and when they saw Kate, they knew the worst had happened. Alexis froze as her whole world crashed down around her and she felt consumed by the flames that had just consumed her father. Martha helped Kate up and the three women held each other and sobbed relentlessly.

The detective began again, "Ms. Beckett, I'm detective Jefferson. I know this is a difficult time but I do need to ask you some questions."

Kate looked at the detective and thought to herself… No, not again. I can't lose anyone else. First my mother, but not Castle. No. No. She finally spoke and said very calmly, "He is not dead."

Martha and Alexis were confused by this statement but not as much as detective Jefferson. He simply replied, "Ms. Beckett is that not your fiancée's car?" He pointed a finger at the now smoldering hunk of metal.

"It is, but I know he wasn't in there. No way."

"Kate…" Martha placed a consoling hand on her shoulder and attempted to look in her eyes. Kate was having none of it.

She shook off her hand and stepped back. "Look detective, I know that is his car and there may even be a body in there but it is not Castle. Don't tell me it is until you're sure it's him. Run the dentals and you'll see it's not him." Kate was raising her voice with every statement.

The detective simply nodded and turned to Martha and Alexis. He handed them his card and said, "I will let you know when I hear something. Until then, if you need anything give me a call."

Kate just stalked away angry. Angry at the detective for assuming Castle was dead. Angry at Castle for not being there. And most of all angry at the universe for putting her through this again.

Martha, with Alexis in tow, went to catch up with Kate. "Kate, Kate, slow down." Kate stopped and turned on Martha as if to yell but froze when she saw what was before her. She was acting as if she was the only person that was hurting and confused right now. She most certainly was not.

She saw a mother distraught by the fact that she may have outlived her child, something no one should ever experience. She saw a daughter crushed by the possibility that she would never see her father again. She saw herself reflected in Alexis' face. She immediately reached out for her. After all, Alexis had become like a daughter to her. How could she have ignored her so easily? Castle never would have forgiven her. She just held the girl and let her pour out her sorrow.

After about ten minutes Kate felt her relax and looked to Martha who had been watching the two of them. Martha cleared her throat and said, "We should go back to the house and wait to hear from detective Jefferson."

Kate nodded and held Alexis' face up to look into her eyes. She spoke quietly but firmly. "I am going to figure this out. I promise you." Alexis must have believed her because she felt an immediate reassurance flow through her whole body.

When they arrived back at the beach house, Lanie and the boys were waiting with Jim. When they saw the girls' tear stained faces they knew that something had happened, something awful. Jim went straight to Kate and tried to take away her pain in one of the most comforting hugs ever. When she looked up, he saw a flicker of the same look Kate had right after her mother died and then he knew the true severity of the situation.

Lanie spoke first, "What happened?"

Kate, already hoarse from crying, said "There was an accident and his car ran off the road. It was on fire." Lanie took that to mean he had died as did Ryan and Esposito.

They were all confused as to how Kate was still standing, much less talking when she began again. "He's not dead. I know it. I can feel it. I know that doesn't make any sense but, I just know."

Lanie responded, "It's not as crazy as you think." She opened her arms to her friend as Esposito questioned her, "Did they find a body?"

"Yes but I told the detective not to say anything until after the dental records came in."

Ryan spoke then, "Kate, I know you don't want to think about it, but it was his car and…"

"No!" The whole room fell silent and Kate took a deep breath. "Richard Castle is not dead."

A/N: So I know this is all over the place but I feel like if Kate thought Castle were dead or thought there was a possibility he was, she would most likely not have her head on straight. Anyway I hope you enjoyed and more to come soon! Review please!
~SB~