Title: Nowhere to Go, Nowhere to Be

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of ABC. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of Castle. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N - So here goes the last story for awhile. Now it will have to take some suspension of disbelief but it's mainly supposed to be some fluffy 'what if' inspired by my favorite summertime musical artist. Bonus points for the person who knows. This will be updated all weekend and finished sometime next week.

Chapter 1 – Way Down Here

Gina,

Here is the rest of the novel. Please make sure to lock up the house, all doors, before leaving. Everything else is secure. Please don't call. I'm fine.

Rick

Gina picked up the letter that he had hand written and then the massive stack of papers that were neatly tied together with kite string. She flipped and saw the nearly 400 pages of manuscript typed completely finished, including the dedication. She licked her lips in frustration. She expected a lot of immature things from Richard Castle, but this was unprecedented. She set the manuscript and note back down and started walking through the house.

They had been there for four weeks. She hadn't seen Castle type two words the entire she had been there. From the third night that they were there, he had insisted in sleeping in a different room from her. Apparently the connection that they had made in the spring was a short-lived one. She hadn't expected things to go back to normal and she knew that she probably bugged him more than a typical girlfriend would but he worked for her…with her…something. She had gotten over trying to define what was exactly going on between them.

In the few times the last month that they were together, he was civil during the day. They had picnicked on the beach together, gone sailing a couple of times with old friends from down the beach and shared at least one good night with dinner and wine before he kissed her goodnight and shut the guest room door. She had been busy the last week she admitted to herself, going into New York for a few days for other business. She couldn't just vacation for an entire summer even if it was on his dime.

She peered into the guest room and looked through the bathroom and closet seeing the shelves, closet, and vanity empty of any kind of sign of his ever being there. Clothes from their trip were gone as well as the extras he had brought with him, games, books to read. She went into the other rooms, including the master that he let her stay in and still saw no evidence of his return. Frustrated, she dialed his phone and got his voicemail.

"Call me Rick. Let's talk." She hung up not knowing exactly what else to say. She didn't think that they had left the situation so dire. She tucked the phone into her back pocket and then pulled it out again. Looking at it, she really didn't want to talk to his mother or daughter, neither cared anything for her. Stopping momentarily she thought silently. Gritting her teeth, there was only one more option.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Kate Beckett entered the homicide floor of the 12th precinct not quite as early as she normally did. With no early morning murder call, she appreciated the extra few hours of uninterrupted sleep. She sat her own coffee down on the desk and took a double take at the cup. She hadn't really realized how much she missed him until he had left, especially not having coffee that first morning that she arrived on a case without her caffeine fix. Since then, she had forced herself to get her own before coming to work because starting up the cappuccino machine was just too mentally painful.

She sat down at her desk and turned on her computer just as Esposito and Ryan came around the corner. "Hey Beckett, you got a woman in the interview room waiting for you."

Beckett glanced up and looked at the two quizzically before pushing away from the desk and entering the interview. She stopped with her handle on the door trying to swallow the sick feeling that came over her as she entered. She gained her masked composure and closed the door behind her. "Gina?"

Gina stood up from the couch, setting the stack of papers on the table between them and smiled at Beckett. "Detective Beckett, I was wondering where Rick was?"

Beckett looked at the woman dressed in a skintight pencil skirt and free flowing blouse with confusion. Putting her hands on her hips, she furrowed her brow before arching an eyebrow at the question. "He's not here Gina. I thought he was with you in the Hamptons all summer. He hasn't even called here."

Gina plopped back into the couch somewhat disappointed. "I just figured you would be the one that would know. I mean he found his inspiration to finish this purely because of you." Gina handed the first couple of pages to Beckett and let her read the dedication of the latest book that she inspired. Reading the dedication, Beckett became inwardly sad and touched at the same time. She stared a moment longer wishing that she had actually been able to go. She should have just told him then.

"Yeah, and he left this," Gina showed the handwritten note to Beckett. Beckett read it quickly and handed it back, feeling a pang of guilt in the way he wrote 'fine.' Castle was rarely 'fine.' He was either visibly upset or giddy as a schoolgirl but never just 'fine.' That always meant more.

"Sorry, I can't help you. How about Martha or Alexis?"

Gina stood up and turned her cheek to Beckett, somewhat aghast. How did Beckett get to know them well enough to have a first name basis? She had been married to the man and hadn't been given the right by him or them.

"They don't really care for me." Gina picked up the manuscript off the table where Beckett had laid it down. Glancing up at Beckett again as Beckett held the door open for her, she said, "Thank you anyway. If you see him or hear from him, tell him to call me…about the manuscript."

Beckett nodded silently as the woman's heels clicked all the way down to the elevator. Everyone watched as the woman got on the elevator and slightly waved back at them before the door closed. Beckett walked back over to her desk and sat down, staring blankly at the screen.

"So what did the ex-Castle want?" Ryan asked as innocently as possible.

"She wanted to know where he was. I told her I didn't know, which I don't." Beckett emphasized the last part and glared at the two men as they quietly turned back around.

She sat at the desk and tried to concentrate on work. She watched as the boys left after a couple of hours for lunch. Beckett pulled out her phone and quickly shot off a text.

Castle, where are you? Are you ok?

She knew that he would understand if he would only answer. She only had one other option. She dialed another number and listened to the phone ring endlessly before the machine at the loft picked up. She never imagined that she would want either Alexis' or Martha's numbers. She could easily look them up, but thought maybe he really did just want space. Putting her phone away, she gnawed on her fingertips wondering where he had gone and even more why she cared.

Esposito punched Ryan in the arm as they rounded the hallway in the precinct, out of Beckett's sight. "I got something. Now if you tell Beckett I'm going to kill you." Ryan just nodded and took the paper from Esposito.

After taking it, Ryan eyed the charges on the credit card and then glared at Esposito. "You're going to kill me? You know what she'll do if she finds out that you pried into his personal business. I wouldn't be surprised if he came after you. This is our friend."

"Yeah, and when Beckett comes out looking that concerned even if she's trying to mask it, I get concerned about my friends. Now that I know everything is ok, then we can just get back to watching Beckett wallow." Esposito walked over to one of the offices and located the closest shredder. Folding the paper in half, he listened and waited until he saw the entire paper come out in small little squares.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"Mr. Castle." Castle had his mouth just slight and his eyes closed, finally sleeping after several nights of staying up and sleeping all day. He felt his body shake and opened his eyes to the skinny, blonde flight attendant. "We'll be landing in about 15 minutes. I need you to bring your seat back up sir." With a gentle grin, he let the woman lean over and pull the seat back up while he gazed out the window. This wasn't where he expected to be.

As he picked up his bags, he looked from side to side as people shuffled through the airport and quietly listened. Closing his eyes, it had been a long while since he had heard neither police sirens or his name being called for an autograph. It was nice finally being nobody. He wondered if this had been what he needed all along. Taking a calming deep breath, he moved toward the doors and spotted a man holding up a dry erase board with his name.

"I'm Richard Castle," he answered as the man introduced himself as Harry and took his bags from him. Castle glared and quickly pulled out his sunglasses when the sun hit him head on. Harry pointed at the car parked right in front as Castle tipped the man standing next to car, apparently keeping it from being towed. The driver didn't make much conversation but handed Castle a packet of information and he flipped through it.

"If you have any questions, you just call that number there. I or Marna will assist you. I will pick you up day after tomorrow for your rental. You have it for one month, yes?

"Yes," Castle said as he glanced at the pictures before putting the packet down and gazing out the window. It had been a long time since he saw that color blue. "And the guide?"

"He will meet us there. You will have him overnight and then drop him before taking on your own. Check in with him once a week for a supply run and call us if you need to make any arrangements for hotel or dining out. Are you going to be alone sir?"

Castle propped his arm up against the side of the door and stared out along the water and sand. "Yeah," he stated quietly.

A half an hour later Harry stopped the car in front of a private villa on the south side of Tortola. He opened the door and handed Castle the keys. After giving the tour of the three bedroom house that overlooked that bay, Harry shook hands with Castle and closed the door as he left.

Standing in the living room of the villa Castle could see the clear turquoise water from every window. He pushed through the double doors after throwing his jacket on the couch. Sitting down in the chair on the veranda, he watched the sun start going down over the endless horizon. He leaned back in the chair completely and sighed. Maybe the end of the world he could forget.

tbc