Disclaimer: I don't own anything that looks or sounds like the show Castle.

Kathrine Beckett sat at her desk in the 12th precinct, doing some follow up paperwork on her latest case. Her shadow sat in his seat across from her, working diligently on a Rubik's cube.

"Ha!" He exclaimed in excitement at his entirely yellow side, only to turn over the block to find the other side a mixture of colors. "Dammit! I swear, if I didn't know better I'd say they make these things unsolvable."

She eyed him for a second with a crooked grin, as he went back to the cube. Then she set down her pen and took it from him.

"Hey!" He said, but then began watching her, mesmerized.

Within less than a minute, she handed the finished cube back to him. He gaped at her.

"How did you do that?" He exclaimed.

She just smiled at him, "Look it up."

"Detective Beckett," Captain Gates called from her office as Castle re-scrambled the cube. "May I speak with you?

"Sure, Captain," She called back. Castle shot a frown in Gates' direction; he still couldn't get over the fact that she didn't like him. Ryan and Esposito shot Beckett "good luck" sort of glances as she headed toward the office.

"You need to speak to me, Sir?" She asked as she entered.

"Yes. Please sit down," She said in her cool, business-like manner. Beckett obeyed; Gates hadn't done anything to warrant disobedience yet. "I'm concerned about you having Castle around. I tolerate it because it doesn't usually seem to hinder your work and it gets the mayor on my side, but I'm worried he might be too much of a distraction."

And, there it was. Beckett sighed, "With all do respect, Sir-"

Gates cut her off, "The man lives and works in a world of fiction. I don't know if this is really the place for him."

"Sir, I-"

"I really think we should consider ending this unorthodox partnership."

"Sir!" Beckett stood. Gates looked at her in surprise. "I understand your concern about it; when he first began working with me I had the same doubts as you. The difference is that I eventually accepted that Castle has been highly instrumental in solving many cases," She reddened, realizing the possible consequences of what she was doing. She continued anyway. "He a very intelligent man and I wish would you give him the chance to prove himself to you. He's also is my partner and with all do respect, I would appreciate it if you stopped criticizing him. At least in front of me," She finished, meeting Gates' gaze levelly.

Gates recovered from her shock and recomposed herself, "Very well, Detective. Don't go blaming me if he gets you killed."

"Yes, Sir," Beckett replied.

"You may go."

"Thank you, Sir," She turned and walked out of the office calmly. She approached her desk to find that Castle had left, but a note sat beneath the now-finished Rubik's cube on her desk. She picked it up the note.

Sorry I had to go, but I just remembered I had a meeting with my publisher about half an hour ago. So if you find my body, you'll know who did it. By the way- thanks for the help with the Rubik's cube.

Castle

Kate smiled and tossed the note in the waste basket. Then she picked up the cube and studied it for a second. She had been looking for a new paperweight, hadn't she? She knew how happy it would make Castle, so she set it down on a neat stack of papers and admired it. She smiled again and gathered her stuff to go.

So, a meeting with his publisher? She hoped that meant another Nikki Heat contract. She didn't just jeopardize her entire career to have him go and find another muse. Another small smile found it's way to her lips as she took out her phone and sent her response to his note in a one-word text.

Always.