Ok, so this little thing just popped into my head the other day, and I just HAD to get it out. So here it is. I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: None of it's mine :"( Except Sophie. I made her up. So She's mine. But everything else belongs to its rightful owner.

BUT, if it DID own Castle, which i DON'T, but IF i did, this is what would happen:


Unexpected Arrivals

Chapter One

"What?"

(Bold/italic=Kate's thoughts. Bold/italic/underlined=Kate's thoughts, but arguing with herself.)

I looked at the chair to my left, even though I knew it was empty. He had taken Alexis to the Hamptons for the week as a graduation gift.

"He's only been gone since Monday, only two days, but I m—

"Think Ryan and Esposito miss him?"

"Yeah. They look bored...Ok, so I'm the one who's bored, so what? That doesn't mean anything. Ugh."

"Ok. Focus."

"...I wonder what Cast-"

"No. Come on. You have a case! Focus Kate. Work."

"But Cast-"

"Work."

I finally turned my gaze back to the case at hand, trying desperately to focus.

"Caucasian male. Twenty-one. Fell on a railroad track. BA content: drunk. Very drunk. Very very drunk."

"Esposito!"

"Sup?"

"Why do we have this case? Guy got wasted, fell on the tracks."

"Dunno. Didn't put it there. Maybe it's somethin' Castle's lookin' at."

"There goes that whole "focus" idea..."

Since Castle wasn't there to bring me coffee, I got up to go get it myself. I turned around and bumped into something, then felt the burn of hot coffee soaking through my shirt.

"Well. This is familiar."

I rolled my eyes and looked up to start yelling at whoever so obviously needed to learn to walk, and, let's face it, it'd been a long, boring day and I was cranky.

"CASTLE?"

I stood there, more shocked by who was standing in front of me than the fact that he'd managed to spill coffee on me. AGAIN.

"What, uh...What are you doin' here Castle?"

I tried to sound casual, annoyed even, but he saw right through it. Of course.

"I missed you, too, Beckett! I brought coffee! But you're supposed to drink it, not spill it on your shirt..."

"Ugh. He is so adorab-"

"Annoying?"

"Yeah. That's it. Annoying."

"Yeah. So why are you here? I thought you weren't coming back until Saturday?"

"Counting down the days, Detective?"

"Yes. Yes, I was."

His jaw dropped at my confession, eyes widening. He looked like he wanted to say something, but just stood there like an idiot instead.

"I'm getting a new mattress Friday, and couldn't wait to use it without you asking to do the same."

"Yup, that ought to do it..."

He closed his mouth after a few seconds, looking dumbfounded.

"I, uh,...hmm, um..gah...um, what? Um, right, so, do we have a case?"

"Don't try to change the subject. Why are you back so early?"

"Oh, right. Alexis wasn't feeling well so she wanted to go home. I would normally stay with her but she said she was feeling much better now and just wanted to sleep. Now, about that case?"

"I wouldn't call it a 'case,' but we do have something."

We walked back to my desk, where I told him about the "case." We both agreed that it was an accident and filed it with the other accident reports. He got up and grabbed his coat, which was weird because he almost always waited for me to leave. I must have looked confused, because then he started talking.

"I'm just gonna grab some take out. I'll be right back. What are you in the mood for tonight?"

"Hmm...Chinese?"

That was all the answer he needed, he always knew just what to get. So, with that, he set out to our favorite Chinese place.

About 20 minutes later, he came back with seven or eight boxes of various Chinese food. For a while, we were quiet. I was on the computer looking for something interesting to do, and Castle was...

"Wait. Castle's staring at me. While I eat. Ew! That's creepy, even for Castle!"

"What?"

He was making me feel weird. Not quite self-conscious, but I sure was conscious of something...It was very uncomfortable.

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just..."

"Well?"

"You look cute when you chew."

"Aww! He thinks I'm cute!"

"When you chew Kate. As in eating. That's not sweet, it's creepy. And kinda gross."

"But...It's Castle..."

"Castle, your partner. Your co-worker. Your consultant. Nothing more."

"But..."

"Nothing. More."

"That's really creepy, Castle. And kinda gross."

"Great, now he's upset. You could have been nicer about it."

"Look, Castle, I didn't mean...it's just...I'm just tired. It's been a long day."

"Apology accepted, Detective."

"Ooh. He just called you "Detective." And he was being serious. Ouch."

"Oh, shut up."

More silence. Of the awkward variety. Wonderful.

"Yo Beckett!"

I was so relieved when I heard Esposito call out. It finally broke the silence and the tension between Castle and me.

"You got somethin' Esposito?"

"Yeah, someone's here to see you."

"Well did they say who?"

"Nope. Said she needs to talk to Katherine Beckett. Sounds important."

"Um, ok, let her in."

I sighed from exasperation. It was late, and I wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone. Not to mention she had no reason to be there because we didn't have a case. I looked up to see a young girl, no more than 16 years old, standing in front of me. She was tall and thin. Too thin actually. She looked like she hadn't eaten in days. Castle whispered that she looks just like me, except with blue eyes. I didn't see it. She was very pretty though, considering how tired she looked. Something in her eyes looked so familiar, but I just couldn't place it.

"Hi. Are you Detective Kate Beckett?"

"Yes, how can I help you?"

"And your parents are Jim and Johanna Beckett?"

"That was unexpected..."

"How did you kno—I mean, is there something I can help you with?"

She looked nervous, and kind of sad. I probably would be too in that situation. But that fear in her eyes...That sorrow. I had seen it before. I knew I had. I just didn't know where.

"Yeah, um...I think I'm...um...actually, no, it's nothing. I'm sorry to have bothered you, Detective. I'm just gonna go."

She practically ran to the elevator, but had to wait for it to open.

"What? That's it? She comes in here, asks who my parents are, and doesn't even tell me her name? Really?"

"Wait!"

She turned around quickly, the elevator doors having just opened.

"Yeah?"

"You didn't mention your name."

"Oh. It's Sophie. Sophie Beckett."

I was too shocked to realize that she had gotten in the elevator and closed the doors. Castle was now standing by me, looking at me, then the elevator, then back at me. Finally we both spoke simultaneously.

"WHAT?"


So did you love it? Hate it? Let me know!

PS- this is completely un edited, no beta, etc. if you want to beta the rest, please let me know. and yes, there's more.

Also, literally the ONLY thing I can relate to in the ENTIRE story, was the part about being cranky after a long day. So i apologize in advance for any factual errors or if anything seems unrealistic.

And if its slightly/very OOC, in REALLY sorry. I tried.

Review?