Chapter 1
10/25/15
by Sunnterra

Castle lays sleeping on the couch in his office. Ever since Katherine Beckett, his wife, walked out of his life and marriage a mouth ago with no real answer he has been staying nights at his PI office. Sleeping on the couch, for he couldn't take the nightmares that started up the day that she left. All he wanted was his wife back. He wanted them to talk it out. Tears still fell from his eyes, even though he was asleep. He thinks that he hears the front door of his office open but he can be sure so he stays where he is. Alexis walks in talking on her phone.

"Yes, I will let him know that you are coming by mr..." the person on the line hangs up. "hello," Alexis responds, shaking her head. "Oh well," she comments as she walks towards the backroom where she knew that he father would be. She was worried about him. His plan to get Beckett back was taking longer then she thought it would. She didn't want to see him like that anymore but what could she do. She had to let things play out. She would just be there for him and hopefully not have to pick up the pieces of her father's heart. She knew first hand what his first two wives did to him but this one, if he was to get a divorce, was going to be the end of her father. She knew over the years that this one woman was his soulmate. She sighs deeply as she looks through the crack in the door. She noticed that he was sleeping on the couch with his back towards her. She hoped that he had not been drinking all night again. As she stepped closer to him she noticed that he was holding on tight to something. She could hear him talking to himself in his sleep, something that he did all the time. "She's mine, she's all mine you can't have her."

"Great he is having another nightmare about her. I have to wake him." She starts to reach out to him, when he shouts, "Don't leave me Kate...don't leave me." She looks at what he is holding in his arms. "A dirty shirt? That's just..." she shakes her head. "Whatever gets him thought the night." Then she reads the letters on it.

"Is that..." she says out loud just enough for him to hear this time.

"Ah," Castle somewhat yells, "What? What's wrong?" He whips his head side to side.

"Nothing," Alexis responds touching his arm, "Calm down."

"Oh, Alexis..." he blinks, "Alexis?" he questions.

"Yes, dad, I came to check on you and to tell you that a new client is coming in."

"Who," he sits up, trying to focus on what she just said.

"Is that's Beckett's," she slightly shakes her head. "Shirt?"

"Yes," he looks at it in his hands, "She left it for me..." he pauses for a minute, "Anyway," He places the shirt, his prized shirt, one that smells just like his wife under the pillow on the couch. "What's this about a new client..."

"A man called asking for you help, he says that you know him. He has worked with you and Beckett before."

Castle rubs his hands down his face, and then sighs. "Okay, what's his name?"

She helps her dad to his feet, "You need this dad, maybe it will get your mind off of Beckett and this might be a new way that you can..."

"Can what Alexis, I will not forget about her, I love her too much and I will do anything to win her back."

"That's what I am afraid of dad," she moves her eyes towards him. "Your plan..."

"I just need some new cases..." Castle blurts out fast without thinking.

"No, what you need is to give her some time." Alexis counters back.

"I...what?"

"She asked you for some time so that's..."

"How do you know that?" he looks over at his daughter.

"I hear things," she smiles.

"Maybe too much, maybe things you shouldn't..."

"How hard is it to give her time..." she put her hands up.

"I..." Castle starts but Alexis quickly answers with another question.

"Do you trust her?"

"How can you ask me something like that? Of course I trust her, she's my wife."

"She's the love of my life," he said under his breath.

"Yes, and she trusted you when you went missing for two months."

"Why does everyone keep throwing that in my face, I didn't...I was kidnapped."

"Yes, you were and yet she trusted you..."

"This is different I don't remember anything."

"In her eyes it made no difference, she didn't know what happened to you. Yet she trusted all you told her without reason. So now."

"So now what..."

"Now that the shoe is on the other foot you have too..." Castle lowers his head, Alexis is right Beckett did trust me and now. He swallows. I must do the same for her. He said to himself. How come she's so smart. "I know it hurts but..." his daughter continues on.

"You have no idea how much it hurts."

"I know how much you love her dad, I saw it everyday for the past six years, you just need to hang on a little bit longer. Everything is going to work out with the two of you."

"I hope so," he walks over the the table and picks up a picture of the happily married couple on their wedding day. "I can't lose her. I don't know what I would do..." He wipes at a tear that was falling down his face.

"I know that you miss her, hell I miss her..." he glances a glance over at his daughter, like how dare you say something like that look. Sighing, he just stares at her for a moment. He knew that she was right, maybe this new client would be just what he needed.

"Hello," came a familiar voice yet Castle couldn't quiet place it. And then the sounds of boots. "Oh no, that's not." Castle mumbles under his breath as he walks towards the front office area. Apond seeing Castle, the man begins to talk.

"Well, well. You look like hell. Did a truck run over you?"

"What do you want Slaughter? I have a client coming in."

"That's right, that would be me."

"What?"

"Look I know that you don't like working me."

"That's a understatement." Castle shot back. Then points to the door. Slaugher sighs, then sees Alexis. She stares at the man dressed in a cowboy get-up, right down to the boots.

"Hey, you must be the guy that called." she holds her hand out to greet him.

"Yes, I am." Slaughter shakes her hand, while Castle has a flashback at what Slaughter said about his daughter a couple of years ago. How she was and now that she has grown up some. Not a chance, Castle thinks then steps forward. Hopefully to detour Slaughter's attention back to him.

"Yes, Mr Slaughter was just about to tell me what I can do for him."

Slaughter shakes his head, "Right." he lets go of Alexis' hand. "Like I was telling your dad, that I need his help in following someone."

"Go on." Castle didn't want to take him on as a client but he needed the money and the distraction. "What kinda help can I give you. Sir," Castle almost gagged at calling him "sir". Slaughter didn't deserve that, not even close for what he did on the last case they worked together. The case that Beckett came to my rescue, my rescue, he repeats to himself. A grin comes across his face. That's how. That's how I can get my "real" partner back. That was our connection where the walls her walls were coming down and so this one can be the one that pushes us back together.

"I need someone to look into a lawyer."

"You want us to follow a lawyer? What kinda work is that?"

"Dad," Alexis yells over to her father. "Let him finish." Slaughter gives her a playful smile.

"I need someone to go undercover, to try to stop this guy, a lawyer Celeb, from his fraud and..." Slaughter

hesitates to admit.

"What kinda name is that?" Castle responds. "Celeb," he makes a face.

"Dad," Alexis once again shouts at him. He sheepish smiles, "Sorry," he whispers at her. He couldn't help it. He always jokes about things like this.

"You along with Beckett," Slaughter continues, after ignoring Castle's quirkiness then he saw Castle lower his head at her name. Oh no, I shouldn't have said her name. Slaughter thinks to himself. Slaughter clears his throat. "were and still are well..."

"Yes," Castle's eyebrows raise, despite the heartache in his heart from Slaughter using her name.

"You guys are the best at that. I saw how the two you were good at the cases that you worked together and I thought...I wanted the best and I think that that might be you. I know that you are not working with Beckett right now..."

"How do you know...about my wife and..."

"Everyone knows." Slaughter answers truthfully. He heard it but really didn't want to believe that it was true.

"What? How?"

"Word gets around, on social media. Anyway, since I can't see her wanting to work with me, after I almost screwed up the last case. I thought I ask you."

"well I..." Alexis who was watching Castle's body langue the whole time they were talking, had to step in.

"What do you say buddy will you help me, I will owe you." Slaughter was trying to be convincing to Castle and maybe using the words 'owe you' will have a meaning.

"We will take it." Alexis jumps in knowing how her father might turn him down.

"Alexis, I..."

"Great buddy, I know that I could count on you." he slaps Castle on the shoulder. Castle winces. "Sorry," he whispers.

"I'll get back to you with all the details..."

"Details on what?" Espo asked as he just walks into Castle's office without knocking, followed by Ryan. "Slaughter, what are you doing here?" he asked in a angry tone.

"Getting some help. What else," he shoots both Espo and Ryan a look then back at Castle.

"Help with what..." Rayn asked looking at Castle who was now standing. "What could you possible want from Castle?"

"I'll catch up with you later." He slaps Castle again on the shoulders this time softer. "Later boys." Slaughter waves as he leaves.

"Castle, don't tell me that you are working with him again." Ryan comments, "he's not..."

"I know Ryan, but..."

"Castle you're going to get yourself killed." Espo shakes his head. "Remember what happened last time?"

"What happened last time?" Alexis says in shock, "What's he talking about?"

"Nothing, Alexis. Now I have some paperwork together if..."

"You are serious about taking him on, aren't you." Espo points at Castle. Ryan who also can't believe his ears, just shakes his head.

"Look guys, I need..."

"Don't tell me that you are doing this to get Beckett back cause..."

"Now why would I do that?" Castle acts all innocent.

"Wow, bro how low will you go...in your quest to win her back."

"Look Espo I need the money, he's just a client."

"A bad client, that breaks the law and is going to get you killed." Ryan points out.

"I, we," Espo glances over at Ryan, "Can't help you if you get into trouble this time."

"Guys, look it's going to be okay. I..."

"And what if Beckett finds out that you did this...getting yourself into deep."

"How is she going to find out?" Castle responds not seeing his wife coming though the door.

"Find out about what..." she calls, startling Castle.

"Kate, I..." happy to see her he stumbles forward almost tripping over his own feet.

TO BE CONTINUED..

Thanks for all the reviews. This story is keeping with the story line (Castle season 8)-not a big fan of it either-I just wanted to post this before the episode airs.

I am writing this off the dream I don't remember, I did however record it all down on tape. I don't remember pushing buttons on my tape recorder (an old school one with little tapes). Something was nagging at me to hit play, so I was shock to hear it, I guess that I talk in my sleep, it's in my voice. So it's taking me a little longer to type it. I have only been though a few minutes of tape. So I have no idea what's going to happen yet. Apparently I talked all night long. Anyway hope you enjoy and keep the comments coming, even if you hate it.

I'm not really looking forward to any of the rest of the esp this fall but it is what it is.

disclaimer I do not own "Castle" (if I did we wouldn't have a crappy season 8).