The day before, they fought for the first and only time. Kate had screamed until her lungs burned and her eyes watered, and Josh had left in a huff, slamming the door on his way out. He had torn her mini-murder board off the windo, causing her to snap and fling her coffee mug at his head. Thankfully, she missed, nailing the wall behind him.
"How could you?"
"Kate, it's paper!"
"She was my mother!"
"Paper won't bring her back!"
Kate froze, a horrified look dawning on her face. "Get. Out."
"Kate, it's my –"
"Get. Out!" she screamed, grabbing her gun and aiming for his chest. She left the safety on, but Josh, who didn't know his guns, threw his hands in the air anyway.
"Jesus! What the fuck is wrong with you?" he shouted. "You're not the girl I fell in love with!" With that, he was gone. The silence following his departure was deafening. The apartment felt stark and raw, and empty without him there. Tears sprang to Kate's brown eyes and began to drip down her cheeks. She had just pulled a gun on an unarmed civilian, a man who had posed no threat to her or anyone around her and she was horrified with herself. If the Captain ever found out –
Her cellphone rang startlingly, the Beatles' Paperback Writer echoing through the hallways. She exhaled heavily, trying to clear the pain from her voice. "What, Castle?"
"Well, Detective Beckett, I was in the mood for a trip to the Old Haunt and was hoping you'd join me. From the sound of things, you need a drink. Care to join me?"
"Now's not a good time, Castle."
"Come on, Beckett. Just for a drink. It'll take your mind off things."
If only he knew. She sighed. "Twenty minutes?"
"I look forward to it. Farewell, Detective."
"Bye, Castle."
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
She took a deep breath before pushing the door to the Old Haunt open. Her day was already ruined and she didn't need him to see her in tears as the icing on the cake. She saw him seated alone in a booth, nursing a beer and reading the day's paper. When he finally noticed her, his face broke into a wide boyish grin and he rose to greet her, his hand outstretched in an odd, almost cordial fashion. She stopped in front of him, and suddenly felt a wave of emotion burst through her, tears spilling down her tired cheeks.
"Oh, Kate," Castle said softly, and he wrapped his muscular arms around her shoulders. "It's okay. Shhh. It's okay." All dignity lost, Kate sobbed uncontrollably into his coat, feeling her anger at Josh flood out of her. Castle was rubbing her back with one hand and smoothing her hair with the other, and she couldn't help but relax just a bit; her father used to do the same thing when she was upset. Once she had calmed down a bit, they settled into the booth across from each other and the bartender set a beer in front of her. "Do you wanna talk first, or drink?" Castle probed. Kate didn't answer, instead taking a long draw from the bottle. They sat in silence for a while, drowning in their own thoughts and the bitterness of the beer. Finally, Kate spoke.
"I kicked Josh out." Castle's jaw dropped. "He destroyed my murder board."
"Shut the front door! That asshat!" Castle shouted. Kate wiped a tear from her eyes as Castle put a hand on her free hand.
"Castle, can… can I stay with you and Alexis tonight?" She knew the question was a loaded one, but she asked anyway. "I really… I can't spend the night alone. Not now."
"Of course," Castle said. "Alexis is out with Ashley tonight anyway, so we don't have to worry about her. Come on, I'll take you home." They stood together, abandoning their half-empty beers. Castle tucked a few bills under the bottles, and wrapped an arm around Kate's shoulders, squeezing ever so gently. He could feel her curling closer to him as they walked out of the Haunt.
"Thanks Castle," Kate whispered.
"My pleasure," Castle responded, waving his hand out and hailing a cab. Like a true gentleman, he opened the door with a flourish and allowed her to slide heavily onto the seat before he sat himself. Neither of the noticed the figure lurking in the shadows of the awning, watching them depart.