I sat at my desk dreaming of what I was going to write. Becket, she was my muse for the novel, but I hadn't been to the station in over a week. I'd been to wrapped up in other drama, that by the time I thought about going to the station… it was too late. Alexis was trying to show me how much I should trust her judgement, but somehow ended up in a car wreck. She'd been out for a few days, and was still in the hospital being monitored.

After much thought, I decided to make a trip to the hospital. She'd enjoy that… possibly. I hurried to my car, and searched franticly for the cupon to Gen Sing. Instead I happened upon my cell phone… for some reason, I don't remember loseing it. I checked the messages and was delighted to find that Kate was the only one the made up the list. So I'd make a quick detour at the station.

I pulled into the lot, but much to my surprise, my normal parking spot was taken. Okay. I ended parking in the boonies, but the walk would do me good. I got astonished looks from most everyone, but only one I cared about.

Becket sat at her desk, but my chair was taken, but another woman with hair slightly longer hair than Becket.

"Rick. How's Alexis? I've been meaning to stop by but I had an unexpected visitor." The stranger turned, and I was taken back by the resemblance.

"Brandy, this is Richard Castle. Castle, this is Brandy."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled a bright wickedly vital smile.

"The pleasures all mine."

"So, what'd you need?" Becket asked.

"I just got all of your messages, and I decided to stop and tell you that I'm sorry for not getting back to you; this whole thing with Alexis has got my blood preasure throw the roof."

"Ah, yeah. You must be the author who's been shadowing my sister."

"In the flesh."

"You want to go for drinks later?"

I looked a Becket, who looked away quickly. Maybe this was just the ploy I needed! I'd make her jealous!

"I wouldn't mind a drink." I smiled at her.

Beckets head shot up, and suddenly she got up gathered her stuff and left.

"So, does Saturday sound good to you?"

"Excelent."

"I guess I see you then." I watched her leave. Feeling a tad bit snoopy I picked through the files on Kate's desk… see what I'd missed. I was shocked to find a picture of me… what was she doing with a picture of me?

As the week progressed, I got the cold shoulder from Kate… but I wasn't worried; it was all part of the plan. It was Friday afternoon, and we'd just got done with a big case. Brandy showed up right as we were wrapping things up.

"Hey." She greeted me with a wink. "Hey, um. Kate, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the mall with me tonight. I have to find something special for tomorrow."

I saw her swallow hard before answering. "I have quite a bit of paperwork left to do. I think I'll be home late. You shouldn't wait up."

"Okay miss cranky pants." She frowned at her sister, and smiled and winked at me before leaving.

"She looks a lot like you." I stated.

"I don't see it."

"I can't believe she's single."

"I can."

"You've been very bitter latly." I frowned. "Maybe I shouldn't keep coming here."

She shook her head quickly, but it wasn't enough to keep the rage from spilling out. "I don't care what you do! And if I never have to see your face again… well I think I'll find some way to live."

"Then I'm gone."

"GOOD!"

"I promise, you'll never have to see me again, and I'll stop the second novel."

She didn't reply, so I got up and proceeded to leave. I sped out of the lot, my destination; home.

I didn't show up at the station, just as I'd promised Becket, but it was her lack of communication that got me. We'd never been mad at each other like this for long. One of us would always smooth things over.

8 PM came faster than I'd expected, and Beckett was the only thing on my mind. Was she really not going to forgive me for this? She'd forgiven me for snooping in her mothers case files… yet not for having a drink with her sister. I guess I'd have to let the chips fall where they may.

I was only a fraction of a minute late, and Brandy was already seated at the bar.

"Hey." I approached.

"Oh, I thought you'd never show." She smiled.

"Fasonably late."

"Quite the excuse." She rolled her eyes.

"Only the worlds best."

The evening went on, and I could tell that Brandy had about as much in common as water and oil. That wasn't going to stop me from enjoying the company, she looked so much like Beckett that I just couldn't not look at her.

She had a few more than I did, and just as I was about to call her a cab and leave… I heard the bell above the door ring. The sound of heels coming my way, made me sort of anxious. I knew it was her… who else could it be?

"Brandy, can I speak with you."

"Spit it out."

"Brandy, alone." Her voice became harsh.

"There isn't a soul in this joint you can't talk to me in front of."

"Brandy, now." She seethed. I could see that she was about to blow, but evidently Brandy couldn't.

"You need to leave."

"I'm on a date, Kate… ah ha ha, hey Richard, it rhymes."

"Your not on a date."

"Your just jealous… so bitter because I can get a man and you can't."

I could see the ambush in her eyes. The tears welled, but she contained herself. What had I done, Brandy didn't pick up on the fact I didn't want to date her, and Kate was getting hurt because of it. I watched her turn and leave, but I was determined to fix this.

"Kate!" I followed her out.

"Castle, leave me alone!"

"Kate, stop." I grabbed her arm. "Kate, please listen to me."

"Why don't you go back to your date."

"Because for one I'm not on a date, and two if I was on a date it wouldn't be with the one I'd want to be on one with."

"Go away." She tried to pull her arm away, but I wan't going to allow it. She was facing me only inches away.

"I'm not going to go away this time. I haven't wrote it a week, I can't seem to sleep, and life itself has no meaning. The two most important girls in my life are so far from me at the moment that I can't seem to find a reason to live. Alexis is with Gina, and you… well your just not there. It's an awful feeling. You two are the biggest, brightest, most vital stars in my universe, and I'm missing my stars."

The tears were streaming down her face now, but her lips were sealed.

"You mean more to me then life, Kate. I'll always think of you when I'm writing, I'll worry about you during the day when your investigating crimes around the city, and I'll always…" I paused. "I'll always wish that I could tell you just how much I love you."

I pulled away from her and started to walk away, but I remembered that I had one more thing to say.

"I'm going to drop by the station tomorrow to pick up some things I left there."

Just like that I walked back into the bar, called a cab for Brandy and was walking back to my car. I peered a few cars down in the lot and noticed that she was still sitting there. Hopefully she'd see the truthfulness in my words and forgive me, but I wasn't going to get my hopes up… I'd hurt her so many times that I wasn't sure she could take anymore blows from me.