This is a short one shot that was inspired by the season three sneak peek. However, it's not yet complete. I do plan to add more. I hope you all enjoy it.
Oh, and I of course, do not have the fortune of owning Castle, that goes to ABC, etc.
Kate Beckett did not need Richard Castle following her around like a lost puppy. Or pulling her pigtails. Or making her job fun.
Her job wasn't supposed to be fun. Her cases needed all of her focus. And now, they had it. Her work was better than ever. She buried herself into cases that needed to be solved, and they got solved.
She didn't even miss him. That much. Anymore.
But, there were always these moments. These moments full of longing that overcame her, often late at night when she was the only one left at the precinct, when thoughts of Richard Castle crept into and occupied Kate Beckett's mind.
And lately, these moments had become more frequent. It was late September. Summer was over. So where was he? Why wasn't he back?
She thought back to May, and that heart wrenching goodbye they had shared. That was not the Richard Castle she thought she knew. That was the Richard Castle she had expected to get to know, on that day they'd first met, when she'd brought him in for questioning.
She had finally been ready to open up her heart. After all those years she had spent building up her wall, Richard Castle had knocked it down, almost effortlessly. But then, Gina showed up. She didn't get the chance to say what she wanted before he offered his hand to her as a goodbye. A handshake. She still couldn't believe it. And then, he turned around, arms linked with Gina, basically dismissed Kate's parting words that had unwillingly turned into a hopeful question.
"See you in the fall?"
"See you in the fall."
That very moment had replayed in her head over and over again. He should've been back already. Yet, here she was, staring at his empty chair for what was likely the thousandth time, left wondering when he would return. If he ever even would.
"Yo, Beckett," Esposito's voice rang out, cutting through her thoughts, bringing her back to the precinct, where he and Ryan were standing in front of her desk. "We've got a call."