Author Note: First story. I would love suggestions.
ABC owns Castle
Kate Beckett sat alone on her desk at the precinct. Staring at the murder board the only sound in the building was the ticking of her fathers watch. Minutes ticked by and still she sat there, carved out of stone. Her eyes were no longer focused on the board but on something far away that only she could see. Her eyes flicked over to the space next to her desk where for years, a chair had sat. But tonight she had moved it away because now it held to many memories. Returning her gaze to the board she pulled something out of her pocket without noticing. Kate ran her fingers over the cold, hard, ridges, mountains, and valleys. She pressed the metal into her palm feeling it cut into her soft skin. She toyed with the key he had given her the way same way she toyed with an idea in her mind. She could envision the hallway outside his apartment perfectly, complete with her standing in front of his door like she had already done so many times this summer. But she already knew he wouldn't answer if she knocked, but still she toyed with the idea of letting herself in, sliding into his chair, letting the scent of him wash over her. But she also knew that that wouldn't help her solve this case. She scolded herself for even thinking about it and slid the key back into her pocket. The minutes kept ticking by, time slipping away from her. Her gaze wandered from the board again, this time to the phone resting on her desk. She knew that he was just a phone call away, she could hear his velvet voice in her head, calm but with a hint of concern at her late night call. That's why she had turned off her phone hours ago. She stood up to get herself a cup of coffee to clear her head. Not from his deluxe machine but from hers. Kate reminded herself that she didn't need his help to solve this case. She had solved hundreds before he came and she would solve hundreds more long after he was gone. No she didn't need him, but she sure as hell wanted him.
