This is something a bit different, but stick with me here, it's a short read.
He shifted in his chair images flying at light speed through his mind's eye.
A Freezer, an exploding apartment, a bomb. Innuendo, a ring and watch, a forged family. Gazes and laughter.
A small but genuine smile graced his lips.
Alexis stood anxiously in her father's study as he finished his thought and looked up meet her gaze.
"Dad?" she gently tossed the manuscript to his latest novel onto his desk, "I want you to stop writing this series."
"What?"
"I think you…I think you need to start writing something else, you know? "
"It's my bestselling series yet Alexis." He tossed her a halfhearted goofy smile, "You don't think I'm up to literary par anymore?"
The redhead squeezed her eyes shut before speaking, perhaps trying to find the right thing to say, "The last chapter, Dad, It's the best you've ever written. I've never physically felt so much by just reading words." The smile on his face started to fade, "But honestly Dad I don't want to leave for Stanford and not know you're ok. Right now, writing this?" She laid a finger on the manuscript, "You're not ok."
"You want me to end it here?"
"Yes. Do something new!"
"I can't leave Beckett hanging like that."
"You're not leaving Beckett hanging!" She threw her father a very concerned look, "There's nothing left to save her from."
"But she's-"
"It was a horrible thing. A horrible thing that should have never happened. But it was three years ago Dad." Her voice was dangerously close to cracking but she continued, " And it was good for you at first I think, to write about it. But now, now, you need to come back. It's not real. It's just your writing. Words are powerful, but they can't change the past." Her face softened, " It was a known danger of the job. It was not your fault she got shot working on case that involved your books."
He visibly recoiled from shock of her words, "I just… I had this feeling you know? The day I met Kate Beckett I had this feeling that she was the one."
Alexis tilted her head in sympathy, "I'm not saying that's not true. I'm just saying I think you need to write something else. For me, okay?" She walked over to her father on the other side of the desk and wrapped her arms around him, "It was beautifully written though. From the dedication right up until the final shot at the Captain's funeral, it's beautiful. I know you only knew her a few days, but you've done her proud."
Alexis released herself from the hug and placed a kiss on her father's forehead before retreating to her room.
Castle merely sat there, manuscript for 'Knockout' open to the first page, running his fingers over the dedication hashed out in black ink.
In Memorial of KB.
If Only.
So my idea was that Beckett had gotten shot and passed away during the first case that she and Castle worked on together, but he continued to write, making his newest series of novels an alternate universe where she had lived (what we watch on television).
Forgive me if it was a little confusing, but I'd love to hear what you thought.