Disclaimer: Y'all know the drill...
A/N: This is basically my take on if Castle had left after Kate had told him they were over. May contain spoilers. Thanks to all who have continued to encourage me to write. Thanks to all who have reviewed!
Originally inspired by the song Center Of Attention by Jackson Waters.
You want your independence
But you won't let me let you go
You wanna test the waters
And leavin' on the empty shores.
But I'll take my time if you want to
And I'll give you whatever you need
And I'll way down life time to give in to you
Give in to you.
Life Hangs On
Chapter 1
"Hi Beckett," Esposito says. She breezes past him. "Bye Beckett." He shoots his partner a glance. Ryan shrugs. He knows no more about what's going on than the Hispanic man does. He looks down at the desk they share. There's folded letter propped up against the computers, and if he's not mistaken, it's addressed to the both of them.
"Hey, Castle left us a note."
Esposito snatched up the letter, giving it a quick scan over. "Uh oh," he says warily.
"Uh oh?" Ryan echoes questionably.
"Read it, bro." Ryan does.
"Castle's leaving."
"Uh huh."
"He and Beckett fought?"
"Uh huh."
"Dude, can you say anything else other than 'uh huh'?" He scans the note. "I wonder if Beckett knows he's left yet."
"Beckett's coming," Esposito hisses as Ryan shoves the letter beneath some paperwork.
"You guys seen Castle?" she asks almost casually. The boys aren't fooled.
"Nope," they answer innocently. She scowls. Not that she'd really wanted to see the writer. She'd had enough of the man to last her a lifetime.
"I'm going to see Lanie," she growls, taking her coffee with her. The boys share a look before Esposito sends a quick text, warning his girlfriend about Beckett's strange mood, and Castle's recent departure.
XXXXX
Lanie's words tumble around and around in her mind. The one phrase, "He loves you. Why are you so afraid?" haunts her the most. Why is she so afraid? She is so engrossed in her thoughts that she misses both the text and the shocked look her friend gets.
'Castle's gone. S'posedly visiting Alexis. You tell B?' says the message. Lanie ponders for a moment, wanting neither Castle to leave nor Beckett to be angry that she was the last to find out.
"Girl, I'm gonna smack you." Lanie fixes her with a hard stare. "I love you but, damn, you are slow. The guy is madly in love with you. Hell, even Ryan knows it and it took him that long to figure out Javi and I were together."
"That's only because Castle took pity on him and told him."
"Exactly." She gives the medical examiner an incredulous look.
"Don't look at me like that, girl." Her voice softens. "Kate, honey, he loves you, but he's also human. I don't know how long he'll stick around, waiting for you to overcome your insecurities." Lanie pauses, waiting a beat. "He's also leaving." Kate looks up, shocked.
"Leaving?" she echoes. Lanie nods, watching the barrage of emotions flitter over her friend's face.
"I, uh, I'll catch up with you later, 'kay?" Kate stutters, backing out of the room.
The medical examiner watches her go, hoping for the best.
XXXXX
She steps out of the elevator, heading straight for Montgomery's office. She barely notices that the bull pen is quiet, that the boys aren't at their desks. She knocks at his door, waiting for his gruff answer before entering. Esposito and Ryan seem to be deep conversation with the captain, having stopped only when she entered. Montgomery waves them away, ushering her further inside.
"Beckett, what can I do for you?" he asks pleasantly.
"Uh, I need to take the afternoon off," she starts.
"Done. Anything else?"
"Sir?" She is confused.
"Take the afternoon, Beckett. Ryan and Esposito can handle anything that comes through today." She hesitates. "Go." She scrams, exiting the office as fast as she entered. She doesn't hear his final words though.
"Go get him, Kate." Montgomery whispers to her retreating back.
Slightly longer. Thoughts?
Monkeywand
