"Los Angeles Castle, Los Angeles." Beckett shouted at him.

"I know, I was here when he told us." He replied flippantly, "Will you please stop shouting, people are staring." Castle turned around and smiled apologetically at the people who where now gawking at them courtesy of Beckett's outburst.

Beckett moved to the side and braced herself against the side of the wall. She couldn't be in LA, too many memories there for her. Memories that she had tucked away in the back of her mind, she wasn't ready for them to come to the forefront. That meant dealing with them, the good and the bad ones.

"I need a drink." She said, walking towards the dining area.

"It won't be so bad Beckett. We get to LA and then we hop straight back on a plane, no big deal." Castle was actually enjoying this. He couldn't understand why Beckett was so uptight. Was it the thought of spending the night with him? Surely not! They had spent all night together before in the name of a case. This would just be like that, wouldn't it?

"I have to call the precinct, tell them what's happening." She said turning to face Castle. "You should probably call home too; let them know you won't be home tonight."

"What?" Castle asked. He was so caught up at the thought of spending a night with her that it never occurred to him that he would have to call home.

"Home - You know, the place where you live." She retorted back. "I'm sure they will be wondering what's happened to you when you don't show up tonight."

Beckett made her way out of earshot of Castle. She pulled out her iphone and called the station. As she turned around, she noticed that he did the same.

He wasn't on the phone long, just long enough to tell Alexis what had happened and that he would be back sometime tomorrow. Beckett also saw him smiling and watched as she lip read him telling Alexis that he loved her too. She also caught the words don't worry, I won't. She wondered what he was referring to.

After explaining to the new Captain was had happened, she was instructed to purchase two tickets back home. She would be reimbursed upon her return. It wasn't the money she was worried about. It was giving the Captain more ammunition against Castle, which she didn't want. She could tell by her voice that she was pissed at what happened, even after Ryan and Esposito fought her case.

She hung up and ordered that drink she desperately needed. She held up her glass to Castle and he nodded back to her as he made his way over to join her. Beckett ordered another one and took a seat.

"How did it go?" she asked him as he sat down opposite her.

"Fine." He replied, "Alexis told me to keep out of trouble." He smiled back to her. "What about you, everything all right your end?"

"The Captain was less than thrilled at the situation. Not much we can do about it now though. We are officially off duty until we return to the precinct." She downed the last remaining drops of her drink.

It didn't go unnoticed to Castle that something was bothering her. Was it just the Captain? He did like the way she said we in that last statement. Things had been ever so slightly strained between them after the shooting. He was still the same teasing Castle but Beckett, Beckett was more hesitant towards him and that was something he desperately wanted to fix. At least she was referring to him as her partner again. That was a start, albeit a slow one.

Castle was about to ask her if she was alright when they noticed Brian walk towards them. He held out a key as Beckett took it. "I've been instructed to show you to your sleeping compartment for the night, courtesy of the Management." Brian told them.

They both followed him down the narrow passageway. He stopped abruptly at door number 7, causing Beckett to do the same. Castle wasn't paying attention and the sudden go-slow caused him to career right into the back of Beckett.

"Castle!" she exclaimed, her face twisted in annoyance.

"Sorry." He replied, both his hands facing her palms up, offering her his sincerest apology.

Brian held out his hand, ushering Beckett to open it. When she did, he started to walk away. "Excuse me Brian," Castle began, "This the only compartment left?" Both their faces fell as they stared at their space for the night. It was barely enough room for one, let alone two adults.

"Yes sir," he confirmed, "We are fully booked."

"I could pay for an upgrade you know, money is no issue." Castle tried.

"I'm sorry Sir, but there is nothing to upgrade to. All other sleeping compartments are sold out, even the deluxe ones. There are a few single seats available further down the train if you wish. My superior just thought you would be more comfortable in here."

"Thank you," Beckett spoke, "This will be fine Brian. The NYPD is grateful for your co-operation and kindness." She watched the young man smile as he walked away from her and then disappeared. "I guess money and fame can't buy you everything eh Castle?" she joked towards him.

"No, I guess not." He mumbled out as they entered.

The room was indeed small, comfortable but small. The few paces Beckett strolled forward to, took her to the window of the compartment. At least it had a window. The seating pulled down to make a bed big enough for one. This was noticed by both of them. No doubt there would be a fight at some stage as to what the sleeping arrangements where going to be.

Right in front of the seating/bed area was a built in sink. It was situated round dark mahogany. A small toilet area off the corner of the sink was all that remained in that tight space. At least they had a place to freshen up in the morning.

"I'm sorry Kate." Castle said as he watched her fidget with her fingers. "If I hadn't been so stupid as to drag us on here, you wouldn't be stuck here … with me."

"Castle, it's not like you did it on purpose. Let's just deal with it okay?" Kate sat down in the only chair to occupy the room. She stared out the window absentmindedly.

Castle sat opposite her on the pulled down couch/bed. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "Are you alright?" he tentatively asked her.

"I'm fine Castle." Her tone was sharp. Castle knew better than to pursue this conversation. The fact that she didn't even look at him when she answered made his heart ache.

In the time leading up to the shooting, things between them had been going great. She was being flirtier, more open to having personal conversations with him. More open to spending time with him. How he wished he could go back to those times. In the blink of an eye, or a squeeze of a finger, things had changed so dramatically. Gone were those conversations, unless they were work related. Castle felt like their connection was broken and no matter how hard he tried to piece it back together again, she didn't seem so interested. So this was the new them, sticking to small talk and safe topics.

"Do you like trains Kate?" Castle asked her.

"What?" she answered, her head still fixed on the outside.

"I love trains." He started. "After Alexis was born and Meredith, well after she left," his voice trailed off as he dipped his head slightly, "I used to take Alexis with me on some of my book tours."

He sat back in the seat and watched to see if he could get a reaction from her. It brought a smile to his face when she looked away from the window and stared at him.

"She likes trains huh?" she asked. After everything that they'd been through, she never got tired of hearing stories of Castle and Alexis. She loved his dedication to his daughter; it was one of the things she loved about him. The way he would light up when he recalled stories about them, made her light up inside too.

"She was fascinated at how big they were and used to question me endlessly on how they stayed on the track." He continued. "She used to stare out the window, much like you were doing just now and watch. It made me laugh to hear her say that the wires on the telephone poles outside danced up and down as the train raced passed them."

Kate smiled softly at the description. "It's kind of peaceful ya know, just watching the world pass you by." She did like this. She could sit here and pretend that there was nothing wrong.

"Yes it is." Castle agreed. "I would sit with her on my lap and we would just watch for hours. There was no place I would rather be. She would snuggle into me and I would ask her if she could feel the rhythm of the rails."

"The what?" Kate asked in confusion, now looking at him inquisitively.

"Listen." Castle instructed, "Can you hear it, can you feel it?"

"All I hear is you Castle. Did that scotch go straight to your head?" she teased.

"Come here." He instructed her, holding out his hand for her to take.

Beckett didn't move.

"Come on." He asked again, "I won't bite."

She warily moved from the seat and sat beside him, opting not to take his hand. Castle scooted closer to her. "Close your eyes." He asked.

"What?"

"Indulge me, just for a second."

Beckett closed her eyes, not before shooting a warning signal across his way. He ignored it as he carefully placed his arms over her shoulders. She felt tense and it took all this strength not to work those knots out right there and then.

"Castle." She warned him.

"Shhh," he whispered. "Just relax and listen and you'll feel it."

Relax, she was anything but relaxed. The feel of his hands on her was like cat nip and she could almost hear herself purring under his touch.

"I would hold Alexis like this," he began, holding her tighter now. "I would tell her to close her eyes and let herself feel the train underneath her. Do you feel it now, the rhythm of the rails?" He asked again.

Kate wasn't sure what she felt. She could feel his breath dance across the top of her neck as he spoke. All she knew was that her heart was pounding. Never mind the rhythm of the rails; it was the rhythm of her heartbeat she could feel. Any louder and he would be hearing it too.

They sat like that what for seemed to be the longest time. Castle felt her starting to loosen up under his touch. He moved further back into the seat, taking her with him. He wasn't going to do anything inappropriate to spoil this moment; it had taken too long to get here. He just held her and she let him. That was good enough…for now.

Apologies for not updating last night. My connection and I were at odds. Thank you to everyone who left a review, it means a lot. Thoughts on chapter two?