Chapter 2

Just so you all know, the events in this chapter, and the whole story, take place before the episode 'Knockdown'. Enjoy chapter 2 :)

To her surprise it was Martha that answered the door and not Castle. "Why hello detective. How nice to see you."

"Hey, Martha, nice to see you too."

The older woman stood aside and motioned for Kate to come inside. "I'd offer you a drink but it seems you already have one." She said with a smile.

Kate blushed and attempted to stammer a reply but Martha stopped her. "Don't worry dear, sometimes a good stiff drink is exactly what the doctor calls for. Just because you're one of the city's finest doesn't mean you can't let loose once in a while."

"Uh, thanks. Is, um, is Castle around?"

"They are on their way home, should be here in five or ten minutes. You're welcome to wait."

"Would you mind?"

"No, no not at all, make yourself at home. I don't mind you waiting as long as you don't mind listening to me rehearse in the other room."

"Of course not." Kate said with a smile.

"Well in that case I'll just be in the other room." Martha said smiling and heading to a room down the hall.

Kate set the bottle down on the living room table and went to get a glass from the kitchen. After sitting back down and pouring some of the liquid into the glass she leaned back and reveled in the cushions far more luxurious than the ones on her couch at home. She closed her eyes and inhaled, smelling the scent of the man she had worked next to for a year and a half.

She took a sip from the glass and relished the feeling of being able to 'loosen up a bit' as Martha has said. All of a sudden she realized she was laying down on Richard Castle's couch, smelling him. She sat up quickly, spilling a few drops on her hand. She was licking them off when she heard the door open. Beckett kept quite as she watched Castle, Alexis and one of Alexis' friends come inside, each carrying a least one large bag. Alexis and the girl ran upstairs without noticing her but as Rick was hanging up his coat she spoke up. "So where's this spycopter you told me about?"

Castle turned around with a surprised look on his face. "Beckett, I wasn't expecting to see you here." He paused as he noticed what she was drinking and how much was already gone. "Is everything ok?"

Kate realized she didn't know if she was ready to talk about the captain's offer. She took a deep breath and drained the contents of her glass, feeling her face being to flush.

Castle immediately sat next to her and gave her a concerned look. "I assume this has to do with Captain Montgomery calling you into his office?"

She didn't say anything but nodded and refilled her glass. "You can have some if you want." She said, staring at the contents of the bottle.

"No, thanks." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Kate, what's going on?"

She looked him in the eyes and said "Captain Montgomery is retiring."

"He's doing what?"

"That's not the bad part. I mean, it's bad but not why…" she paused and sipped from her glass before looking back at Castle. "He wants me to take his place." She looked down.

Rick reached over and took the glass from her hands, setting it on the table. "So let me get this straight." She looked back up at him. "You're sitting on my couch, obviously upset and drinking vodka because you got offered a major promotion?"

She groaned as she was reminded of her situation and reached for the glass again. "That pretty much sums it up."

"Is there more to this than you're telling me? Because I don't understand."

She leaned back against the couch and closed her eyes. She was quite for so long Rick wondered if she had fallen asleep. "Kate?" he said quietly.

She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I'm not ready to be captain. I want it, just not yet."

"Did you tell Montgomery that?" she nodded and took a small sip of the vodka. He hoped she was slowing down. Her speech was starting to slur noticeably.

"I told him I wasn't ready and he said he was going to do everything he could to get me to take the job because I'm the only one he would trust to run the precinct." She was starting to gesture and Castle reached out to take her drink so she didn't spill it. "What are you doing?"

He pointed at the glass in her hand. "I don't want you to spill any."

She put the glass to her lips and threw her head back, draining its contents. "There, now I won't spill."

He nodded. "So why aren't you ready for the captain job?"

She turned towards him and took a deep breath. "I'm not ready to be behind a desk."

He noticed she was leaning closer as she kept talking.

"I like being in the field too much. And one thing I've learned from you is how to enjoy unraveling the story of every crime."

He tried to back up but was at the edge of the couch.

She kept going. He noticed something in her eyes. Fear, maybe, or pain. "But most of all I don't want to be stuck in an office when we find out who hired Coonan to kill my mom. I want to be the one putting that bastard behind bars."

By this time her face was only a few inches from his. "You'll catch him, I promise." Rick said.

Beckett nodded and leaned back again.

Rick stood up. "I think I should take you home now."

She looked up and nodded. He could still see that something in her eyes and she stood up, wobbling as she made her way to the door. He grabbed her keys and followed close behind her. When they were in the elevator she leaned into him a bit and he put a steadying arm around her waist. Even when the door opened she let him help her to the car, giggling a bit as she lost her footing once.

Once they got to her apartment Kate opened the door and turned around. Holding onto the door frame she said "Thanks, Castle. I'm going to go to sleep now.

She tried to close the door but he stopped her. "Oh no, I'm coming in to make sure you're ok."

She narrowed her eyes and was about to argue but didn't have the energy to stay standing up. She stepped aside and sat down on the couch. Before Castle could sit down she put her feet up and lay down. He looked down at her grinning and she smiled back.

"Comfy?" he asked. She nodded. "Anything I can get for you?"

She pointed to the hall behind her "blanket please."

"From your room?"

She nodded again.

He walked down the hall and found her door open partway. He stood in the doorway looking in. he had seen Beckett's apartment before but never her room. He felt oddly intrusive. He grabbed the quilt and closed the door behind him on the way out. Kate was almost asleep already when he came back. He draped the blanket over her and smiled as she pulled it close around her

He turned to go but felt her grab his hand before he could get away. "Thanks again Castle. I'll be ok, you can go."

He nodded "I know you'll be ok. Sleep well."

The last thing Kate remembered was letting go of his hand and closing her eyes.

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