Charlie did some research, this cafe called Atlas Cafe really does exist, and it's on the corner of 4th and 2nd. Neither of us have been there, though, so don't get mad if we get something about it wrong ;)

We still don't own Castle.

Chapter Two

Beckett pushed open the door of the familiar coffee shop, and entered it, her eyes scanning around for Lanie. She spotted the ME sitting in the corner, eating a croissant. Beckett made her way to the table.

"It's about time, girl. I was almost ready to call the search and rescue team!" Lanie said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Lanie, I'm five minutes late." Beckett rolled her eyes.

"I'll forgive you if you tell me that those five minutes you were late were spent with Castle, in a closet." Lanie wiggled her eyebrows, and Beckett just shook her head.

"Lanie, you're impossible, just impossible. Was this the emergency you dragged me away from my case for?"

"Girl, don't play dumb with me. Why was Castle eyeballing you like that? Is there anything you haven't told me?" ordered Lanie.

"Lanie, he's having a hard time coping with the fact that Alexis is no longer a little girl, and that's she's going to be venturing out into the world." Beckett explained patiently.

"And you were ... 'helping' him feel better?" smirked Lanie.

"Oh, don't say it like that, I just told him that she'll always be his little girl, and will call and e-mail while she's gone."

"You know I'm not giving up that easily Kate, there's a –" Lanie was cut off by Beckett's cell.

Beckett glanced at the caller ID, and suddenly an expression of shock crossed her face.

"What's wrong?" Lanie asked, concerned.

"Um..." Beckett mumbled, showing Lanie her phone.

"Demming? Why's he calling you?" Lanie asked incredulously. "If he wants to get back together with her, so help me, I'll wring his skinny neck." she muttered to herself as an after-thought.

Beckett was still staring at the phone in shock, and barely heard Lanie. It wasn't until Lanie asked her if she was going to answer that Beckett looked up. As she answered the phone, she could hear her voice shaking, and hoped Demming couldn't.

"Kate, oh god, it feels so good to hear your voice again." Demming's voice was slightly distorted from the phone.

Beckett just shook her head, she had gotten broken up with Demming almost a year ago, why was he calling her now?

"Kate? Are you there?" the voice on the other side of the line asked.

"Oh, sorry, Tom. I'm here." Beckett blinked. "What's up?"

"What do you mean? Can't I call you for no reason?" he said with an air of over-casualness.

Beckett suddenly felt a surge of anger and was about to reply when her phone was snatched out of her hand.

"No, you can't just call her up out of the blue, and if I catch you calling her again, you'll be sorry" Lanie ended the call and when Beckett looked at her, she could see Lanie's face displaying a sense of accomplishment.

"Um...thanks?" Beckett stifled a smile, her sudded flash of anger gone.

"The nerve of that man. Why does he think he can just call you up out of nowhere and pretend to be all buddy-buddy with you? I mean, come on. It's a good thing he's cute." Lanie ranted.

"Lanie, I have to get back to work." grinned Beckett.

"I'm not done!" complained the ME.

"Well tough, I've got a murder to solve, and you have an autopsy to do."

Lanie just sighed as she watched her best friend grab her coat and yank the door open. That girl had some serious issues, and Lanie was determined to get to the bottom of them, but that was for another day, as she realized Kate was right, she had an autopsy to do.