Chapter 1 - "Frustrated"

Looking at her, she now seemed to be absolutely perfect. Her was falling perfectly on her shoulders. She was wearing a white shirt and tight jeans, as well as high heels, that always got him thinking about how could she run in those things. She seemed to be concentrated. But in the board, there was only the picture of the woman. Nothing else. No words, no drawings. Simply a picture.

He decided to approach her. He could see that she knew he was there. He used to do that a lot: stare at her for a while. Maybe because he was overwhelmed with the woman that now was his. Silence had taken over the room. He took a look at his pulse watch before sitting next to her.

"I can't figure this out." she kept looking at the board. Her voice was somehow weak, enable to understand what was missing.

"What are you talking about? You're the finest detective in the city." his eyes were on her, and she finally moved her head, their eyes meeting as a light smile formed in his lips. Her eyes were simply beautiful.

"I don't know what's missing, Castle."

"You erased everything we had," he started, not understand what was going on in her mind. He always knew. This time, he didn't.

"Because it didn't make sense." she admitted, taking her own hands to her head, oddly confused by this case. "There's no reason why someone would dislike her. So why was she killed."

"Once, a very strong and beautiful detective told me that there's always a reason."

"She must be smart. That's a deep saying," a smile finally appeared in her lips.

"Ooh, she is." he stopped for a second to admire her smile, then continued. "And she also never gives up."

"How does she do that? Isn't she afraid?" she asked, slightly curious about his answers.

"I don't know. I think it's because she has a partner that she really likes,"

"Don't you mean someone that really irritates her sometimes?" she corrected him, a small giggle escaping from her lips as she ran her fingers through her hair. Her eyes were shining.

"I thought you didn't know her." he joked.

"But I know him." the brunette quickly replied, frowning her eyebrow and smiling playfully.

"How much do you know about him?"

"I know a few things. For example, he's... ruggedly handsome." her hand slid to his leg, as she looked into his eyes.

"Oh." he replied, watching her moves closely. "Anything else you know about him?"

"He's smart, strong, unbelievably sexy..." she took her hand from his leg and placed it on his face, touching it softly, then it slid to his ear, and her fingers played with the earlobe.

"That sounds good," he mumbled weakly, lost by her soft touch and the sparkle on her eyes as she looked at him. "And do you... love him?" he finally asked, not sure of what her answer would be. They were together. He had told her he loved her. But she hadn't. He understood why. But he wanted to hear it.

"I-" Yes. She should have said yes immidientely, without even thinking. But she didn't, and the moment was interrupted by a cellphone. Why were they always interrupted.

"Sorry," he whispered, losing the eye contact as she took her hand from his ear and placed it on her own lap. "It's mine."

"That's alright," she smiled lightly. "I need to get back to the case anyways."

"It's Alexis. She's out of town." he kept staring at her, somehow still saying he was sorry.

"Aren't you going to get it?"

"Uh, yes, of course."

He got up, and answered the call. His daughter's voice made him smile, as Beckett's attention got back to the board. That moment was magical to her, but she still had a killer to catch, and this wasn't easy. Jessica Lake. Murdered in her own house, asphyxiated by some guy, with his own hands. But he was smart, he attacked her in her sleep, and wore gloves. No one heard it. Neighbors didn't see anyone either. She didn't have enemies, or even close friends, lovers... and the only family she had were some cousins she didn't even speak to. And nothing seemed to make sense. Why would someone want her dead?

"Sorry about that." he replied, sitting next to Beckett again.

"That's alright. How's she?" Beckett looked away from the board, her eyes meeting Castle's as she watched his moves.

"Having fun with her friends. And my mom."

"Martha?" That wasn't definitely normal.

"I know, I can't believe it either. I still have no idea why Alexis agreed on taking her. But it seems like her friends find her grandma pretty cool." he said after a small laugh.

"Well, she is a cool person." she admitted, after laughing, too.

"Yeah. I'm cooler, though." his hand slid to her waist, as he smiled, and approached his face to hers. Their lips almost touched, but she pulled back.

"I'm sorry, Castle. I need to figure this out," she said, her face shouting forgiveness, as she looked away, back to the board again.

"It's late. We're even alone in the precinct. It's not normal." he pointed out. "Come over tonight. Some fun will do you good."

"I don't know..." Today she was acting tough. But he understood her reasons. He knew that cases like this always got her frustrated.

"Do you want me to beg you? Because I will." he joked.

"No need to." she replied after thinking for a couple of seconds. Maybe he was right. And she did love how he never gave up on her.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes." she looked back at him, a smile playing across her lips.

"Ice cubes?" he frowned his eyebrow playfully, his mind already full of naughty thoughts.

"Castle." she replied after rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, sorry."

They both got up, both smiling from ear to ear, like a very happily married couple. It was going to be a fun night. And he was glad he could take those thoughts out of her head. They had time to find the killer. But their desire couldn't wait.

"Good morning," Beckett walked in the precinct with a wide smile on her face, coffee in one hand, and Castle walking next to her, also with his coffee, of course.

"Morning boss." Esposito smiled back, somehow wondering what let her so happy. She did seem pretty frustrated before he left the precinct the day before. "Morning, Castle." he completed, shouting a challenging look to Castle.

"Any good news?" Ryan asked as he sat next to his table, frowning his eyebrow, quite curious about those smiles.

"No... why?" she asked, also confused with their reactions.

"Yesterday you seemed pretty furious." Esposito pointed out, right after her words.

"I was just frustrated about the case. But I'm sure you can get me good news today... right?"

"Yes indeed." Ryan smirked.

"The neighbors didn't hear a thing, but the woman from the store across the street said a suspicious group of men walked in the building around 9." Esposito said, always finishing his partner's theories, like Castle and Beckett did.

"And our victim was killed around 10..." Castle concluded.

"According to her, it seemed like they had escaped from a Mafia movie." a laugh escaped from Esposito's lips.

"Do you think she was in trouble with the Mafia?" Castle asked.

"Not sure."

"Was she able to see their faces?" Beckett asked, now excited about the fact that they finally had a lead to follow.

"She worked with our sketch artist and we got... this." Ryan picked up a paper from his desk, and handed it to Beckett, that grabbed it and took a quick look at it.

"Espo, see if anyone around the area saw this man." she handed him the sketch. "Ryan, I'm going to need you to check if there are any security cameras in the street, building or even in the store."

"On it, boss." Esposito quickly replied as Ryan nodded his head, and both got up, ready to work.

"Seems like we'll need the help of my Mafia friends." Castle laughed a little, and Beckett looked at him, shouting a serious look. "Sorry."