Chapter 2

It's nearly midnight. Castle and I have been sitting on the couch, with some stupid reality TV show on in the background. We've just been talking, thinking, and remembering the good times we had together. The good times with Martha, with Alexis, with Lanie, Esposito and Ryan. And with Captain Montgomery.

'Do you remember the day when I was in the back with my mother, and I was bored so I phoned you,' Castle said. I smile and reply:

'Of course I remember! How could I ever forget the next thing you said to me?!'

'What? What do you mean? What did I say?!'

I turn away. How could he have forgotten that? That moment burned through my heart from the second it left his lips. And the scar it left was the most beautiful, stunning scar you could ever imagine.

I can feel tears coming to eyes. I walk over to the window. It starts at the floor and ends at the ceiling. There's such a beautiful view across New York. You can the empire State Building, with the Statue of Liberty in the distance. I have always loved New York. There's so much going on; you can never get tired.

Castle slowly eases himself off the couch. He heads over to me, a concerned look in his eyes.

'Kate? What's wrong? Was it something I said?'

I squeeze my eyes tight shut. I'm trying to block the whole world out. I can't cry here, in front of Rick. I clench my fists, trying harder and harder not to let my tears flow out. It's getting tougher and tougher to keep this up.

I can feel Castle putting a hand on my shoulder. I can feel him looking, searching my face for any sign of what's going on. I can feel him pulling me into a hug. Suddenly, I can't hold the tears back any more. I open my eyes a crack and find myself clinging onto his soaked shirt.

'I'm sorry Castle, I…'

'It's ok Kate, it's gonna be fine.' I take a deep breath.

'Thanks, Rick.' I smile and loosen my grip on his shoulder. He supports me, half carrying me back over to the sofa.

The second we sit down, the doorbell rings.

'I'll go see who that is.' Castle states.

'Thanks Rick, for everything.' He smiles and responds:

'Always.'

I can see him head over to the doorway. I rest my head against the sofa, drawing round the patterns on the cushions with my index finger. The flow of tears on my face has reduced slightly now.

'Hey Castle, how are you holding up?' I recognise that voice instantly. It's my best friend, Lanie. Why would she be here, of all people? 'I was wondering if you know where Kate is. She's not home and she's not picking up her mobile.' Oh crap, I must have left it on silent.

'Uhh... well. I'm ok. Yeah. Um… she's in here if you wanna come in.' he glances at me to see if that ok with me. I shrug with a small shake of my head. It's too late though, Lanie is already taking her jacket off and is inside.

She stops when she sees me.

'Kate?!'

She starts madly running with one shoe slipping off her foot.

She pulls me into a huge bear hug.

'Ohmygoshwhathappenedareyouok ?!'

I smile and wipe away some of my tears. 'Yeah. I'm… I'm alright.'

'Oh good! I was so worried when you weren't at your home and then you didn't pick up your phone. I thought something terrible had happened to you and I was just, like, about to call Espo and then…'

I give the stop, not now, not here look.

Castle comes over from where he has been standing, watching by the door.

'Would anyone like a drink?'

'No, I'm ok thanks. What about you Kate?' Lanie says quickly.

'Just a glass of water please, Castle.' I smile and look away before he can meet my eyes. Lanie senses that there's something not quite right. She takes a step back and watches us for a minute. Castle brings the drink over to the couch. I look away before he can give it to me. He takes the hint and puts it down on the table.

'Ok, what's going on here between you two?' she looks from Castle, to me and back again to Castle. 'There's something not right.'

She walks over to Rick and studies his face, knowing that his will be easier to read than mine. He turns away from Lanie, flinching at her gaze. She gives up with him and comes over to me. I walk away, back to the window where I was earlier.

Lanie heads back to the centre of the room, so that she can see both of us. She looks genuinely confused.

'What were you guys doing before I got here?' Castle is quick to reply:

'How's that relevant?'

'This isn't a court, things are neither relevant or not. They just are.' Lanie retorts.

'There you go then. Then just are. Happy?' Castle is getting annoyed now.

'Get real. I want to know what's really going on here.' Lanie bites back at him.

'Well good luck finding that one out.'

'Thanks, but I don't think I need luck.'

'Really? Oh, you wanna bet?!'

'I got money. I bet fifty.'

'I got a hundred.'

'I got five hundred.' They are right next to each other, screaming in each other's ears now.

'I got one thousand. And plenty more where that came from.'

'Ok.'

'Ok then.' Castle finishes it.

They walk away from each other.

I slowly walk over to Lanie. I whisper in her ear.

'Look, you know you're my best friend, but could you just give Castle a little space now.'

'Yeah sure. I'll get out.' She screams. She heads towards the door glaring a Castle's back. She slams it shut. Castle is standing by the fridge. Eyes closed. Fists clenched. Fast, short breaths.

I put a cooling hand on his shoulder. He jumps like he didn't realise where he was. He shakes my hand off him. I try to hold him still, he's shaking madly. I put a hand on each of his shoulders. He shouts, turns around and punches me in the face. Then he grabs my arm and uses it to propel me through the air to the other side of the room. I scream and fall to the floor. Everything slowly goes black.