Genre: Romance, Family, Humor

Rating: M for sexual situations

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.

A/N #1: Want to say that I'm not a police officer or detective, so not sure what the paperwork for the end of a case is like, so I just tried to be vague with that, but wanted to mention it in case of any mistakes.

A/N #2: Should add here that I'm not a medical doctor; sorry to go back to saying this after repeating it in Beware of Darkness, but I just want to make sure my readers and any new readers are aware.

A/N #3: Want to say thank you to Anon Reader for your review, really happy to see the first chapter interested you enough to want to see how things will go. I appreciate reading what you thought and knowing that you read too!

A/N #4: The title of this chapter is from the song Mr. Bellamy by Paul McCartney from his album Memory Almost Full.

A/N #5: Please don't flame this story, 'cause I know it's not really the best. But I hope that readers might leave a positive review. Thank you in advance if you do!

Strange Of Late

Reading over the last paper in her hand, Beckett quickly signed her name at the bottom when someone sat in the chair next to her desk. She looked up and said, "You're late Castle."

"Sorry, but I swear I was trying to get in on time," Castle joked, smiling as she handed him the pen she was holding. He hurriedly signed the paper where she indicated and said, "Good morning though Detective Beckett."

"Morning," Beckett replied absently as she flipped through the papers in the file in the middle of her desk.

"Which case is that?" Castle asked, not surprised that she was focusing on the paperwork.

"Our last one," Beckett said, stifling a yawn. "By the way, no coffee?"

"I was late, so I figured it would be a lot a better to just make it here," Castle said. "You didn't have any with breakfast?"

"Forgot to make some, I was running a little late myself," Beckett said.

"Well, that's pretty understandable, you have a daughter," Castle said.

"And you do too, yet you're a lot later than I was. Now how does that happen exactly Mr. Castle?" Beckett said teasingly to him as she looked up from the first paper she needed to fill out in the file.

Castle started to open his mouth to reply to that, but then a confused look spread across his face and he glanced at Beckett, seeing she looked bemused as well. "It doesn't make sense does it?" he said.

"Not really," Beckett said, shaking her head. "But at least you made it before noon."

"I wouldn't be that late," Castle said, watching as she started to write on the paper in front of her. "Speaking of daughters; how's Julia?" He was a little surprised when Beckett's expression became a little guarded and he said, "Nightmare?"

"Yeah," Beckett said with a sigh, looking up from the paper as she was distracted. "That makes it the fourth one this week."

"What is it she's dreaming about?" Castle asked.

Beckett didn't reply for a moment, and then said, "I'd prefer not to say really."

"Sure," Castle replied easily, knowing she didn't want to really think about the nightmares her daughter was having. "So what was the trip today at camp?"

"The zoo and the Natural History Museum," Beckett said with a smile. "So she was obviously excited to go."

"Did she want you to go too?" Castle said. He smiled when Beckett nodded and said, "You should take her this weekend if we're lucky and don't get another case before five today."

"I'm hoping we don't," Beckett said. "I feel like I've been almost ignoring her with these three past cases. But that reminds me, I actually told her that she could pick one of those places to go to on Saturday and I would take her."

"Sounds like it'll be fun. I'm going to guess it'll be the museum though," Castle said as he signed the paper she handed to him then.

"Probably. But she mentioned she wanted to ask if you and Alexis would come with us," Beckett said, glancing around to make sure their co-workers weren't close enough to hear. "And I wanted to ask you both to come over for dinner tonight if you can."

"I don't have any plans," Castle said. "I think Alexis might have a party to go to tonight though, I'll give her a call."

"Great," Beckett said, setting aside the first paper. "How is she doing by the way?"

"Not bad, she still feels guilty she didn't go back to her internship this summer, but I told her she should take a short vacation at least before she starts her second year," Castle replied.

"How'd she like LA?" Beckett asked a little absentmindedly, writing in the form she was filling out.

"She loved it, said there are some really great museums there. And she loved Disneyland too," Castle said. "She saw a lot of Stitch stuff, reminded her of Julia."

Smiling down at the paper Becket said, "I imagine it would. I should take Julia there one day while she's still young."

"Yeah, Alexis said she probably would love it," Castle said. He watched his girlfriend for a moment and then frowned as he noticed something. "Kate," he said, his voice low as he leaned towards her. "Are you okay?"

"What?" Beckett asked, looking up at him in surprise.

"You look exhausted, and really pale," Castle said.

"Pale?" Beckett said in slight confusion. "I'm fine, might be the lighting in here."

"Maybe," Castle said doubtfully. "But have you gotten much sleep this week?"

"Some," Beckett said, trying to be nonchalant as she picked up the file that held the papers for the first case. "But I'm fine, just really should have made coffee at my place."

"I can get some for you since I'm not doing anything right now," Castle said, standing up. "I could use some myself."

"Well, if you wanted me to get some you could file this away…" Beckett said in jest, holding up the file.

"That's alright," Castle said quickly. "I'll be right back."

Shaking her head with a slight smile on her face, Beckett called after him, "I'll take it as strong as you can make it," before he disappeared into the break room. She then looked down at her desk and glanced at the framed picture she had placed there three months before when she had returned to work after adopting Julia. She had taken her daughter to Coney Island since the little girl had never been there before. They had gone on some rides and played in the arcade before she'd taken Julia to the beach where they walked on the sand. It was a much happier walk than the one she'd taken with her father after her mother's funeral. She and Julia had picked up shells and a little sand, filling a bowl back at home and placing it in the center of the table, it reminded her of the little stick man she and her father had made during their time on the same beach, but it evoked a lot more positive emotions which she wanted desperately for her daughter. When they'd gone back up to the park she'd taken Julia into a photo booth and they'd taken four pictures together, which she'd copied and brought to work to set on her desk.

Smiling at the pictures, Beckett stood up and grabbed the file for the second case before she left her desk. She walked to the room where all the paperwork for recent cases was stored, and then headed back to her desk, checking her watch for the time. She was startled it was almost noon, and as she came down the stairs she debated if she wanted to wait for lunch that way she could get further with the paperwork for the last case.

As she took a step away from the staircase, Beckett suddenly felt as if she had missed a step; though the floor was perfectly even; and grabbed the brick of the wall next to her to keep from falling. She shook her head at that and started to walk again, going over to her desk. But before she could get past the entrance to the room, a wave of dizziness went through her, and she knew something was seriously wrong as everything in front of her was spinning relentlessly. She heard a heavy sigh of air, and before she realized it was coming from her, her eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she collapsed to the startled yells of the officers that had been walking past her.

In the break room Castle was almost finishing with Beckett's cup of coffee when Ryan came in and started to fill his mug. "Any new cases?" he asked.

"No, which is great, I think we deserve a vacation after those last three," Ryan said, fixing his coffee.

"I wish bro," Esposito said, coming into the room then and getting some coffee himself. "Where's Beckett? I thought we had to sign the papers for the last case."

"She went to file the paperwork for the first case," Castle said, looking out at Beckett's desk and seeing she wasn't back. "She's taking her time I guess."

It was then there were a couple of shouts outside, and the three men looked out to see a group of detectives and officers by the stairs.

"What happened?" Ryan said as Esposito went out.

"Someone just passed out," the detective called back into the break room. He spoke to a passing officer and then turned saying, "Shit, it's Beckett."

At that, Castle dropped the mug of coffee he was holding and ran out of the room with Ryan following. He pushed through the people and saw that Esposito was right, it was Beckett and an officer with a first aid kit next to him was waving a packet underneath her nose. He kneeled down as she started to cough, opening her eyes and looking a little confused. "Kate, are you alright?" he asked apprehensively.

"What? Yeah, I… what happened?" Beckett said, looking around and seeing people standing around her. She started to sit up, brushing off Castle's attempt to stop her.

"You fell all of a sudden," Officer Hastings said. "Are you hurt?"

"No," Beckett said, looking down at her hands and moving her limbs slightly to see if she had any injuries.

"Your head?" Castle asked as some people started to part in front of them.

"No, it's fine," Beckett said before Captain Gates walked through the group to them.

"What the hell is going on here?" Gates said.

"Detective Beckett fainted sir," Hastings said quickly.

"Is that right?" Gates asked, looking at the detective who Castle was helping to stand.

"I'm assuming Sir, I don't remember what happened after coming down the stairs," Beckett said truthfully.

"Alright, I think you need to head to the hospital Beckett, you do not look well," Gates said, studying her face.

"Sir, I'm-" Becket began to say in protest.

"No arguments Detective," Gates said. "Mr. Castle, can you take her to the hospital, drag her if you need to. I don't need one of my detectives collapsing on the job." When he started to open his mouth she quickly said, "I can make that an order."

"Yes sir," Castle said. He followed Beckett as she walked through the space the crowd made for her, and glanced back, seeing that the people that had been standing around her were dispersing. They were alone so he quickly turned to his girlfriend and whispered, "You sure you're okay?"

"Apparently not as much as I thought I was," Beckett said as she pressed the button for the elevator. "I feel fine now honestly."

"Better you check," Castle said once they were in the car; alone; and heading down to the street level.

"You really don't need to take me," Beckett said.

"What?" Castle said, half surprised by that statement.

"It looked like you were going to say no to Gates," Beckett said, a little startled by his tone of voice.

"Actually I was going to agree to what she said, she just interrupted me," Castle said. "But better she thought I was going to say that."

"True," Beckett said with a slight nod. She sighed and rubbed her forehead saying, "I really don't need this now. What if I'm seriously ill? They might take Julia from me."

"I don't think you're that sick, you definitely wouldn't be walking if that was the case," Castle said, trying to mask his own fear that she was right. "But we'll let the doctor check you out."

Beckett merely nodded, her thoughts focusing on what was wrong with her health and why she had been dealing with fatigue and dizziness for the past few days. She couldn't fight her terror that she was sicker than she was trying to convince herself she was. And was terrified that she would lose custody of Julia if she seriously ill. She tried to fight that thought, but she couldn't stop it from resurfacing as Castle hailed a cab for them. She only hoped, as they were soon in the back of a taxi and headed for the hospital she and Julia went to, that it wasn't something she couldn't fight and that Julia would stay with her. She looked at Castle when he grabbed her hand, and she returned his brief smile before she leaned against him slightly, thinking to herself repeatedly that she was going to recover for her daughter's sake so she could reach the end of the six month probationary period and become Julia's mother fully. Knowing what she was working towards relieved her alarm slightly, and she felt determination set in, focusing on getting seeing her doctor out of the way to get to that afternoon when she could see her daughter again.