Typical message: Disclaimer: I don't own Castle

Thank you to everyone following and to the first review i had. Lucky for me they enjoyed it. You made my day (Cheesy? I know)

Chapter 2: The body

Arriving at the scene they see the illuminous yellow tape that surrounds where the crime took place. Looming trees shade the area, preventing the sun from reaching the trail that winds through the large park.

Ahh, CSU are already here. Good. Kate surveys the bustling bodies that swarm around.

"You Beckett!" A accented voice calls out. "Over here." Kate turns her head and spots the hand that is currently waving in the air. Nudging Castle, she points over to Esposito and Ryan. They both head over.

"What we got?" Kate gets right done to business.

"We don't know yet. Lanie is still checking it out but it may take a bit. Whoever did this had no remorse and is one sick bastard."

Esposito shivers at the memory of the body.

"None of them ever do. Where's Lanie?"

"Over there." Esposito points over his shoulder to the group that are currently preventing Kate from seeing the state of the body. Nodding, she grabs Castle and drags him over. She hears Castle muttering under his breath. Another case. Horrible. Maybe i'll put this in the book. Shaking her head she leaves him to his muttering.

Pushing through the group, she takes one look before gagging. shielding her eyes from the view she tries to recover. To her right, Castle stands there with a shocked expression on his face. After a couple of seconds he twists as well, placing a hand on Kate's back before saying "Jeez, by playing a game, he literally meant play a game."

Sometimes i question the human race and their capability of caring. Castle thinks.

Kate turns back and forces herself to look at the body.

A blanket of leaves lay under the pale remains. The vibrant green of the summers essence makes the blue tinge that taints the body stand out like a piece of white paper on top of a black screen. The dried blood stains the surrounding leaves. The crusty black residue covers various points on the corpses body. Any clothes that were on her body lay strewn across the trail, ripped and shredded into pieces.

Upon looking at her stomach, the sight sickens Kate. A game of noughts and crosses has been carved into the flesh of her stomach. The smooth cuts indicates a knife where as the empty holes that resemble the noughts seem to have been made by a circular object. One that is sharp and looks like a cylinder. A large pencil? Spike? I don't know.

Dragging her eyes from the mess that is her stomach, Kate's eyes lead themselves to the john doe's arms. A message written in blood trails up her left arm. PLAY TIME. That sick son of a bitch. Glancing towards the hands, she spots a piece of paper sticking out of her hand. She'll have to let CSU investigate it as it may be a clue.

The legs have more scratches on them. Each one joining to another almost like a cruel picture. On the right ankle a Rose of red has been painted, whoever did this is has a history of art. A small message swirls around the rose in a deadly spiral. As she doesn't want to get too close, she'll ask the unit later.

On the left leg, a circle with streaks of black leading from it can be found. It looks like a spider. Itsy bitsy spider climbing up the spout down came the rain and washed the spider out pops into her head. Wait, nursery rhymes? Who is this guy? The thought of someone thinking this is a game is sickening.

A hand on her arm causes her to jump. Hazel-green eyes meet worried blue as there gazes meet. "Beckett, you might want to see this part." Castle whispers, worry and shock in his tone. Kate notices a slight tremble in his voice. This is bad.

Castle points to above the head. The woman's eyes lay in a message. At the beginning there is a glassy white ball that is no longer considered an eye. Her eyes dance over it and come upon more letters. S-P-Y-W-I-T-H-M-Y-L-I-T-T-L-E and then there is the second eyeball. EYE SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE! What the hell?. However, it seems the next part is what caused Castle to worry. By the left ear, it says the words that she never wants to see at a homicide. I'll be there soon, Kate Beckett. Watch out.

Her eyes widen and she twists on her heel quickly, fleeing from the scene.

Castle

He watches her go. He can't believe this guy. When i find him, I'm gonna kill him. He means it. Castle looks at Lanie and can tell she feels the same. Her eyes are begging Castle to go after her, so he does.

Five minutes later, Castle approaches the silhouette, the woman that is hunched over on the bench.

"Kate." He whispers gently as not to scare her. Castle watches her head whip round and winces at the speed and power she did it with. Kate relaxes as she recognises the voice and the cerulean eyes that are watching her carefully.

"Hey." It comes out no more than a whisper and Castle has to lean closer to hear it.

"Kate, come on, I'm taking you home."

"No!" The word comes out harsher than she thought. Softening her tone she says "I need to find the bastard that did this before he does it again. Give me a few moments and I'll be ready."

"I can't do that Kate. The next person he does this too could be you Kate. I can't live with myself if i let you get obsessed with finding this guy and getting killed for it. Do you honestly want to end up like that poor girl? Killed with no remorse?"

"No but the quicker we catch him, the quicker the threat will be over. Don't you get it?" Kate answers.

"I get it but think about everyone. The guys, Lanie, your dad, friends, family, everyone around you. How would they feel if they woke one morning to find you dead? They love you Kate. You play a large part in their lives so don't throw it away." Castle pleas for her to get it.

"Okay. Fine. I get it Castle." Yes, she understands.

"Good, now come on. You're staying with me."

"No Castle, I'll be fine."

"Stop being so stubborn. I need to know you are safe. Do you want me to get Gates on you? Or would you prefer the wrath of my mother and daughter combined?" He smirks as he watches Kate's eyes widen.

"Let me grab some clothes and that and we'll head over." YES! Mission completed.

"Sure, let me call Esposito and that and tell them you're okay."

"Okay, let's go and Castle, thank you."

"Always." He answers without hesitation.

On the way to the car, Castle whips out his phone and dials Esposito.

"Hey Bro, heard about the message. Is Beckett okay?"

"Yes, she's fine. Esposito, can you tell Gates that i am taking Kate to my home and to get a high security detail put on Kate."

"Sure Bro. Anything."

"Thanks and can you let Lanie know that Kate is okay."

"Yup, see ya when we have some news on the case."

"Bye." Castle hangs up and glances at Kate. He notices that she didn't make a sound when he mentioned security detail. Jeez, this case must have freaked her out a lot.

"Hey Kate, can i drive?" He hopes saying this can awaken Kate from her current state.

"Yeah, sure." Blue eyes widen like saucers. Castle's eyes stay trained on her hand as she puts the keys into his hand and walks to the passenger side. Normally, he would make a big deal and do a happy dance but not now, now isn't the time. Now is the time to make sure Beckett is okay.

Clambering into the driver's side, he watches sneakily at his partner who has her head tilted against the translucent sheet known as glass. The blank look on her face breaks his heart. Castle can tell she is rebuilding her walls and he can't let that happen so he presses his foot down on the accelerator.

Speeding to her apartment, Kate lifts her head from the window and frowns. When did we get here?

Almost as if reading her mind. Castle answers "About a minute ago."

"Oh, well, I'm going to get my stuff. Be right back."

"Nu-uh, I'm coming with you."

He watches as she tries to protest but butts in before she can say anything. "Estoy contigo."

Questioning eyes look at him. Smirking he says "It mean I'm with you."

Sighing, Kate can see the determination on his face and gives in. I'm really losing my head if I'm giving in this easily.

Smiling, his trademark grin covers his face as he scrambles for the door handle and races up to her apartment with Kate trailing behind. When she reaches the door, Castle is leaning against the wall with an exasperated look on his face. "Come on."

Shooting him a glare, she places her key in the lock and twists. Pushing the door open, Kate steps in and heads for the bedroom. With an excited expression on his face, Castle looks around. He hasn't been in her apartment many times so he always steals the chance if it arises. His eyes scan every detail. The large bookshelf, the tattered sofa that lays in the middle of the room. The kitchen bar and the little doorway that leads into the kitchen. Not many pictures are on the walls, he guesses that most of them were probably burned in the fire.

It isn't long before Kate re-appears with a large duffel bag in her hands. Grabbing the handles, Castle holds out his free arm for her to take. After a few moments, he feels the small warm hands engulf his biceps. Smiling down at her, he walks out of her apartment but waits as she locks the door.

Kate links their arms again and they head off towards his apartment. Together.