Chapter 3: Why Not?

'Good morning! How may I help you two?' A man in his early 20's said to Beckett and Castle as they walked up the reception desk. And as she always does, Beckett pulled out her badge from her coat pocket.

'Hi, I'm Detective Beckett and this is-' And as on a regular basis, she was cut off.

'-Richard Castle? I'm Vic sir, Victor Sykes' he held his hand out to which Castle grabbed back and shook, 'pleasure to meet you uh, sir. I've read all your books - your a really good author, sir.' His words arrived fast and together, he looked nervous.

'Oh well thanks kid.' Castle grinned at him, then at Beckett who rolled her eyes at him.

'Oh, right, yeah uhm, what could I do for you detective?' He still looked nervous.

'We're investigating a murder.'

'Oh my god, who died?'

'Amanda Harrison, do you know her?' Castle intercepted. He liked asking the questions. The look on Vic's face told them that yes, he did know her. His face went dead, expressionless.

'Oh no. Oh god. That can't be.'

'So yeah, you knew her?' Castle could be so blunt sometimes.

'W-w-well, of course I did, everyone here did. Sh-she's play's Carmen.' Beckett looked to Castle with a questioning look on her face as if to say Who the hell is Carmen? But he just shrugged at her, he was looking as puzzled as her. They both looked back at him.

'Carmen?' Beckett asked.

'Carmen - basically the lead, in Fame? Don't you go to the theatre?'

'She's a cop, she doesn't get out much, and I just don't remember theatre characters names. But Fame's playing at the moment, that's awesome!' Castle got out his phone, texting his mother or daughter Kate supposed.

'Castle!' She whispered to him, slightly threateningly.

'Oh right, sorry.'

'I have to go tell our stage manager, he has to call in her understudy.' Victor went to leave but Beckett stopped him in his tracks.

'Where were you between the hours of 10pm last night and 1am this morning?' Vic's face was shocked as all hell.

'Wait, are you suspecting me of murder?'

'You know most actors would love to be suspected of murder. The thrill, method acting, tell the story of how dramatic it was.' Kate shot him an ice cold look that made him stop talking instantly.

'I'm not an actor sir, nor do I work the reception. I do the lighting but I'm just filling in at reception til Sarah gets here. Our usual receptionist.'

'Answer the question, Victor.' Beckett was stern.

'Uhm, I was at home, so like, can I go now?'

'Can anyone vouch for you?'

'Yeah, my roommate Jaime. Here, I'll give you his number, or whatever.'

Victor gave Beckett Jaime's number and they left.

-x-

'What?'

'Hmm?'

'What's so fascinating about watching me do paperwork? Don't you have somewhere to be?' She didn't hate him watching her, she liked him being there. But what annoyed her is she didn't know why he found it so fascinating.

'No.' Time passed and Castle began to speak again. 'Lanie told me.'

'Lanie... Told you what exactly?' She didn't want him to know that it was her mothers birthday, but at the same time, she did.

'That it's your mother's birthday.' He spoke very serious and with such sincerity. She looked up at him, with sad eyes.

'Beckett, may I have a word?' Captain Montgomery poked his head out his office to call her in.

'Saved by the bell.' She faked a smile and stood, making her way to Montgomery's office.

'Yes sir?' She spoke as she closed the door behind her.

'I understand if you want to take the day off today.'

'No sir, I'm quite capable of working today.'

'Fine, I'm ordering you take the day off. You never take time off work so here's an opportunity. Now go home and have some you time.'

'Sir I don't need-'

'-Go. Esposito and Ryan have got this.

'Thankyou sir.'

Kate made her way over to her desk, quickly grabbing her coat off her chair and throwing it over her shoulder, exiting to the elevator.

-x-

Knock, knock.

Kate made her way over to the door and opened it to the beaming face of Castle.

'Hey Castle.' Her voice was shaky but she didn't care.

'Hey.' His smile slowly disappeared when he noticed how unstable her voice sounded.

'Wanna come in?'

'Sure, yeah.' He entered and she went and shut the door behind him.

'Coffee?'

'No thanks, just had one.' He offered her a small smile. She motioned for him to sit down on the couch, and he did. Kate went and joined him on his left side.

'You know, I lied before. I have been to the theatre, that theatre.' She didn't look at him as she spoke.

'Yeah?' She looked to him.

'Exactly 11 years ago today.' She noticed her voice slightly trembled as she spoke and she hoped Castle hadn't noticed.

'I was 18, and I had recently learned that her secret love was the theatre from dad. So on her birthday I took her to Broadway. We saw Fame and it was amazing. It was one of the best nights of my life.'

Her voice slightly started to falter on those last few words and Castle had realised. He placed a hand on the small of her back and lightly rubbed it. He moved it up to wrap his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. She rested her head on his chest and brought her left arm up and around his neck. Kate's lip began to quiver and as hard as she tried, she couldn't fight the tears that started to fall, or the ragged sobs that came with it. Castle brought his other arm around her and tightened her into his embrace, kissing the top of her head lightly.

After a while Kate spoke up though still sobbing, head still buried in Castles chest.

'Hey, Castle?'

'Hey, yeah?' His voice was so gentle and caring.

'Thank you. You didn't have to come over or do this.'

'But I wanted to.' She looked up at him then and couldn't help the smile that filled her face, or the redness in her cheeks that followed. She averted his gaze and re-buried her head in his chest.

They had later migrated around the apartment, Beckett leaning on the counter top and Castle leaning on the couch. Beckett shared stories with Castle about her mother. Some were funny, some were of how amazing she was at her job, but every story Kate identified her mother as a hero, a role model. By the end of it, Castle missed Johanna Beckett, and he'd never even met her - but the way that Kate tells a story, it's like you knew her.

' 'Life never delivers anything we can't handle' she use to say, she called it Johanna's Immutable Law of the Universe or something.' The both chuckled.

'So where's your dad this evening?'

'Oh he's out of town, probably drunk somewhere. He didn't take her death to easy.'

'Your amazing.' Oh crap, that wasn't meant to come out. Castle thought.

'What?' Kate was faintly blushing. I've already said it, not much I can do now, might as well go with the flow he thought to himself.

'I said, your amazing. But it wasn't meant to be said, I was just thinking it and it came out.' Castle blushed big time, and looked away.

'Your the amazing one.' His head snapped up to look at her blushing face.

'Me? How?'

'You just are. I mean, you came over here and comforted me. And you made me happy and made me laugh on a day I'd usually be moping around all day. In fact, not just today - everyday. At work, you make everything bearable and fun. I can't remember what it was like working without you. You truly are amazing.'

Kate freaked out in that moment, had I really just said that? She had feelings for him, but he couldn't know that. She was so afraid to love him, but she didn't know why. He was perfect but she thought that maybe she was just another one of her conquests, just another person to sleep with. He was madly in love with her, but he couldn't let her know. If she didn't feel the same way then things would be awkward. I really should just go for it he thought.

They both realised at the same time they had been staring at each other for a good minute now.

Castle spoke up first averting his gaze to anywhere but her.

'Well, I uhm, should go you need your rest... Or you.. Want some, alone time...'

'Oh, yeah well I mean you don't have to go... Unless you have somewhere to be?' I don't want him to go she thought herself.

'Huh, no I don't have anywhere to be.' He offered her a smile and received one in response.

'Good, because I don't want you to go' Kate whispered every so lowly, hoping that he only heard the first bit.

'What?' Did he just hear her right? 'Did you just say...-' Oh what the hell thought Beckett.

'-That I didn't want you to go? Yeah...' She spoke so softly, still looking anywhere but him, lightly biting her lip. She looked to him shyly, a smile playing on her lips.

'I didn't really want to leave.. I just thought you might've wanted me to go.' He was happy he didn't have to go.

'Oh, no. Can I ask you something, Castle?' Oh god, oh crap what's she gonna ask? Castle started to freak out, but kept his cool.

'Of course, Detective.' He raised an eyebrow and pouted playfully.

'I mean it's stupid, and I mean you don't have to..'

'What is it?'

'Would you... Would you stay tonight, with me? I mean just for support... I just, don't want to be alone tonight. '

'Yeah, o-of course - sure.' Kate cheeks were red once again as Rick gave her one of his award-winning smiles.

-x-