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When Kate finally got out to her father cabin it was around 10pm. She'd ended up packing, picking at some food, and then charging off on her bike. She was going to be very minimalist out at the cabin and so she had packed lightly.

She quickly texted Lanie to let her know she had arrived safely, then took her gear off the bike and went inside to set up.

It had been almost a year since she had been out here but her father often came out over weekends to go fishing. In fact, it was likely that he would find her up here this weekend, so she'd only have a day to really get her shit together. Her Dad didn't know about everything that was going on and she didn't want to worry him.

Everything was just as it always was, cosy and quiet, cool and calm. The heat seemed to be working though, so that was a plus. If there was anything wrong with the heating tonight, the crying would certainly start earlier.

Speaking of crying, Kate had been having a rather large crying jag almost every evening and it was almost always entirely Castle related. She felt that by now she should be all cried out. She'd only ever cried this much once before and that had been her mother, which she still occasionally cries about. It seemed an impossible thing that the people you love most are the ones that hurt you the most. Considering that twice, these crying jags had happened whilst sleeping on the break room couch, it was probably the right time to be having some time out from the depressing things.

Having no energy for anything but a shower Kate got her pyjamas took a scolding shower and then crawled into her bed, too tired to even cry.

Castle had spent a good hour after Kate had left frowning at the empty murder board. He had been so consumed with dealing with his own pain he hadn't been watching Kate like he used to. Afraid that he'd missed the signs he tried to recall anything that might have given away how Kate was feeling before the look of devastation he had seen creep between the cracks of her heavily guarded facade.

He knew that he had been quite flippant and even indifferent, but he hadn't meant it. He'd be trying to hide his pain and he needed time to be mad. He hadn't stopped to think that this would hurt her the way her behaviour indicated that it had. Unless there was something more serious going on.

What if Kate had been trying to tell him something serious when he kept blowing her off for that dumb blonde. He would be lying if he said he wasn't slightly pleased with the fact that he'd upset her a bit with that, but she didn't care about him, was probably only worried about who would entertain her.

His musing wasn't helping him feel better. He couldn't turn the switch off, was fairly sure he was the cause of the mini break down he'd just been a witness to. He could see the pain in her eyes, the anger that she was feeling towards him. If she didn't care why was she so hurt? Perhaps he really was a fool.

Gates was startled as Castle burst into her office suddenly and without warning. He was panting and looked panicked. She lowered her glasses to stare at him and he swallowed. "Captain, Sir, umm, how long is Kate going to be out?"

"Mr Castle, is there a reason you are parading around my precinct like a road runner?"

"I'm sorry, but this might be very important!" he tells her desperately.

Gates, sits up straight and stares him down before replying, "I gave her as long as she needs, Mr Castle, perhaps you should too," she tells him disapprovingly.

"Sir?" he questions.

"You've turned my people into emotional wrecks Mr Castle, it isn't conducive to getting the job done and I don't need crying detectives! Now, I don't know what exactly is going on here but don't think that I don't see some of the shit that goes on out there," she points to the bullpen. "You're an excellent investigator Mr Castle, but you're a selfish man and for all the shadowing you do, you wouldn't know what was really going on if I yelled it in your face!" Gates finished, dismissing him silently by turning back to her work.

Castle was stunned as he left Gates office. What the hell was going on. Even Gates was shitty with him. What had he missed? Kate was the one who'd ripped HIS heart out! He needed to talk to Lanie.