Sorry that I took so long to update, I've been kind of busy with school and all. I'll try to post the next chapter soon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 3

She cleared her throat, "Hi."

"Uh-hi," he murmured, still in shock for the most part. It was only when the visitor looked at him expectantly, did he remember his manners not to mention pick his jaw up off the floor. "Oh, sorry. Come in detective."

Beckett stepped tentatively in. She didn't speak to or see Rick in a month and after the conversation with Lanie she realized how silly she was being.

He closed the door before walking over to where Kate stood. Neither said anything, that was until Castle broke the silence. "So how have you been?" he asked, his blue eyes piercing Kate's own. Her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest at any moment. She had to tear away from his intense gaze. She could already feel herself crumbling.

Staring at the ground which had become interesting all of a sudden, she stated simply, "Good... How about you?"

He was about to reply when a "gotcha!" came from the second floor followed by a giggle. The voice Kate knew, it was Alexis- but the giggle? It sounded like that of an infant and-

Her eyes snapped to the man across from her and she fixed him with a glare. Not the death glare (she was saving that one) but one telling him to spill all the while accusing him.

"So I've been great and what brings you here?" Castle said quickly, clearly trying to avoid the upcoming subject.

Beckett didn't regard his attempt. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Castle pretended to think it over, "Umm...no." The high-pitched 'no' told her otherwise.

"Okay, then is there something I should know?" He could pick up the bitterness in her tone, it was hard not to miss.

This time he responded straight away, "Nope, I don't think so."

Beckett had just started and already she had had it. She gave him her best death glare and could see him squirm uncomfortably. She spoke in the tone she used for interrogating criminals, "What we heard a moment ago was the sound of a child, correct?" Castle nodded rapidly. "And we can also agree that a month ago that child wasn't here, correct?"

Castle gulped, "Correct."

"Now let's cut the crap okay? Is the child yours?"

"Of course," he scoffed, "I thought it was obvious. I mean she didn't get her eyes from her mother and definitely not her wits. I don't call the woman a deep fried twinkie for noth-"

"No, the other one!" Kate almost yelled. Weeks of anger from him leaving all rushing to the service. This couldn't be good.

"Oh, you mean?"

"Yes," she rolled her eyes, the end of the word drawn out in an almost hiss.

He shrugged. "Then yes, Kate."

Why was he being so nonchalant about this when she was seriously contemplating following through on all the threats she ever made him.

She said nothing but then as he was about to she spoke up. "Is this why you ended our partnership? Because you had a one night stand with some blonde bimbo, you hoped you didn't have to see again but then she hands you a child and you were too ashamed to tell me so you ran?" Typical Richard Castle, millionaire playboy author. Maybe she'd shoot the bimbo as well, teach her to keep her hands to herself. He was hers. Wait. What? He's not-

"What? Kate, no!" Castle said hastily. "There's no blonde bimbo and there isn't even a mother."

Now Kate was confused, "What? How could there be no mother?", and convinced he was lying to her. She felt a new wave of hurt, anger and betrayal wash over her.

"Castle usually when people are going through a midlife crisis they buy a Ferrari, jump out of a plane or something. Why couldn't you just do like everyone else for once? Castle you bought a kid!" Her voice had risen.

Wait, first he bought a kid and now she says he's going through a mid-life crisis? Back-track a second.

Just as he was about to his raise his voice to match her own, a timid yet clear voice came came from the stairwell. He turned to see Nate at the top, his tiny hands clinging to the gate which separated the two levels.

With Castle no longer blocking her view she could see where he was looking. She stared slack-jawed at the infant whose bright eyes were wide in question.

"Hi buddy. Go back to Lexi, okay?" Castle coerced. He turned to face Beckett again but she was gone. 'Dammit!' He sighed. "Lex watch your brother!" he yelled before darting through the open door and into the hallway. He entered just in time to see the elevator doors close. He mentally sore as he ran all the way back inside, pausing momentarily to slam the door behind him- and up the stairs, hopping over the gate. He swept up Nate who was still perched on the frame. He found Alexis sitting in the corridor. "Sweetie, can you put your brother to bed? I need to step out for a few minutes."

The girl looked up from her position on the floor, "Sorry dad. I've been trying to for a while now but he won't even stay still long enough for me to pick him up."

"Okay. Don't worry. We'll do it together but then you're going to have to hold down the fort." He helped her up with his free hand.

Castle managed to stumble out of his building nearly half an hour later and just in time to hail a taxi. The whole way he was working on autopilot. The journey to her place was a blur. It was only when he found himself knocking on her door did manual kick in. Now he found himself trying desperately to think of what to say.

The door cracked open and he opened his mouth to say something but when he saw that it wasn't Beckett who had answered the door, the words caught in his throat. Josh, Beckett's boyfriend, watched him from the other side of the door. He looked at the writer the way he always did, like he was a pest that needed to be gotten rid of.

"Doctor," was the only greeting Castle could muster.

"I thought you weren't shadowing Kate any more," Josh dead-panned.

Castle dug his fist into his side. He really didn't count on running into Motorcycle Boy. "I'm not."

"Well Kate's a little busy right now," he smiled slyly at the writer. The underlying meaning of the word clear to both of them.

Visually he remained stoic but inside was a whole different thing. He pivoted to face the lift, "Not that you were going to anyway but don't bother to tell her that I stopped by." With that he walked off.

Castle felt hurt. He felt hurt and stupid for coming there in the first place. It was like she had chosen Josh over him again. Really, why did he leave home to run after this woman who cared nothing for him? How dare she come in his home, make him feel like the bad guy and then run off, leaving him no choice but to run after her? He was always running after her. Always. He sighed. He was tired and just wanted to go home to his daughter and son. At least there he knew he was wanted...and loved.

"Bro, what did Castle do now?" Esposito mused aloud. He and Ryan were watching Beckett from the breakroom.

The detective had been on a war path from the moment she'd entered the precinct that morning, snapping and glaring at any and everyone. The two were weary of her wrath, having been on the receiving end at least once or twice and had opted to stay a safe distance away at least until she'd gotten over whatever was bothering her.

Ryan turned to his partner, "What do you mean?"

"Dude, seriously? There's only ever one reason why Beckett acts this way and it certainly isn't because of Motorcycle Boy."

There was a beat before Ryan asked, "Do you think this will be as bad as the last one?"

"Gosh, I hope not."

"Me too. We barely made it that one."

"True that."

"Maybe we should ask Castle what's going on," Ryan suggested.

"He hasn't spoken about Beckett since he left. At least not to us. We'd probably have better luck with Lanie."

"Call her"

"Tried, she's busy working on another case. I left a message though."

He sighed, "Until whatever this is blows over we're all screwed."

"Yup."

Javier was about to head to the espresso machine when Beckett's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Ryan and Esposito!" she called, not even looking up from the murder board. The pair looked at each other before scurrying out of the breakroom and over to the detective.

"Yes Boss," they said simultaneously.

"If you ladies are done gossiping, do you have anything new for me?"

Ryan began fidgeting so Espo spoke up, "Umm...yeah."

"What?"

"We talked to the one of the vic's friends and one of them recognized the blonde as 24 year old Rebecca Thompson. She used to hang with Radford when he was using."

"Do we have an address?"

"Uniforms are bringing her in right now."

"What about our mystery guy?"

"Tech ran the sketch of our guy through the database but we came up short. He's not in the system. We did however pick up Martinez."

"Who?"

"The guy who used to sell to our vic before he got clean. Mrs. Radford had threatened him to stay away her son, needless to say he didn't take the threat to well."

"Okay, well what are you waiting for? Go interview him." Ryan turned on his heels and hurried off, Esposito in tow.

Beckett sat at her desk. She had been musing over what happened the night before and now her head was pounding. After the feelings anger and betrayal began to ware of she felt ashamed for the way she acted, she didn't even give a chance to explain. He invited her into his home and in turn she accused and yelled at him. The guilt was eating her up and she couldn't talk to Lanie. Actually she could but she didn't want to. The ME would probably throw a hissy fit when she heard what her friend did. Worst of all, she feared he'd want nothing to do with her after that and that scared the crap out of her. She'd fix it. She had to. Then maybe later she'd apologize to her team for being such a pain.

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