AN: I am so glad that you guys are liking it. This is my first attempt with these characters and I am so glad I am doing them justice. I probably won't get another chapter up until the weekend as real life will intrude on my writing time. Keep the reviews coming. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

The next morning Beckett sat glumly at her desk doing anything she could find to keep her mind off the empty chair to her left. Those that knew her best were wise enough not to comment on her bloodshot swollen eyes as she walked in. Though her uber business like demeanor kept the comments at bay, it could not stop the worried glances sent her way from Ryan and Esposito.

Fric and Frac as they were affectionately known knew that something was very wrong. While they certainly were more often than not the comic relief at the station, they still were detectives. When Castle had not shown up that morning they knew something was wrong. There was no way Rick would have left Beckett alone on this case. Not when they were so close to catching her mother's killer.

However it hadn't taken any of their combined crime fighting knowledge to determine that Beckett was in love with Rick Castle. She might put on a gruff exterior, but they all knew what the writer meant to her, and what she meant to him. They often chuckled about the dance the two did, often comparing them to a pair of chickens.

"Dude what do you think happened?" Esposito threw the whisper in Ryan's direction.

"I don't know, but whatever it was, it was BIG!" Ryan whispered back, indicating the size of the big with his hands. They both threw a furtive glance in the direction of Detective Beckett.

When they found her staring at them they quickly averted their eyes to whatever work they had in front of them.

"Shut up." She said, giving them both a death stare.

The elevator dinged in the distance, but she didn't notice. She was reading the case file again, hoping to find anything that might have been missed. As she flipped the page, someone flopped into her visitor's chair. Preparing her best get away from me face, she looked up ready to rip into the person. Instead she met the smiling eyes of Rick Castle.

"What are you doing here Castle?" She queried.

"Same thing I always do." He replied.

"I thought I made myself clear last night. We are done. I don't have time to play your games anymore Castle."

"Well Beckett, I am choosing to ignore that particular directive, as you were obviously mentally and emotionally compromised last night. You didn't really know what you were saying."

"I most certainly did, and I meant every word. Get out of here Castle. You don't belong here, you never did." She said looking into his eyes.

"Be that as it may," he replied flippantly, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Who the hell do you…" she stopped and looked up when a she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. Ryan and Esposito had nonchalantly moved closer in an attempt to eavesdrop on the fascinating conversation. Seeing that their cover had been blown, they quickly looked around for anything to make them look busy.

"Can I help you?" She asked in their general direction with a look that would make most grown men nervous.

"What? Us? Nope, we're good." Ryan said as the pair backed away quickly.

"Look Castle, I am not going to do this with you here. In fact I'm not going to do this with you anywhere. I said my piece last night and I meant it. Now, I have more important things to do." With that she stood, grabbed her coat and took off for the elevator.

Accepting defeat, Castle turned to look at the boys and shrugged his shoulders.

Sensing that their input was needed Esposito said, "Go after her, "motioning with his chin in the direction of Beckett's retreating form.

"I think I will" was Castle's only reply as he got up give chase.