AGAIN: I have no ownership, rights, connection of any kind to Castle. I'm just killing time until the new season.

All reviews welcome. I only ask that you be polite and constructive. Feel free to point out grammatical, spelling, or factual errors. I did a lot of editing and reediting on this one. If you find any cut and paste errors or the like, please let me know.

"Captain," she said into her cell phone, "It's Beckett. I need to be out for the rest of the day. No, I'm feeling fine. Something has just come up." She didn't have anything pressing this afternoon and she guessed Captain Montgomery could tell there was something in her voice.

Rick watched her walk off. Before he knew it, he was walking in the same direction, against his own will.

Ok, mission accomplished. I need to get back and start getting ready to spring this on the others. But she looked so wrecked back there, and I'm the one who wrecked her. I can chalk it up to Will all I want and say I'm only the messenger all I want, but the little voice in my head won't let it go. I had a choice not to deliver the message. God, she's so beautiful. Snap out of it Castle the voice yells at me. Why does my conscience sound like Alexis now. It was always my mother's voice before.I can ignore my mother's voice at least. That isn't fair.

I don't even know where she's going. Yes I do. He was only six.


He found her on her knees at the little boy's grave. She had her back to him and her hair obstructed her face so he couldn't see her tears. But he could hear.

Oh come on, even her sniffles are cute. What is wrong with me?

"What are you doing here?" she asked knowing he was there without looking back, "Did you follow me."

"Did you see me follow you?"

"No, I didn't see you until you walked through the gate," she replied. I can't turn around yet. I can't have him see me like this. Hasn't he done enough for one day, one lifetime. I need to get myself under control first. Why did it have to be him. And why did he have to remember me. Damn it!

"Trailing a skilled homicide detective is no easy task, specially one Roy trained." Even one as distracted as you. Glad I didn't say that out loud. She'd bury me next to the kid. I can read her voice. She's going to give me hell. She's just prepping herself for it.

"Some cop."

"First, not my area. You don't expect a podiatrist to do open heart surgery. Second, I don't really need to follow someone when I know where they are going."

"You don't have to avoid the word on my account."

"What word?"

"Tail. I know your reputation. You''re dying to make some pun, be a smart ass."

"I think you just beat me to it, and I'm smart ass, not a jackass."

She's still not facing me. From everything I Roy has told me about her, she's a control freak. She'll never want anyone to see her lose at a grave. Today, an emotional roller coaster has made her loose control. She likely sees it as the ultimate embarrassment specially in front of the person she will eventually hold responsible for causing it, if she hasn't fixed blame on me already. Someone needs to pay, and Will's not here. Given her skills as an interrogator, she needs to get her game face read before she lashes out at me. I could walk away, but this will have to happen sooner or latter. Best to get it out of the way now. I'm going to have to heavily screw with her life I want to save it so I need her to take out her anger on me in manageable doses. Plus, this could be hot. Damn, another topic for the therapist.

"How did you know I was coming here?" she asked after a moment.

"Believe it or not, profiling people actually is part of my job. Computers and algorithms only get you so far. The rest is human behavior, knowing the story. That's the second piece of the puzzle. Take you for instance. Your were heading the wrong direction to head back to your precinct, and you were heading in the right direction for this place. Also, I saw you pass up three cabs and a subway entrance. This place is close enough to walk to but it's along enough walk to clear your head."

"Still, I could have been heading to a bar to get a drink. I could have just head home. I could have gone to the gym and punch a bag pretending it was certain individuals."

"But that wouldn't be you. It doesn't fit your story."

"My story?"

"There's always a story, a chain of events that makes everything make sense. One that explains why Katherine Becket is who she is instead of who she should have been."

"And who should I have been Rick?"

"With you it's easy. Most smart, good looking women become lawyers not cops. With your intelligence and skills, you should have been on your way to a confirmation hearing for the top job on the Supreme Court. Hell, I wouldn't bet against you being the first female one.

"You were raised in Manhattan, no trace of the boroughs when you talk. Likely did not even take a bridge or tunnel until your teen years. You grew up affluent enough but likely passed through the public school system before it fell apart. You likely went to really good college, one that would give you options, lots of options, more socially acceptable options even if you didn't pursue the path to the high bench. Becoming Police Officer was the last thing on your mind.

"Then your mom is murdered and the killer was never caught. It's a wound that would not heal. Like so many characters in comics, the only way you can deal with it is to dedicate yourself to a higher calling. You will give to other families the justice and closure you never got. And in your mind, you failed this little boy. I know a penitence walk when I see one. And that Detective Beckett is why you're here."

"And how did you know where here was?"

"You're not the only one whose come here looking for absolution, forgiveness."

"It wasn't even your case."

"Love...hate...happiness...sorrow...guilt. Emotions do not obey logic. Maybe the Vulcans were better off being born without them."

"Actually, Vulcans have emotions. They just train to suppress them," she said finally turning her head to face him and slight smile on her pouty lips. Smile or not, he could see the storm gathering on her face, specially in her beautiful eyes.

"Cute trick," she said finally standing up.

"What trick?"

"Distracting me with talk of comics, Star Trek, and my mom. Pretending to think you know me. Pretending that you actually care about this little boy. All so I don't realize what you're doing."

Busted! Here it comes. "And what am I doing?"

"Roy and Evelyn have been trying to set me up with you even before I go together with Will. I used to think they were being lovingly intrusive. Now, maybe I think you were putting them up to it all this time. Maybe you were angling for a setup all along."

"Have you met Roy and Evelyn Montgomery? Do honestly think they would go along with something like that?" Man, she's loosing it. But that's good I guess, get it all out.

"Ok, maybe not, but they still tried and I still turned down a date with the great Richard Castle, crime novelist and crime fighter. Richard Castle, fixture on page 6, a different girl on your arm every time. Maybe your ego couldn't handle the rejection so..."

"So I ambushed you and Will hoping this little revelation would make you drop him and run into my arms and..."

"And then we would bond over the little boy lost and Richard Castle can prove that there is no woman who can't have. This whole deep blue eyes, charming smile, and bad boy charm thing you got going seems to work on bimbettes and celebutantes so stick to them. I work for a living."

Does she realize we're finishing each other's sentence?

Oh God, we're finishing each other's sentences. I have to shut him down fast.

"And I guess I don't. We're in the same line of work. And as I recall, different departments or not, I still outrank you detective." Wow, did I actually just pull rank. I never do that, even with people I don't like. I'm loosing control of the situation.

"Really, for a State Police Lieutenant, you have quite the rap sheet. Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest."

"Boys will be boys. You looked up my rap sheet. I'm touched."

"Don't be and trust me, you never will. I didn't have to look it up. You're a legend around New York Law Enforcement. For God's sake, you stole a police horse!"

"Borrowed."

"And you were nude at the time."

"It was spring."

Does she realize she's stepping slowly closer to me?

"I'm curious, how does someone with a rap sheet like yours get into the State Police?" God, I'm actually stepping closer to him. What is wrong with me.

"Every time the charges were always dropped."

"Must be nice to be so well connected."

"Those incidents happened all before I joined up. What is your problem Beckett?"

"In my world, there are only two types of people. Either those who make my life easier or those who make my life harder. And I have distinct feeling you're going to fall in the second category, and trust me you do not want to be the guy who makes my life harder."

"That would so much more intimidating coming from someone I couldn't have reassigned to Staten Island to guard land fills. But if it makes you feel any better, I'd be happy to let you spank me."

"Castle, cemetery, a little respect."

"I don't think they can hear me."

"Then how about a little self-respect."

"Do you know, you have gorgeous eyes?"

She rolls her eyes, "Seriously, we're standing in cemetery and you're still going there."

They are standing only inches apart now, neither one willing to be the first to back off. The energy between was intense.

God she has such pouty kissable lips. I wonder if I should kiss her. Sure she's armed, but it's worth the risk. Better skip the therapist and just sign in at Bellevue.

I think this idiot is going to try and kiss me. He's looking at my lips like they're the promised land. It might not be bad, and I think just became a bigger idiot for thinking about letting him.

"I'm only going there directly because anything I say, in your mind, would go there indirectly. You've already tried and convicted me. But, for the record, here's how it stands. Will pissed me off. I wanted to smash him in front of his girlfriend. I did not have any calculations towards getting in your pants, not until you walked into the dinner. An interest I...".

Rick's phone began to ring, "Sorry I have to get this. Hey pumpkin. Yeah, I'll be there by 7:00. Ok, love you too, Alexis."

Alexis? I know he's divorced, his girlfriend? And what was he going to say. That he still has an interest or that he doesn't. Why do I even care about any of that?

"Was that a bimbette or celebutante?" Why did I say that, I'm acting like a jealous teenager.

"Neither, that was my daughter. I hope she doesn't grow up to be either one of those."

"Oh...I didn't realize," I am such an ass and if he so much as smirks I'm going to knock him on his ass, "The Captain never mentioned. And the press never mentions her."

I bet she feels like an ass right now. Part of me wants to let her have it. Still, she didn't know who Alexis is...damn...just let her off the hook and walk away. I think we've gone enough rounds today.

"Oh I try to keep her out of the public eye as much as possible. I want her life to be as stable as possible. I've asked Roy not to mention it either."

"I see," she said with a compassionate expression on her face. Why isn't he letting me have it? He could so turn the whole phone call thing on me. Ugh! He's being magnanimous that is so much worse. I hate him so much right now. I think. Maybe. Ugh!

He gave here a charming smile. It wasn't a gloating smirk like Kate expected, but a genuine smile of warmth and sincerity.

She involuntarily smiled at him and chewed a little on her bottom lip.

And a different buzz from a phone, hers "Will just text messaged me. Asking where I am. He's been trying to call me since I left. I'd turn off the phone..."

"But you need to make sure the precinct can get a hold of you. I know, curse of us all."

"Must be worse for you being in command."

"It is. The way you're going, you'll know first hand soon enough," that brought out a smile and blush.

"On that note detective, I will say two things and take my leave. I apologize for using you as a weapon against Will. I know most police officers refer to their teams as family, but I've known a lot of my guys most of my life, even before we any of us joined the department. Until Alexis was born, they and my mom were all the family I had.

"Having said that. I will leave you with one parting shot at Mr. FBI who seems to have himself fully dry cleaned every day. How come I knew where to find you and he didn't."

"Alright, until we meet again."

"Can't you just say bye?"

"Blame the other job, being a writer. Until we meet again sounds more...hopeful."

"Well, I only have the one job. So, bye." She said with a broad smile.

As he was walking away, Rick was lost in thought. Kate, please go to Boston with Will. You'll be safe there. But you won't will you? You're too stubborn. Damn it!