Title: Past Meetings-Castle Edition

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle, Andrew W. Marlowe and ABC do.

Author's Note: This is one is more angst. Character thought is bolditalics.

Beta'd by: Beckett NYPD

Genre: Friendship/Angst

Rating: K

Chapter 4: Kate and Lanie

*Right before the start of the show*

Kate Beckett and Lanie Parish were at their favorite bar for their girls' night out. Usually it would be once a week but lately they were swamped by case after case taking more time than usual. As Kate waited at their table while Lanie went to get their drinks, Kate thought about their friendship.

Kate was grateful to have a friend who was there when Kate's world fell apart and when Lanie intervened before Kate fell apart.

-Sometime November, 1999-

The world twenty-year-old Katherine Beckett knew was shattered and gone; her mother's murder caused her dad to spiral into alcoholism and had forced Kate to accept responsibility to care for her father.

She had also been studying hard to graduate on time and then get into the academy. After losing her mother, she felt she had to do something to help right the wrongs in the city or at least try to make a difference in some way.

Kate almost lost herself trying to study, work, and take care of her father; she had also become detached from her friends, almost alienating all of them; there was one friend who could never be pushed away, one Lanie Parish.

Lanie knew she had to do something to intervene because if she didn't she was afraid that Kate would spiral out of control like her father did.

One day Lanie waited outside of the classroom of Kate's criminology discussion so she could reach out to Kate.

Lanie spotted Kate coming out of the classroom and rushed over and grabbed Kate on the arm, "Kate, we need to talk. I know something is bothering you."

Kate looked at Lanie, "What are you talking about? There is nothing wrong with me."

Kate tried to struggle against Lanie's hold and Lanie spoke her mind, "Oh that is total BS Katherine Beckett and stop being so stubborn."

Kate bristled, "Me stubborn? You're even worse and if I am going through something it is none of your business, why do you care so much? Besides I need to go and study."

Now Lanie was enraged not caring if they were causing a scene, "Now hold it right there Katherine Louise Beckett. You're coming with me and you are going to tell me what is going on with you. I am doing this because it hurts me to see you like this, you have changed and not for the better. I am also doing this because if you remember the pact we made at the start of high school we would be there for each other no matter what and I intend to keep that promise."

That did it; the false bravado Kate had put up and fooled everyone else so she didn't have to deal with the rest of the world came crumbling down and Kate broke down, sank to the floor and was bawling like a baby. Lanie who had sunk down with Kate wrapped her arms tightly around Kate and held her best friend whilst she let it all out.

*Back to present time*

"Kate, are you okay?"

Kate shook her head and came out of her deep thoughts and looked at Lanie who was sitting next to her with their drinks.

Kate smiled and answered, "Yeah, I was thinking about how far we have come as friends, and how grateful I am to have you as a friend."

Lanie grinned, "You better believe it, we are friends for life!"

A/N 2: Thanks for reading the final chapter of "Past Meetings: Castle Edition". I hope you had fun reading it! Your reviews are appreciated!