Disclaimer: Yeah, all I own is Houghton.

A/N # 1: This is set in the year 2013, but other than Beckett and Castle dating, it really doesn't go with the story line of the show, except for what we know already from past seasons. It has NOTHING to do with Season Six because I'm not a fan of spoilers.

A/N #2: So many ways I wanted to take this, which was the cause for the delay and this is what I finally decided on. I literally decided to change the whole ending so I had to fill in gaps that would have been left so it took some time. Thank you JB for all your input and help on where to take this! P.S. Sorry it took so long. I got a new niece and we almost lost her so yeah. Family First!

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The morgue was clear before there was any news on Lanie, which Kate didn't like. But like it or not she still had a job to do, which included having somebody identify the body of Houghton's mother. Jim, being the only one who knew the woman, offered to do it. Which completely surprised Kate. What surprised her and Castle even more was when he had looked at the face he frowned and looked at his daughter, "Katie... this is NOT Miranda Storme.."

Kate looked at him, "Seriously Dad? I'm not that mad anymore. Stop messing with me."

"Katie I'm telling you the truth. This is not the Miranda Storme I was with." Kate looked between her father and Castle.

Castle looked, "Identity thief found and killed by the real Miranda Storme? That would be so cool! Well... Kind of. Don't you think Kate?"

Kate didn't even bother looking back as she was walking out, "No." Castle noticed her voice was quieter than it should have been and he spun to look at her, only to see her out the door and he and Jim followed her. Jim taking his cue to leave.

Castle caught up to Kate, "Not even a little bit?"

"No, Castle. Not even at all. There is a child without her mom. This isn't funny." Castle made a face and they walked in silence to the car and stayed in silence all the was to the precinct. Every time Castle even opened his mouth Kate would give him the look which would make him snap his mouth closed.

They stepped off the elevator and she looked at Espo and Ryan, "Hey. We have a problem." The boys looked up at her, clearly confused, "My dad said that's not Miranda Storme. So we need to go back to her apartment and tear it apart to see if we can find anything that that will tell us who this woman is." The boys grimaced, but nodded and they went to the apartment of Miranda Storme.

As they searched the apartment, it seemed to be a waste of time as the hours drug on with nothing. Kate sighed, "Alright... let's finish this room and we'll head home and get a fresh start." She looked around, "Where's Castle?" The boys looked around and shrugged.

Castle, as if hearing Beckett, called out from the back bathroom, "Hey Beckett! I'm in the bathroom. I think you need to see this!"

Espo looked at Kate with a smirk, "Hear that Ryan? Castle needs Beckett to check something out in the bathroom."

Ryan smiled, "Hopefully he remembered his protection."

Beckett glared at them, trying to hide her deep red blush, "Get back to work." She went into the bathroom, "Castle... You better not be messing around. Tweedledee and Tweedledum are already throwing 'protection' comments out."

Castle stuck his head out, "Uh.. As much fun as that sounds... No jokes here Babe..."

She leveled him with a glare, "What did I tell you about calling me that, Kitten."

Castle waved her comment and glare off, "Focus Beckett. Look what I found in the ceiling vent! A book! Or well maybe a diary... But being as its a woman's thing I figured it would be better if..."

"Don't tell me you're not going to open it because it's a diary... It's evidence now... you can open it."

"But... If it was Alexis' or yours.."

"I don't have a diary."

"Yeah, but if you had a diary..."

Espo and Ryan came in, "You have a diary Beckett? Can I read it?"

Beckett looked at them, "Maybe I'll have to take yours and read it Espo.. I'm sure there's a lot in there about Lanie." Espo made a face. Ryan and Castle chuckled. Beckett turned back to Castle, "Castle. Open it. Or hand it over."

Ryan looked between them, "C'mon Castle. I had sisters. I opened theirs and I survived. Besides, you don't want to lose your man card do you?" Castle looked him and opened the diary. Beckett took it from him and skimmed through it.

"Well... it says that, when the real Miranda Storme was shot, she had asked our victim to take her daughter and try to find her dad. Initials JB. So she took Houghton and changed her own name. It doesn't say what her name is though..." She flipped a few more pages and then paused.

Castle looked at her, " What is it Kate?"

"I... Uh... Ryan, Espo, go to the precinct check missing persons, have them re run her finger prints. I want to know who this person is."

"But you said we were.."

"Just... Just go." The boys groaned and left. "Castle, you can go home. I'm going to check on Lanie."

Castle looked at her, "And by that you mean you're going to go talk about whatever you read in that book." Kate nodded some. Castle nodded some and kissed her head, "Okay. I'll see you later." He kissed her head again after she nodded and went home.

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Kate took a deep breath as she walked into the hospital room where Lanie was at, "Hey Lanie.."

Lanie looked over at her, "Hey Kate.. What brings you to this horrible place?"

Kate smirked, "You're a doctor."

"Yeah but I prefer the ones who don't talk back. So.. being as you're my favorite detective. What do I own this pleasure? Writer boy doesn't need to be smacked around does he?"

Kate laughed some, "No. He's at home with the kids. And I thought Javi was your favorite."

"He has his moments."

Kate nodded a little and shuffled from one foot to the other, "How are you?"

Lanie shrugged, "They said it's a strain of the virus that only last 24 hours and lucky for me, being all healthy as I am, I have an hour or so until it's dead and I can begin my recovery."

Kate nodded and brushed a few stubborn tears, that fell, away, "Good.. I'm glad, because I don't think I could..."

"Hey no.. Don't think like that alright? I'm gonna be fine Kate. You get those thoughts out of your head." Kate nodded a little and looked down. "Beckett, what's wrong?"

"This whole damn case. It's turning everything into one huge freaking mess and I don't know what to do."

"Well.. You have pretty good instincts. What do they tell you to do?"

"Go smack my dad for doing this to me... But I don't think he would like that all that much so I can't do that..." She filled Lanie in on what they had found on the case and spent a good while just talking with Lanie to help them both feel better about the mess they were in until Beckett finally had to leave since visiting hours were over. She gave Lanie a quick hug and after saying goodnight, she went back to the loft to get some well needed rest.