Hey guys! We're only 3 days away from a new Castle episode and I can't wait. Thanks again to all of you who reviewed they make my day.

Last chapter: Rick and Kate went their separate ways for bedtime. Kate epically fails at sleeping and eventually makes her way downstairs and into Rick's office where she finds a book to read and accidentally falls asleep. Rick is woken up in the morning by a thud coming from his office. It ended up being the book Kate was reading falling on the floor. In a heroic effort Castle runs into the office and wakes Kate up with his loud entrance. After teasing Kate about falling asleep they make coffee and while Kate is on the phone Castle finds a rather mysterious piece of paper…

Chapter 6: Unexpected

Kate and Rick made eye contact for a second neither sure what to say or do. Kate looked back down at the piece of paper trying to inspect it more thoroughly.

It was a message to Kate cut out of letters from magazines and newspapers.

It read," Why detective, you can run but you can't hide… 6 Days detective say your good-byes."

She kept reading it over and over as if it would change what was on the page.

"Kate?" Rick asked unsure of what her reaction would be.

And if she was being honest with herself she wasn't even sure how she felt: angry, scared, violated, confused. She felt it all. She wanted to cry and scream and yell and throw things, but there was too much work to be done. She had to hold it together.

"Yeah, let's call it in and get CSU over here." She said finally.

She picked up her phone, but he put his hand over hers and stopped her before she could dial.

"Kate." He said reproachfully "I…how.."

He knew he should say something, but he just couldn't find the words.

Seeing him struggling Kate supplied, "I'll be fine, once we catch this guy."

"Okay" he said with a sigh wishing he was both more helpful and wiser.

He walked over to the couch and slumped onto it while she called dispatch.

He put his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes.

She watched him closely while she was on the phone. She could tell he was starting to get worn down. They all were, but it was just harder for her to watch it happen to him because she knew it was because of her.

When she finished her call she got down off the stool and walked up behind the couch.

He jumped when she ran her hand back-and-forth over his shoulders. He hadn't even heard her get off the phone.

"Hey" she said softly" You don't have to come in today you know." Giving him an out she really didn't want him to take.

"No," he replied "I want to be there."

"Alright" she said trying to hide that she was relieved he was coming. She squeezed his shoulder.

"Then we better get dressed. CSU and the boys are on their way." She said.

"Okay." he said looking at her for the first time giving a quick smile before getting up and heading towards his room.

His sudden departure left Kate feeling suddenly alone.

How was it that a single person could make her feel so whole with his presence, and so alone when he was gone?

Realizing she was running out of time she quickly got up off the back of the couch and dashed up the stairs to get changed.

She was never so grateful that she kept a couple spare outfits at work in her gym locker.

She slipped into her clothes, adjusted her hair, and carefully applied her make-up.

She took a step back to assess herself in the mirror.

Considering everything she had been through she really did look pretty good.

With one last look in the mirror she headed downstairs to see Castle before their company arrived.

He had showered and changed in record time, and he was already making both of them a second cup of coffee when she came down the stairs.

He did a double take when he saw her. For a woman whose life was being threatened by a serial killer he wondered how it was she managed to look so good.

"Hey" he said in a much cheerful tone than just a few minutes ago.

"Hey." She said right back.

He simply handed her her coffee and turned back to grab his own off the counter when there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it" Kate said quickly, walking over to the door and checking the peep hole before opening it.

"Hey guys." She said glad the boys had arrived before CSU.

"Hey Beckett." They responded simultaneously.

"Castle's not giving you any trouble is he?" Esposito asked tongue-in-cheek.

"Nah, don't worry about him he's pretty harmless." Beckett replied smiling at Rick.

"Come on guys really?...When have I ever given Beckett trouble?" he asked

Beckett, Ryan, and Esposito all began to laugh at the same time.

"Okay fine" he said "I walked right into that one."

"And you made it all too easy." Beckett said still laughing a little

Fine Castle thought. I don't mind being picked on a little bit. Not if it makes her smile like that.

Castle walked over to the coffee machine and poured Ryan and Esposito a cup too.

A few minutes later CSU had arrived and began to bag and tag the evidence.

And once they finished their coffee Ryan and Esposito went back into cop mode taking both their statements describing the events of that morning.

Both of the boys would throw in the occasional personal question like, "What were you and Mr. Castle doing in the hours leading up to the discovery of the note that would have both of you up so early in the morning?"

Beckett gave Castle a mischievous look.

"No comment, but really boys, if I was going to tell you would you really want to know what Castle and I do together in the middle of the night?" Beckett said in a serious tone.

Ryan cringed.

When he and Esposito turned to walk away they both turned to look at each other.

Ryan said, "You think?"

Esposito cut in, "No way."

"Yeah you're probably right." Ryan conceded.

Thy heard Beckett call after them, "Hey guys when you're done gossiping do you want to do some real police work and pull the building's security tapes?"

"Yeah, Yeah" Esposito said giving her the 'come on can you really blame us' look.

She rolled her eyes at Esposito before she looked back at Castle, who still had a dumbfounded look on his face.

Laughing she said, "Oh come on Castle. It's no fun if we can't torture them a little bit."

"Yeah, yeah you're right." He said still a little bit in shock.

"Come on Castle Ryan and Espo will finish up here. Let's head over to the precinct and see if we can get some work done." She said.

"Alright" he replied "Just give me a minute."

While Castle scurried around the house Beckett did the same; retrieving her phone from the counter before hurrying upstairs to get her badge and her gun.

By the time she made it back downstairs Castle was waiting for her doing something on his phone.

He glanced up as she got to the bottom on the stairs.

"Hey, Ready to go?" he asked.

"Yep" she said, and with that they made their way towards the front door.

Castle said," Because CSU hasn't finished I gave Ryan one of the spare keys to lock up with when they're done….I also, well, I…"

"Come on Castle spit it out already." She interjected.

"I just thought you should have a key too. You are living here after all." He said thoughtfully as he pulled an extra key out of his pocket.

She took it from his outstretched hand smiling at him and saying, "Thanks Castle that's really sweet of you."

By that time the elevator had arrived and they climbed in.

After hitting the button for the lobby Castle replied, "Well you know me…I Just can't help being charming."

She rolled her eyes at him and gave him a soft shove

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say Castle" she joked back.

"Mmmm be careful detective. I'll remember that, 'Whatever I say'." He shot right back.

"Me' be careful'? Are you forgetting I'm the one with the gun?" she said with a devilish smile.

"Touché" he replied.

Sometimes it was best to admit defeat before he dug himself into a bigger hole.

They had driven Kate's car to the loft last night and Castle had called down to have it brought around to the front.

"Shotgun!" Rick called.

"You do realize you're the only other person here?" she asked with a skeptical face.

"Yeah, but I've got to keep practicing for the next time I have to ride with Ryan and Esposito." He said looking at her as if that was obviously the most logical answer.

"Men" Kate replied shaking her head before grabbing her keys from the valet and climbing in.

She had her seat belt on and her keys in the ignition before Castle even got his door open.

He was doing something on his phone again.

"Come on Castle! For a guy who is practicing how fast he can yell shotgun you really are awfully slow." She said.

"Yeah, sorry" he said, " I was just returning Alexis' text."

"Oh, don't worry about it. Just as long as you're not holding up my investigation to beat your high score on Angry Birds…" she said pausing for a second before asking, "How is she doing?"

"Oh she's good. Having fun with her friends you know... I'm just glad she isn't home." He said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, me too. How is she handling this?" she asked.

"Oh, I.. um ..I didn't tell her. I just don't want her to worry." He stammered.

"She's all grown up now Castle she can handle it. I'm not saying what you're doing is wrong, but I know that she would want to know. And there's nothing worse than being blindsided." She said looking down at her lap.

"Kate" he said reproachfully, "Nothing's going to happen to me."

"You don't know that." She said in an exasperated tone letting all her fears about his safety flood out, "This guy he got into you secure building without tripping any alarms or being seen. He knows where you live." She said running her hand through her hair. "Rick, I care about you and him hurting you would hurt me, and you can't guarantee that this guy won't see that weakness and exploit it. Me staying with you has put you in harm's way. I know better…I shouldn't have come with you and put your life in danger."

"Hold on." Castle finally interjected, "You think I didn't know there was a risk? Oh I knew alright, but I also know that we're partners and we do care about each other Kate. It's not a weakness. It's a strength." His vice grew softer as he said, "I invited you to stay here because I care about you…"

He paused for a brief moment to examine her face. She was trying to play it close to the vest, but he knew. He always knew how she felt.

He raised his hand and cupped her face, running his thumb lightly over her cheek, and when he couldn't resist the temptation anymore he slowly closed the distance between them.

He felt her breathing quicken as her eyes flicked down to his lips and back up to meet his gaze with a look that spoke volumes about how much she wanted him too.

He paused for the briefest moment and felt the electricity and anticipation that hung in the air between them. When he couldn't stand waiting any longer he moved his hand to the back of her head and pulled her lips flush against his.

Without hesitation she kissed him back gently, then nipping lightly at his bottom lip as she brought her hands to his shoulders digging her fingers into his back and pulling him even closer as he slanted his lips over hers; gently caressing the outline of her mouth. Her lips felt soft and warm against his, and her breath hitched as he ran his tongue along her bottom lip.

With that she opened her mouth to him and their tongues met for the first time. She tasted like the somehow delicious combination of mint and coffee.

Their kiss embodied their entire relationship. It was a slow smoldering burn that grew hotter the longer it carried on. Castle moved and deepened the kiss leaning over the console and putting his arm around her waist to pull her even closer, as their tongues moved against each other she let out a moan meeting his passion with her own. And just as they are about to take it too far Castle was suddenly dragged back to reality.

The reality that they are making out in her cruiser parked in front of his building where just about anyone could see them.

So, he began slowing the kiss before he finally pulled away running his hand over her cheek one last time. Before he dropped his hand back to his lap.

They both took a second leaning back in their seats trying to both calm their rather erratic breathing and comprehend how they had managed to go from arguing with each other to making out.

Looking down Castle admitted, "You know I would do anything to protect you; to keep you safe." He looked at her and flashed her a quick nervous smile, and noticing how her lips were just a little more pink and puffy than before.

Then he finished, "You would do the same for me. We're partners it's what we do. I've made my choice. No matter what happens I'm going to be by your side. So…Let's go to work and catch this guy.

Overwhelmed and at a complete loss for words Kate sat there for a second to finish processing what he said before nodding and putting the car into drive and pulling out into the morning traffic.

Yay everyone can stop hating me! I worked really hard on this chapter because I am still new at this so I hope you like it. I knew I wanted them to kiss when they had this conversation, but then they ended up being in the car…which kinda put a kink in my plan, but I decided not to make you wait until later that night because right now that is a couple chapters away which would be evil. Anyways… please let me know what you think!

Always

Elizabeth