MISSING SCENE: 6X05 II

A/N: A short scene. Lol.

She was gone. Just like that. The door closed and there was such a finality to it. He was left standing there, feeling like a piece of his heart had been ripped out, if not the whole thing. He couldn't help the single tear that managed to stream down his cheek and brought his hand up to his eyes, squeezing them shut to stop any others that might try to fall. There was a silence in the apartment that was so deafening. He looked around, eyes landing on pictures and the tassel that decorated the lamp on the table next to the couch. Alexis' graduation tassel.

It was too much.

He left. And he walked the entire distance to Beckett's apartment, where he knew that she was currently settling into her bathtub with a glass of wine and a good book. Even he had come to accept that she didn't just read his books, so whatever good book she was reading, it was probably something he had never heard of before.

He stood outside her building for a second, wondering if he should allow his dark mood to blacken her doorstep, but he needed her, so much, and for that reason, his feet developed a mind of their own and took him forward until he was knocking on her door. He had her key, sure, but something told him that he needed to wait. He didn't want to impose his mood on her and just invite it in her apartment.

The lock of the door could be heard, and it swung open revealing Kate in a bath towel. "Castle, I was just about to get into the tub," she informed him, "but you are more than welcome to join me," she added in a hushed tone. She stepped aside, inviting him in. He didn't move. She seemed so happy, and he just wasn't. "Why didn't you use your key?"

He shook his head, not having a good answer to give.

Sensing something was wrong, she pulled on his sleeve until she could close the door behind him. All she had to do was look at him, and see that he was about to give in and tell her what was on his mind. "She left. Moved out with… him."

"Already?" Kate said, stepping closer. Her arms encircled his waist, holding him against her body tightly. She felt him nod his head. Words usually came easily to the writer, but tonight, he was at a loss.

"She wasn't even going to say goodbye."

"Of course she would have, Castle."

He shook his head. "She was about to leave when I walked in." A long silence settled over them, and he reveled in the feel of her in his arms. "Where did I go wrong?"

"You didn't go wrong. She's just finding her independence now. You raised her just right." Though, she honestly had to wonder about that sometimes. She knew how Castle was with his daughter: he was the most loving father on Earth. Then there were the times when his immaturity seemed to rule his life, and she wondered how that didn't rub off on Alexis.

She rested her head against his chest, listening to the heavy thumping of his heart just beyond his shirt. She remembered how close she had been to losing him recently, and needed to simply be with him to feel like everything was going to be okay. This was one of those moments, for the both of them.

Castle's hands rubbed at the cotton of her towel, and then the skin of her shoulder, laying down smooth circles with the pad of his thumb. It felt so nice, and sensual to her that she felt like she was already a puddle of water.

She had such a calming effect over him, but right then, he needed something from her. He needed to forget, if only for a night, that things were falling down around him. He needed the upside. He needed a reminder that not all was lost; that he had a future with Kate to look forward to. He tilted her head towards him, and his mouth crashed against hers, hot and heavy. She moaned at the intrusion of his tongue.

He forced her backwards until her back collided with the door, hard. His hands were everywhere, seemingly unable to get enough of her. His fingers curled into a fist in her hair, holding her right where he wanted her. He brought his leg up between hers and pressed her body deliciously against the door.

Tonight was about control, and he was taking it.