Disclaimer not mine
Lost
"Where would she go?" Castle turned to Ryan as he walked along the corridor next to him and Esposito. Neither man answered, Esposito was still in shock that Kate Beckett of all people would have stayed in an abusive relationship for so long. Ryan just assumed Castle would know where Kate was. The three men silently entered the bullpen and took their usual seats.
"I have to call Mother, make sure she is there when Meredith collects Alexis" Castle ran a hand over his face. He had almost forgotten his ex wife was coming to town. She certainly knows how to pick the best time to visit. He shook his head, he had a complicated history with the mother of his child but thats all it was now as far as he was concerned. History.
"You think she would go to her father?" Ryan asked.
"He's away"
"College friends? She seeing anyone Castle?" Ryan was grabbing at straws.
"Jeez" Esposito sat at his own desk. "This guy was scum right? You said so Ryan. Now he's a murder victim. Now don't get me wrong but if his partner was anyone else we'd be looking at them as a suspect. Suddenly because it's Kate we are treating it differently?"
Castle couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was on his feet in seconds.
"You don't think for one moment?" Castle was across the room. Ryan stood between the two men. He had no desire to see both his friends fighting.
"Castle!" Ryan put a hand on the man's chest, realising for the first time there was more to Castle's relationship with the missing detective than just friendship.
"All I'm saying is he tried to kill her" Esposito stared at Castle. "You said so yourself Ryan. The guy did a number on her, now he turns up dead. Kate has run off, you have to admit it doesn't look good for her"
"She didn't kill him. You were not there when we went to see Laine. You have no idea how she reacted. Trust me I have never seen Kate Beckett scared before but the moment she saw that body on the slab she was scared. Terrified" He held the detective's gaze. "Kate Beckett is not a murderer. You know that"
"I know that. You know that. We have to find her before people start to think just that" Ryan nodded as Castle grabbed his jacket and left the bullpen. He had to find Kate. He just had to and it wasn't to clear her name with their colleagues. The longer she was missing, the longer he thought something had happened.
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Kate knew she should call home. She shook her head sadly. Since when was Castle's apartment home? She remembered the conversation from the night before. She could still oicture Martha stood in the kitchen telling her that Richard Castle was in love with her. It seemed unreal then and even more unreal now. She remembered what had happened the last time a man had been in love with her. She still had the scar on her shoulder, still had the nightmares that the life was being squeezed out of her. She leant heavily against the car as she tried to get the image out of her mind.
"C'mon Beckett, you are not the same person now" She breathed heavily as she muttered to herself. There was only one way to escape the ghost of her ex fiance. And that was to go home and investigate his murder. She pulled her cell phone from her leather jacket and called the one person she thought may understand.
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Castle walked through the car park outside the police station. He was glad that the sun was still shining. Kate had the car so he either had to grab a cab or risk the nightmare of public transport. For the moment he was content to walk part of the way home. It gave him time to clear his head. It was as he crossed the road to take him towards the intersection that his cell phone sprang into life. He answered is before checking the caller display.
"Castle"
"Listen, it's me"
"Kate? Are you alright? Where are you? My God, Kate" He smiled slightly as the relief washed over him. "I got your message"
"Just shut up for a minute will you?" Kate had been prepared for Castle to react this way. It didn't help though.
"Sorry. It's just I was worried. I still am"
"Can you do something for me? Look I know you want to help but the only thing you can do it leave me alone. It's too dangerous this time" Kate got into the car and stared out of the window.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He sighed as he stared at the shop window opposite.
"Castle, you tell me everything? You tell me everything about you and your exes? No I didn't think so" Kate snapped. "Look Louis and I were a long time ago. I guess Ryan has told you what happened. All you need to know is I didn't kill Louis. I never could. But I know who did"
"Who? Who killed him? I know it wasn't you. Even if you weren't in my kitchen with me last night I'd have known you could never kill a man like that" He pinched his nose as he walked.
"Thanks Castle" Kate smiled.
"I'm worried. Who killed him? You tell me you know. Do you have any evidence? Where are you?" He tried to keep her talking as long as possible. If she was talking to him there was a chance she was safe.
"Don't worry about me, just keep an eye on Martha and Alexis. This guy is dangerous. Please just look after them and yourself" Kate ended the call leaving Castle talking to the dialling tone.
"Why is the one thing you want me to do never going to happen. There is no way I am not going to worry about you. I love you, you idiot" He talked to himself as he hailed a cab. He had no idea why she was worried about Martha and Alexis but he knew if she was then there was a good reason he should be too. He cursed as he realised Meredith would be at his apartment by the time he got home. It was going to be a long day.
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Martha poured her coffee as she waited for Alexis to get home from school. She was not looking forward to her former daughter in law arriving. She had no idea what her only son had seen in the woman. Shaking her head she settled on the sofa to wait, there was at least another hour before Alexis or Meredith would arrive. She closed her eyes and cursed as the knock at the door became more insistant.
"I am coming! Oh my, where is the fire?" She opened the door and gasped as she swung the door open.
A/N Is anyone reading this anymore? Please review.
