AN: I had never guessed that I'd recieve so many suggestions from you guys. Thank you very much for your interest. I honestly couldn't think anything about "The Squab and The Quail" - sorry for that but I prefer writing about Caskett when they still weren't together because that was more interesting and funny. I try to keep it light and funny and I couldn't think of anything funny about that episode. As for the other suggestion about episode "Nikki Heat" - I've already written a fanfcition about it and it's called "The thin line between love and hate" so you can see it if you want. But I'll write about another guest's wish - "Eye of the Beholder". I hope everyone would like it. Please let me know what you think about it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or its characters

Eye of the Beholder

Kate Beckett's POV:

Is it possible to hate someone the second you meet him? Well, I think it definitely is because I started hating a certain woman right away. The moment I met her. I hated the way she made an entrance, catching Castle's attention the second that she walked in. Castle and I were discussing the case, theorizing together when she entered cockily, saying that it was not likely about mine and Castle's theory. And then she tore our theory to pieces. Who the hell was that woman to interrupt our foreplay...uhm, I mean theorizing like that?! Theorizing, not foreplay! Because there's a huge difference between the two of them. In a foreplay you feel good. Not that when we theorize together I don't feel good though. But in a foreplay you get to appreciate the body and in theorizing you appreciate the mind. Well, I for one, appreciated his body even during our theorizing but only from time to time. So there's huge difference. And I try avoiding thinking about any huge things when I am looking at him as we theorize, too. Well, you could say I admire his brain as well as his body from time to time. But very rarely. I just can't help it. It's like an instinct. But in theorizing I start saying something and he finishes off my sentence and then I finish off his until we both finish together. That sounded purer in my mind... But anyway, I got carried away. We were theorizing together and that woman interrupted us! Couldn't she see we weren't finished?! I was undone. Not sexually! I mean it in totally pure and innocent way. Not only didn't she left me and Castle finish but she also disproved our theory right in our faces! The nerve of that woman! She just couldn't barge in like she owns the place and do such a thing to us! Well obviously she could. Who did she think she was? So I asked her straight in her face who the hell she was. Well, you could say that I asked her just a bit more nicely. And so she introduced herself. And the way she did it! Unbelievable! "Serena Kaye" she announced. And she did it with such a cocky demeanor. "The museum's insurance investigator," she said haughtily like she was saying: "I am the President of the United States!" She made such a big deal out of it. But she was certainly not!

But I couldn't believe Castle and the face that he was making as he was staring at her, or drooling over her would be more precisely to say. He looked so fascinated by her. "She's good," he stated. And the nerve he had to say that right in my face. As I was some kind of a buddy for him with whom he could share an opinion about other women. That wasn't fair! "What about proof?" I argued. Because she just said a theory without any actual proof. That woman was just speculating so I wasn't impressed by her not even a little bit but Castle on the other hand obviously was. And that was just an understatement. "I don't need proof to know that I'm right. It's my job," she stated so confidently and arrogantly. I couldn't believe her! It's her job to know that she's right?! I don't think that there's such occupation. That kind of job obviously existed only in her mind. In her imagination. She obviously lived in a world where she can speculate whenever she wants and be right about it. And she was probably working an imaginary job where all you have to do is say things and be right about it without any actual proof. Because if there was such occupation for real I would have known. And she had the nerve to offer her help to do my job! Of course I would accept her help only when the hell freezes!

"She has valuable assets," Castle said after he had looked at her ass. I couldn't believe him! "Not those kind," he immediately denied just when I had caught him staring at her assets. Yeah, right, I totally believe you, Castle. Liar, liar pants on fire! Well, his pants might be on fire but for another reason. Because she was the one who lit his fire the moment she entered the room, I could tell. He was staring at her ass but he clearly meant another kind of assets? Did Castle think I was an idiot?! I was not born yesterday! I saw the way he was staring at her and I could see what was on him mind and his mouth as well because he usually doesn't think through what he is saying. He was staring at her ass, checking out her body, scrutinizing her. And I knew that because sometimes he was staring at me like that. So I knew for sure what exactly he was doing. Of course I played innocent and pretend I didn't notice. She was museum's insurance investigator after all, not a piece of art to stare at her like that. And he had the audacity to talk about her ass. Did I look like a man now?! What the hell he was thinking, sharing his stupid opining like that!? And to talk to me about other woman's assets. He was insufferable. Just a few moments ago Castle was probably thinking about me. He was imagining what I said to him, trying to picture me in collage, posing as a model. Because I just wanted to tease him a little and I nailed it. But after seeing Serena he obviously stopped thinking about me, forgetting everything I said. Now his mind was all busy with her. And not only his mind... other parts, too.

Serena Kaye. Her last name sounded like Okay but without the "o" in the beginning. And she really was okay, fine, even more than fine according to Castle. But what kind of name was that?! It was kind of stupid unlike her. Because she was a know-it-all. A very cocky and way too arrogant know-it-all, if you ask me. But Castle was drooling over her and hadn't stopped doing it ever since the moment she set her foot in my precinct. He didn't look away even for a few seconds. He probably couldn't. It was like his eyes were glued to her body. And me? Did he look at me? No, he didn't even take a quick glance. It was as if I was just some kind of a background for him now. And I was just trying not give anything away even though I was furious. I was just staring at them with my poker face, trying to look nonchalant, seeing them making googly eyes at each other. And I really did try not to make faces but when Espo came and Castle declared that she was with us I just couldn't help it. And plus, Castle was not only staring at Serena but listening to every single word she pronounced so carefully. I was talking, too but probably all he was hearing was a white noise. Great! And now Espo is staring at her, too. Or drooling over her is more precisely to say. Just like Castle. They all were making such a fuss over her. Haven't they seen a woman before?! They were treating her like she was persona-grata, a star, some famous celebrity. But she was nothing of that sort! They had to stop staring at her!

And then out of the blue Castle started following her. When Serena got up and declared she was going to seek leads on the case we were working on, Castle immediately decided to go with her. What the hell was happening? I wanted to ask him not to go with her, to stay at the precinct with me. But all I said was "fine". And of course it wasn't fine, couldn't he see that? I was feeling far from good. And then I wanted to scream after him: "Fine! Go with her! See if I care!" But he was already gone. He used to follow me around everywhere I went and now he wanted to go with her! That was preposterous! I was his muse after all not her. Why would he follow her? I had no idea. Well, I had a few suggestions but I didn't want to think about it. I was so mad at him at that moment. I just couldn't think straight.

When they came back Castle looked so smug. So happy that he was with her. And then he wanted to go with her again? I bet he had a nice time since he wanted to repeat. The good thing was that she said no to his company. "I'll catch you later?" she had the audacity to say despite the fact that I was still there, looking at them. And plus, that was my line. Castle always wanted to catch up with me not with her. "Catch me any time," he answered back, looking at her like I wasn't there at all. And I couldn't help but roll me eyes at him. Not that he noticed me anyway. And yeah, I'll bet she would catch him! Over my dead body! But I was sure she would catch him no matter what I did. No matter how hard I tried to prevent it. I didn't want to witness their flirting anymore so I just walked away. Far from them and their flirting, their googly eyes and Castle's smug smile when he was looking at her. And plus, he was ignoring me completely. So I left them all alone. I just didn't want to think about them or about anything at all. Because I was furious. And frustrated.

I was so mad at Castle. So angry that I wanted to kill someone. A specific person. Blond one with high heels and a dress so tight that she barely walks in it. Or strut in it because that's what she does. After all she was the reason I was so angry with him. And I was mad at her, too. I was furious at Serena for showing up out of nowhere, and then coming at my precinct uninvited and unwanted. But apparently only by me. Because everyone else around just loved her. But I hated her for going out with Castle, for strutting around him with her tight revealing dresses, distracting him. I hated her for flirting with Castle right in front of me, and making googly eyes at him as if I wasn't there at all. I hated her for so many reasons. The list was endless. And I really needed to tell someone about it. I just wanted to share my pain with someone and since Castle was out of the question because he was the reason that I was in that state in the first place, I went to my therapist. And so I told him all about that cocky woman. I told him how uncooperative and stubborn she was. And I told him all about Castle and how smitten he was. Or at least he looked that way. I wanted to share my pain with someone who would understand me; someone who would give me support and sympathy. And good advices as well, I hoped. And my therapist really did help me. He helped me realize the situation and deal with my feelings. "What are you really scared of? That he won't wait for you? Or that he will?" He asked me. And that was the question which I couldn't face. I wasn't ready and I just didn't want to think about it. Of course I wanted Castle to wait for me. But it was complicated. And I explained the difficult situation between me and Castle to my therapist. I told him all about it. And I just started wondering what to do. Would it be right to make him wait for me and stop their romance before it really began? But I just couldn't tell Castle to wait for me. I would feel guilty if I made him wait for something I didn't know when I would be ready for. And Serena obviously liked him. He liked her back as far as I could tell so I just couldn't forbidden him to see her. Not that I didn't want though. Everything seemed so complicated.

I was so confused and frustrated. I just didn't know what to do. And I hadn't even considered that it would be necessary to do anything about it until I saw Castle. And then he asked me about going out with Serena. What was he thinking?! That I was a priest and he needed my blessing!? Or was he just trying to rub my nose in it? "Should I pursue it," he asked me. That were his exact words. It?! If by "it" he meant moving to another country because I was going to kill him if he went out with her then yes. Positively. And that was what I told him. To suit himself. To do whatever he liked because he indeed always did whatever he wants to do. But I didn't mean what I said. And I didn't say what I meant. What I truly wanted to say to him. He wanted to go out with her. I couldn't believe it! Not when just a few months ago he had said that he loved me. And I could remember his words clearly in my mind. I still remembered his exact words, his pleads, begging me to stay with him. I remembered his confession. And I really thought that all of it was true. Why would he lie? But then I started doubting his words. When I lied that I didn't remember anything from the shooting he didn't say anything. Didn't do anything. So maybe he didn't mean what he said. I knew perfectly well that in desperate times, when you are on the verge of losing someone, you could say things you don't mean. Or things you are not ready to say just yet but you say them anyway, out of desperation. So perhaps he didn't mean it since he hadn't said a word about it after that. And he had plenty of time. So it became less and less likely for him to love me. I truly doubted his words and his feelings. Especially after Serena appeared in his live. And she was always there, working with us, shadowing us, distracting Castle. And now he wanted to go out with her. On a date! That wasn't just a small hint which I could just ignore. He liked her. That was that. It was a big deal and an obvious confession. He just liked her and t hat was for real. I couldn't pretend anymore. I couldn't lie to myself that it was fine by me. Not anymore.

I was really worried about the whole situation until Serena became one of our suspects. She was just a thief and I was going to prove it mainly to make Castle see that she wasn't good for him. And Castle and Serena were about to go on a date anyway so why not expose her while he was at it? The plan was simple: Castle invites her on a date and distracts her while we are looking for clues in her room. All he had to do was keep her busy and out of her room. And everything was going according to plan until I exited her room and saw them kissing. My Castle and Serena! " What are you doing here?" she had the nerve to ask me. "Arresting you for theft! And murder!" I declared angrily as I just saw them kissing and I could barely believe my eyes. I was arresting Serena for murder and preventing myself from committing one because I just wanted to kill her. Castle had her lipstick on his mouth. I just couldn't even look at him at that moment. And at her either. What was she trying to do? Steal my Castle?! I mean, just Castle. Not mine because he still wasn't mine. But he wasn't hers either. So I was arresting her for theft and murder. Theft for trying to steal my boyfr- ... I mean my Castle... just Castle. And murder for trying to kill our relationship with him. Okay, maybe not a relationship but partnership, our connection, our special thing, our bond. And that was something that she definitely deserved to go to jail for. And Castle should follow her, too. Because he had the audacity to blame me for the kiss and for everything else. I couldn't believe him! He just justified himself in front of me, saying that I was the one who told him to go out with her and to keep her occupied. Okay, I admit that it was true, I was the one who suggested to go out with her. There, I said it. And I told him to stall her but I definitely didn't say to put his tongue in her mouth and kiss her. If I have said that I would remember. I surely didn't tell him anything of that sort. But obviously he had some problem with his hearing. And with reading too because I texted him to stall her not kiss her. My instructions were pretty clear. Or at least I thought they were. Until he decided to take matters in his own hands. Literally.

Not only did she kiss Castle right in front of me but she had the nerve to tell me that I was ignoring my instincts which were telling me she was innocent. What did she know about my instincts! Innocent or not I just didn't care. I was more worried about Castle not about the case. She was a thief and she was trying to steal Castle. And she even admitted it. That she was a thief not that she was trying to steal Castle. But she didn't need to admit that she wanted to steal Castle under my nose because it was kind of obvious. She was a professional theft, a very smart woman, a know-it all who knew all about stealing because it was her job to steal valuable things so I was really worried. And I had every right to be worried. Just like I had every right to hate her. Because I did. I hated her so much. And also, I started hating her even more, if that was even possible, when I noticed the dress she was wearing. A red one which was shorter and it showed a lot more cleavage. She was wearing that dress on her date with Castle?! The nerve of that woman! How would she show up next time?! In her underwear? Or even worse - naked!? That woman had no shame! Didn't she have a pants and a shirt? Didn't she own any normal clothes? Why she was always wearing dresses? If she didn't have any normal clothes I would gladly buy her and give it to her for free. Just so she can put something on. Something normal. She needed to cover herself up a little because Castle had wild imagination and I didn't want her so close to him looking like that. Who the hell did she think she was?! A supermodel in a fashion week!? My precinct was not her podium to walk, dressed like that and strut around. Because she was always strutting when she walked. Probably on purpose. Just for a show. To distract Castle and try to turn his head. Or maybe she could barely walk in a dress so tight around her body. Perhaps she could barely breathe in it and not to mention that she just couldn't walk like a normal person with that stupid dress and such high heels. I hated Serena and her stupid dress and everything else!

Honestly, I didn't know who I hated more - Castle or Serena. Both of them had done something wrong and had a big part in the whole thing. It was their fault that I was so angry and frustrated. After all, Castle was the one who kissed Serena so it was his own fault that I was so mad at him. But Serena was the one who seduced him and probably made him do it and I mean she made him kiss her, not something else. Or at least I'd like to think that way. Well, not that Castle seemed to mind it anyway. So that was her fault, too. And she made me furious. They both acted like teenagers, flirting with each other, making googly eyes, kissing each other and making out. And who knows what else. The good thing was that I was there to stop them. Okay, I have to admit that partly it was my fault. But just a small tiny bit. Because I was the one who made Castle to go out with her. I guess I wanted to catch Serena, to compromise her in front of Castle's eyes so badly that I didn't think things through. I wanted him to see that she was a criminal and prevent their little romance. Or whatever they had. Their flirting, or call it whatever you want. I just wanted it so badly. But in the end I just brought them closer. And that was my own fault.

So ultimately, I had to admit defeat. I saw that Serena liked him so I just had to step away and let Castle pursue it as he said. Leave them alone and make peace with it. I was trying really hard not to dwell on it too much. I didn't like Serena because she was a thief after all but Castle liked her so my opinion didn't really matter. So I reassured her that Castle believed she was innocent and hadn't had any doubts about it. And I left them alone. But in the end, it turned out that Serena wasn't that bad after all. "I don't steal things that belong to someone else." I overheard her saying that to Castle, looking at him. Okay, I have to admit that I was eavesdropping but can you blame me? I was spying on them, you could say it, but I really wanted to see what was going to happen. I was just curious. But I felt so relieved when I heard her saying those words. And then she kissed him on the cheek but I could forgive her for that one. I had to let it past me because I was so happy. She was a thief but she was righteous and had an honor, I have to admit that. Of course I played surprised that Castle didn't go out with her and he totally believed me. It was a piece of cake. Castle was so clueless sometimes.