A/N: thank you all for the reviews and messages !!! Seriously they breathe life into me and this story!

Chapter 10

Memories

Kevin and Javier had found themselves at a bar, drinking in silence . Kevin thought back to another day not to far in the past where his partner had found him in the exact same bar.

Flashback"ANOTHER!" Kevin yelled at the bartender, slamming his glass down. He wanted to forget everything that had happened to him over the past few months. Jenny , her leaving him. Just because he liked his job? Being a cop was everything he had ever wanted , and she expected him to give it up just like that? No way. His under cover days were behind him, but that didn't mean his passion for the job was gone. She couldn't understand his need to put himself in danger , even when/if it meant saving people . The divorce papers coming to him at the precinct, that was the icing on the proverbial cake that was Kevin Ryan's life. "Hey! I said another!!" He was angry, at himself , at Jenny, at the situation… he knew drinking wouldn't make it go away completely, but still, he needed that relief even for just a little while."Hey partner – maybe you should slow down a bit?" Javier Esposito knew his friend was hurting, but didn't want him showing up to work with a massive hangover. The captain would have Ryan's hide. "Bro let me drive you home. You have had enough. " Esposito grabbed the bartenders attention and handed him his credit card to close out the tab."No Javi I don't want to leave! I want to drink. I want to forget her. Please –" he sounded so sad Javi almost agreed. But he knew better. When Kevin drank he didn't just drink a little. There was no halfway with the Irishman. This was going to be messy if he didn't take control of the situation."I get it man. Let's go to my place. You can keep drinking there . We'll play Madden. Or COD you can kick some 12 year olds ass. How's that sound?" Javi was praying that Kevin wouldn't put up a fight, and thankfully he didn't. He just nodded and slid off the stool, swaying next to Javi while he signed the credit card slip. They walked out to the car and he helped Kevin into the cruiser , buckling his seat belt for him."I miss her " Kevin whispered so quietly Javi almost missed it."I know bro. This is going to be rough, but you'll get through it. I'll be here, Beckett will too. We care about you. WHATEVER you need , we are here."His partner looked relieved , as they drove off into the night.End flashback

"Remember when you had to drag me outta here ? Boy that was fun." Kevin grimaced at the thought. They had been through a lot since then, the divorce was now final and Kevin had began healing. He hadn't drank again like that since, and tonight would not be the exception. One drink was all he planned on, then home.

"Bro. I'm gonna need you to explain to me what you are planning. I can't be your back up if I don't know the play." Esposito took a pull from his beer bottle and glanced at the man sitting next to him. "You want me to get Castle away so you can talk to her or what?" Always the friend, always willing to do whatever he could for his partner , Javier just wanted to know where it was going.

"I want to solve this case. These victims, they just keep piling up. She's blaming herself, and she shouldn't. I don't know what it is about her but I cant stand seeing her sad. It breaks my heart. I haven't felt this way since … " he trailed off lost in thought.

"Since Jenny left, I know dude. And it's cool. I wanna solve it too but we don't have a huge amount to go on. I know you always wanna be the protector, but maybe this time we leave it to Castle. I mean he is her friend… if anyone is gonna be the one she turns to it'll be him. Not to rain on your parade or anything…" Javier saw the dejected look in his partners eyes , and cursed under his breath. "Okay. Let's look at it again with fresh eyes in the morning , how about that? "

Ryan nodded and swallowed the last bit of beer in his bottle. "I'm calling it a night. I'll see you in the morning partner. Thanks for keeping me company . " they fist bumped and Ryan walked out the front door.

Esposito finished his beer and followed not to long after . Going to his car he kept thinking about his best friend, and the hell he had gone through over the last months. If this girl meant that much to him, then Javi was going to do everything he could to get them together. Kevin deserved to be happy. He knew he needed to call Castle and get the lowdown on his relationship with this girl. His partner couldn't take another heartbreak. He vowed to talk to Castle first thing in the morning.

Across town

John Smith, as he decided to go by, was on another stakeout. His favorite subject was in a corner apartment of some rich author , and he was pissed. How could she be ignoring him like this? After all the notes, the presents… all the bodies he left her? He was getting rid of all the others, so there would be only one K.B left that mattered. Didn't she know he was the only man that would ever really love her? He found the apartment number online, and got his latest delivery ready . He was taking a chance going himself but he didn't trust anyone else. He got out of the van and started towards the front entrance , when he noticed the cop car pull up. A woman stepped out, beautiful brown hair, and went into the building. He decided to follow her , with the flowers as his cover , to see where she was headed.

"Hello Detective Beckett how are you this evening?" the doorman knew her. She must have visited here before… he continued to close in.

"I'm good Edmundo. And I told you to call me Kate . How is your family doing? " the two continued their chatting not paying him any mind.

"Sorry sir where did you need to go?" the doorman finally acknowledged he was standing there.

"Apartment 404, Richard Castle. " he tried not to sound anxious in any way , giving away his secret of why he was there.

"Oh that's where I'm going. I can take them for you." The detective held out her hands to take the case of flowers from him. Dammit, this wasn't how it was supposed to go! He wanted to see her with his own eyes, see how she was doing. The detective was looking at him with a puzzled look on her face so he made his decision.

"Thank you so much!" He handed the flowers off , spun around and walked back to his van. He couldn't believe the universe sent him another KB. This one was a cop! That would take some planning... he checked his laptop, the camera was functioning . He grinned and drove off so he could watch her in the comfort of his own apartment.