Here everyone goes. enjoy.

Oh. 10 music geek point to anyone who spotted the Halestorm lyrics in the last chapter.

Chapter 10 – The Good

Castle was about to attack Josh but Wall was quick enough to spin Josh around, putting himself between the two men. "Castle! I don't want blood on the floor and Josh was just about to leave. So you go over there" he said nodding toward Beckett's desk. As Castle did as he was instructed; the Captain turned his attention back to Josh, who was still standing on his toes due to Wall's intense grip on his shoulders. "Listen very carefully to me, Dr. Davidson. Do not come within 50 yards of Kate or Castle and do not ever come here again. You understand me?" The tone of his voice was both warning and intimidating. He pushed Josh into the elevator and hit the lobby button before stepping back and waiting for the doors to close.

However Josh's ego did not like to be talked to like a child or manhandled. "I will continue to do whatever I want to, Captain" he said trying to time it so he said it right before the doors closed.

Wall grabbed the door before it closed though. "Go ahead and try something like this again, but remember that next time I will not save you. I doubt Mr. Castle will be more the three feet away from Detective Beckett at any time in the near or distant future. Also, I think Castle very much enjoyed beating on you. It's kind of like therapy for him, I think" he smiled an insincere and very chilling smile.

Kate had followed the Captain out towards the elevator and heard what the Captain said to her future ex-husband and Kate wanted the last word. She walked up behind the Captain, placed a hand on Wall's massive shoulder to peer over it, and fired off one last slight at Josh. "Oh Captain, you don't have to worry about Castle. He will be much closer than that, especially at night." Kate smiled, looking Josh straight in the eye and seeing the anger there.

Wall's face was overtaken by a giant smile. He knew exactly what Kate was doing. After a second to enjoy the look of repulsion and anger on Josh's face, he removed his hand from the door allowing it to finally close.

The Captain and Kate walked back into the bullpen; him to his office and her back to her desk. She was pleased and a little confused to find Castle in an amused mood. "What's with you?" she asked standing in front of him.

"I heard you."

She instantly turned red and started biting her lower lip. He held out his hand to her, she gladly accepted it. "Oh!" escaped from her as he pulled her into his lap with a quick motion. Her face stopped next to his and she kissed him. She could not help it. They were enjoying their moment of peace until the sound of a throat being cleared interrupted them. They before looked up to see Detectives Ryan and Esposito standing there.

The redness returned to Kate's face. "Guys, what can we do for you?"

The boys just looked at each other. "It's kind of gross when Mom and Dad make out in the middle of the work place, so if you two don't mind?" Esposito teased them.

"What do you want Esposito?" Kate shot at him as she stood up from Castle's lap. He was still grinning like a fool.

It was Ryan who spoke this time as Beckett was still giving Esposito the evil eye. "We were wondering what the lawyer said?"

Castle was just sitting there looking at Kate with that glint in his eye, he hadn't heard a word that Ryan had said. It took a nudge from Kate to get his attention to the question at hand. She was as curious as the boys were. Castle turned in his chair to face them as they were standing behind him. After having Ryan repeat his question, Castle answered.

"My lawyer is moving to have all the charges dismissed by tomorrow morning. Apparently there is not much evidence, just Josh's word against mine, mainly." Castle relished being the center of their attention. "He believes that because the whole case is based on Josh's word and no witnesses willing to come forward, the DA doesn't seem eager to pursue the charges. So he thinks that there is a good chance the case will be settled sometime soon. So there is no real worry, okay? Everyone can relax." He was looking at Kate trying to reassure her most of all. He wanted to make sure she knew that he wasn't going to go anywhere.

Kate just bit her lip in response of the news. She was nervous for him because she knew how cruel Josh could be.

"That's good to hear, bro." Esposito said. "That's just one more thing to cross of the list of troubles these days." Both the boys did look relieved. In truth, Castle was guilty of assault after all and they were not only witnesses, they stood by and watched it happen, essentially condoning his actions. So they could have been in more trouble than him. Of course, he wasn't going to announce that conclusion.

Everyone was all smiles after hearing the first piece of good news they had in a while. The boys headed back to their desk and Castle turned back to Kate who still looked a little distressed. She had a question on her lips but was afraid to actually ask it.

Castle watched her for a few seconds; he adored the rare sight of an uncomfortable Beckett. But his writer's nature got ahold of him quickly and he had to know what she was fidgeting about. "Beckett, what is it?"

Kate was unsure about asking him about it. The question had been rolling around her mind for a while now but she did not think she should bring it up right now. They were in the middle of so much; the killings, protecting Alexis, and possible charges against Castle. He had a lot on his mind. So she quickly decided to wait and ask him later, maybe. "It's nothing. Never mind."

This just got his interest up even more. "Come on, you can talk to me" he said playfully trying to goad her into telling him. He was curious now.

"Castle, it will wait" her tone was slightly more serious but she had a smile on her face now. It let him know that they would discuss it but later.

Castle let it drop and as the day wore on, they worked the case looking for anything; a new lead or evidence that would point them in the right direction. They knew more from the latest victim, like the murder was more hastily done, but the killer still left behind no physical evidence on the body or in the room. They couldn't do anything with what little information they had.

It was late, around 10:30 or 11 o'clock at night, and Kate needed a caffeine fix. She went to the break room for coffee but the pot was empty and she never could work the damn espresso machine. The only solution; a Pepsi! So she headed back to her desk in search of change for the machine, but alas no such luck. Then she spotted Castle's coat hanging off the back of his chair.

She thought about it for a minute and decided that her need for caffeine over the ethics of searching his pockets was winning this battle. So she searched his pockets for change but all she found in one was sucker that tasted like soap and nothing in the other. She checked his inside pocket last, hoping that there would be something there, and was stopped dead in her tracks. Kate did not have to draw her hand out of the inside pocket because she knew exactly what she had in her hand. She had to make sure she was right though. Kate closed her eyes and pulled the small box from Castle's pocket.

She took a very deep breathe and opened her eyes, to reveal that she was right. It was a ring box, but there was something wrong with it. It was beat up, scratched, and looked like it had been in his pocket for a long time. She just gazed at it for a moment, lost. She regained herself and stuffed the box back into his pocket before anyone could see her.

Kate had barely gotten back into her chair when Castle walked up to her. "So I think we can't do anything more here tonight. Shall we head home?" He was being his normal charming self. If he did see her then he did not say anything. She breathed a short sigh of relief.

"No, I should keep working" she was protesting on reflex, even though the drowsiness was obvious on her face.

He knew she was dead tired but arguing with her would be useless, so he switched tactics. "Detective Beckett, I am ready to go home and as my assigned protective detail, I believe you must accompany me home. Or should I go check with Captain Wall? Just to make sure, what do you say?" He said pointing his thumb over his shoulder toward the Captain's office. He knew this would get to her. Castle was right, it had got to her. He had pulled rank.

"Really, you are going to pull that card?" she accused sitting back in her chair. He just nodded his head, smiling. She thought about it and recognized that he was making her going home for her own good.

As they headed back to the loft, they passed the car ride not saying a word. They both had things on their minds. Castle was dying to know what Kate was going to ask. Kate wanted the story behind the damaged ring box. But neither one would break the stalemate of silence.

They kept this up even after they arrived at the loft. By the time the couple had arrived at the loft, everyone else was asleep for the night. They carefully walked through to the bedroom, trying to be as quiet as possible. But it finally got to Castle, he had to know. He caught her by the hand, causing her spin around to face him. "Kate what were you going to ask earlier? It seemed to bother you a lot. So if it is something I can help with, please let me."

She was hoping that he had forgotten about that. The more she thought about asking him, the more she thought it would not be right.

Castle looked like a kid who's mom just told him no. "Come on, Kate. Tell me please." He was begging to know.

Inwardly smiling, Kate decided to use his interest against him to answer her own snooping. "Fine I will tell you but you have to answer a question in return. Is that agreeable?"

Castle was twice as curious now. It was twofold for him, a solution to his writer's inquisitiveness nature and mysterious question from the woman he loved. "Sure. That sounds fine, but ladies first."

"Fine" she said a little indignantly. She always hated being put on the spot and here she was center stage. "I was going to ask what the name of your divorce lawyer is. I need someone good and I know you've been through this a couple of times. I want it done quickly and quietly. Okay, you happy now?"

Castle response caught her completely off guard. He almost bent over laughing, having a hard time catching his breath. It pissed her off.

"What is so damn funny?" she demanded crossing her arms.

He saw that she was serious and that it took a bit to ask him that. "I am sorry, Kate" he said righting himself, sobering his mood to match hers. "I really am sorry, but why were you so nervous about asking me that? I have known that you wanted a divorce from Josh, it not a big deal. I will call my guy in the morning." Castle slid up next to Kate wrapping his arms around her.

Kate was feeling a little foolish about the whole thing, to the point of turning a little red for the third time that day. She returned the motion and wrapped her arms around him. "I guess I thought I should handle this on my own, but I don't know anyone else who's been through this. It also seems a little embarrassing to ask your boyfriend about divorce lawyers."

"Kate, you can ask me anything, about everything" he said smiling down into her eyes.

Kate saw an opening to satisfying her curiosity. "Anything, huh? Okay explain this." In one swift action, Kate had slipped her hand into his pocket, removed the box from it, and stepped away from him.

He just gawked at the box for a second. Castle was suddenly dumbfounded. "How did you know about that?" he asked when he found his voice, still a little shaken.

Kate recounted her need for caffeine at 12th and searching his pocket for change for the pop machine. Kate bit on her bottom lip trying to be cute, so that he would not get mad. "Will you tell me what this is?"

Castle had to know something first before answering her. "Did you look inside?" She shook her head no. He smiled, holding out his hand wanting the box back and once she dropped into his hand he started to explain.

"It's yours, Kate." He opened the box facing him so she could not see it. He had seen the ring in the box many times but this time it was coming out and staying out. It belonged on her finger. He smiled and looked at her, his face told her what was about to happen. A smiled broke across her face, tears welling up in her eyes.

Castle moved toward her, getting down on one knee, he turned the box towards her, revealing a beautiful but simple diamond ring. "This ring has belonged to you for a long time but I have to ask the question that goes with it."

He did not get the chance to ask as she got down matching his position on the floor.

"It would be my honor if you would marry me, Mr. Castle."

He just smiled at her. He loved her and she loved him. Her make-up was streaking down her face.

"Of course I will. Once you're divorced that is." he said smiling before kissing her.

Something was amiss, though, the box. It bothered her. "Castle, why is the box all beat up?"

He took a deep breath before going into the explanation. "This ring belonged to you long ago. I heard you tell Lanie that you remembered everything, in the hospital. That you loved me, but you had to solve your mother's case first. I went out and bought this that very day. I was going to ask the day we solved the case. No matter, what or where we were. Before our first date in the middle of the 12th, if I had to. The guys and I solved the case but things changed and I have been carrying it around with me ever since. Every day. It's never left my pocket. So over time the box got beat up."

She leaned her head on his shoulder. Her tears of joy were now ones of sadness. She had really hurt him. He was willing to ask her to be his forever before everything else that normally comes in a relationship. "I am sorry, Castle." Kate's crying flowed freer now. All the hurt she had caused him over the last year welled up and she could not help those tears falling. Honestly, she did not want to.

"Don't cry, Kate. It's okay, we are together now. So forget the past alright." He tucked a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. His smile was a wary one, but a happy one. He wiped her tears away with his thumb. He keep repeating "It's okay" again and again.

Once she had regained herself and was back on her feet she said, "Thank you, Castle."

"Would you like to try the ring on?" he asked since he was still holding the box in his hand.

"Yes, please" she said like an excited teenager, holding her hand out for him to slip the ring on her finger. Kate wrinkled her nose a little as the ring fit her perfectly. Castle really did know her too well. She looked at it, thinking that the ring that was there a short time ago was a prison and how this one felt nothing but freeing.

Castle hugged her close. She kissed him and he returned in kind, but their special moment was ruined by an unwanted intrusion again. His stomach growled like a prehistoric creature from the deep. They broke apart laughing.

"Go find us food" she said to him.

"Sure thing" he said and he departed for the kitchen.

Kate stood there a moment staring at her ring. Then she noticed that the ring had something inscribed on the outside. As she looked closer it was the same word over and over again. She took it off to look closer and saw that it was repeated on the inside to. She put it back on, with pride. It was their word. Their version of I love you.

"Always"

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