- "So did you find anything?" - he asks pointing at the computer.

She shakes her head and gives him an apologetic look – "Not yet, but I've made some calls, I'm thinking maybe we can find related crimes, we should have some answers later today." – he nods and the detective continues – "Castle, what can you tell me about the man that brought Alexis home?" – she inquires.

- "He had dark skin and curly hair cut close to the scalp. He was about 6-5, I think, a very fit guy" – he recalls – "he had dark brown eyes. Sean… Sean Michaels!" – he suddenly remembers.

- "Thank you, Castle" – the detective says while noting down the information.

- "Do you think he can help?"

- "I think we need to find him, he might have seen something." – the detective says – "Velasquez, please run this name and description and let me know if you find this guy" – Beckett asks to one of the officers.

Castle smiles, but he's quieter than usual. Kate puts her hand on top of his giving it a light squeeze – "We'll figure this out, you're not in this alone."

- "I know" – he says finally letting out a small smile.

- "Are you sure you don't want to go home?" – Beckett insists knowing how much Castle cares about Alexis.

He nods – "Yes, I think it's better like this. I know I'll crowd her if I'm there, plus I don't even know what to do to help her anyway" – he vents.

- "Just be there, just be… you" – Beckett smiles at him – "You're good at comforting" – she tells him adding shyly – "trust me, I would know".

Castle smiles with the idea of being able to comfort the always strong Katherine Beckett. The image of her beautiful body on his arms comes back to his mind and this time he can't stop himself from asking – "Kate" – he calls, and right away she knows what's coming – "can I ask you something?"

- "Since when do you ask?" – she teases him.

He smiles but stays firm – "I really need you to be honest with me" – he explains, still a bit hurt with the memory of finding out she heard him confess is love and lied about it.

Beckett's body stiffs on her chair and after a long sight she nods – "You want to talk about last night, don't you?" – she anticipates for his surprise.

Castle simply nods.

- "Very well" – she continues – "What do you want to know?"

He's caught off guard, he never expected her to be so open about this conversation so he babbles – "I was just wondering… what exactly do you remember? Considering that you were half asleep…"

- "Not much…" – she starts and immediately he raises his eyes to meet hers. She lied about what she remembered from the shooting and though he haven't bring it up, by the way he's looking at her and how he was acting strange before, she's pretty sure he figured it out by now.

- "Oh…" – Castle has been trying to find excuses for her actions, ways to justify how she managed to lie to him for a whole year. She's been hinting him lately, trying to get closer, like she wants to fix it, or at least that's what he thought, but here they are again and she seems about ready to make the same mistake.

She can feel the disappointment in his eyes and goes back to the conversation she had with Dr. Burke when she had told him Castle was pulling away. He has been waiting, he has been waiting for her to get ready and she knows it can't be easy, especially not if he really knows she heard him… Damn, why does she have to be so complicated? She has been in relationships before, she has never been this scared, and Castle, of all people, I mean, she trusts him, so why can't she make the move?

- "Maybe I should go…" – Castle announces interrupting her thoughts. He was hoping that being with Beckett would help him distract, after yesterday they seemed to be back to the good old times but now the awkwardness is back.

- "Castle, wait!" – the detective stops him by grabbing his arm and pulling him back to the chair just when he was about to walk away.

- "What do you want, Beckett?" – he questions her as though he's glad she doesn't want him to leave he's too tired to play games.

He's hurt and she can tell it by his tone of voice – "I want to fix this" – she murmurs pointing at them.

- "There's nothing to fix, we're fine" – he dismisses her.

- "That's a lie and you know it."

- "Well maybe, but I don't know think I'm the only one lying here…" – he accuses her.

- "What do you mean, Castle?"

- "You know exactly what I mean, Kate, but if you really want me to say it, then why don't we start with what you really remember about last night?"

Beckett sights and bites her lower lip nervously – "Do you really have to do this here?" – she asks him not upset but almost begging.

- "We don't have to do anything Beckett, even because no matter what I say, we always end up doing things your way" – he vents trying hard not to raise his voice.

- "I wasn't lying about last night" – she starts hesitantly – "I've tried to reconstruct what happened but it's all a big blur…"

There's something in her voice that makes him believe her, so he eases his tone but insists – "What's the last thing you remember, Kate?"

- "I… I'm not sure" – she confesses – "It's hard to filter what really happened from the dreams" – she rushes to explain when he frowns. She's hoping he gives her a hint, she doesn't want to have to confess she dreams about being in his arms, but he doesn't seem willing to help her this time. Justifiably, after all he's the one who has been putting is heart out everytime – "Was it real?" – she finally gathers the courage to ask – "Me in your arms… you, carrying me up to bed… was any of it real?" – she asks finally managing to look at him.

- "Yes" – he nods with a smile, it may not seem much, but for them to be having this conversation is a big step.

- "I'm glad it was" – she confesses with that dazzling smile.

- "I'm glad it was too" – he agrees reaching for her hand. Beckett nervously looks around, paying special attention to Gates' office, realizing it, Castle refrains from touching her – "Sorry" – he murmurs.

- "It's okay" – the detective assures him – "I just don't want to give Gates any more reasons to hate you" – she says with a smile.

- "She doesn't hate me" – he complains as they enter their teasing game.


I hope you enjoyed this one, please let me know what you're thinking so far. I really appreciate all your comments and reviews :)