Chapter 13:Closure

AN: So I guess you know now(after chapter 12) why I chose Dice and Slice as story title ;)

Disclaimer: I still don't own any characters from Castle(hehe see what I did there ;D It's lame, I know, I am)

After Beckett had talked to the DA about Griver's 'cooperation', she and Castle were going over what they already knew about the case.

"So Sarah Dontey and her nanny, Kelly, were at the park. When they wanted to go home, Kelly grabbed their coats but when she turned around, Sarah was gone," Castle started.

"Yes. And Griver just told us that he met with a guy,"

"Who worked for 'The Shark' Declemente..."

"And whose name is probably Sammie. And just after he left, he heard someone scream."

"It was really close to the park so there's a big chance it was Sarah."

"It could have been Sarah but could also not have been her," Beckett pointed out.

"Ok, you're right. But let's say it is Sarah, why would she be near that alley?"

"She could have been walking home. It's on the way."

"That's definitely possible."

"Detective Beckett, my office please," Gates interrupted them.

"Sure." Beckett stood up and threw Castle a dry erase marker. "Can you put the theory and new details on the board? I'll be right back."

"Of course."

"So here's where you've been hiding all the time." The blonde woman storms through the room to the desk, aiming her frustration at Richard Castle who is sitting in his usual chair in the bullpen.

"Gina! What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" She hisses, poking him in the chest to emphasise her words. "I've been waiting for you to send me that last chapter for eight days now. Why are you here playing cop again instead of writing at home?"

Castle still looked surprised and slightly embarrassed by the woman's outburst.

"Ahem."

Gina turned around to see Beckett standing with a puzzled look. "Oh, now I get!"

"Gina, could you tune it down a bit please? Everyone's staring," Castle tried to calm her down. But it just made her speak even louder.

"No, I won't tune it down a bit."

"Can anyone tell me what's going on here?" Beckett clearly didn't understand what all the fuzz at her desk was about. She had peeked out of the break room door when she heard someone yelling angrily. Seeing Castle startled in his chair with his ex-wife standing over him, she had moved quickly to help her partner. Yes, he was her partner, in any way necessary and it is partners' job to assist each other in whichever situation.

"I have no idea. Honestly, Beckett. She stormed in here yelling and I have no clue what it's about."

Beckett saw the tension in Gina's shoulders growing stronger. "Care to inform us then?" she addressed the woman.

"Like you don't know," she snorted. "He just follows you around like a lost puppy, neglecting his real, important work." She turned to face Castle. "You're so worked up on this woman. She keeps you from writing, Richard! Are you two sleeping together? If not, I don't understand why you keep stalking her every minute of the day. She isn't worth lacking on your career." She sounded jealous but desperate now.

"No. No!" He knew Gina only wanted the best for him(and herself too of course) but she had crossed the line. He looked desperately at Beckett, looking for assistance. Was she blushing? She was! Wow, that was something totally new. He had seen tough Beckett, annoyed Beckett, hurt Beckett, angry Beckett and what more. But embarrassed Beckett, that was something he had never seen. And he liked it. He felt the corners of his mouth slightly lifting.

Of course Gina had seen it too. She growled, partially to let out her frustration and partially to let them know she was still there.

That seemed to snap Castle out of his little trance.

"Gina, listen, I'm sorry I'm late with sending you the chapter but I've been very busy."

"I see." She shot a sideway glance to Beckett.

"And Beckett has nothing to do with it." He looked at her. He saw she was glad he was defending her.

She was still tense and embarrassed by Gina's statement, especially after her confusion earlier that week. She had thought about that little spark a few times in the past days and every time she saw him, she felt a slight flutter in her stomach.

"Please, Gina, just give me two more days. I just have to reread it some more and it's ready. I'll send it to you as soon as I'm done with it," he pleaded.

After a deep sigh she agreed. "Fine. But if it's not on my desk by the end of the week, you can start looking for a new publisher."

"I will. Thanks."

She nodded and trotted out, giving Beckett a demeaning glare and shaking her head. Whatever he saw in her, she couldn't.

"Uhm. How did it go with Gates?" Castle tried to deflect from what just happened.

And Beckett gladly took the opportunity to do so. "She just wanted to know how far we are on the case. It's clear she really wants this to be over. And she's certainly not alone."

"I can't wait for this case to be over either."

"What's with the sad party?" Esposito joined them at Beckett's desk. He figured it was safe now that Gina had left. Man, that was some show she had put up.

"Anything on this Sammie guy, Espo?" Beckett asked.

"Yeah, we found this one: Samuel Ketting."

Ryan put the mug shot up on the board.

"Rough guy. Six years in prison for almost beating a guy to death," Beckett said checking his rap sheet. "He's been allegedly working for Declemente since he was 17."

"Allegedly?"

"No one has been able to tie him to The Shark but there is word," Ryan explained.

"Great work guys. Let's bring him in." And with that, the three detectives took off to get the killer.

"You kinda had it coming dad, don't you think. I haven't seen you writing in days." Coming home from school, Alexis had seen him sitting in the living room with his laptop on his lap and a glass of wine next to him on the coffee table.

By now she knew why. Every time, he went through the same ritual: Gina would get pissed because he hadn't send in whatever he had to in time, she'd yell at him, he would go home, pour himself some wine, take his laptop and stare at the screen for hours.

This time it didn't seem to be any different. Castle then had explained Alexis all that had happened a few hours earlier and they were now sitting on the couch, he with his wine and she with cranberry juice in a similar glass as her dad's.

"I have. You just haven't been awake at the time. And I write a lot in the precinct, too," he defended himself.

"You mean in between the playing and staring you still find time to write?" she joked.

"Very funny. I'll get it done eventually. It wouldn't be the first time I have to pull a few all-nighters."

"It's your life dad. If you wanna loose it to mad Gina, it's your decision," she grinned.

"Thank you for your support." Castle hugged his daughter, glad to have her in his life.

A few hours later, when Alexis was to bed, he was sitting in his study. Just as he clicked the 'send' button on his computer, his phone ringed.

"Gina, I just sent you the chapter. Please stop calling."

"Wow Castle, thanks. Good evening to you too." He was glad it was Beckett's voice he was hearing instead of his ex-wife's.

"Beckett, hey, what's up. Did he confess?"

"He did." He could image her with a big smile on her face.

"So... Why did he do it?"

"As we suspected from what Griver said, Sarah had seen the deal go through and paid for it with her life."

"Poor girl, talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Have you told her parents yet?"

"I called them a few minutes ago. They're relieved we caught their daughter's killer..."

"But they'll never get their little girl back," Castle finished.

"No they won't." There was sadness in both their voices.

"You wanna come over for a drink? I've just opened up some wine."

"Sounds great, Castle. I'll fill in these last papers and be there in half an hour. Okay?"

"See you then."

They spent the night talking about the case, watched a movie and finally fell asleep in each other's arms on the couch.

THE END

AN: I know I'm like a broken record but please REVIEW. I'd love to know what you think about this chapter and the story. Writing this was great. It was really hard at times but I loved it.

Thank you so much for reading, reviewing, favouriting, following and for all your support! I couldn't have done this without you guys. Once again, thank you

Lots of Loveballs

X Kezzi