Author's Note: Ok here's one more version I haven't seen yet...It's been running through my head all day and it's kinda tired...But I had to get it out! Before you start worrying, Reality is complete, I just have two more chapters to post. And if you're coming over from the boneyard, I'm putting the finishing touches on Eraser this weekend. ~B2

Chapter 1

Two days. It had been two days since he had left to go play house in the Hamptons with Gina. Two days and she still couldn't get the whole thing out of her head. Huffing in frustration she looks at her phone in desperation, What the hell can I do? I refuse to sit her an be a mope, that is not me. And of course crime has taken a vacation so there's no distraction to keep me busy. Standing up from her chair she silently passes by Ryan and Esposito on her way down to Lanie without even so much as a nod of acknowledgement.

"She's comin Lane. It's on you." Esposito says into his phone when she's safely in the elevator and away from them. "We've got to do something to snap her out of this."

Walking into autopsy Beckett is accosted by the chill in the air as she searches for her friend. Spotting Lanie closing a chill drawer she shuffles over. "Girl you gotta make up your mind. This is not you. The woman I know does not roll over and let things happen. She fights for herself and for her man."

"What am I supposed to do Lanie? I don't even know where he is in the Hamptons. And I'm not just going to call him. That's ridiculous, I'm not some teenage girl losing her crush here. I wouldn't even know where to begin anyway."

Grabbing her friends slumped shoulders Lanie pushes her up against the wall and holds her there. "Now you listen to me and you listen good. First of all, he's pining around here for weeks while you play with Demming and now you're moping around while he's reliving his past. Second of all, Does it bother you at all that she came into your space, took your time, your weekend and left with your man?"

Beckett seems to comoe alive at her words, eyes flashing with indignation. She pushes off the wall forcefully and takes to pacing in front of the autopsy table. "Of course it does, but what am I supposed to do here Lanie?"

"Girl, you stayed at his loft for what 2 weeks after the whole 'blow up Beckett's apartment' thing? You spent time with his family, do you seriously have no way to find him?" Ah, that'd be the light going on. Thank the Lord.

Holding up her finger indicating she needs a minute Beckett pulls out her phone searching for a number, then hits the call button. Her pacing slows to a stop as the phone dials.

Finally a voice answers, "Kate?"

"Yeh, hey Alexis, I'm sorry to bother you, I know you're probably in the middle of a class --"

"Nope, actually you caught me between, I'm walking across the campus now. What's up?"

"Listen I know this may seem weird, but I really need to get your dad's address in the Hamptons, you know where he ran off to with Gina for the summer?"

"Gina? He took Gina to the Hamptons? Are you sure? He can't stand Gina."

"Yep she showed up at the precinct and they left together heading up to the Hamptons." All cozy.

"Huh, he didn't tell me all that when I talked to him last night. He just said he'd locked himself in the downstairs study and wasn't letting himself out till he fixed the book." No wonder he locked the door if she's there.

"Wait, fixed the book? I thought he needed to finish the book..." The book is finished? But he said she was nagging him and it wasn't done.

"Oh, no. It's finished, but he decided about a week ago that he wanted to rewrite some scenes between Heat and Rook. He wasn't happy with an arc or something. Why did you need to find him?" Please let it be why I think it is...

"Well, you see, here's the thing. He thought I was spending the weekend at the beach with Tom, but I broke up with Tom. And then I was talking to your dad trying to explain when Gina came --" Beckett held the phone away from her ear so Lanie could hear the squeal. Finally, they finally get a talk and she ruins it! Good grief if it was possible to dislike that woman any more...

"Ooo OOo Is this like one of those movies where the heroine goes off to fight for what's rightfully hers? Cause I want you to know I'm totally on your side. Anything I can do to help..." Beckett smiles and gives Lanie a thumbs up.

"I just need the address and I'll be on my way."

"Oh, I'll do better than that. Go home, pack a bag, and be downstairs in an hour. I'll send a car over for you, Michael is an excellent driver. He takes me everywhere, he knows the way and his car has a pass and gate remote."

"Alexis really, I just need the address..."

"Kate, listen to me, you can't get near the house without the car pass and the remote. Even if I call up I can't be sure you'll be able to get in, not even your badge will budge security. Really it's no trouble, Michael loves to drive and his sister lives twenty minutes from our cottage, he'll just go visit her for as long as you're there." Or until dad sends him home.

"Ok, if you're sure--"

"Seriously, you need to keep that woman away from my dad. I can't believe he lasted the ride up there with her in the car. Just promise me you won't let her get to you. She's evil. Don't listen to a thing she says until you talk to my dad. Promise?"

"Ok Lex, I promise. I'm gonna head home now. Good luck with your class."

"OH, Kate, call me later when you can, ok? Let me know how it goes. And one more thing,"

"Yeh Lex?"

"My father likes the way you look in red."

"Ok, Lex. Thanks for everything. Bye.

"Yep, Bye Kate."

Snapping her phone shut she glances over at Lanie to fill in the other side of the conversation. " Ok so, long story short. She's sending a car to take me. Gina is evil. And Castle likes me in red. I gotta get home and pack, I've only got an hour before the car picks me up at my apartment."

Shooing her toward the door Lanie follows her out the door. "Go go go. I got all the stuff here. I'll go talk to Montgomery and the boys, you just get home. Take a shower, wear those jeans we bought last week and those red stilettos and the red halter and um, accessories. He won't know what hit him, plus it's pretty comfortable in case you need to take Miss Thang out. GO."

Running out the door to her car, Beckett flies through evening traffic to her apartment as Lanie makes her way upstairs with the news.