This was my first shot at writing a case fic, but it is more centered around Ryan and Esposito. This is also my first Castle fic, as I just finished the series for the very first time. I couldn't help myself! I'm so in love with these two! I hope you enjoy nonetheless ;)

XXX

Ryan vaguely noticed Esposito coming closer with two coffees in his hands. He knew he didn't have to say anything as he took one of the coffees, so he didn't. He did smile and Esposito's hand on his lower back was a nice sign of comfort.

They had been called out of bed at 1 am for a murder in an alley. And even if they all knew what they had signed up for all those years ago, it did still sting.

"What do we have here?" Beckett asked Lanie.

"Caucasian female, early to mid-twenties. Stabbed several times." Lanie answered while showing the several stab wounds on the victim's torso and neck. "The cause of death is probably the stab wound on her neck. It probably severed her artery. I should know for sure after I examine the body."

"Those don't seem like wounds caused by a knife to me." Castle said.

"No, the uniforms are still looking for a murder weapon. It was something smaller and more narrow than a knife." Lanie answered as she stood up and signed her colleagues to make the body ready to bring her to the morgue.

"Thanks, Lanie." Esposito said.

"Okay, Esposito, Ryan, you canvas the surroundings. Hopefully we know who our Jane Doe is very fast."

XXX

"Lucy McIntyre, 25 years old." Beckett said as she put up a picture of their victim on the murder board. "Killed between 10.30 pm and 12.30 pm."

It was 8 am and the bullpen was filled with sleep deprived detectives sipping on cups of caffeine.

"The uniforms found her purse in the dumpster near where the body was found." Beckett continued. "She was a beautician in this family owned beauty salon in Manhattan." Beckett put a picture of the front of the beauty salon on the board.

"But she was found in Queens. Nowhere near she was working." Ryan noticed.

"Maybe she lived there?" Esposito suggested.

"No, her address is on Staten Island." Beckett answered. "Let's start at the beauty salon. Castle and I are heading there now. Espo and Ryan, you take a look at her credit card statements and her phone records."

"Oh, can I have a pedicure while we're there?" Castle asked enthusiastically.

"Yeah, maybe you paint your nails and do your make up while you're at it." Beckett answered, rolling her eyes. The boys couldn't help but laugh as Castle followed Beckett like a beaten puppy.

"I need coffee first." Ryan mumbled.

XXX

Ryan looked up from his computer when Esposito's phone rang.

"Esposito. Yeah. Okay, we're on it. See you later." Esposito said before putting his phone down. Ryan did not even ask what the matter was. He was already taking his jacket.

"Lucy's colleagues said she had a roommate. Amelia Woods. Let's go talk to her." Esposito said. Ryan just nodded.

XXX

Esposito knocked on the door of the apartment where the victim used to live. They didn't have to wait a long time before the door was opened.

"Hi. I'm detective Kevin Ryan and this is my partner, detective Esposito. Are you Amelia Woods?" Ryan asked.

The young woman's eyes widened and she nodded.

"Is this about Lucy?" she asked. The fear was hearable in her voice.

"Can we come in?" Esposito asked. The woman opened the door further and let them pass her.

"Is this about Lucy? She didn't come home yesterday." The woman asked again when they sat down at the kitchen table.

"I'm so sorry, Ms Woods." Ryan said.

"No, no…" Amelia mumbled.

"We found Lucy earlier today. She was killed." Esposito continued.

Tears rolled down the woman's face silently.

"Were you and your roommate close?" Ryan asked.

"Roommate?" Amelia asked.

"Yeah? We talked to her colleagues and they told us you were her roommate?" Ryan asked.

"No, she isn't." Amelia answered. "Yeah, she lived here, but she was my girlfriend."

"I'm sorry, we didn't know." Esposito said.

Amelia blew her nose before continuing.

"She wasn't out at work. The beautician community can be very hostile and they will throw everything in your face they can. She was scared being gay would be a reason to exlude her."

Ryan couldn't deny that he felt that very deeply. Being afraid to come out because of being scared you'll be excluded. He took a deep breath. There would be time enough to wallow in self pity later that day.

"Does it happen often? That she doesn't come home at night?" Ryan asked.

"No, but there was a performance in the city she really wanted to see. I had to work, so she went by herself."

"How long have you been together?" Esposito asked.

"We would've been together for five years next week." Amelia answered. It was like she just realized what had happened and she started to cry hysterically.

"Ms Woods, is there someone you know would want to hurt your girlfriend?" Esposito asked when the woman had calmed down.

"I don't know. Not someone I know personally. We only had a couple of friends who knew we were together. I really don't know, I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry, but we have to ask this: where were you between 10.30 pm and 12.30 am last night?" Ryan asked.

"I was working on my laptop until about 12. I'm a copywriter and I had a deadline. After that I took a shower and went to bed."

"Can we take your laptop to check your alibi?" Esposito asked.

"Of course. If I can have it back as soon as possible. I really need it for work." Amelia answered.

"We'll do what we can."

While Esposito took Ms Woods' laptop and the victim's electronics, Ryan looked around in the apartment. It was very domestic. Pictures of the both of them on the walls, beautiful furniture, plants everywhere. A beautiful apartment of a couple who had their shit together.

"Ms Woods, is there someone we can call so you don't have to be alone?" Ryan asked.

"I'll call my mum. She lives in Queens. I'll give you the address so you know where to find me."

"Thanks." Ryan answered.

The boys were getting ready to leave.

"You know. I didn't mind her not being out with her coworkers." Amelia told as she was walking to the door. "But I'd hoped that, one day, we would be out and proud. Now I've never had the chance to show everyone how much I exactly loved her."

Ms Woods needed the time to let that sink in, but - to both the detectives' relief - she didn't start to cry again.

"You know, at least we could love each other behind closed doors. At least I told her I loved her. At least I hugged and kissed her before she left last night. I wouldn't trade our love for anything in the world."

"Take care, Ms Woods." Esposito said, not really knowing what else to say.

XXX

"Wow, that was intense." Ryan mumbled when they were in the car back to the precinct.

"Madden and pizza tonight at mine? I think we can both use it." Esposito suggested.

"Yeah, I'd love to." Ryan answered, hoping Esposito wouldn't hear the knot he felt in his throat.

XXX

When they arrived at the precinct, they saw that the murder board had been expanded.

"Any news on the roommate?" Beckett asked them as they walked in. They both draped their jackets over their own chairs and joined her at the board.

"The roommate is her girlfriend. The vic wasn't out at her work because she was afraid of the reactions. The beautician world is pretty hostile apparently and being a lesbian isn't really a standard." Ryan began to explain.

"What about an alibi?" Beckett asked as she was writing everything down the boys were saying.

"She was working until midnight. We've got her laptop to check if she was telling the truth." Esposito answered.

"I see you've got the murder weapon?" Ryan asked, pointing at the picture on the board.

"Yeah, it was a nail vile. Uniforms found one in the same dumpster they found the vic's purse in. It had her blood all over it. It was a good quality vile as well, so I'm assuming it was the vic's or it was from one of her coworkers."

"No fingerprints I assume?" Esposito asked.

"Only partials, but no success in the database."

"Just a theory. But what if a coworker found out she was a lesbian and killed her for that?" Ryan asked. He felt a shiver over his entire body thinking about a hate crime like that, but they had to keep their options open.

Beckett wrote 'Homophobia?' on the board under the alibis and sighed.

"Okay, we're going back to the beauty salon tomorrow morning, together." Beckett said. "Let's confront them with the fact Lucy McIntyre was a lesbian and look how they react. If someone killed her because of that, they might react differently to the rest of the coworkers. Let's call it a night for today."

The two men didn't let her say it twice.

"6.30 at mine?" Esposito suggested.

"I'll be there." Ryan answered.

XXX

Ryan was getting ready at home to go to Esposito's. He was looking in the mirror in his bathroom after splashing some cold water on his face.

"At least I told her I loved her." Ryan was hearing the victim's girlfriend in his head all day. He was thinking about his relationship with Esposito. Or his friendship with Esposito. He had been in love with his partner for as long as he could remember, but he never told anyone. Why would he? Being gay in the police? And being in love with your partner? Yeah, he wasn't planning on getting beaten up and being spit on again. He shuddered when he thought about his time in high school.

Ryan dried his face with a fresh towel and decided to leave; before he decided to stay at home. He just had to be himself and not lose himself in his thoughts about Esposito. He could do this.

XXX

Ryan's intentions of not losing himself in his thoughts about Esposito flew out of the window when his best friend opened the door. Wearing a tight, soft looking sweater that highlighted his muscles. He just really wanted to climb into Esposito's arms and let himself sink into his strong chest. He just needed a hug to be honest.

"Hey. Come in."

Ryan looked up from his thoughts and smiled at his best friend. He put his jacket over a chair and sat down at his spot on the sofa. Esposito gave him a beer before sitting down next to him, but Ryan just looked at the bottle in his hands.

"Hey, you okay?" Esposito asked him.

Could he tell him what he was feeling? Could Ryan be honest? Maybe just coming out? Javi would be okay with him being gay, right?

"I need to tell you something." It left Ryan's mouth before he could stop it.

"What? You know you can tell me anything, right?" Esposito asked as he put his bottle on the side table. The concern was hearable in his voice. Ryan didn't look up though.

"It was something the vic's girlfriend said that made me think." Ryan began. "That the beautician world is very hostile and the vic didn't want them to know she was gay?" Ryan finally looked up, seeing the concern in his best friend's eyes.

"Kev, are you telling me what I think you're telling me?" Esposito asked, almost whispering. Ryan averted his eyes again and just nodded.

"Yeah, I'm gay."

It was silent for a moment, the tension feelable.

"I was thinking about the same thing all day." Esposito admitted. That made Ryan look up again.

"But…"

"Yeah, I know. I'm bi."

There was a moment of silence again, but the tension had disappeared. The boys looked at each other with a relieved smile on their faces. Not really knowing what to say.

Ryan put his beer on the table as well before facing Esposito again. Esposito brought his hand to Ryan's face and Ryan's eyes fluttered shut.

"I'm sorry if I'm seeing this wrong, but…" Esposito whispered before softly pushing his lips on Ryan's. Ryan sighed happily before returning the kiss carefully. He brought his body closer to Esposito's, wrapped his arms around Esposito's neck and deepened the kiss. He couldn't believe this was happening! He was kissing Javier!

Ryan whimpered when Esposito broke the kiss and Esposito laughed affectionately.

"You were not seeing it wrong." Ryan mumbled. "Now please, kiss me again."

"Hey, we should talk about this first. About us." Esposito answered, but he kissed Ryan nonetheless. It was shorter and sweeter than their first kiss. Ryan couldn't wait to explore all the different kinds of kisses they could share.

"Okay." Ryan said and he made a bit of distance between the two of them; knowing he wouldn't stop kissing Esposito otherwise. He took his hand though.

"I want us to be in a serious, monogamous relationship." Ryan said, kicking the door in. Esposito let out a relieved sigh.

"Me, too." He answered. "I want to keep it a secret for now though. Are you okay with that?"

Ryan nodded.

"There's a reason I never came out at the precinct. And after realizing Lucy McIntyre might be the victim of a hate crime…"

"Yeah, I'm not keen on coming out either, to be honest." Esposito answered.

"Can we now kiss again, please?" Ryan asked.

Esposito laughed and pulled his partner closer before pushing their lips together again. Ryan couldn't help himself when he let his hands roam over Esposito's strong chest and stomach. Esposito moaned in his mouth and Ryan took the chance to deepen the kiss again.

They parted when they were both in the need of oxygen, panting in each other's mouths.

"I'd lie if I'd say I hadn't dreamt about running my hands over your chest before." Ryan whispered against Esposito's mouth.

"Who's telling you you can't?" Esposito smiled before pushing his lips on Ryan's again.

XXX

They'd had an amazing night with a lot of kisses and a lot of cuddles and Ryan had never been happier. He tried to push the happiness down a bit when Esposito parked the car near the beauty salon the next morning though. They had a murder to solve first.

The morning flew by, but it hadn't been fun. Every single one of Lucy McIntyre's coworkers was surprised or shocked to hear that Lucy had been in a relationship with a woman. And at least half of them had made a comment along the lines of "This is pure betrayal. I'm glad I don't have to work with her anymore." or "I wouldn't have hired her if I knew she was a dyke." or "Good, she will rot in hell."

But although half of the victim's coworkers were homophobic twats; they all had an alibi. Some had to be checked still, but that was work for when they were back in the precinct.

XXX

"I can see why she didn't want to come out at the salon." Beckett sighed.

Ryan looked at Esposito for a moment and sighed as well.

"There was one of her coworkers that didn't work today though: Katya Roberts." Esposito said, really wanting to be alone with Ryan for a minute. "Shall we bring her in for an interview?"

"Yeah, you guys go. I'll look into the alibi's that have to be checked." Becket answered.

XXX

Esposito took Ryan into his arms from the moment the doors of the elevator closed. Ryan wrapped his arms around Esposito's middle and buried his nose in his partner's neck before taking a deep breath.

"I needed that." Ryan whispered.

"Me, too." Esposito answered and he pecked Ryan's lips just in time before the doors opened again.

"Let's bring this woman to the precinct and let's hope we'll get to have a nice night in tonight." Ryan smiled.

"I'd love a nice night in tonight, babe." Esposito winked. Ryan blushed and Esposito laughed.

XXX

"Katya Roberts." Ryan said, straightening the file in his hands before opening it; ready to start writing everything she said. Esposito started the recording at the same time.

"And why am I here?" She asked.

"We have a couple of questions about Lucy McIntyre." Esposito answered.

"I already told the other detective and the writer everything I know." Katya answered.

"First of all: where were you between 10.30 pm and 12.30 pm the night Lucy McIntyre was killed?" Ryan asked, not bothering to answer the comment.

"I was at home. In my bed."

"Can anyone confirm that?" Esposito asked.

"No, I was alone. I'm divorcing my husband, so I'm not really in the mood to get a new relationship already."

Ryan wrote a couple of things down before looking up.

"Did you know Lucy was in a relationship with a woman?" He asked, still following his hunch that it could be about a hate crime.

All the color disappeared out of Katya's face.

"What?" She asked. "She was a lesbian?"

"You didn't know?" Esposito asked.

"She wasn't having an affair with my ex-husband?" Katya asked, the panic clear in her voice.

"You weren't at home the night Lucy died, now were you?" Ryan asked. He put down his pen to get all his attention to the suspect in front of them. Katya Roberts began to cry and shook her head.

"I thought she was having an affair with my ex-husband. I thought he left me for her. I saw them together a few times. And I saw her in that alley… The anger took over my body."

"You killed her for nothing." Esposito said and stood up. "Katya Roberts. You're under arrest for the murder of Lucy McIntyre."

XXX

"The ex-husband did meet up with our victim on a regular basis." Beckett told the guys as they were cleaning up the murder board. She and Castle had just interviewed the ex-husband to get more insight into what exactly happened.

"They'd met in the breakfast place Lucy gets her coffee every morning, she talked to him when he looked down and they became friends." Castle told them.

"So, practically, if she had told her coworkers she was a lesbian, she would still be alive right now?" Esposito shook his head.

"It's such a shame people still have to keep their relationship a secret, being afraid of what other people might think or say. Only because they're in a relationship with someone of the same gender." Castle said, staring at the picture of the victim and her girlfriend that was still on the board.

"You really think that?" Ryan asked.

"Love is love, Ryan. It's not our job to judge people for who they love." Beckett answered with a smile.

Ryan looked at Esposito, who nodded.

"What if Kevin and I tell you we're in a relationship?" Esposito asked carefully.

"Then I'm way too happy for you." Beckett said and she hugged her partners.

"Also if you have to get me 20 bucks now?" Castle asked his wife with a grin and she hit him in the chest.

Esposito took Ryan's hand in his and squeezed it. Things would be okay.