CHAPTER FIVE: Valentine's Day

At work the next day, Kate looks over the autopsy report of Victoria Westlake. Feeling a severe headache brewing, she can't help wondering how her life got so screwed up. Last night's fiasco with Josh keeps replaying in her mind. Knowing the break-up was inevitable, she can't help wishing things could have been different. And things at work are tense as well. Knowing Castle's childhood friend is a suspect, she's irritated by his stubborn refusal to even consider the possibility that Damian could be involved. Rolling her shoulders to relieve the tension, she wonders how she's going to walk the line between being his friend and investigating the case the way she knows she must. Grabbing a couple of Advil, she downs them quickly, chasing them with her lukewarm coffee, hoping for some relief from the pounding in her skull.

Hearing the doors to the elevator open, she looks over and sees one of the desk sergeants from downstairs walking in her direction with a bouquet of what must be two dozen red roses in his hands. Sure enough, he stops at her desk and places them on her blotter. "These came for you downstairs, Detective."

"Thanks. Just put them there." Giving him a smile along with her thanks, she sighs, looking at the beautiful bouquet. Knowing they're probably from Josh, she can't help wishing that this was all behind her. When he left last night, she'd expected he probably wasn't ready to give up.

"Well, well, well. Lookie what Beckett's Valentine sent her." Esposito sings. Coming over to her desk, he buries his nose in the bouquet. "Don't they smell nice. And just what did you have to do to get such a large bouquet?" he asks, teasing her. Taking his big brother act to the next level, he reaches out for the card, knowing it'll likely give him ammunition to poke at her a bit more.

"Don't even think about it." She growls out, snatching the card out from under his fingers and tucking it in her pocket.

"And just what do you have planned to thank Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome for these?" he asks, razzing her some more.

"Can it, Espo." She grinds out, uncharacteristically irritated by his teasing. Even though Esposito has no way of knowing what a mess her love life is, she feels bad for snapping at him. But now the boundary has been set and, with a little luck, he won't ask her about it again.

Grabbing her phone and hightailing it to the elevator, Kate leaves the boys behind as she tries to get her bearings. Watching her go, Espo looks at Ryan and asks "Did I say something wrong?" Ryan just shrugs, deciding he'd rather stay out of it.

Once outside, she heads around the corner until she's alone. Pulling out the card, she reads it. "Sorry for being such an ass last night. Please forgive me. Josh."

Huffing out an involuntary laugh, she smiles. As apologies went, it wasn't bad. He'd certainly been an ass. At least he remembered something had happened. Unfortunately for him, she'll always have that mental image of him standing in her apartment with his flaccid penis drooping pathetically as she kicked him out of her life. There's no coming back from that scene, she thinks, hating things got so messed up. Wanting to get it over with quickly, she finds his name and presses the button to call him. He answers on the first ring.

"Kate!" he greets her. "I'm so glad to hear from you."

"Hey Josh." She begins. "I got your roses. You really shouldn't have."

"I'm really sorry about last night. Let me make it up to you." He sounds so sincere.

Knowing she has to be firm, she repeats the words she's already told him. "This isn't going to work Josh. I'm done. I told you that last night."

"Are you really breaking up with me on Valentine's Day?" he asks, trying to guilt her into giving him another chance.

"I really am. I'm sorry. This just isn't working."

"You really meant it, then?" he asks, resigned.

"I did. I know the timing sucks, but this is for the best. You'll find someone else Josh. Someone who can appreciate you." Probably someone with low expectations, she thinks to herself.

"I guess there's nothing left to say, is there…" he realizes, a little bitterness creeping into his words.

"No. Take care, Josh." Hanging up, she gives herself a moment to mourn the passing of yet another unsatisfying relationship. Feeling an overwhelming sense of relief, she can't believe she stuck with him as long as she did. Sometimes being stubborn can be a really bad thing. Not wanting to wallow in self-pity, she gives herself a pep talk and decides to focus on her work. Heading back to the precinct, she tosses the card in a garbage can and begins outlining the next steps for the case in her head.

When the elevator doors open, she immediately spies the flowers sitting front and center on her desk. Sitting in their shadow is a cup of coffee and a pastry bag - Castle's daily offering. Uncharacteristically annoyed, she strides over to the flowers and picks them up. Their perfume is cloying and makes the pounding in her skull worst. And the sight of them jabs at the sore spot that is her love life. Quickly, decisively, she heads into the break room, where she dumps them, vase and all, into the nearest trash receptacle.

Behind her back, Castle and the other detectives look at each other, surprised by her actions. Whispered questions and silent gestures flying between them, it quickly becomes apparent none of them know what is going on. Striding back into the room, Beckett begins tersely handing out assignments, the subject clearly off limits.

X X X

Later that day, after arresting Damian Westlake, Kate walks Castle out of the precinct. He's clearly reeling emotionally, his childlike faith in his boyhood friend lost. The turn of events has him second-guessing himself. Knowing Castle's depressed yet trying to hide it, she invites him out for a drink, thinking he shouldn't be alone. She conveniently forgets that she also doesn't want to be alone, preferring instead to focus on what he needs.

"Don't you have plans tonight?" he asks, thinking she must have something going on with Josh.

"Not really. I was just going to pick up some take out and pop in a movie."

"What about Josh?" he tentatively asks, knowing it's a risk but needing to know. "Is he working?"

"No. We broke up." She admits.

"He broke up with you on Valentine's Day?" he asks, incredulous. "What an ass!" Outraged on her behalf, even though his heart is singing at the news, he can't help but call it as he sees it.

"No, actually, I broke up with him last night. It just wasn't working." She tells him, relieved to get it out.

Realizing his words weren't very tactful, he backtracks quickly. "I'm sure you had your reasons." Thinking back to what Lanie said, he realizes that she called it. Kate had ended things with Josh! Feeling lighter than he has in awhile, wanting to jump in the air and pump his fist, he tamps down on his immediate reaction.

"Yeah. You could say that." She responds, clearly not wanting to talk about it any further.

Trying for subdued, failing a little due to the cheerful note in his voice, he agrees. "A drink then. Let's be single together."

"I'd like that." She admits, putting her arm through his, as they head off in search of a drink.