Ok so some people will hate what I'm about to do. I'm going to change the Castle Timeline so that the episode "Suckerpunch" where Beckette kills Rathborne (season 2) comes AFTER 3XK (season 3) So BEAR WITH ME PLEASE! It is my right as an author to twist as I see fit. The song, obviously, is Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap...if you haven't heard it, go to youtube or something and look it up.

Again, I own nothing

The hope Castle felt just the day before, had all but faded in the bullpen that day.

She watched, as Kate desperately tried to keep up CPR on the dead Rick Coonan. Her frustration was evident as she pushed more and more. The longer he was on the floor, the more violent her thrusts. Two minutes in, she was ok. Three minutes in, there were cracking ribs. Five minutes in, you saw blood spill out of the wounds to the rhythm of her compressions.

At five minutes and fifteen seconds, Castle reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Katherine Beckette broke down, in front of all her coworkers and friends at the precinct. She screamed to the ceiling, and sobbed openly. Castle looked at her, called her name. She looked at him and rubbed her brow with the back of her red, bloodstained hand.

She looked at him with utter desperation. She spoke with her nasally, crying voice.

"What do I do now, Castle? I've killed my mother's killer, but I don't know who had her killed. I don't know why, and it feels worse now that I know it was an ordered hit. I don't know if this was worth it."

She looked away from Castle and saw her gun. Castle's stomach sank as he saw the look in her eyes.

Clear.

Blue.

Cerulean.

He saw her eyes linger on the gun. She looked . He screamed at her.

"KATE! NO!"

She snapped and looked up at him. Seeing the look in his eyes almost brought her to hysterics. She sobbed to him.

"Tell me what I need to do."

Castle reached out, and put a hand on her shoulder. He made her look straight at him.

"You need to come with me."

Castle looked to the chief with a glance that silently communicated that he was entrusting the chief to take over for the night. He gave Castle a curt nod and gesticulated out the door of the precinct.

Castle used his weight to bring Kate to her feet, and wrapped an arm around the small of her back as he guided her out of the bullpen. He brought them to his car, and took them back to his apartment.

Castle opened the door and ushered Beckette into the apartment. Alexis and Martha were sitting in the living room when the turned to welcome Castle home. Their faces dropped when they saw the puffy-eyed Kate along with him.

Castle briefly let go of Kate's hand, looking down to see her handprint in Coonan's blood on his hand. He watched as his mother enveloped Kate in a hug.

"There, there, Kate my darling. Things will be ok. If there's one thing I know from talking to Richard, its that you are a great detective. If you set your mind to it, you can find the people that hired this murderer. And I know my son, and your team, would be willing to go to any lengths necessary to bring them to justice."

Kate hugged Martha back hard and thanked her. Little Castle came up next and gave her another warm hug. She looked Kate dead in the eyes and spoke to her.

"Gram's right, you're the best there is. If you want to, everyone will help you find this bastard..."

Kate did a double-take as the young castle used a curse.

"...and you know me, Kate, you know I only use words like that if they're necessary. I'll even try to help as best I can. You have a house full of people that love you here, Kate. Don't ever forget that."

She gave Kate one last squeeze before Castle came back to her.

"She's right, you know."

Kate looked at Castle.

"About what, Castle?"

Castle took his hand in hers. He surveyed her expression for a second.

"That everyone in this house right now, loves you. And we're all ready to support you in whatever you do."

Kate looked at the three of them as tears burned at the back of her eyes. This was exactly what she needed at the moment. Well, almost exactly what she needed.

Castle made his way into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He looked around, and grabbed a glass out of his cabinet.

"Kate, can I interest you in something? Wine, maybe something a little harder? Or maybe some ice cream?"

Kate came over to the kitchen and looked over Castle's shoulder into the fridge. She saw he had moose tracks ice cream. She bit her lip and closed her eyes as she fought back a violent wave of emotion. It was her mother and her's favorite flavor. They had split countless sundaes over lost friends and bad dates. It was just what she needed right now. Against her better interests, she leaned into Castle's side.

"I'll have some of the ice cream, Castle. Thank you."

Castle looked down at Kate, and placed the glass on the counter. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, giving her one of his trademark Castle smiles.

"Go get comfy on the couch, I'll bring it to you."

Kate walked out into the living room. She was always struck with how big his apartment is. She walked out to the nice, comfy couch and laid across it a bit, opposite from Alexis.

Alexis was working on schoolwork, but looked over and put it down when Kate sat down. She sat next to Kate and took her into another hug. She picked up a remote and hit some buttons and a stereo system fired up somewhere.

She looked to Kate as the song started.

"Whenever something happens that I'm having a bad streak, I put this song on, and for some reason it really helps. Its called Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap."

She nestled her head into the crook of Kate's neck as the digital voice enveloped her.

Where are we?

What the Hell,

Is Going on?

The dust has only just

Began to form

Crop Circles in the carpet

Sinking

Feeling.

Kate sat there, with Alexis wrapping her arm around her and her head in the dip of her neck. She fought back the tears that wanted to fall. There was something about his woman's voice that you could tell she'd been through so much. Each harmony told a story, so much so that no other instrument was needed. And with Alexis buried in her, she felt so warm, and safe. Everything was almost perfect.

Spin me round

Again, and rub

My eyes

This can't, be happening

When Busy streets, a Mess with

People would stop to hold

Their Heads, Heavy.

Hide and Seek

Trains and Sewing machines

All those Years

They were Here first.

Kate started stroking Alexis' hair, feeling the teen hum into her shoulder to the music. Kate let a solitary tear steal its way down her cheek.

Oily marks appear on walls

Where pleasure moments

Hung before

The take over

The sweeping insenitivity

Of This

Still life

Kate couldn't help it. Her and Alexis clutched tighter after that last harmony. It gripped both of them, and Alexis tore her head away for a second and Kate could see her tears as well. Another conversation for another time. She just pulled Alexis back a bit to have her return to their hug.

Hide and Seek

Trains and Sewing Machines (oh you won't catch me around here)

Blood and Tears (hearts)

They were here First

Mmmm Whatcha say,

Mmm that you only meant well

Well of course you did

Mmm Whatcha say

Mmm that its all for the best?

Of course it is

Mmm whatcha say?

Mmm that its just what we need (you decided this)

Watcha say

Mmm what did she say?

Castle walked out of the kitchen with a tray, on it were three bowls of ice cream and a jar of hot fudge. He was immediately concerned when his daughter and Kate were in such an emotional state. They parted from their embrace and they looked at each other differently. Something changed between them, but he couldn't quite tell.

"Ok, who's ready for ice cream?"

He handed out their bowls.

"Anything missing?"

Kate looked at the tray and her ice cream and asked "Got any carmel sauce?"

Castle looked at her and smiled again.

"Sure do, Kate, I'll be right back for it, your highness."

Alexis smiled and looked at Kate.

"He's crazy about you, you know. You've both had hard experiences recently, almost been killed sometimes. Maybe its time to let each other know?"

Kate looked simply at the acute teenager sitting before her and told her.

"Thats up to your Father to do. It won't be me."

Castle walked back at that moment.

"What'd I miss?"

Kate and Alexis similed

"Oh nothing Castle."

And with that, it was ice cream time.