Once Castle was out of sight, Kate's regret for sending him away plagued her. Her instinct to protect him had overruled her rationale. She knew he was strong and capable of conquering anything that life threw at him. After all, it was he that had carried her through her greatest difficulties. She couldn't crumble when he would soon need to draw on her strength. Rising once again, Kate fought to regain her composure. She ached for Rick. As soon as she was standing a strong wave of vertigo hit and her balance faltered. Surprise filled her upon recognizing the presence of strong hands moving to steady her waist. Intent on preventing her fall.

"I couldn't leave you." A voice steeped with remorse whispered from behind Kate.

Dread wrenched her stomach as she identified its owner.

"I know. I should never have…" The lump of tangible emotion halted her words and forced her eyes shut. She pivoted and began to face him.

The moment Kate's eyes met Castle's captivating sapphires guilt consumed her. "Castle, I'm so sorry. I didn't…. I just…"

"I know... but we are weakest when we confront our demons alone, Kate. The last seven years have more than proven that. I love you… please, Kate, let me in." His hands cradled her delicate face as he stroked her cheeks with each thumb.

"Always." she said with a faint smile as she collapsed her weakened frame into his. She was grateful for his strength.

Releasing a sigh at the thought of his imminent request, Rick pulled away from Kate to look her in the eyes. "Kate." He looked at her with resolution. "I know I may regret this, but I..." His tone was nervous, yet remained loving.

Kate eyes fell as she nodded in agreement. Taking in a deep breath she forced the strong and determined version Kate Beckett to return. She took his hand, her body still close his. Her pulse quickened as they approached the now covered body, still lying where found. As he reached to uncover the body, she stopped him.

"Let me do it, I'm…" She knew he could see right through her poor excuse.

Castle took note of the added reverence in Kate's demeanor as she exposed the body. It took a moment for reality to hit him before the pangs of torment began envelop him. This couldn't be real, it just couldn't!

"No, no, no…" he muttered to himself. "This can't be right…"

"Babe…" Kate breathed as she arose and placed a firm grasp on her husband's shoulders. Her heart burned by the desire to take his pain upon her. She could feel his body quaking in harmony with her own and became concerned when he pulled away. He began to pace back and forth occupied by his nonsensical mumbling while he pushed a forceful hand through his hair.

"Rick!" She said planting her hands on his shoulders with confidence. She was desperate to bring him back from the depths of his tortured mind.

The crazed look in his eyes alarmed her when they met hers. "We need to find who..." He snarled, preoccupied by the thought of the person responsible.

"We will, I promise you that." Kate said, her tear filled eyes dressed with empathy met his. "This is personal for me too."

All Kate could do was vacant stare at the lifeless form of the girl she'd grown to love over the years. The familiarity of her long red hair and electric blue eyes haunted her. Alexis was like a daughter to her, a close friend and confidant. The thought this cruel end was enough to make Kate snap. She would hunt down the person responsible and make their life a living hell. They would pay, just as Bracken paid for her mother's murder.

Kate's mind came back to reality once beckoned from her thoughts by the ringing of Castle's phone. He hadn't noticed her stare off into oblivion deep in thought. She pulled it from his pocked to see who it was and her face lit up as she held her breath before answering. The screen read Alexis, her cute face smiling up at Kate. With apprehension she slid her fingertip across the screen to answer the phone.

"Hello…" Kate said trying not to get her hopes up.

"Kate? Why do you have my dad's phone?" A familiar voice inquired as Kate let out a delighted laugh.

"Alexis! You're okay!" Rick perked up upon hearing Kate's exclamation.

"Yes, I am. I just finished taking my finals. Is everything okay?" Alexis said with obvious confusion.

"Where are you now?" Kate asked shifting to making sure she was in a safe place.

"I just made it back to your guys' place. Why?"

"Alexis, listen to me. Stay there and lock the door. Your dad and I will be there as soon as possible…" Kate didn't argue when a frenzied Castle seized the phone from her without a second thought.

"Alexis?" Castle said as emotion snagged on her name.

"Hi, dad…. What's going on…?"

"I'll explain everything once I get there, I promise, but for now please do exactly as Kate asked. We're on our way to you right now. And Alexis… I love you. So much more than I could ever express."

"I know." She giggled. "I love you too, dad."

Castled rushed through the door with Kate in tow both eager to hug Alexis. Relief washed over both of them as soon as they saw her.

"Oh, I'm so glad that you're safe! I just had the worst nightmare." Castle said, smothering her with his affection.

"Me too." Kate said as she pulled Alexis into a tight hug.

"So are you going to tell me what's going on?" Alexis asked, frustrated by her lack of information.

As much as they wanted to spare Alexis of the details about her doppelganger, they knew it was necessary to ensure her safety. As Castle sat down beside her and proceeded to explain this morning's Kate's phone rang. It was Lanie.

"Lanie, please tell me you have good news."

"Kate, there are some unsettling things about our victim, beyond who she resembles..."

"Unsettling how?"

"The victim appears to have had cosmetic alterations done to her face."

Kate's heart quickened. She knew where this was going. "Please tell me you don't mean alterations reminiscent of Pam Hodges and Daniel Santos…"

Lanie's long pause said everything. She was still unsettled by that case. Kate's eyes closed in horror as she cleared her throat.

"Do we know who she is yet?"

"Madeline Benton. She's a 21 year old Columbia University student."

"Was she made to look like Alexis?" Kate asked, though she felt it was a rhetorical question.

"It appears so. Beckett, the boys found a card along with surveillance photos of Alexis on the body."

"A card?" She was almost hesitant to know.

"I sent a picture to your phone." Lanie's replied with unsettling horror.

"Okay, I'm going to look at it. I'll call you back."

She hung up her phone and opened the message from Lanie. Her heart sank as she stared at the print and read…

Beauty still unmatched.

We'll meet again.

Soon...

- K