Hey, chapter seven is finally done, and thanks for all your comments and opinions while awaiting the next installment. I wanted to stay true to the characters so it took a bit more work to get the dialogue just right. And since it involved just more than Kate and Castle, the writing didn't flow as easily. Hope you enjoy, and please review! :)

Since murderers decided to take Sunday off, it was Monday morning and Castle had still not spoken to Kate. Numerous times he had dialled her number but didn't press send. He had sent her countless texts but she hadn't responded. He thought of going into the precinct, since he knew she would be there doing paperwork, but he didn't want to push to hard. He thought she might actually be in danger, but if that were true somebody from the station would have contacted him already. He knew she needed time so that's what he gave her.

Castle was in his office trying to write when his cell rang. He sprinted to the phone that he had left in the kitchen. His heart dropped when Esposito's name flashed before him. Esposito never called, it was always Kate.

"Esposito. What is it? Is Beckett okay?"

"Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine in the morning? What's up with you? Beckett's fine." He was confused.

"Sorry. It's just that… never mind. Why are you calling me?"

"We got ourselves a body. Beckett said she phoned you but you didn't answer...?"

Castle knew that Kate hadn't called him. He'd had his phone attached to him for the past 24 hours, and this meant she was angry. "Oh yeah, sorry about that. I … I left my phone on silent by accident."

"No prob bro, do you want a squad car to pick you up."

He thought about making up some excuse as to why he couldn't go. He knew that Kate would be there and it was obvious she didn't want to see him. But it wasn't like Castle to not show up a crime scene. He knew if he didn't go the boys would know something was up. The last think he wanted was for everyone to know what he did; Kate would definitely kill him then. "Yeah sure. Thanks."

"Okay. See you in a few."

With that he hung up, grabbed his coat and made his way to the door. He wasn't sure what he would do, or say when he got there, but he knew he couldn't just sit by and not try to fix it.

When Castle arrived on the scene CSU were already busy at work and Ryan and Esposito were interviewing what he assumed to be a family member. Kate was nowhere to be found. Castle looked over at the body and the look he received from Lanie told him that Kate had already told her about Saturday night. He knew he had his work cut out for him.

Just then Ryan walked over. "That was the neighbour. She's a real piece of work. Says she was at work when our vic was killed, even though we don't even know time of death yet. When I pointed that fun little fact out, she said she sensed I would say that. Apparently she thinks she's psychic."

"Have fun with that one." He said jokingly. "Where's Beckett?"

"In the living room, that way." He pointed his finger to the back of the house.

Castle walked in the direction Ryan pointed to, and found Kate sitting across from a middle aged woman.

Kate was already scribbling notes in her notepad. "When did you last see your daughter?"

In between tears the lady was able to put together sentences. "Yesterday. Said she was going to her friend's house... Rachel Wilson. They were going clubbing. I went out to a movie with my girlfriends and when I got home I found…" She trailed off and began to cry uncontrollably.

"Did your daughter have any enemies?"

"Not that I know of. Rachel might be able to tell you more."

"Okay. Thank-you. I promise you, we'll find out what happened to your daughter."

The woman continued to weep as Kate began to walk out of the room. She turned and seen Castle standing in the doorway.

He figured he might as well just jump in. "I texted you, you didn't answer." She stood there just looking at him. "Can you at least talk to me?" She brushed past him and started walking down the hall.

"You lied to Esposito. You never called me this morning. I checked my phone." There was a hint of anger in his voice. If she heard it she ignored it.

"You kissed me back." His voice was firm and it got her attention. She halted, turned around and walked toward him.

"Just drop it."

"No, I'm not going to drop it. You kissed me back."

"Listen Castle, I'm at work. I don't have time to play these games with you."

"This isn't a game to me, Kate."

She was taken-a-back. He never called her Kate before; it was always Beckett, Detective and most recently Katie. "I'm working. Now is not the time to discuss this. So, just drop it!" This time it was Kate who spoke with anger. She turned around and proceeded to walk down the hallway, again. He wanted to stop her and tell her how he felt but it was no use. He obeyed her wishes and kept to himself. About an hour after, Esposito announced that they had what they needed here, and headed to the precinct.

The car ride back to the precinct was, to say the least, very awkward. Twenty minutes of complete and utter silence. Castle didn't ask if he could play with the siren or ask inappropriate questions that usually made Kate roll her eyes. He didn't try to apologize because he didn't know when the best time to bring it up was, without Kate yelling at him again.

When they got up to the precinct Castle went to the break room for some coffee and Kate sat at her desk. They had still not spoken a word since Kate yelled at him in the hallway.

Ryan and Esposito shared a look that they knew something was up. At the crime scene there were no witty remarks from Castle. Beckett didn't threaten him, not even once. Castle didn't bounce theories around which usually annoyed Kate.

"You think it's the morning after for the two of them?" Esposito piped up. The emphasis on 'morning after' caused Ryan to burst out laughing.

"Really? Common, there is no way in hell that they slept together last night. If they did, Castle would be one of two things. One, he'd either be overjoyed and jumping around, or two, he'd be dead because Beckett killed him. He wouldn't be moping around here like a lost puppy."

"I dunno' bro; she has been different since he's been shadowing her."

Ryan just gave him a no-way-in-hell look.

"Thirty bucks says they slept together last night."

Ryan thought about it. It's true, their boss had changed since Castle's been working on cases with them. But there was still no way. "You're on!" He said, just as Montgomery came up to them. "Find out what's up with those two. We can't afford to have unsolved cases because something has got their panties in a bunch."

"Yes sir." The boys said in unison and Montgomery returned to his office.

Ryan and Esposito made their way to Castle. He was sitting down drinking his coffee, going over every detail of last night in his head. Trying to figure out what he had done wrong. He knew he shouldn't have put his hand on her, but he had to try something. He thought that maybe it was because he was that he was a bad kisser. However, after thinking about it more he came to the logical conclusion that possibly couldn't be the reason. Maybe he had been too forceful, moved to fast. He knew she was hurt and maybe he pushed her, trapped her, and caught her off guard. He knew that Kate Beckett was not a woman who liked to be caught off guard. He wanted something that Kate obviously wasn't ready for. He wanted to fix it but didn't know how.

"Hey." Ryan decided to break the ice. Castle just kept starring at his coffee mug.

"Tell us your troubles my good man." Esposito said. Still nothing from the guy who usually had some wiseass reply to everything. "Snap out of Castle!" Castle's head jerked up and found the two boys staring down at him.

"Oh, sorry." he muttered. Looking at them for just a second before he returned fixated on the mug.

Esposito, eager to get his thirty bucks started in on Castle. "Its obvious there's something bothering you. Now normally I'm not the type to talk about feeling or anything, but what's up with you this morning?" He looked at Castle waiting for some kind of indication he was listening.

Castle didn't reply.

Esposito continued. "The captain said that he needs you and Beckett to pull it together. I'd rather ask you then her - you won't shoot me."

Ryan who noticed the forceful tone shot Esposito a glare telling him he was onto his little game.

Just as he was about to ask Castle something else, Kate walked into the room. She made eye contact with her two detectives but not even glancing at the lump of a man hunched over in the chair. She grabbed a mug and walked toward the espresso machine.

Esposito figured the best way to collect his winnings was to corner them, when they couldn't escape. "So, did you two sleep together last night or what?"

At the moment Ryan's mouth dropped open as he looked at his partner trying to figure out if he had heard him correctly.

Esposito just shrugged. "Well someone had to say something."

No faster then the words had left his mouth Kate dropped the mug, shattering it. "Esposito I swear to God I will you shoot you if you do not get out of my way!" Even though her tone was harsh he did not budge.

"It was nice knowin' ya." Ryan whispered to his partner.

"Listen," Esposito said "everyone can tell that something happened between you two of you sometime between the time we wrapped up the Smith case Saturday afternoon and when Castle arrived at the crime scene this morning. Montgomery said that you need to work this out. So take a personal day or something, just figure it out."

Kate cursed under her breath, walked out of the break room and returned to her desk.

Esposito looked at Ryan. "Well, she didn't deny it. Pay up." He held his hand, expecting his money.

"Yes, but she didn't say they did, either." Ryan shot back.

For the first time this leaving the crime scene, Castle spoke. "Save your money boys, nothing happened."

Esposito reached into his wallet and gave Ryan his cash. Ryan collected his winnings and they watched as Castle left the break room and headed for the elevator. He figured that he wouldn't be able to talk to Kate anywhere at work, and it was obvious she didn't want him around. He decided to go home and think about how he would fix the mistake he had made.

Writers Note: I hope you've enjoyed the story so far. But, I need your help. I have a bits and pieces already started for chapter eight but I seem to be having writers block. The ending isn't coming as easy as the previous chapters. I need some ideas! I don't want anything drastic like one of them gets shot. So, if you have any storylines that you like, please review or send me a PM. If I use your idea in anyway I will definitely credit you. Thanks in advance! :)