Hey so here's the next one, am going away next weekend so will try update as soon as I can after I get back. Thank you so much to everyone who's reviewed/favorited/added me to alerts. I really appreciate it :)

Disclaimer: Not mine

He was a weird kinda serial killer, Beckett thought as she sat there in the darkness. Strangely talkative. Castle had told her his theory about Jerry's mother, and her being the reason for him killing, and now she really understood. He wanted-needed even-the attention. Much as he hated Castle for revealing his identity, in some ways the writer was still a kind of company.

A noise in the darkness made her sit up suddenly

'Good little chat, Castle, completely fascinating how truly messed up you really are,' he was saying, as what sounded like one person being dragged by another came closer 'You're very nearly as bad as me,'

They were closer now, and she felt something slump against the wall next to her.

'Castle?' she asked quietly, concerned

'Oh, he'll be alright in a while, we had a very long talk after all, tiring'

'What did you do to him?' she asked, anger beginning to well up inside her

'Oh all sorts. You see, Kate, I have a slight problem. All this pent up anger makes me feel very violent, but my mummy told me never to hit girls,'

'So you kill them instead?'

'No, that's different. I kill girls peacefully, think of it like I'm death and I just take the life from them, it's a higher authority that tells me to kill them,'

'Wait, you don't work alone?' Beckett became more alert

'No! You're not understanding me, Kate. The women that I kill need to die, they're all beautiful and blonde and they use that against people. They all make people fall in love with them, and then break their hearts. They have to die.'

'Well if that's the case then what's the problem?' she asked

'I told you. I'm angry. I had a good thing going, and your writer man here went and spoiled all of it,' Beckett smiled a little inspite of herself when he used the word 'your' to describe Castle, that was after all how she liked to think of him

Castle groaned a little then and moved slightly. Beckett became serious again, feeling the anger return at his obvious pain

'What did you do to him, Jerry?'

'Oh I just hit him a bit. I told you, I was feeling especially violent and I needed to hit something,'

'Why didn't you just hit me?'

'Because you're a girl. Have you not been listening? I don't beat up girls!' he was getting angrier, and he sounded slightly psychotic now, so Beckett decided not to push the matter further.

It was too late however, he was angry again, and Beckett didn't know what killed her more-the sickening sound of the repeated blows being dealt to Castle's stomach or the agonizing coughing noise he made on each one.

'Stop it, Jerry, just stop it.' she tried to keep her voice strong, commanding although she felt the urge to simply beg

'Say please!' he said

'Please, Jerry' the sound died away

'I'll be back later,' his voice was still full of anger but he almost reminded Beckett of a teenager in a sulk. She turned to Castle.

'Castle? Castle, are you okay?' she was trying to stay calm but panic was creeping into her voice. She felt for is face in the darkness and then moved her hands down to his waist, pulling him gently towards her. He shifted weakly and moved to lean against her and she cringed internally as she felt his shirt, completely soaked in what could only be blood.

'Castle? Castle! Talk to me Castle, please!'

He groaned

'Castle!'

He shifted again, trying to sit up

'Ouch,' he breathed, still shifting slightly 'Beckett?... Beckett?...You there?'

'Yeah, I'm here,' she breathed 'Castle what'd he do to you?'

'Just…just…talked,' his voice was strained with effort

'Oh c'mon, Castle, you can hardly move,'

'Wasn't…finished. Likes to…kick..when he..talks,' his point was emphasized by another groan as he tried to move again.

'Are you okay?' she knew it was a stupid question, but she didn't know what else to say. She hated that he was in pain.

'I'm…fine…ish,' he laughed weakly 'Just…give me…a minute,'

Slowly she slid her arm underneath him and pulled him closer, placing her cheek on his head and stroking his hair as comfortingly as she could.

'Has he…hurt you?' he asked, his weak voice strangely strengthened by it's protective note

'Not like you,' she said quietly

'But..he has?'

'It's not important,'

'What's..he done,' he was beginning to sound agry, really angry

'Shh,' Beckett soothed him 'Calm down, it's not a big deal,'

'It is..anyone hurting…you is…definitely..a big deal,'

Beckett smiled slightly and pulled him closer, clinging on to him in the oppressive darkness.

…

Alexis was home late from school. She'd picked up a whole bunch of extra curriculars in th hope that Stanford might reconsider her, and she was working on three different projects as well.

'Hey, Dad I'm home,' she called as she unlocked the door 'Sorry I'm late I just…' she trailed off as she turned to look at the apartment. The fridge door was on the other side of the kitchen and there were scorch marks everywhere. Alexis walked over and stopped abruptly as she saw a little trail of blood on the floor, leading back to the door. Panicked, she pulled out her cell phone and hit speed dial.

She let it ring until it went to answerphone 'Aw, c'mon, Dad!' fear washed over her and she ran into the kitchen looking for any sign of her family

'Dad?' she shouted 'Gran?...Anyone?' suddenly she noticed something on the counter. A small white envelope, apparently unaffected by the explosion. She crossed to it and flipped it over and was shocked to see it was addressed to her. Confused and angry she flipped it back again and ripped it open. There was only one small piece of paper in there with a few lines of writing. She began to read:

Dear Alexis,

Most girls are told that they're one in a billion, or one in six billion, or at least they like to be told that. As it is, you are only one in three. One in my three.

Hope liked it :) Reviews appreciated :)

Emz xx