She grinned when she heard the knock on the door and started talking as she approached to answer.
"Wow! Were you trying to set some kind of Manhattan land-speed record..."
Her words choked off when she found herself looking into the blue eyes of...
"Ryan? Um. Hi."
"Beckett." The detective looked uncomfortable, but determined.
"Uh, come in."
"Thanks."
She led the way back to her kitchen and busied herself with pouring a glass of water. Turning back toward him she gestured, wordlessly offering him a glass as well. He silently declined.
"So..." she began, unsure of where to begin.
"Beckett, did you really quit?"
She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. "Yeah." Her voice was quiet but unwavering. "I did."
"Beckett..."
"Look, Ryan, this was something I needed to do. For me. For... Just..." She paused, pressing her lips together. "I'm sorry that I put you in the position I did. I really am. And I know that you did what you had to do. Just please trust that I'm doing what I need to do now. "
Ryan didn't seem to be reassured but he gave a slight nod. "Okay. But I, um, need to ask you a few questions."
She threw him a questioning look. "Okay."
He was already pulling a photo out of his jacket pocket. It was a close-up of a man's face but it was obviously a crime scene photo of a murder victim. "Do you know this man?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure, Ryan. What's this about?"
She felt the tension of the past week creeping back into her muscles as Ryan took the time to put the photo away before answering.
"He knew you. Or knew a lot about you."
"What are you talking about?"
"This guy was shot in his home late last night. On his desk, right out in the open, was a file on you, Beckett. Academy scores, personnel files, news clippings... your entire career. Why would he have all that?"
As her mouth dropped open there was a knock at the door.
He didn't quite know what to make of the look on her face when she opened the door, but he tried not to over-think it and quickly leaned in to kiss her. She met his lips with hers but a hand on his chest kept it from being more than a quick peck as she stepped back to let him enter.
"I hope you're hungry!" He cheerfully held the rather large bag of take-out up for her to see. "I got..."
"Castle."
He stopped abruptly, startled by her tight grip on his wrist and her hissed whisper.
"Ryan is here."
"Ryan?"
"Hi, Castle." Ryan glanced at the bag Castle carried and eyed the pair, who had frozen half way down the hall. "Am I interrupting something?"
"No?"
"Kind of."
Both men looked questioningly at Beckett and she just shrugged, not knowing how to elaborate on her affirmative answer.
"Ooookaay." Ryan turned to follow as Beckett led them back into the kitchen. "Well, I guess this works out because I was going to come see you next, Castle."
Beckett was already unpacking the bag that Castle had placed on the kitchen island, but she stopped and spoke sharply before Castle had a chance to respond. "What?! Why?"
"Um, guys? I feel like I'm coming in half way through the story here. What's going on?"
Beckett's gaze didn't waver from Ryan's even as he cleared his throat and turned to the writer.
"Castle, a murder victim had your number in his recent calls list." He pulled the photo out again. "Do you know this man?"
Castle felt like all the air had been sucked from his lungs. "Smith", he whispered.
"Shit." Beckett slumped and dropped her head into her hands.
"How do you know him? What was the call about?"
Castle took in Kate's defeated posture before turning back to Ryan. "I think we all need to sit down and compare notes on this thing. Esposito, too."
Ryan's gaze dropped to his shoes as he muttered, "Yeah, I don't think that's happening."
Castle continued, "And I hate to say it, but I think we need Gates."
"Rick," she spoke softly.
Castle turned to her, surprised to find her fingers slipping over his hand and into his palm. Her gaze was fixed somewhere around the opening of his collar.
"I want to let this go, Castle. I really do..."
"I know." He squeezed her hand and brought his free hand up to her chin, gently lifting until her eyes met his. "I know you do, but it might be too late. Kate, we'll do this together. We're stronger together. We'll face the dragon."
The end.
Thanks for following along! I have no doubt the show will do a much better job of bringing Beckett and Castle back to the precinct than my attempt here.