A slightly longer chapter for you now. I hope you enjoy this one.

Beckett had struggled to get through the rest of the day, despite the fact they'd arrested a suspect and got him to confess within 20 minutes. She didn't feel the same satisfaction that she normally did. Her shadow was missing. Her best friend. God how could I have been so stupid. It was just a defence mechanism! I've hurt him so badly.

When all her paperwork was done she decided to try and call Castle. She was determined to straighten things out. It rang off and went to voicemail. Figures she thought to herself. If he'd spoken to her like that she wouldn't take his calls either. If there wasn't an answer by tomorrow she'd go over to the Loft and see whether he'd let her apologise.

She and Josh got take-out on the way home. Beckett picked at it and Josh noticed. She managed to deflect his questions and put it down to the case taking it's toll and that she was just tired. Josh seemed satisfied with the answers and they settled down on the sofa in front of the television.

Beckett's mind wondered as she thought about the man who's heart she appeared to have broken earlier that day. She knew part of the reason for her flying off the handle like that was because she was confused over her feelings for him. There had been a time when she was so sure she was in love with him, but then his trip to the Hamptons had ruined any chance of her admitting her feelings for him. It wasn't like he was in love with her anyway, was it?

Beckett hadn't been completely lying when she'd said she was tired. With all the inner turmoil it didn't take long before her head rolled down onto Josh's shoulder. He smiled down at her lovingly and touched her cheek gently to see how deeply asleep she was. When she didn't stir, he got up to lift her into his arms. She sighed softly and he kissed her forehead.

"Hmm...Castle." she mumbled.

Josh's blood ran cold as his grip tightened on her. So she hadn't told him the truth this morning. Josh was so shocked that he nearly dropped her. Shaking his head in disbelief he carried Beckett to her room and placed her on the bed. He looked at her longingly, knowing that the woman he was willing to spend the rest of his life with, was never his to start with; whether she was ready to admit that or not. He closed the door quietly and picked up his things. He decided to leave her a note:

Dear Kate,

It seems that you and I are destined to part ways. As I carried you to bed last night, you mumbled his name in your sleep. Whether you are ready to admit this or not, you are in love with him; and he is certainly in love with you. Do us all a favour and come clean.

I wish that the situation was different but I think it best for me to bow out now, while I can still salvage some dignity. Please know that I loved you, and I wish you all the best.

Take care of yourself

Josh

Josh closed the front door silently with a heavy heart, metaphorically closing a major chapter in his life.

Kate woke up the next morning, cold. She remembered that she and Josh had been watching the TV. She must have fallen asleep again. She laughed at herself; twice in two days. Then the sadness hit her suddenly when she thought about who'd put her to bed the first night. She shook herself in an effort to rid her mind of his memory. It was futile. He was a permanent fixture, whether she wanted him there or not. Sighing she got out of bed.

"Josh?" Beckett called out.

"Josh?" She said it quieter as she reached the kitchen. Beckett's eye was drawn to the piece of paper on the worktop. Her brow furrowed as she picked up the note. She crumbled as she got to the end. Her world fell apart as the sobs overtook her. She was alone again; and it was all his fault! I think you'll find it's yours her inner voice piped up. You should have told Josh the truth when you had the chance.

Kate cried harder than she had in a long time. The sobs shaking her petite frame. Before she could even second-guess herself, she'd pressed number 1 on her speed-dial.

Castle woke up suddenly when he heard his phone vibrate on the desk. He was about to answer it when he realised who was calling. She probably just wants to apologise for yesterday. He pressed the cancel button. If it was important she'd leave a voicemail. It rang again almost immediately. He frowned and sent it to voicemail again. Coffee seemed like a good way of distracting himself. Sleeping hunched over his desk hadn't done anything for his back or neck.

Alexis was busy getting herself ready for school.

"Hey Dad." her whole face lit up when she saw him.

"Morning Pumpkin." The fake smile didn't reach his eyes and he spoke wearily.

"You ok? You looked pretty dead when I came home so Gram and I decided to leave you to sleep." Alexis searched his eyes for any sign of an explanation. When one wasn't forthcoming she continued,

"What were you doing home so early anyway? Did the case finish early?"

"I have no idea. I'm not shadowing Beckett anymore." he sounded depressed.

"What do you mean?" she sounded panicked.

Castle's phone chose that moment to interrupt them.

He stared at the inanimate handset for a moment before hurling it at the living room couch.

"Hey! What was that about?" Alexis' eyes widened in horror. This behaviour was so out of character.

"Beckett doesn't want me there. She made that pretty clear yesterday, and now I'm out of her hair, she's bugging me?"

"Dad, there's something you're not telling me." Alexis narrowed her eyes.

"It's nothing, just...go to school." Castle sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"No! Not until you tell me what happened." She raised her voice. Something she rarely did to her Father.

"I love Kate!" he shouted, all the air escaping from his lungs with the effort of the confession.

That brought a smile to her face, "Well I know that."

"No, I mean I'm in love with her."

"Yeah, I know. What else is new?" Alexis shrugged still missing his point.

Castle was speechless. How was she so perceptive?

It suddenly dawned on Alexis what may have happened as she remembered that Kate had a boyfriend, "Is that what you fought about?"

"Well sort of..." Castle then recounted what had happened the night Kate had fallen asleep on him and what she'd asked, and then how in the morning she'd coming in glowing. He left out the reason why but was fully aware that Alexis wasn't stupid. He then repeated what Kate had said to him and that that was how he'd left things. It left him even more exhausted than he'd felt after crying himself to sleep the previous evening.

Alexis watched him carefully before adding, "And you're avoiding her calls because..."

"Honey didn't you hear what I just said?"

"Yes and by the sound of it, she's trying to push away all those feelings she has for you so as not to get hurt. She doesn't know how you feel and so is not going to jeopardise her relationship with Josh." Alexis finished matter of factly.

"Feelings for me? What feelings?" He was incredulous.

"Dad I love you, but you can be so dense sometimes. She's in love with you too!" She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I think you've been watching too many slushy movies." He gave her a pitying look.

Alexis was exasperated as she went to retrieve his phone and held it out to him as it started to vibrate again.

"I don't think you'd have 6 missed calls from someone who didn't care." Castle just stared at the phone blankly.

"You'll never know unless you answer it..." She pushed the phone further towards his face.

Castle didn't move as it rang off again; before starting again moments later.

"Answer it!"

Her tone shocked Castle and he took it automatically while his eyes bore into his daughter's. Their staring competition lasted a few seconds before Castle looked away and down at his phone. He took a deep breath and pressed the green button.

"Kate..." He started to say before he heard,

"Castle..." She was clearly distraught and it frightened him.

"What's wrong?" His voice full of concern. You've got it bad his inner voice chimed in.

"I need you."

That was all the encouragement he needed.

"I'll be right there!" He said before hanging up. He kissed Alexis goodbye and ran out of the apartment like a bat out of hell. He knew that if she'd openly admitted that she needed him, something was terribly wrong.

See I told ya Josh was going. There will be fluff and possibly some smut coming up (you have been warned). Please R&R. I can't believe how well this story is being received. I will try and update before the weekend.