A/N: I swear, I get the best chapters done when I'm supposed to do something else...I seriously have to get my priorities straight, considering my bachelor dissertation is due in three weeks...and I actually want to be done with it by next Monday... xDD Well, never mind, ignore my ranting.

Here a little treat for you before tonight's episode that I can seriously not wait for! I am sooo excited, especially since I'm finally more spoilerfree again! =)

Once again, thanks for reading, subscribing, reviewing, whatever else you do! Sorry for the last update problem...I hate when doesn't send out alerts...-.-" Well, anyway, I hope you all still sticking with me =)

Chapter 10

Somehow she knew she'd fall right into one of those dreams or memories that she'd just told Lanie about. She was terribly tired, exhausted, running on the last bit of battery. The case was using every last bit of her energy and not even the normal adrenalin highs she gets from solving crimes was able to help her. She was so drained that she was out as soon as she hit the mattress.

When she opened her eyes she looked right into her mother's eyes, seeing her own reflection in them.

"I'm sorry, Katie, it won't take long, I promise," Johanna Beckett said to her daughter and the teenager nodded. She knew only too well that it would take a while for her mother to find the books that she wanted in the huge public library, let alone write everything down she needed.

They'd wanted a mother-daughter day out but as always a case had to thwart their plans. Kate admired her mother for her passion but she'd really been looking forward to this day.

She sighed. "It's okay, mom, I'll find something to do, don't worry."

Her mother nodded thankfully and went off into the direction of the legal section. Kate was very much interested in all things law herself, her parents both being lawyers made it easy for her to like it. She saw what her parents could do and she'd decided to go in the same direction. She had just applied to Stanford for Pre-Law and was impatiently waiting for their reply. It wasn't her only option of course, she had plenty other things covered in case she didn't get into Stanford but no one doubted that she would get a place. She was pretty much a model student. Of course, she did have her wild side. She and her best friend Maddy always got into some kind of trouble but that didn't change the fact that she managed to haver good marks, the best, most of the time.

Today she wasn't in the mood for anything law related though. She'd wanted a day to relax, enjoy it with her mother and because that wasn't possible now she went to the section with the fiction books. She could see that there was something going on that day, the people from the library were setting things up for a book reading but Kate had been here during several of those and was never bothered too much. She'd gotten up from her favourite spot on a window sill once or twice to have a copy of that author's book singed, if she knew it or not. She read a lot, so she always got to read the books she didn't yet know as well.

She roamed the rows upon rows of books, looking for a book now that would catch her interest. The only one that made her look twice was actually the book that was being advertised for the book reading. "Flowers For Your Grave", she read out half loud and turned it to read the blurb.

"Four murders in and the NYPD are still desperate for a lead on the serial killer that the tabloids are calling 'The Florist.' Struggling journalist Leroy Fine knows if he cracked this story he could get back everything he's lost – his job, his wife, his self-respect. So when Leroy uncovers a piece of evidence the cops have overlooked, he begins his own private investigation into the twisted and deadly world of The Florist. But as Leroy gets closer to discovering the killer's identity, he soon realizes he's put himself and everyone he loves in mortal danger. Now Leroy must decipher the Florist's riddles and unmask his identity… or end up the latest flower-covered corpse on the Ledger's front page."

It sounded interesting enough for her to pick it up and carry it to her spot on the windowsill. On the way she quickly passed through another row of books, picking up Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" in case she didn't like "Flowers For Your Grave" too much. She'd read Austen several times already but still loved it. However, she decided to really try this other book. The author's name kind of ringed a bell and she thought she remembered having seen some of his earlier work on her mother's night stand and being interested in it but her mother took forever to finish her books so she hadn't gotten to it yet. Curiously she started to read.

Once Kate started, she got pulled in. Everything around her disappeared and she was lost in the story. She didn't hear the people arriving, hustling past her place, she was so absorbed. Only once she reached the end of another chapter did she realise the commotion in the usually quiet library. She checked the page number she was on and was surprised at how far she'd already gotten, then she looked up to see what was going on. Apparently the book reading was about to start, the people were slowly settling down and then the author was introduced. Kate couldn't see anything from her place but she heard everything and after a few words and the one or other question Richard Castle was asked to read from the book. And so he did. Kate hadn't gotten to the part yet that he was reading but she was never patient enough to wait, so she didn't mind listening. And although she had heard him answer some questions she wasn't prepared for what came. When he started the first sentence she was immediately spellbound. His voice took on a totally different level, she got reeled in, and if she ever thought that reading a book was making her dive into a different world, seeing and living with the characters it was nothing compared to how she felt right now. His voice found its way right into her heart and from that moment on she knew she would love his books forever not knowing how right she would be with this thought a couple of years later.

She closed her eyes, shut everything out and just listened. It was soothing to hear, it mad the suspense in the story arch even bigger, the characters even more real. The places took shape in her mind, she felt the danger in her bones more than ever before and she wished it would never end. But end it did. When his voice subsided the room was quiet, she could feel the air sizzling. She realised that she was probably not the only one who had been mesmerized by the author's voice. Only very slowly did everyone come out of their trance, applauding and standing up. Kate couldn't see the turmoil but she heard the shuffling of chairs and feet. She smiled and buried her head in her library copy of the book but although she still liked it, she would have enjoyed it much more if Richard Castle had read it to her. She shook her head at her own thoughts and tried to concentrate on the story again. She wasn't as absorbed as before, heard the people move around and talk to each other, trying to reach Mr Castle and she thought about getting up herself for him to sign a book but she remembered that this was a library book so she just stayed put. She didn't realise when the author himself walked towards her. He didn't have the intention to walk to her, it was just the direction he had to go for a toilet break but when he spotted the young girl on the windowsill, absorbed in his book, he smiled.

"Got an interesting book there?" he asked when he was close enough.

Kate slowly looked up, half finishing the last sentence. She didn't realise at first who it was that was talking to her, so she nodded politely. "Quite good, yes."

Then she looked closer, realising that the man looked familiar. She turned the book in her hand and recognised who was standing in front of her.

"Oh. You're the author!" she said, blushing a little.

He smiled. "I guess I am. Well, I won't disturb you any further, you seemed quite absorbed in the story."

"Uhm, I guess I was. I do quite enjoy it."

"I could sign it to you, if you want to," he said with a wink and she threw him a look of confusion. Was this guy just flirting with her? She knew she looked a little older than she was but he was at least five years older, probably more. She couldn't deny that he looked rather handsome but still. She tried to laugh it off and then pointed with the book to the rows of books.

"It's a library book. I only just found it today."

"So I guess you are my newest reader today."

"Might be." She grinned and opened the book again, hinting that she wanted to continue reading.

"Well, enjoy some more then, new reader," he said and with a nod of the head disappeared into the direction of the rest rooms.

She noticed him coming back, disappear behind the shelves and then coming back to her with something in his hand. Hastily she buried her head in the book again, waiting to see if he actually was walking towards her again. He cleared his throat when he was close and she looked up again.

"Here, a little present for you" he said, holding out a book, no, his book, to her. "So you won't run out of reading material."

"I could've just borrowed this one from the library," she gave back seriously but then broke into a grin. "I guess I should've said thank you first, right…"

Castle laughed. "That's alright," he responded, handing her the book but withdrawing it again. "Wait, I don't know your name," he stated.

"Kate," she said and watched him take out a pen from his jacket pocket and finishing a dedication that he had obviously already written. Then he handed the book to her again.

She smiled, put the library book aside, took the new one from him and opened it to read what he had written.

When she looked up he was already walking away. "Mr Castle!" she called out after him with a huge smile on her face and he turned around. "Thank you!"

He nodded his head. "You're very welcome, Kate," he replied and with that walked away.

She grinned for the rest of the day. Her mother found her, her head still hidden in the book that was now hers and she told her about her encounter with the author himself and made Johanna laugh.

"Seems like you did get to read one of his books after all. I will hurry up now, 'cause you apparently like the books a lot."

Her daughter nodded in response, also showing her the dedication.

"Looks like you made quite the impression, those are some sweet words."

Kate smiled at her mother and then the picture faded into blackness.

She woke up, better rested than she was before but with a slight disorientation. She remembered this dream clear as day but mostly because she knew it wasn't a dream.

She got up from her bed, walked barefoot across her apartment to her book collection. It had grown again after the explosion in her old apartment, most of the books had been destroyed there but like a miracle there were a few that had survived, mostly because she had treasured them more than others. She now took one of them out, opening the cover and reading the slightly faded but sleekly written words that had given her so much.

To Kate

May the light in your eyes always twinkle and stories fill your heart with happiness.

Rick Castle

She smiled, like she always did when she took out her copy of "Flowers For Your Grave", her first Castle novel that made her to the fangirl that she was. Yes, his books had been a big help after her mother's death but it was this dedication that had made her read the books in the first place. When she had nowhere to hide, nowhere to get lost and attempt to forget she had remembered this dedication. She had lost the twinkle in her eye the day her mother died. She knew that and she thought that maybe this would help her, in a way, get it back. After all, he had said that stories may fill her heart with happiness. This was too much asked though, happiness. But it was worth a try and try she did. She managed to find the copies her mother had owned, had read them, over and over again, knowing her mother had loved them. She had impatiently waited for new novels to come out, knowing that in a way, they would get her closer to her mom, or rather the memories of her. This book was proof of how many times she had read and reread them, so well that she almost knew them by heart. And also, these books inspired her to a decision that had changed her life. She was lost after the loss of her mother and couldn't focus on her studies at Stanford anymore but she hadn't known what to do until she remembered these books. She wanted to take things into her own hands and these books had shown her the way. She joined the police academy because of her mother, because of her sense of justice and because of Richard Castle's books.

Knowing that this dream was in fact a real memory made her think of all the others again. She was seventeen when she met Castle at the library and she remembered it clear as day. Why would she not remember the other times? How was it possible that she had seen him again after that day, although quite some time after but could not recognised him. She'd read his books, she'd seen him on the cover all the time and still didn't make the connection? This was not like her. She had always thought she had a pretty good memory. Maybe the reason was that he was at the playground with his daughter and she couldn't really picture him as a father back then. Or maybe they were really just dreams.

She sighed. It was still not clear to her and she knew that most likely the only way to actually find out was by asking Castle himself.

Kate then placed the book back on its place and went to start her coffee machine and disappeared in the bathroom for a quick shower. When she got out, dressed but with wet hair, the machine was ready and she let out her first coffee of the day. She towelled her hair and went looking for something edible.

That's when she could hear her phone go off in her bedroom. She went over, checked the caller ID and picked up.

"Yeah, what's new, Espo?"

"Body drop up in Bronx. They want us there."

"Body and Bronx? Don't they know we have a case?"

"Well, I don't know anything else either, we just got called in."

"Fine, I'll meet you there," she said and hung up.

She quickly called Castle, finished up in the bathroom, drained her coffee in the sink knowing Castle would bring her one and left.

She got to the crime scene faster than she'd thought. Espo and Ryan were already waiting and Beckett could see Lanie crouching over the body.

"So, why were we called in?" she asked as soon as she got out of the car and Ryan held out a card to her.

"This was found on the body," he explained with a slightly troubled look on his face. Beckett took the card only to recognise it as one of her own. She looked at Ryan, the body, the card and back to the body.

"Don' tell me…" she started but both her detectives cut in by nodding their heads.

"Tracy Alden alias Melissa Payton."

"Oh my god…That poor woman…She said she was a dead person walking if someone found out. But no one should've known…" she exclaimed, saddened by the news. "We should've put a protective detail on her, Witsec or not…"

Esposito nodded but also said, "Well, too late for that now."

Together they walked up to Lanie who was already waiting for them.

"Morning," she said, her brows furrowed.

"What do you have?"

Beckett went straight to the point, she was getting angry at those bastards for killing Melissa, probably killing Matty too and she wanted nothing more but to put this case to a close.

Lanie saw Castle coming up behind them and waited for him to join before starting.

"Single GSW to the back of her head, execution style. Prelim TOD two hours ago. Torture marks on her hands." She pointed out to the weirdly angled fingers that made Beckett shudder. Broken, probably one at a time.

"No signs of a struggle though," Lanie finished, not having much else to say as of yet.

Beckett noticed Castle's presence beside her and looked over. He looked pretty shaken. It was not every day that a witness turned up dead because of speaking to them. It happened. It happened more than one would think, but still, it was not easy.

She lightly touched his elbow, reassuring him and he gave her a faint smile.

"I'll give you more once I get to examine her. You know the drill," her friend said and Kate nodded before turning to the boys.

"Come on, let's go do our jobs. Canvass but don't expect anything. This was a professional hit and we can be pretty certain of who it was. Only problem, we still don't know him. Dig, and then dig some more, we'll go talk to the sister. Again."

They all nodded in response and went to do what they did best.

So, did you see that one coming? Hihihi, I feel so mean...I only had her character in once but I somehow liked her...but well, such is life...

Somehow I find the dedication a bit cheesy...but well...whatever xDD I needed that after last week ;)

I hope you liked the chapter! Oh and as always, I LOOOOOVE reading reviews, they do kinda keep me going *wink wink* *points to Review Button*

Oh, and in case you want to talk to me somewhere else, here's my Twitter account: Chastity_May but be warned, I tweet a lot...a lot, a lot...xD

xx