Their zombie case was taking on an even weirder turn than they thought. A co-worker, Charlie, Coleman, claims he was attacked by zombie and the bite mark on his arm matched the same bite mark on David Lock. Kate didn't know what to think but she kept telling herself there were no zombies. It had to be a get up. It just had to be. Ryan returns from talking with Charlie, who refuses to leave holding for fear of his life.

"What do you mean he won't leave?" Kate asks as they stand at the murder board

"He seems pretty convinced about this whole zombie thing." Ryan says

"That's ridiculous." She replies with a frustrated sigh

"Is it?" Ryan asks, "I mean he looks like a real zombie."

"Really bro?" Espo says, "I'm embarrassed for you."

"Why on earth would a zombie, not that there are any, target a commodities trader in a parking garage at four a.m.?"

"Simple," Castle says, "The more intelligent the victim the tastier the kill."

"So your saying this is just random?" Kate asks, "Killing just for the thrill?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense."

"No Castle, it's not." She says, "What makes sense is that there is connection somewhere between our victim and this very human killer."

"My theory is more interesting." he teases

She rolls her eyes, "Clearly our killer dressed up like a zombie and is trying to make our only witness look crazy."

"Well, he seems to be doing a good job of it." Ryan agrees

"What else do we know about the victim's movements?" She asks

"Well, we just talked to the doorman and Lock left his building at two a.m." Espo explains

"Two a.m.?" Kate repeats, "What was he doing until four when he was killed?"

"What indeed?" Castle asks

/

The day had continued to be full of weirdness. Castle and Beckett ended up at an abandoned factory where they tracked David Lock's movements and in the middle of a zombie walk. None of whom knew the victim. After questioning them all it was finally quiet and she's ready to call it a night when she sees Castle heading toward her from the breakroom.

"Hey Castle, I'm calling it a night. You wanna grab a burger at Remy's?" She asks casually

"I don't think so, Kate." He says rather seriously, grabbing his coat

"Come on, we can unwind. Get one of the milkshakes, too." She offers again

"No, Kate." He says again, "Look, I appreciate you talking with Alexis and I know you're trying but I think it would be best if we kept our contact strictly case related right now."

"Oh, of course." She says forcing the lump down in her throat, "I just thought...but you're right. I presumed too much. I'll, uh, see you tomorrow then,"

"See you tomorrow, Detective." He says and takes his leave not aware of the tear Kate wipes away

/

The next day Kate sits in her therapists office, Dr. Carter Burke.

"You seem distracted, Kate." Burke observes, "Is there something in particular bothering you?"

"Well, it's been a hard week." she explains

"Tough case?" He asks

"A weird one but no, that's not it." She says, "It's...it's Castle."

"What happened?"

She sighs and fidgets nervously, "A few days ago we wrapped up that bombing case. I was interrogating the suspect and he kept saying he didn't remember. That he must be traumatized. I told him he didn't get to use that excuse because I was traumatized, I was shot and remembered everything."

"So how does Mr. Castle figure into this."

"Castle heard me." She explains, "He was in the other room and I didn't know it."

"Ah, so he knows you heard him and remembered what he said." Burke says

She nods, "When I came out of interrogation he had left a coffee on my desk but he was gone. Told Espo he had something to do. But he never came back so I went to see him."

"And I take it that it didn't go well."

"He was so angry and I can't blame him. The truth is he did deserve better from me that lying to him for almost a year. I tried to explain and apologized. I even told him that I loved him and he did come back to the precinct but he said that even though he loved me he couldn't trust me."

"But he came back." Burke says, "So he's giving you another chance?"

"Yeah, but it seems like...well, yesterday, after a long day on this case we're working I suggested getting a burger at Remy's. We used to do that. But he said no. He said that it was best that our contact be strictly case related."

"How does that make you feel?" Burke asks

"That maybe he'll never really let me back in. That even though we're working together again and we still have that thing. The theorizing, even though he comes up with wacky theories. It's still not like it used to be."

"Did you expect it to be?" Burke prods

"I guess I thought we could at least...be like before." She says softly, "But I know that we can't. Not yet."

"Kate, you have to understand that he's probably protecting himself. I'm sure he wants it to be like it was, too, but it can't happen overnight."

"I know." She says, "Oh, and I didn't mention his daughter coming to see me."

"His daughter?"

"She showed up at the precinct a few days ago after she found out he came back. She made it clear she didn't like it. She's very protective of him."

"What did you say?"

"I told her I understood how she felt but her dad made the decision to give me another chance. I told him about it and then I talked to her again and it went better. I told her how much I love him and that I don't want to hurt him again and that I would feel the same way if it were my dad. We came to a cautious truce and I thought Castle felt better too. Until today."

"So, you're afraid it will never get better?"

"I don't know how if he won't let me in to show him." Kate explains

"Give him time to get over the hurt. You said it's only been a few days."

"I know." She says, "I just don't know what I would do if I lost him again."