WOW. The first day after I posted the first two chapters I got 30 emails within a 6 hour period. You guys ROCK! I really appreciate all the love I've been getting on this story, and I hope you continue to love it.(:

Disclaimer: I still don't own Castle.

And now for a little pre-season finale drama.

Later that day, Beckett sat alone at her desk, attempting to finish the report on her and Castle's latest case.

She tried not to think. She tried to put all of her feelings aside, and focus on her task.

But every time she had to write his name, that concentration was broken.

She sighed and closed the file, giving up for the moment. She ran a hand through her hair, and was struck by the silence. It was too bland now. Too different, like all the sunshine had been sucked from the world, and only left Beckett with the clouds. Feeling a headache coming on, she put her head in her hands, and rubbed her temples in tiny circles.

"Yo, Beckett." A voice cut through the silence.

She lifted her head to find Esposito and Ryan grinning at her. "What?"

"Where's your shadow?" Esposito asked. "We've ah, we've got something he might be interested in." he said, nudging Ryan.

"Castle won't be coming back." Beckett said, cutting through the duo's sniggering. She pushed away from the desk, walking briskly away from them and into the break room, thinking that maybe coffee could temporarily solve the problem.

Ryan and Esposito exchanged a glance, and then walked after her, hot on her tail. "What do you mean Castle's not coming back?" Ryan asked.

"Just that." Beckett replied, grabbing a mug. "I didn't want him following me anymore." She cast a look at the fancy espresso machine, and decided she didn't want coffee after all.

"Why?" Ryan asked.

Beckett all but slammed her mug down. "He was a distraction." She said, reciting what she had memorized as her excuse. "He was around here all the time, playing detective, and messing with actual murders just to occupy his time. It's a wonder we ever got anything done."

Esposito gave her a skeptical look. "Have you gone nuts? We couldn't have solved some of these cases without Castle."

"We're detectives." Beckett said sharply. "It's what we do. We had a high solvency rate before Castle, and we'll have it after."

Esposito stayed silent for a while. "But what's it going to do to you?"

Beckett could have answered his question a million different ways. But I just ripped my own heart out sounded too true, and sorry guys, I'll be cold for a while sounded too nonchalant. Instead, she looked at her feet momentarily, and then said, "I'm going to go get a cup of coffee. Be back in fifteen." Before walking out.

Ryan eyed the espresso machine. "She does know we still have a coffee maker here?"

"Nah, man." Esposito shook his head. "That's Castle coffee."

Ryan gave a small chuckle. "What do you think the real reason is?" he asked, getting himself come of the aforementioned drink.

"For what?" Esposito asked. "Castle getting kicked out?"

Ryan nodded.

"I don't know…" he said slowly. "But I don't think it has anything to do with what Beckett said."

Ryan raised his eyebrows in agreement, and took a sip.

Beckett had barely walked in the coffee shop door before she spotted a bright, bubbly redhead in the corner with some of her friends.

Alexis.

Alexis looked up momentarily from laughing with her friends, and locked eyes with the detective from across the room, and felt the smile slide from her face.

Beckett watched the girl say something to her friends, and stand up and start to walk towards her.

Alexis weaved through the crowd, trying to keep herself in check. She didn't think she had ever been this angry before. But, true to form, she remained calm as she approached Beckett. "Detective Beckett." She greeted.

Beckett forced a smile. "Hello, Alexis."

It was only then that Alexis realized she didn't really know what she was doing. "What was that earlier?" She blurted.

"When?" Beckett asked, doing her best to minimize the situation.

"When you cut my dad into pieces?" Alexis felt tears start to well up in her eyes. "When you called him a pain, and acted like you never cared about him?"

Beckett took a deep breath. She hadn't expected to have to deal with Alexis too. "Alexis, I'm sorry. I understand why you blame me, and I know what you must think of me but-"

"Hah!" Alexis cut her off. "You know what I think of you? If you knew what I thought of you, you wouldn't have the nerve to sit here and tell me that you're sorry!" she said fiercely.

"This is bigger than this, Alexis." Beckett tried to explain. "I have my reasons for everything I did."

"Did you mean it?" Alexis asked quietly.

"I'm sorry?"

"Did you mean it?" She repeated, putting space between every word.

Beckett hesitated. "Yes."

Before she even knew what she was doing, Alexis's hand had reached out and slapped Beckett across the face.

Stunned, Beckett put a hand to her cheek, and stared at the teen in front of her.

Tears rolled down Alexis's face as she walked back to her table, grabbed her bag, and returned to Beckett. "No one does that to my dad." She said before storming out of the little shop.

Well? What do you think? Did Alexis overreact? Will Beckett ever reveal her intentions? Stay tuned. (:

Reviews are amazing. Plain and simple.