Sorry guys didn't realise how long it ahd been since I posted. If you haven't already please check out my latest one shot. Under one roof, based on event from ep Room 147

Previously on Storm Clouds

"Espo, please tell me this guy has a criminal record and we have his prints on file."

"B&E five years ago in Florida. He was linked to a few but they could only prove one. He picked the locks and was pretty good with electrical stuff, too."

"Great."

"Not great. So far we can't find him. We got confirmation that he's been in New York for three weeks but no-one knows where he was staying. "

Beckett sighed. Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. "Okay, keep me posted. I'll make my way back now."

Beckett walked off the elevator at the precinct and headed towards her desk. She was surprised to see Richard Castle sitting on her chair. His teenage daughter was cradled in his lap despite the numerous empty seats at this hour. As she approached, Alexis quickly stood up as did Castle.

He held out his hand to her.

"Hi. We didn't exactly have the best meeting earlier and I'd like to apologize. Hi I'm Rick Castle. You're Detective Kate..."

"Beckett," she interrupted, taking his hand and shaking it. "And there is no reason to apologize. It's not a problem under the circumstances."

He nodded. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure."

"In private? "

Beckett looked around the precinct. Montgomery was in his office with Slaughter and someone she didn't know. Whoever they were, it looked like they were giving Slaughter a good dressing down. Beckett didn't want to take him back into an interrogation room again. Not only that, but Ryan and Esposito were trying to make it look like they weren't watching the exchange. They could have a clear visual and audio view if she went into interrogation. The conference room was free and the blinds were already closed. Perfect.

"Umm sure, let's go over here."

"I'll be back soon Pumpkin."

Alexis sat back down in the chair as Beckett led Castle into the conference room and shut the door.

"Thanks for the privacy, Detective."

"Please call me Beckett. So is everything okay?" she asked him and then realised how stupid her question was. Of course it wasn't okay. His ex-wife had been killed, and until recently he was the lead suspect. "I am sorry that was.."

"No it's okay. Thanks for asking. Alexis is pretty upset obviously, but I don't think it has really hit me yet."

"You had other things on your mind," she told him.

Castle scoffed. "Yeah. Like being accused of murdering Meredith. There were times I wanted to strangle her, that's for sure." His eyes widened. "I probably shouldn't be saying that to a police officer, should I?"

Beckett smiled. "Alexis told me Meredith took her to lunch in Paris one day. "I guess she didn't get your permission."

Castle shook his head. "No, she didn't. I aged twenty years that day."

"I don't blame you, but I'll pretend I didn't hear that strangled comment."

He gave her the first real smile she had seen on his face today and Beckett practically melted. She knew she made the right decision taking over the case.

"Thank you. Oh, and thank you for rescuing Alexis from that other detective."

"I didn't realise she was here, otherwise I would have stepped in sooner."

"Why is that?" he asked her.

Beckett frowned. "I don't understand."

"Well, this wasn't your case, but you took an interest anyway. In fact , I'm told you're the reason why I can go home now. I hear Meredith's ex is your prime suspect."

Beckett nodded. He had probably been kept informed by Montgomery or Ryan and Esposito.

"Yes, he is. I mean, it's not a lot to go on, but he was seen following you and they did break up on bad terms. He has a history of breaking and entering and the door to the other entrance to your apartment floor had the lock picked."

Castle frowned. "Isn't that all a bit too coincidental?"

Beckett shrugged. "About as coincidental as you just happening to go into your room and finding your ex-wife the minute the police storm your apartment. The 911 call said they heard a gunshot coming from your apartment, but none of your neighbours reported hearing one or making the call. The call came in from a burner phone. The time of death, the time you got home and the time of the call were all quite close. That and the fact you were found standing over the body is why you were a suspect. However with no residue from firing a gun on you and no motive well ..." Beckett shrugged. "You should have been brought in for questioning, but not handcuffed or treated as a suspect." On the drive home, she had called Lanie, who had filled her in on all the relevant details.

Castle nodded. "Well, thank you for taking over. For looking at other options."

"Things aren't always what they seem. Believe me I know."

"Your mother?"

Beckett froze.

"Alexis told me that you understood what she was going through because your mother was killed when you were her age."

Beckett barely managed to nod. She rarely spoke to anyone about her mother's death. She had only brought it up to help Alexis. It made sense that the girl would tell her father.

"Was her killer found?"

Beckett gritted her teeth and tried to steady herself. "No. The police put it down to a random act of violence."

She didn't know why she was telling him this

"But you don't believe that?"

Beckett took a deep breath. "No."

Castle shook his head. "Well, I am sorry."

Beckett looked away. She couldn't deal with this right now.

"Thanks. Is that all?" she asked, hoping to get away from the situation.

"Ahh well, yes. No. It can't have been easy for you to tell my daughter about your mother. I am assuming it isn't something you just blab to anyone."

Beckett shook her head. "No, it isn't."

"Thank you. She really needed to know she wasn't alone in all of this. Thank you for letting her come and see me." Castle then laughed. "I keep saying thank you - I'm sorry. I am a man of words, yet I can't manage more than a thank you. I feel like a fool."

"You're under stress. It's no big deal."

Castle shook his head. "It is a big deal. You were there for her and me, and I don't even know you."

Beckett shrugged. "It's all part of the job."

Castle shook his head. "It wasn't your case."

Beckett bit her lip. He was right. It wasn't her case yet she had butted in. Something she never did.

"I won't say thank you again but.." Castle leaned in and Beckett wasn't sure what he was doing until he kissed her lightly on the cheek. "If you ever need anything don't hesitate to call." He pulled a pen and a notebook out of his pocket. He scribbled on a page before ripping it from the pad and handing it to her. "This is my private number. I figured I can trust you with it."

Beckett took the number and smiled. "It will be all over the internet by tomorrow." Beckett reached into her pocket and pulled out one of her cards. "Here. Cop hours. You can pretty much call me anytime."

Castle smiled as he took the card. "Thanks. Roy said he would keep us updated."

Beckett frowned. "Roy?"

"Your boss."

Beckett closed her eyes. "Oh yes. Roy. Well okay. You should probably get home. The two of you haven't had a proper time to grieve. Go home, try and rest."

"Try and forget the day."

Beckett shook her head. "No, you will never forget the day."

Castle walked off, and Beckett stayed where she was. She needed a bit of time to recover. It wasn't everyday she got to meet her favourite author who just happened to be accused of murder. Or everyday that she spilled her guts about her mother's case. She had just wanted to help Alexis. For a few minutes the girl was all alone and Beckett knew how scary that feeling was.

She took a few deep breaths; she needed to keep it together. Beckett finally turned to leave, only to run into a firm chest. Hands immediately came up to steady her.

"Sorry," Beckett looked at the chest and recognised the familiar shirt. "Castle. Sorry. I didn't see you."

"No, it's fine."

Beckett looked down at the hands wrapped around her biceps, then back up at the man those hands belonged to.

"Oh," Castle said, dropping his hands.

Beckett smiled and took a few steps back.

"Was there something else?"

Castle winced. "Yeah. My home is still a crime scene."

"Yeah, it is for the time being. Sorry."

Castle shook his head. "No, that's okay. I'm in no rush to get back there. I don't want Alexis there either. I was thinking of moving anyway. I'm going to start looking straight away."

Beckett nodded. She wouldn't want to live there either, but why was he telling her this.

"It might be a wise idea."

"Yeah. Umm, so in the meantime I'm homeless."

Beckett tried not to smirk. Richard Castle had millions of dollars, how could he be homeless?

"Homeless?"

"Yeah. I can't go home. Montgomery told me to stay in the city at least for a few days so I can't go to my summer home in the Hamptons."

"Hotel?" Beckett offered. There were only like a trillion of them in New York.

Castle laughed. "Umm, yeah only problem with that is my face is being splashed all over the news. I could pay them to be discreet, but someone will talk and we'll end up being held hostage there by the media. I'd be calling you guys again just to step foot out of my room. "

He was right. The paparazzi were already outside of his home. There were too many people who could talk at the hotel. Maid, room service, thousands of guests. He needed to be somewhere away from people, not completely surrounded by them. Well, not by strangers at least, maybe being in the company of people who loved and cared for them would help.

"A friend?"

Castle hung his head down and looked away. Beckett frowned at his reaction.

"Castle?" she questioned.

"Yeah, I don't really have friends?"

Beckett had to hold back a laugh. His ex-wife had just been killed, but his statement was almost as stupid as the reporters asking about Castle's gay lover.

"You have tons of friends. I've seen photos. I hear you're friends with the mayor."

Castle shook his head. "I have a lot of what Alexis calls facebook friends. She will like their photos or comment on their status, but they aren't real friends."

Beckett shrugged. "I don't know what you mean."

"I have golf buddies, poker buddies, people I hang out with at events. When it comes down to it, I don't really have anyone I can call late at night and ask to stay over. Especially when I have been accused of murder."

"You're not a suspect anymore."

"Yeah, but until you have a suspect in custody, the media won't see it like that. Regardless I am still big news. No one I know will want to bring that on their doorstep." He lowered his head and ran a hand through his hair. When he looked back up at her his eyes were glassy and filled with loneliness. " I don't suppose the NYPD has somewhere we can stay. A safe house or something? I'm not picky, we'll stay anywhere. I just need a place for my baby girl to relax and get away from all of this."

Beckett sighed. Richard Castle had always seemed so happy and put together in all the photos she had seen. She knew he had two divorces, but marriage was hard even without the celebrity status. Had the bone-melting smile from before been a cover? Even though she didn't have a lot of friends, she had Lanie, Ryan and Esposito she could turn to. Some didn't consider 'work friends' real friends, but they didn't know her team. They were a tight-knit group, and would be there for her. If she needed some help they had her back. Beckett sighed and made an important but possibly crazy decision.

"I have an idea. Why don't I walk you and your daughter out?"

"Out where?"

"If you want discretion, just follow me."

Castle nodded and followed her out of the conference room. Beckett walked over to her desk and opened the bottom drawer. She pulled out a bag and then opened her top drawer and grabbed something out.

"Hey Beckett."

Beckett turned around to look at her boss. "Captain. I am just escorting Mr Castle and his daughter out."

"Good. Ryan and Esposito filled me in on what you found at the scene. I'm heading home. You better not still be here when I come in tomorrow."

Beckett nodded. "Okay."

She busied herself waiting for the Captain to leave before escorting the Castles to the elevator. When they entered the elevator, she opened her bag and handed Alexis and Castle a cap each.

"Here, put this on."

She also handed Alexis a scarf.

"We use it when we are trying to stay inconspicuous." she told them.

"We do the same. I guess this will buy us some time at a hotel," Castle told her reluctantly.

Beckett shook her head. "You won't be staying at a hotel. If you don't want to that is."

"I guess we really don't have a choice."

"Dad. Where are we going? I don't want to go back home."

The door to the elevator opened and Beckett led them over to her car. She unlocked it before handing the keys over to him.

Castle looked at the keys before looking at her.

"What?"

"Take the car."

Castle shook his head. "We can take a taxi."

"A taxi driver could talk and there are paparazzi out front. Take the car." she told him placing the keys in his hand. She then took out a piece of paper from her pocket and scribbled on it before handing it over. "This is my home address. I live alone and my neighbours keep to themselves."

"Your home."

Beckett nodded. "These are my keys," she said as she handed them over. "Small key top lock, big key bottom lock. Unlock the bottom first and then turn the handle as you unlock the top lock."

"We can't stay in your home."

Beckett shrugged. "It's not much, but it will be somewhere to stay tonight. There is a bed and a couch. I have a stack of take out menus that deliver anytime. Just make a call and put it on my account. They will even leave it by the door if you ask,"

"Really?"

Beckett nodded. "I get home late and often order and then take a shower. When I get out it's waiting for me by my door."

"Dad."

Castle looked at his daughter, then at the detective in front of him. "Um okay. Thanks for this."

Beckett nodded. "No problem. Feel free to use the shower. There is linen in the cupboard. Alexis, you can borrow anything you need."

"Thank you Kate," the young girl told her as she opened the car door and got inside.

"Thank you." Castle offered yet again

"Go," Beckett told him. "Your daughter needs you."

UnBeckett like. MMM maybe. But just enjoy the softer Beckett : )

Love you guys. Your reviews have been amazing. Thanks for getting me through the bad times and giving me reasons to dance during the good.