Previously on Storm Clouds

"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.

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

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

Beckett rubbed her hands over her face. She was tired, and the coffee was only causing her to be jittery, not keeping her awake. Ryan and Esposito had gone home hours ago and she told them she would be following soon. It wasn't a lie: well, it hadn't been at the time.

Within minutes of them leaving, she got a call. Fingerprints were a match. A rush had been put on them considering it was a high profile case. Mike Gerstern had been in Richard Castle's room. Not only that, but the grease-like substance on the glass was identified as a cream for dermatitis. The cream had been the reason they got such a good print: it also had gunshot residue in it. They had him.

Except they didn't.

There were still no leads on the location of Mike Gerstern. While she had been going over the crime scene, Esposito had gathered as much information from Alexis about her mother's life. Who her friends? Where had she spent time? That had led them to some of Mike's friends. They were still waiting to hear back from them to see if they knew where Mike was staying while in New York.

"Beckett. Mother's here."

Beckett looked up and frowned. Mother! Who's mother? As far as she knew, Mike's parents were both dead.

"Where is my son? Who is in charge here?"

Beckett saw the vivacious red head storm through the precinct. She was undoubtedly Martha Rogers, star of stage and screen. Beckett had been fortunate to get tickets to the last night of a play Martha had been starring in two years ago. Although she had only a small part, Martha had stolen the show.

"Miss Rogers. I'm Detective Beckett." Beckett offered the woman her hand but it wasn't taken.

"Where is my son? I demand to see him"

Beckett offered the woman a brief smile. The woman was obviously worried about her son.

"Miss Rogers. If you would like to take a seat. I'll be happy to fill you in on what's going on."

"I have been travelling all night. I don't want to take a seat. Where is Richard, where is Alexis?"

Beckett sighed. "I understand your concern, Miss Rogers, but they aren't here."

"Beckett, what are you still doing here? Didn't the Captain tell you to be gone before he gets back?"

Beckett tuned to look at Karpowski, then at the time. The Captain would be back within the next two hours. She knew he wouldn't hesitate to come in early just to catch her out.

"I'm just leaving, Karpowski. I'm taking Miss Rogers to see her son."

Beckett turned to her desk and quickly shut down her computers. She had already sent Ryan and Esposito updates on what was going on. It was time for her to go home and get a few hours sleep. She grabbed her things and began escorting Miss Rogers out.

"Where are you taking me?"

Beckett waited for the elevator door to close before she addressed the woman.

"Miss Rogers, I wish to expresses my deepest condolences for the loss of your ex Daughter in law."

Martha hung her head done. "Thank you. I am sorry for my outburst; I am just worried about my son. They said he was suspected of killing Meredith, and that is just not possible."

Beckett nodded. "I know, which is why I have been working to prove his innocence. We have a possible suspect, and your son has been released. We had no reason to keep him here."

Martha sighed. "Oh, thank goodness. So where is my son? Surely he didn't go back home."

Beckett shook her head. "No, he didn't. It's still an active crime scene." Opening the door, Beckett led Castle's mother out onto the street and hailed a cab. It was early morning and the streets were just starting to fill with early morning commuters. Beckett helped the older woman into the cab before climbing in after her and giving the driver her address.

"I don't recognise the address. What hotel are they staying at?"

"It's not a hotel. He was worried about the media harassing them and I agree. The paparazzi were at his apartment hours after the incident occurred and were still out the front of the precinct until a few hours ago. ."

Martha nodded. "Yes, they can be fickle at times. When you want publicity they aren't there, and when you want solitude they are in your face. So where are my son and granddaughter staying?"

"With me."

"Oh." Martha raised her brows amused.

Beckett shook her head. "It's not like that, Miss Rogers. I asked your son if he had a friend to stay with and he said no. As I was still working the case and wouldn't be going home anytime soon I offered my place of residence. The pair needed to sleep and get away from all the murder talk."

The woman seemed to be observing her. "Okay. Is that normal protocol? To let potential suspects stay with police officers?"

Beckett shook her head. "No it's not. However your son is no longer a suspect, and he needed somewhere safe from the media."

The rest of the ride to her apartment was silent. Beckett felt like a bug under a microscope. Martha kept watching her but didn't say anything. Beckett kept turning to look at her and even gave her a smile but still the woman didn't speak. She began to feel self-conscious as she led the woman to her apartment. Violent criminals hadn't made her feel as uncomfortable as this woman did. Beckett opened the door to her apartment and allowed Martha to enter before following. Beckett shut the door and turned around and froze at the site before her.

There was a half-naked man lying on her couch. Unfortunately it was the wrong half. It had been quite some time since there had been a naked man in her home. Just the site of a half-naked one had her heating up. She now knew the answer she had pondered with Lanie one drunken night, Richard Castle was a boxer man. He was asleep on her couch, dressed in only his boxers with one of his novels resting against his chest.

Beckett bit her lip. He had found her collection of novels. Well, they were his novels and they weren't all that hard to find. A large bookshelf took over one wall and his books were directly in the centre.

"Of all the books my son chose to read out of your collection." Martha shook her head. "It's good to see my son's ego came through the ordeal fine."

"Alexis must be in my room. It's just this way, if you want to check on her."

Beckett led the way to her room and found Alexis curled up on her bed. She was wearing one of Beckett's long t shirts and the poor girl looked exhausted.

"Oh my poor baby."

"You're more than welcome to stay here, too. There isn't much room but you must be tired if you travelled all night."

Martha turned to look at her then held up her wrist to examine her watch.

"Well, I have a few friends that I stay with when I am in town but it is early. I don't think Alexis will mind if I share the bed with her, as I often do it when I come and stay. I haven't had permanent residence since my last husband stole everything from me. I keep a closet at a few different friend's homes as well as one at Richard's. All I need is my clothes, me and my family."

Beckett nodded. She wasn't a hoarder either. Apart from her books she had very few knickknacks.

"Well, the shower is through there. There should be spare towels, but let me know if there isn't." Beckett opened her drawer and pulled out a grey t shirt and shorts for herself and left the drawer open. "Feel free to help yourself to some sleep wear. Please make yourself at home."

Beckett quickly went into her bathroom to change her clothes and brush her teeth. When she exited, the older woman was sitting on the bed and was only just now showing signs of exhaustion. The older woman was stroking her granddaughter's hair

"Try and get some sleep. They'll need all your support in the morning," Kate offered.

"I'll try."

Beckett nodded as she went to exit the room.

"Detective."

"Yes. Is there something you need?"

Martha shook her head. "No. I just want to know why."

"Why Meredith was killed? I can't say for.."

"No," Martha interrupted. "Why are you helping my family?"

Beckett sighed. "Because I've been there, and I wish there had been someone to help me and my father." With that she left the room and settled herself on the recliner next to her couch.

Beckett's nose twitched. Did she smell coffee? If she had fallen asleep at the precinct, she was going to be so angry. Montgomery was, too. She opened her eyes just as a cup of coffee was placed on the coffee table In front of her. Beckett shot up from her lying position and looked around, confused. She saw the empty recliner where she had fallen asleep the night before. Well, it was morning by the time she had actually gotten to sleep. How had she ended up on the couch? Beckett then looked up at the bearer of the coffee.

"Hi. Good morning."

Beckett sat back on the couch and subconsciously covered her waist with her hands. She probably should have made a better choice for her sleepwear.

"Arr good morning Castle. Did you sleep well?"

Richard Castle shrugged at her. "About as well as can be expected. Your phone beeped. I figured you might have to go back into work so I poured you a coffee when I made myself one. I hope you don't mind."

Beckett shook her head as she reached for the cup. "That you brought me coffee. No way." Taking a sip she groaned as the flavor swept over her. How had he made her crappy coffee taste this good. Did she taste vanilla in the concoction before her? " In fact I could kiss you, this tastes so good." She took a big gulp of her hot brew before she realised what she said. She looked up at the author and saw a smug smile.

"I meant that I went into your kitchen, rifled through your things, and made coffee. But it's good to know you reward the person who brings you coffee with a kiss. I would have settled for a smile. It's good to know though. I'll have to bring you coffee more often."

Beckett bit her lip. "How did I get on the couch?" She decided to change the topic of conversation to one that was a little less awkward.

Castle sat down on the recliner chair. "I moved you when I woke up. Mother told me what time you got in, and I figured you deserved a little bit of comfort considering all you have done for my family."

"So you have seen your mother?"

Castle nodded. "Yes. She left a few minutes ago. She says to say thank your hospitality."

"A cramped bed wasn't much?"

He reached forward and tapped her bare knee. "It means the world to us. We are so thankful for your generosity."

Beckett looked down at the hand on her knee than back up at the owner.

"I.."

Beckett jolted when her phone beeped again.

"It must be the precinct." She deposited her cup on the table and picked up her phone. Looking over the messages she smiled. "They have a lead on Mike, and I have to go."

Castle stood. "Okay. Of course. We will get out of your hair as soon as Alexis gets up. One of mother's friends has agreed to let us stay with her."

Beckett nodded. "No rush. I'll probably be at the precinct until this is done anyway." Beckett walked off towards her bedroom in order to shower and change.

"Detective,"

She turned to look at the author. In his photos he always seemed to be confident and happy. It wasn't the same now. He looked apprehensive.

"If I am out of line saying this then I am truly sorry. I realise you are a very private person."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Your apartment and the way in which the Officers at the precinct talk about you," he shook his head. "Sorry, writer's habit, I pick up on things. "

"Your point?" she was starting to get annoyed. Why was he bringing this up?

"I just want you to know that I think you're extraordinary."

Beckett raised her brows. He what? Wasn't he just lecturing her on being a recluse?

He offered her a weak smile. "You seem surprised by me telling you this which is exactly the reason why I felt I had to tell you. You're extraordinary. You're a private person, yet you opened yourself and your home to me and my family. You took a chance on me when you didn't have to. Very few people would do that. In fact, apart from my mother and daughter, I don't know anyone else who would. Except you. If there is ever a zombie apocalypse, I know who I want on my side."

Beckett bit her lip. He thought she was extraordinary. Richard Castle was a wordsmith, sure but she believed he meant what he said. She sensed the endearment in his voice. Where others thought she was hard or closed off, he thought she was extraordinary. He saw what others failed to see. She looked at him watching her and she knew he was expecting her to say something. What did one say to a person she admired for the way he could weave words in such a magnanimous way. To a person whose words had pulled her out of the darkness and forced her to go on. She was getting too sentimental and she still had a job to do.

Beckett nodded. "I'm not sure you'd want me on your side, Castle. I only kill criminals. If you're after the undead, you better call Buffy." She then turned and walked off to go change.

Thoughts?