Yay, I'm able to post this before the season finale starts!

"You grew up."

"Well, I wouldn't go that far. That property on the moon?"

"Um hmm."

"I just bought that last month."

Lucky Stiff

Kate's mind had been silent for the remainder of the drive to the crime scene. Close to ten minutes had passed after Rick had been surprised by Kate's memory of her being at his book signing so many years ago. This had given Rick just enough time for the shock of his new gift to wear off.

It only took a few seconds for ideas of how he could work his mind reading ability into his next Nikki Heat novel to flood his brain. A mind reading victim. A mind reading murderer. Oh, or maybe he could have Nikki Heat get hit by lightning and become a mind reader. Or, maybe it would be better if Jameson Rook became the mind reader, since the character was based on Rick himself. Hmm...

Nah, having the male lead be the mind reader would be too much like that Mel Gibson movie.

Wait. That Mel Gibson movie. What was it called? He had watched it with Alexis a few years ago. Ah, yes, What Women Want. That was it.

Wait a minute. In that movie, hadn't the guy been able to read the minds of all the women he came into contact with? What if that happened to him?

Oh, boy. Rick wasn't sure if that would be a good thing or a bad thing, if his mind reading skills went that far.

And truthfully he really didn't want to know what all women wanted. Knowing what Kate wanted, on the other hand...

But then, he already knew that he could read Kate's mind.

What if this mind reading thing was permanent? He would be okay with that, if it was only Kate's mind that he could read. But every woman? Like his mother? Meredith? Gina?

He shuddered. Those last two would be especially horrifying.

"You okay, Castle?" Kate's voice startled him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Rick gave her a confused look. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Okay," Kate said in a tone that clearly told Rick she didn't believe him.

This is Castle. If he wants to talk about it, he will.

Yep, didn't believe him.

Kate slid into a parking spot a few yards away from where Rick could see Lanie hunched down over a body. Here was the perfect chance to test his theory. If he could hear Lanie's thoughts, chances were good that he would be able to hear many other peoples' thoughts, as well.

Wait. Was their a possibility he could hear the murder victim's thoughts? How cool would that be? True, the victim would be dead. But if his or her ghost was hanging around, would he be able to hear it? It would definitely help in the investigation. He'd be like a psychic detective. He could just imagine what Kate's reaction to that would be.

"Castle, you coming?" Kate's question startled Rick from his musings.

"Um, yeah," he said and quickly got out of the car.

He had just caught up with the detective when an image flashed through his mind. It didn't catch him quite as much by surprise as those first images had. This time, he knew exactly which of Kate's memories was seeing: Kate at the moment police officer Raglan had told them about her mother's death.

Rick knew he should have expected this particular memory. She had mentioned that every time she went to a crime scene her mind went back to that night. That empathy for the victims and their families was one of the things that made her the phenomenal homicide detective that she was.

Seeing it, though, was much different from just hearing about it. The urge to gather Kate in his arms was nearly overpowering. Only knowing that she wouldn't welcome the gesture, would probably be embarrassed and even angered by it, kept him from acting on the burning urge to hold her.

Rick was finally distracted when they approached the body, and Lanie, who was

now standing by the female murder victim.

So, the victim was female. Which might increase his chances of hearing her ghost. He listened intently, waiting for anything-crying, screaming, moaning, or words. Anything would do, at least for a start.

After a full minute passed without anything but Kate's thoughts in his head, he let out a disappointed sigh. So, he wouldn't be able to hear ghosts, after all.

Come to think of it, he wasn't hearing Lanie's thoughts, either. And judging from the baffled look Lanie was giving him, she was definitely thinking something.

Rick forced himself to tune in to what Lanie and Kate were saying regarding the way the young woman had been murdered. It was an odd feeling. He could honestly say it was the first time he'd ever had to force himself to pay attention to such a thing. But being a mind reader was a huge distraction.

"So, what's your theory, Castle?" Kate asked.

I can't believe I actually have to ask. What is with him today? I hope he comes up with a good one. I could really use one of his wild theories right now.

Hmm. So Kate needed a crazy theory? Well, that was a good thing, considering that he doubted he could come up with a realistic one at this point.

"Aliens," was what he came up with. "Mind reading aliens that have infiltrated the C.I.A."

Suddenly, Rick heard a giggle. He first glanced down at the dead body, wondering if maybe he was able to hear ghosts, after all.

But wait-that sounded like Kate. She had giggled just like that just a couple weeks ago when Alex Conrad, his writing protégé, had sent her a text about their plans to get together that night. Rick had been bothered on so many levels by that. It had driven him crazy that she would laugh at a text that young upstart had sent when she so rarely laughed at the many joking comments he came up with on a daily basis. Sure, she would smile sometimes, but he couldn't remember the last time he'd heard her laugh at a comment he had made. And Kate Beckett had a beautiful laugh.

Suddenly, the giggle changed to out-right laughter.

Now he knew it was Kate. She thought his theory was funny! If it wouldn't have made the detective and medical examiner think he was crazy, he would do a fist pump. Kind of like he had when he'd defused that bomb. The feelings coursing through him were surprisingly similar.

It made him want to laugh when the only outward reaction Kate gave to what he'd said was a classic Beckett eye-roll. Kate Beckett thought he was funny. A whole lot funnier than Alex Conrad could ever dream of being.

This mind reading thing was just getting better and better.

So what do you guys think?