This one is for those of you that asked me to write a longer chapter. It didn't start out that way, but as I was watching scenes in preparation for this chapter's flashbacks, I decided to use more of them than I originally planned. I can't promise that there will be any other chapters of this length. In fact, their probably won't be. But you never know...

Disclaimer: Since I haven't added one of these in a while, I figured this would be the chapter to do it. I do not own Castle. This means that the parts that you recognize are not mine, but belong to Andrew Marlowe and ABC.

"Like it or not, I'm your plucky sidekick."

"Plucky sidekick always gets killed."

Partner, then."

"Okay."

Knockdown

Sleep was a lost cause for Rick that night. He tossed and turned in bed for almost an hour before he gave up and went to his study. Tension lined every part of his body and he released it in the only way available to him at the moment-through writing. He spent hours at his laptop, filling page after page with a story that he knew would never see the light of day. Rick didn't even try to put any real fiction in to it. The only thing different from what he had experienced that day was the character names, Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook. He didn't even turn Kate's fantasy into a reality for Rook and Heat. The whole thing was just too personal for that.

Finally, in the early hours of the morning, Rick fell into an exhausted sleep. Only to be tormented by frequent dreams of he and Kate living out Kate's fantasy, over and over again.

Regardless of his sleepless night and dream-filled early morning, Rick still entered the precinct bullpen around the same time of the morning that he always did, coffees in hand. That he had downed one 12oz cup of ice coffee in less than ten seconds before placing his usual coffee order wasn't something anyone else needed to know. He figured that this was a day he was going to need the extra caffeine.

Rick knew that Kate wasn't sitting in her usual chair before he looked over in that general direction. Either that or his mind reading ability was only a twenty-four-hour thing.

"...maybe I should tell Castle. He's going to wonder why I haven't already told him as it is."

Rick looked over to Captain Montgomery's office, where the "sound" of Kate's thought had come from, to see her just leaving her boss's office.

"I just knew that it was time. Josh wasn't any more into the relationship than I was."

Kate had broken up with Dr. Motorcycle Boy? When? He wasn't really surprised that she hadn't told him; Kate wasn't one to share personal things easily, not even with him. He was a little hurt; they were best friends, and he wanted to be there for her. Always.

I can't believe that it took me this long to realize that my relationship with Josh was never anything more than a rebound relationship, a way to try to get over..."

Rick knew there was a memory coming. There was something in the tenor of her thoughts that alerted him to that fact. He just really hoped that there wasn't going to be anything about Kate being intimate with anyone. The way he felt right now, it would either make him want to punch a hole in a wall or give Kate a kiss that would make the kiss in her fantasy seem like a peck on the cheek.

Thankfully, there was no image of Kate being with any guy. No, this was worse. Much, much worse.

Rick recognized right away the time frame of this particular memory: a couple days before Memorial Day weekend the year before, when he had invited her to spend the holiday with him-and Alexis-in the Hamptons. And now he was sure he was going to see her heartbreak over breaking up with her boyfriend at the time, Tom Demming...

Rick and Kate were at the precinct, talking about their current case, when Rick said, "I was serious about this weekend."

"You're seriously asking me to your place in the Hamptons?" Kate asked.

How many women has he had up there, anyway? Although, he did say Alexis would be there, so he must not be planning to try anything. Which doesn't bother me. At all...It doesn't!

"I promise, no funny stuff," he went on. "Just a friendly get-away. It'd be fun."

"Yeah..."

It would be fun. Bon fires, roasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories...I can just imagine the kind of ghost stories Castle would come up with. It would be just the kind of weekend I could use right now. But I have to work. And even if I didn't, I have a boyfriend...

Seeing that moment through Kate's eyes, Rick was stunned at how much she had really considered joining him and Alexis for the weekend. How had he missed that?

The image shifted. Rick had this particular memory burned into his brain, himself. Not too much time had passed since Kate had told him she couldn't go to the Hamptons because she had to work when Demming issued his own invitation to Kate to go away for the weekend...

Rick and Kate had been discussing a twist in the case when Rick saw Tom Demming heading towards them. He gave the other man a barely civil greeting which was returned in kind before Demming turned his attention to Kate.

"So you know that little place in Asbury I was telling you about around the corner from our beach house?" Demming asked Kate.

"Um hmm," Kate said.

"Well, they just had a reservation open up on Friday," Demming went on. "We leave early enough, we can probably make it."

How do I tell him I have to work? And why do I not really want to go, even if I had the time free?

"Yeah, umm, will you let me check into it?" Kate asked.

I so don't want to do this. But I can't just tell him no.

"Great," Demming said. "I'll see you later."

This going to look so bad. Castle is going to think I just blew him off. Now what do I do? I have to think of something...

"Beach house," Rick said. "Thought you were working this weekend."

He does think I just blew him off. And he sounds hurt. I hate this.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Castle," she said. "I should have just told you. I didn't want things to be awkward between us, now that Tom and I are..." Just say it, Kate. Why is it so hard to say it? "Together."

He is hurt. He's really hurt. But what can I do? I can't just throw away a good relationship because I would rather...

"No, I get it," Rick said. "You want your private life to be private."

"Yeah, I just don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable." Like I do right now.

"No, no, of course not," Rick was quick to agree. "Actually, that makes what I was going to say a little easier. Um, what with my book due, I was thinking it would be a good time for us to take a break."

A break? Why?

"A break," was all she could think to say.

"Yeah, God knows you gotta be tired of me following you around all the time..."

Tired of him following me around? I haven't been tired of him following me around in months! Didn't he hear me when I said I've gotten used to him pulling my pigtails, that he makes my job more fun?

"And I really do need to get some work done," Rick continued.

Well, I can't argue that. After all, even though we're partners, this isn't really his job. But this sounds ominous. How long of a break does he need? Because it's Castle that needs the break, not me.

"With everyone gone, I figure, why not just stay up in the Hamptons, you know? Get away from the city for a while."

"For how long?" I sound composed, right?

"The summer, at least."

At least? What does that mean? How long is this break going to be? And why do I feel like I'm going to start crying any second?

"I thought this would be our last case," Rick finished.

Last case? Kate opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. How do I respond to that?

Detectives Ryan's and Esposito's approach spared her from having to come up with anything.

What if this is our last case? What if I never see him again...?

Rick could hardly wrap his mind around all that he had just learned. It had been enough of a surprise to realize that Kate hadn't really wanted to go with Demming, especially after the discovery that she had really wanted to go to the Hamptons. He had assumed, as she had rightly thought, that Kate had just blown him off so that she could spend the time with her boyfriend. He'd been irritated at the time, wishing she had just been upfront with him about it. He hadn't had any clue that his leaving had left her so shaken. Rick was starting to have a hard time keeping up with the emotional onslaught, worrying what else was coming...

"So, Castle's last case, huh?" Esposito asked Kate.

"Um hmm," was all she said.

"Ryan and I thought we'd do a little going away party," Esposito said.

"Yeah, well it's not like he's leaving forever," Kate responded.

"You sure about that?" Esposito asked.

No. Not even close. But right now, I have to believe that, or I'm not going to make it through this.

"Why do you think he's been following you around all this time?" Esposito asked. "What, research? The guy's done enough research to write fifty books. Look, whatever the reason is, I'm pretty sure it doesn't include watching you be with another guy."

He's right. I'm losing Castle because of Tom. Tom, who's a great guy, but he's not-he's not Castle...

Rick was now completely stunned. He had a feeling that his first assumption had been completely wrong. It was starting to sound like it wasn't Demming she'd been trying to get over, after all.

Again, the image shifted. It was all Rick could do to not hurry to Kate's side and ask her to stop. He had a feeling he knew where this was going...

"Sad a man had to die because all the people involved were too scared to say what they really felt," Captain Montgomery said, referring to the case they had just closed.

"Yeah, it is sad," Kate agreed.

And my partnership with Castle could die for the same reason. He's already stopped bringing me coffee. I know it's a small thing, but it's our thing. He's already pulling away. What if he doesn't come back, all because I don't say anything?

Rick came over just then, interrupting her musings. He spoke about going to pick up Alexis from her visit at Princeton, telling her that he would be back in time for his "surprise party."

Tell him, Kate. Tell him now.

Kate could tell that he knew something was up as his voice trailed off and he looked at her enquiringly.

But I can't. Not yet. I have to talk to Tom first. I can't have that in the way when I tell Castle...

Rick bit back a groan when the image changed once again. What was it Kate was going to tell him...?

"Castle, do you have a second?" Kate asked.

I have to do this now. Right now. If I don't, I might lose my chance. He's leaving. Really leaving. And I don't know for sure if he's ever coming back.

"Of course, yeah," Rick said and followed her out of the room. When Kate had closed the door behind them, he asked, "What's up?"

Just spit it out, Kate.

"Look, I know that I'm not the easiest person to get to know," Kate began. "And I don't always let on what's on my mind, but this past year, working with you," Careful, Kate, you don't want to have everything come spilling out, "I've had a really good time."

"Yeah," Rick said, "me, too."

"So, I'm just going to say this, and..."

But she didn't get the chance. Because at just that moment Gina approached.

What is Gina doing here?

"Richard, you ready?" Gina asked.

"Hey," Rick said, turning to the blonde. When Gina reached his side, he turned his attention back to Kate. "You remember Gina, my ex-wife?"

"And publisher," Gina was quick to add.

"Yeah, we spoke the other day," Kate said. "Looks like you finally tracked him down."

"Oh, yeah, he's such a little boy sometimes," Gina said, rolling her eyes. "I mean, I don't know why. It's not like I bite. Much. We better get going, we don't want to be stuck in traffic all night."

"Going?" She doesn't mean...

"To the Hamptons," Rick confirmed.

"For the weekend?" Kate asked. Please let it only be for the weekend. Please.

"No, for the summer, actually," Gina corrected her. "So I can stay on top of him while he finishes his book."

He's taking her for the summer? But...

"I'm sorry," Kate said, "I didn't think the two of you got along."

"We didn't," Rick confirmed. "But then, last night, on the phone we got to talking..."

"We ended up talking for hours," Gina finished the thought.

They're even finishing each other's sentences! That's our thing.

"Just like old times," Gina said.

"Yeah," Rick agreed.

I've lost him. I've really, truly lost him. I think I'm going to be sick.

"So, I'm sorry, you were telling me something," Rick said, turning back to Kate after looking tenderly at Gina for a few moments.

What do I say now?

"Yeah, I wanted to say..." Think of something, Kate! "Have a great summer."

"You, too," Rick said.

Did he buy it? I'm not sure he bought it.

"And like you said, it's been really, really great," Rick added.

"Yeah, it has," Kate said.

You can't hug him, Kate, was Kate's thought as she and Rick shook hands.

As Kate watched Rick walk away with his arm around Gina, she couldn't keep herself from saying, "See you in the fall?"

"See you in the fall," he agreed.

But will I really...?

As the image faded, Rick knew that he had seen enough. He couldn't do this any more. He had to tell Kate about his ability to read her mind. And he needed to tell her now.

Please leave a review on your way out. You guys really do inspire me. Your ideas and reactions give me ideas I wouldn't have gotten without them. Some of you have inspired entire chapters.