Shh... I'm on vacation and technically I shouldn't be on the computer but I realized that I was a bad girl and didn't post my share of the story so the really long delay is all my fault but I am rectifying that right now. Look, a new chapter of Armed and Dangerous. And while you were waiting for this new chapter, LittleLizzieZentara and I have both written a few one-shots that are definitely worth checking out. Other than that, here you go. Hopefully we'll get better at this updating thing. Bon appetite.

And as always, you can follow me on twitter at vatrask

Enjoy 3

They stood there. Together. Staring up from the foot of the staircase; the noise from the lobby lulling to a hum in both their ears and the world fell away. They fell with it, back to a time two years ago – a day they hadn't mentioned since then but now, it just seemed appropriate. "We almost broke up right here." He looked over at her, his mouth open, about to make a remark but he shut it when he saw her face. They hadn't been dating – a fact, back then, she had been adamant about – so technically they couldn't have broken up but that didn't stop either of them from thinking of their twisted partnership as a sort of relationship. And if it was one thing they knew happened in relationships, it was break up. She was still staring up at the staircase but she could feel his eyes on her, watching the way her lips tilted up in a sad smile at the memory of that day.

"I was just going off to write other books." Her smile fell and he regretted the light tone of his words instantly.

She whispered. "And I was going to let you."

He swallowed, willing himself not to speak his mind. But he just couldn't help himself – he had to know. "What would have happened if I had gotten the offer and left?"

For the first time in a long time, her smirk gave him ease and he found himself smiling just a little "would you have wanted to?"

He caught her glance from the corner of her eye and they held each other's gaze for a moment before his face grew into a crinkled smile as he said "touché detective." She smiled back at him.

They ascended the stairs together – well, he followed just a little behind her so they could both pretend he wasn't checking her out and she wasn't enjoying it – until they reached the right apartment door and they stood, smiling briefly at each other before Beckett raised her arm to knock. Only to find the door swinging open with the slightest touch, causing the pair in the doorway to gasp in shock.

Melissa Talbot's apartment was trashed. The furniture was flipped over, the stuffing pulled from three of the chairs, papers strewn everywhere. Beckett felt Castle's heart rate rise with her own as they looked around with concern, careful not to touch anything. She called out to Melissa hoping to hear any sign of her or her son but they heard no response except the rustling paper from the open third story window in the bedroom.

When it was obvious that no one was in the apartment, Beckett pulled out her phone and placed a call to Esposito. "Hey I'm at Melissa Talbot's apartment and it looks like there was a B&E and Melissa and her son are nowhere in sight." Pause "yeah I know he asked us to come over which is why I'm calling you" she rolled her eyes at Castle who smiled at her despite the strange tension still hanging in the air "I need you to send a CSU team over here and can you put a ping on Melissa's credit card so we can see if someone is using it? Yes, I'd like you to call Melissa Talbot before you do it and let me know if she answers." Pause "thank you Esposito for your cooperation." She was about to hang up when Castle startled her by waving his arms around indicating that he had more to say. "Oh wait Espo,"

She held the phone out to Castle, keeping her ear to the opposite side so she could hear properly. "How's the hunt for the people who planted the brochure in the shooting range?"

"So far all we know is that it had to be someone in uniform but we've yet to be able to determine who it is."

"How's Gates?" She asked through the phone.

"Dangerous." The detective warned with only the slightest hint of teasing. Great. "I'd take my time coming back to the precinct and only come back with a lead."

"Great; thanks." She muttered before she finally hung up. "Now we wait." She announced to Castle as she tapped the phone off and looked at her partner, suddenly noticing the close proximity to each other. She watched his eyes flicker between her eyes and his lips – damn, that man was using her own superpower against her – his breath heavy in the air between then, small as it was. She caught herself exploring his face; the lines under his eyes from sleepless nights and early mornings, the scruff around his chin, betraying his younger years of partying and bad boy ways that still turned her on. His oceanic eyes that would prompt any girl to get lost at sea; and his lips, full and dry and begging to be wetted. God she was hopeless.

Not that Castle was much better off. He was still lost in her eyes, hazel green and dark with unbridled lust, something he rarely admitted he saw in her. When she licked her lips while staring at his, he lost it. He had to kiss her – now.

They both jumped when the cell phone between them rang; torturously loud. Beckett jumped back as her eyes darted to the ground, her hands shaking as she flicked the 'answer' button, bringing the phone to her ear opposite Castle. It was just easier that way – for both of them. "Be-Beckett." She cleared her throat. "Hey Espo, what d'you got?" She placed her hand on her partner's bicep – his really nice bicep, she shook her head – to grab his attention now,, finally, back into 'detective mode'. "Okay thanks I'll let Castle know." She replaced the phone in her pocket for good measure, facing her partner once again, this time assured that no one would get lost in the space between them. "So Esposito called Melissa Talbot's cell but it was turned off. However, he checked her recent credit movement and someone just made a purchase using Melissa's card at a restaurant called 'Q3'"

She smirked when realization dawned on him "isn't that your dear old friend Maddie's restaurant?"

"Uh huh. And if I remember correctly, we met Maddie not long after we met Melissa Talbot."

"Well then we should definitely get over there."

"Not 'we' this time, Castle, 'me'." His face fell but she kept her smile "direct CSU and let me know if Melissa Talbot comes back. There's something fishy about this whole case."

She felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of his lopsided smile "You think?"

"And in the meantime, I'm going to reconnect with an old friend to see if she has any answers about our Jane Doe."