A/N: I know, I took way too long with this update, and I'm sorry. Blame both my procrastination and Paris, the latter for being beautiful and distracting and giving me not much time to write with all the things to see.

Lost Time
- Chapter Two -

It's late, far too late when the sound of a ringtone echoes through the bedroom.

He stirs, blinks open an eye and groans at the lit up display of his phone, wishing for it to be off. He reaches for the phone, knowing it might be a case and – since he's the only detective left on his team at the moment – they might need him at the crime scene.

When he looks at the display, he frowns at the unknown number. Not the precinct, then.

Glancing over at Jenny – his wife, he likes to mentally add, since it still sounds surreal and wonderful at the same time – he carefully gets up, makes sure not to wake her, and exits the bedroom to answer the phone.

"Kevin Ryan." He says, after he hits the call button.

A surprised breath on the other end of the line, and then, "Ryan, thank god you're up, I –"

"Castle?" He interrupts, surprised. He hadn't been expecting to hear from him, or, well, anyone related to the precinct for that matter.

"Yeah." He hears Castle clear his throat. "Listen, I – I don't have long, and I know it's late, but could you please help me out?"

After the day he's had, Ryan is slightly tempted to say no but – it's good to hear from a friend, somewhat of a relief, really. To know that at least not everyone is mad at him. "What is it, Castle?"

"I'm at a police station." Castle says, is quiet for a beat, then adds, "State police, I was going for a drive and they caught me speeding."

Ryan frowns. "So why are you at the station?" Speeding shouldn't get him arrested.

"I might've gotten a little – irritable. Said some things I shouldn't have." Castle admits, grudgingly. "But mostly it was just… miscommunication, really."

Right. He sighs again, scratches the back of his neck. "So what do I have to do with this?"

"I – I forgot my wallet, can't pay bail. And my car is at the impound lot, so I kind of… need a ride, too."

Oh, no. He glances at the clock, sees it's only three AM and lets out a soft groan. It's not that he doesn't want to help out, but he could really use some extra sleep. Today – well. It could've been better. Though – no, no. He grits his teeth when a thought enters his mind, dismisses it quickly. Things wouldn't have been different if Castle had picked up the phone when he'd called. He sighs. Getting Gates involved was still the only way to have saved Beckett's life, probably. Castle wouldn't have had some brilliant plan either.

He realizes he hasn't replied yet, when Castle speaks again. "Listen, Ryan, I know this would be a huge favor and I'd owe you big time, but can you help me out? I kind of want to not be in jail when my daughter comes home from her graduation party."

He already knows what his decision will be – he won't just leave a friend hanging (his mentally winces at the word choice when it brings back images of Beckett hanging on that ledge – but he still takes a second to think, pinching the bridge of his nose between his finger before a takes a breath and replies, "Okay, Castle, what station are you at?"

He listens while looking for a pen and piece of paper, then writes the address down, before he hears a distant voice on the other end of the line telling Castle to wrap up his phone call. With a last grateful "thanks again" from the writer, the line goes silent.

Right. There goes his night of sleep.

Carefully, he walks back into the bedroom, gets a note from his nightstand and quickly scribbles something down for Jenny. He leaves the note on the dresser, knowing she'll find it there. Then he looks at his wife once more, leans in and gently places a kiss on her forehead.

With one last longing glance to the empty spot in the bed right next to her, he makes his way to his side of the bed, grabs a shirt and pants and starts getting dressed.

Oh, Castle really does owe him big time, he thinks as he heads for the door.

The Old Haunt it busier than it usually is, this time of night.

It might be because more people go in to get shelter from the rain, and end up sticking around for a drink or two, enjoying the nice ambiance of the place. Either way, when Beckett comes in, looks around the crowded bar, it's hard to spot him, hard to tell if he's there or not with all the people around.

The thought that he might be in the same room with her right now sends a little jolt of both excitement and anxiety through her system. Despite all her determination – she is absolutely sure about her decision, won't let herself doubt it, not this time – she's still worried about how he'll react when she finally comes face to face with him.

Shaking her head, she tries to clear her mind of the images of him, the tears in his eyes when he was begging -

She grits her teeth. No, she chides herself, don't start thinking like this.

Instead, she walks over to the bar, sits down on a stool as the bartender is coming over. He's a regular, she recognizes him from the nights they've gone here, together, their little precinct family. The thought nearly makes her wince with the already aching loss, but she focuses on the man instead, shoots him a smile as he gives her a look of recognition.

"Hey…" She trails off, his name on the tip of her tongue, but she still can't quite remember. "Do you know if Castle is in?" She asks instead, and she feels her blood rushing – with what she isn't sure – as his name leaves her lips.

He shakes his head and her stomach drops. "I haven't seen him today."

Oh. "Oh." She repeats her thought out loud, something twisting inside her, her heart, maybe. The bubble of hope she had bursting. Crap.

Sensing her mood, the bartender – Jamie, she suddenly remembers, remembers how fitting she thought it was that someone with Rook's nickname would work at Castle's bar – asks her if she maybe wants a drink.

She does. And she's tempted to order tequila, but page 105 kind of ruined drinking that alone for her. Not ruined, per se, but she doesn't need even more reason to be thinking of him. Thinking of him in that way. Not when she's still unsure if she'll even have a shot at being with him.

She swallows hard at the thought.

"I'll have a vodka." She then replies to Jamie, because yes, that sounds really good right now.

Soon he offers her the drink, then someone else is demanding his attention and with a sympathetic smile he's off.

Honestly, she hates the fact that she even looks like she needs the sympathy. She takes a large sip of the drink, too big a sip, maybe, feels the liquid burn in her throat, the lightness in her head making her wonder when the last time was she ate. She frowns.

She needs to take a moment to think.

Maybe someplace quiet. She glances around the bar, and lets her eye fall on the door to Castle's office. Perfect.

Getting up, she walks down the bar, stops when she's facing Jamie. She knows he should have the keys. "Hey," She says, "I was just wondering if you could unlock Castle's office for me."

She sees him hesitate, looking a little skeptical, so she continues, "He just texted me he'd be here later, but it might be a while, so I'd like to wait someplace a little more… quiet." Okay – obviously a lie, but she thinks she sounds convincing enough.

His face relaxes at that. "Yes, sure." After quickly scanning the bar to make sure it isn't too busy at the moment, he steps out from behind the bar and walks over to the office, and Beckett follows his lead.

Jamie fumbles with some keys, finds the right one and unlocks the door, opens it for her. "Thanks." She says, before she enters the room.

"No problem." He says with a smile and then he gently closes the door behind her and leaves, the door drowning out some of the sounds from the bar.

It's not quite silent yet, but quieter, at least. She can hear her own thoughts a little bit more clearly like this, though that doesn't necessarily has to be a good thing. The office isn't very big, smaller than his study at the loft, but there's still a desk with a desk chair, and a modest couch on the opposite side against the wall.

She walks over to the couch and sits down, being careful not to spill her drink.

It isn't until that moment that she actually feels the exhaustion in her limbs, her legs suddenly feeling a lot heavier than they did before, when she was making her way to his loft. She crosses her legs and winces at the tightness of her muscles. In hindsight, taking a cab to his place might've been a better idea, but in the moment she had been too restless, the adrenalin carrying her forward effortlessly, her muscles not even daring to complain.

Now none of that determination fueled energy is left, just disappointment.

She gets her phone out and checks it for any texts or missed calls – again. There are none. After taking another sip of her drink, she sets it down on the small table next to her and let herself sink into the couch further.

This night has been absolutely exhausting. Hell, the entire day had been. But other than her realization about Castle, she hasn't exactly come far. She lets out a breath closes her eyes for a moment.

A longer moment.

Has he put such a comfortable couch here on purpose? Her eyes are still closed as she turns her head and snuggles a bit closer against the pillow.

Even though it probably isn't true – she doesn't think he actually uses this office so often – she thinks she can smell a hint of his cologne. Subconsciously, she inhales the familiar, comforting scent, a slow, content smile blooming on her face.

She doesn't want to think about the fact that, maybe, soon, the same smell might not be as comforting to her anymore when it will only remind her of how things have ended between them.

Things haven't ended yet, she reminds herself.

She opens her eyes slightly, glancing around the office like she's trying to make sure Castle hasn't suddenly appeared. She sighs before she lets her eyes close again.

With thoughts of Castle and the events of that day running through her mind, she slowly drifts to sleep on his couch.

A/N: Did I mention yet how awesome you guys all are with all the reviews and tons of alerts? No? Okay, well, you are, and it was incredibly nice to wake up to all those emails. Also, speaking of awesome, Emily, thanks for looking parts of this over and congratulations (on being a genius). :)

Anyway, thoughts?