Castle: Beckett's Security Blanket

Chapter 8: Walls

A/N: As promised today's update includes a little perspective from Beckett's POV, as well as another dose of angst with the case. Please enjoy...

Kate stood at the bathroom door, clad in her black yoga pants and a pink cotton camisole for her sleepwear tonight. When she flicked off the bathroom light the bedroom immediately darkened, save for the pale yellow of the moonlight that cast in through the window. She looked to the office door, then back to Rick who had long since crawled into bed while she was washing up. He was already asleep, laying on his side with one hand underneath his pillow and the other draped along his side, leaving the perfect amount of space beside him for her to fit she noticed. There was also an unoccupied pillow beside his head that he must have taken from the other side of the bed because it hadn't been there the nights previous; she had slept simply with her head against the mattress.

He had set a place for her.

Her gaze shifted back to the office door and she carefully considered an attempt at sleeping on her own tonight. After all, she should probably feel weird about sharing a bed with a man whom she wasn't romantically involved with. With a man she called her partner, her friend. But the more she thought about it, the more she wanted it to be alright. Castle gave her something she couldn't give herself. He gave her comfort, and a sense of security. She thought back to the day the two of them had sat on the swings after his book signing and how she told him she had some walls to break down. This level of intimacy, of letting someone else not only see her fears but help her work through them was a wall for her. A wall which Richard Castle had barrelled right through like a freight train and if she was being honest, it felt good. It had been a long time since she'd felt so trusting of a man. Josh was hardly ever there for her, Demming could barely be considered a fling. Castle was her one true constant in her life and she liked having that. Sure she may not be ready to dive head first into a relationship with him, in fact she knew she was far from ready. But what could be the harm in at least dipping a toe in to test the waters? She had been trying, at least in her own way, to come around. Little things at first; sharing a drink after a long case, going to dinner or a movie, a lingering touch to his arm or even briefly holding his hand on a few rare occasions. And he seemed content with all of it. Sure she was moving at the pace of a dead tortoise, but it was her pace and it was the best she had in her.

So with all those thoughts and rationalities lingering on her very overtired brain she finally let out a breath and padded across the plush carpet until she reached his bed and slowly crawled in next to him. Almost as if it were routine; the moment she settled in next to him his arm automatically wrapped around her and tugged her snug against her chest and she nuzzled into the pillow, almost immediately being lulled into a peaceful slumber.

Beckett awoke several hours later , before her alarm had a chance to wake her. Slowly she let her body stretch out and her eyes blinked with confusion as she felt the hard chest wall of her partner underneath her fingertips as her hand spread across him. She raised her head slightly noticing that some time during the night they had shifted positions. Castle was now on his back and she had more or less been sprawled out on top of him with her leg crossed over one of his and her arm draped across his chest while his held snugly around her waist. This was so not good she thought to herself. Thank goodness Castle was still passed out. Careful not to wake him she shifted slightly and gently removed his hand from her waist before placing it down on his chest as she lay propped up on her elbow beside him. She took a moment just to take him in; he looked so peaceful when he was asleep. Hair lightly mussed and lips parted slightly as he drew in quiet breaths. Certainly this wasn't the nine-year-old-on-a-sugar-rush she was used to dealing with on a daily basis. She couldn't help her lips curving up into a smile as his nose twitched and he took in a sharp breath of air. She'd be lying if she said he wasn't damn near adorable when he was sleeping. Leaning over him just slightly she reached her hand out; curious to what it would feel like just to run a hand through his hair. Hand slightly quivering she brought it closer to those perfectly soft brown locks but just as she was about to make contact her cell phone buzzed to life across the night stand and her alarm tone sounded. Jumping slightly in her spot she let out a small groan as she turned towards the night stand and reached out to silence the offending device and felt Castle beginning to stir beside her.

"What time is it?" He asked through a long yawn.

"Time to get up sleepyhead" she answered, yawning herself; pretending she hadn't been awake already and staring at him as he slept.

"Do I have to?" he whined exaggeratedly and she rolled her eyes.

"Yes, you do. Now come on" she commanded; poking his side with her index finger, causing him to squirm under her touch.

"Okay, okay" he quickly conceded. "I'm getting up"

"Hey Castle," she turned to him with a serious expression and he raised his eyebrows at her. "Thank you, you know, for everything" she continued, giving him a small but sincere smile.

"Don't sweat it" he quickly responded with a wave of his hand. "What are partners for right?"

"Right" she agreed with a small nod.

"Although…" he began; tapping his chin as if deep in thought.

"Although what?" she questioned curiously.

"I was just thinking, I wonder if Ryan and Esposito ever huddle up under a blanket together when things get tough" he told her teasingly and she quickly retaliated by throwing a pillow in his face.

"Heyyyy" he whined mockingly as he pushed the pillow aside.

"I'm going to shower" she announced as she pushed herself off the bed but his arm quickly shot out to grab her wrist.

"Wait, all kidding aside, I have to ask you something" he began in a serious tone and Kate suddenly felt uneasy, like she probably wouldn't like where this question was going.

"What is it?" She asked meekly; a million and one scenarios crossing through her mind. Were they finally going to have the awkward conversation about how she ended up in his bed every night? Or maybe where all this was supposed to be leading? Did he finally want to have 'the talk'? God she hoped not. Not yet. But what else could it be?

"Kate," he began pensively as he sat up in the bed and her breath hitched in her throat as he took her hand in his. Oh no.

"Which one do you think would be the big spoon? My money's on Esposito" he finished with a large smirk covering his face and she rolled her eyes before shoving him back down into the pillows.

"Go make the coffee" she muttered at him as she huffed off into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

"What, it's a legitimate question" she could hear him call through the door and she didn't need to see him to tell that he was most likely rolling around the bed in laughter. A small laugh escaped her own lips as the image of Ryan and Esposito spooning flashed in her mind but she quickly silenced it before he had a chance to hear it.

Espo was definitely the big spoon. She giggled again as she brought her toothbrush to her mouth and set into getting her day started.

Castle busied himself in the kitchen while Kate got ready. He brewed the coffee just the way she liked it and made himself a piece of peanut butter toast to settle the low grumble in his stomach. Reaching into the refrigerator to grab the milk for their coffee Castle smirked as his gaze fell upon the two paper lunch sacs that were left sitting on the top shelf; each with a name written on it permanent marker.

Dad, and Det. Beckett.

Castle couldn't hold back a smile if he tried, his daughter had made him a lunch, knowing full well how busy his last few days had been and that he most likely wasn't stopping to eat properly. And the fact that she had made one for Beckett as well warmed his heart even further. He quickly finished preparing the coffees and then snatched the lunch bags from the fridge and headed to his bedroom to show Kate.

He rapped his knuckles against his bedroom door before entering; not wanting his words from the other night about seeing her half naked to turn true. Okay, well maybe he wanted them to, but certainly not here and now, and not under these circumstances.

"You decent?" he called out to her.

"Yeah, come in" he heard her respond quietly and he pushed open the door with a large grin still adorning his face.

"So Alexis did the cutest thing this morning" he began excitedly holding a lunch bag up in each hand as he entered the room but his smile quickly left him as his gaze fell upon her sitting on the corner of his bed; shoulders slumped and phone clutched tightly in her hand. And was that a tear he saw running down her cheek?

"Kate?" he questioned softly; crossing the room to stand in front of her. "What is it?"

She simply raised the hand holding her cell phone towards him without looking at him and he placed the lunch bags down onto the night stand. Taking the device from her hand he swallowed hard when he read the subject line of the e-mail it was open to:

'A poem for you, Detective Heat'

He paused for a beat before scrolling down to continue to the body of the e-mail where four simple lines were written:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Why did you leave,
I had so much fun watching you.

Then just below in bolded blue letters was a box that said "click to open attachment". His thumb hovered over the button, unsure he wanted to see what it held. He took a deep breath and then finally pushed his thumb down, opening the attachment.

An image immediately popped up to the screen that made his stomach turn. A picture of her, of Kate, sleeping soundly in her bed at her apartment. The angle of the shot told him that this picture was taken from someone standing at the foot of her bed and the time stamp in the corner told him that it was taken the night before he had brought her to stay with him.

That sick bastard.

He was there, in her apartment, standing over her and watching her as she slept. God knows what else he was doing other than taking pictures while he watched her and Castle's mind regretted going there as soon as the thought had crossed him. It made his blood boil and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the phone so tightly in his hand he thought he might break it. Anger seethed from his veins as he stood there trying to get his breathing and heart rate under control. He hadn't felt a rage like this in a very long time.

Finally he tore his gaze away from the photo and back to Beckett who still sat on the edge of the bed quietly; apparently lost in her own thoughts.

"Kate" he spoke softly and crouched down in front of her, placing his hands on her knees. "Are you alright?"

She nodded numbly at him but didn't speak; not trusting her voice at this moment.

"Look you're safe here now. With me" he tried to comfort her. "There's a security detail on you and this place is armed up like Fort Knox. He can't get to you here Kate. I won't let that happen" he assured her before rising up just enough to take a seat next to her on the bed. He rubbed small circles on her back but to his surprise she swiftly stood up from the bed, breaking away from the comfort he tried to offer her.

"Let's get back to the precinct, I want another run at Fitz" she told him firmly.

"Beckett if we know Fitz was in lock up all night then he couldn't have sent this e-mail" Castle told her, a confused expression on his face.

"True, but I still don't buy the story that he doesn't know the name of the guy who paid him to send the first two e-mails so I'm going down there to ask him again. Now are you coming, or are you going to sit there and tell me about all the people that it can't be" Her tone was laced with unmistakeable frustration and Castle knew he wasn't the cause of it but was willing to let her take it out on him anyway. His own blood was still boiling over this most recent e-mail so he could only imagine the toll it was taking on her. So, if she needed a punching bag right now, he'd step up and take the first shift.

They wasted no time getting ready that morning and were at the precinct as quickly as the morning traffic would allow it. Beckett was pleasantly surprised to see Esposito already at his desk and hard at work.

"Castle" Ryan called out; his head poking out of the break room as he leaned against the doorframe. "Your stupid coffee machine hates me, will you help me out here?"

"Ryan how many times do I have to tell you, you have to treat her with love and respect"

"Go ahead and help Ryan, Espo and I will go give Gates her morning update" Beckett told him and he agreed, shuffling off to the break room to assist Ryan.

A few minutes later and with a steaming cappuccino in hand Ryan headed back into the bull pen with a satisfied smile and Castle following closely behind him.

"I don't know how you do it, it's like you have Jedi mind tricks or something" Ryan mumbled as they arrived back at Esposito's desk where Beckett was currently sitting on the edge of.

"Okay" Beckett began, popping up from her seated position on the desk. "Have you guys got those case files from the unsolved from Jersey PD yet?"

"Ah, yes" Ryan piped up, setting his coffee down in exchange for a manila folder. "There were a few suspects but none of them were ever convicted due to lack of evidence. We've got their names and are gonna start running them down now to see if any of them are a match to our suspect pool"

"And what about CSU's sweep of Fitz' apartment? Turn over anything useful?"

Ryan took the lead once more as he fished out another file from his desk and quickly flipped through a few pages. "Well they've seized his computers, so IT will be going through them with a fine tooth comb to see if they can find any connection to our mystery messenger. Hopefully if he contacted Fitz through Craig's List then he'll have an account it can be traced back to. Unfortunately no gun was found anywhere on the premises so nothing to tie him to there. We're also going to pull his phone records and check all incoming and outgoing calls within a one hour window before and after both e-mails were sent"

"Okay, great" Beckett nodded. "I'm going to call downstairs and tell them to bring Fitz back into the box. See if he's feeling any more generous about giving information today"

"Alright we'll catch up with you in a bit" Ryan replied before heading back to his own desk as Castle and Beckett headed to interrogation room one.

"Esposito was pretty quiet back there" Castle mentioned casually as they waited rather impatiently in the box for Darren Fitz to be escorted in. "You showed him the e-mail you got today didn't you?" he asked; already knowing the answer. He knew she and Esposito were close, and that he looked out for her like she was his family. They had known each other a long time, slightly longer than Ryan had known either of them and certainly longer than Castle had known any of them. It gave Castle comfort knowing that there was someone there who would look out for Kate when he couldn't be there. Espo was like the big brother she had never had and Castle took solace in the fact that if there was anyone who would want to catch this guy as badly as he did it was Javier Esposito.

"Gates is making him pay to replace the drywall his fist tore through in her office. He's lucky she didn't toss him out of the precinct" Beckett eventually answered and Castle winced. Yep, big brother was pissed.

"This guy has no idea what he's in for when we find him" Castle muttered mostly to himself as the door swung open and an officer led Darren Fitz in by his elbow.

Hope you enjoyed the update, I will try to update again as soon as I can :) As always, reviews are very much appreciated!