A/N – Hi Guys, thanks for checking this out. I'd really appreciate constructive reviews – this is my first adventure in FanFic land. This chapter is more relationships and history, but bare with me, there is some, as my daughter said, "creepy, disturbing stuff "coming up.

So grateful for Andrew Marlowe creating the wonderful characters and for the writers for leading us on a wonderful inspiring journey, but no one is mine.

The Castle Wall

Chapter 2

The Hole in the Wall

Gina was directing a young man, a boy really, in packing up. Rick made a mental note to ask her if the help was getting younger or was she getting ol…then he stopped himself, yeah, no good would come of that and he let it go. He felt more than a little guilty about showing up an hour late that morning, so he had agreed to stay until the very end. It was two-thirty in the afternoon. A three hour book signing that was supposed to run from nine until noon ended up starting at 10 and lasting until now. He was famished. He had missed breakfast and his lunch date with his mother. She had wanted to get his opinion about a play written by one of her students. Martha Rogers was at one time a Broadway diva. She now ran an acting school and squatted at Rick's loft. He often teased her about this living arrangement, but in truth, he valued her help the past few years with Alexis. It had just been Rick and his mother while he grew up, if you didn't count the nannies, boyfriends and two step-fathers, so he appreciated the extra hands as he raised his teenage daughter.

He knew of a diner a few doors down and turned to Gina. "Do you want to grab a bite?"

She looked up at him from her schedule on her phone. He was eyeing her expectantly. After all they had been through; he could still influence her with those blue eyes. She hadn't yet figured out how to defend against the grin and the sparkle. It was one of the major reasons he was a popular meet and greets. He had the looks, the charm (when he chose to use it) and the talent. "Stop trying to monopolize my time. I do have other clients." He looked disappointed, his eyes darkened. She relented, damn it. "Okay, but a quick one." He grinned and sparkled.

"Great! I just need to check on the case and then I'm all yours."

"Lucky me."

Rick opened a text to Beckett as he wandered around the shop. 'Hey, you available?'

'Yep' Came the immediate response.

'How's the murder coming?'

'Done.' His face fell a little.

'What do you mean, 'Done'?'

'Open & shut. The woman's husband was washing his hands when we arrived, he confessed AND handed us the knife. He had a breakdown, it was pathetic. Now he's on his way to Belleview. Just finishing up on the paperwork.'

'How's your day going?'

'Long. I'm going to grab a bite. Did you eat?'

'Yeah, leftovers. I think they were Espo's. ;-)'

'Yum. See you in a bit.'

Kate put her phone down and smirked to herself; she didn't really expect him to volunteer for the paperwork.

The diner was a hole in the wall. Gina made a face when they entered. Rick caught it and he assured her, "Don't worry. The food is good and the owner is a friend of mine. Besides, I know CPR and the Heimlich; you're perfectly safe." Gina sighed audibly, as he helped her into the booth. "Richard, it's fine, really. I'm not as hard to please as you think I am."

Rick settled into the bench seat opposite her. "I never said you were. Well, I probably have, but I definitely don't think that… well, the majority of the time I don't." He grinned. "The paninis here are terrific." he said, changing the subject, quickly.

"Hi!" A cheery young twenty something broke into their conversation. "I'm Jessica and I'll be your server today. Can I get you something to drink?"

Rick turned on his charm, "Certainly. Hi, Jessica, I'm Rick and this is Gina. I was hoping that we'd get to meet you." She looked up from her notepad and blushed. Gina rolled her eyes. Rick continued, "I'll have a latte and Gina will probably jump at the chance for a diet coke."

Jessica was surprised by his introductions. Customers in this place generally didn't even make eye contact, let alone have a conversation and she had never seen a celebrity in here doing both. "Sure," looking to Gina for confirmation. She got a nod and continued, "Ah…are you ready to order?" she stammered.

Gina, who was watching Jessica slip into the Castle induced blue bedazzled eye trance, spoke up and broke the spell, "Spinach salad, please."

Rick asked "Jessica, do you still have the chicken breast panini? The one with sun dried tomato and avocado?" She nodded, clearly having lost her ability to speak. The girl wrote down their orders and headed to the kitchen. A moment later, there was a loud crash. Rick and Gina and the rest of the diners turned to see Jessica on the floor in the middle of a pool of diet coke and coffee. Rick went to help her up. He grabbed a handful of napkins and started to mop up the spilled beverages as he smiled at her and said not to worry. The poor girl was mortified that he had come to her rescue.

He excused himself when she was steady. When he got back to their booth, Gina had a familiar knowing look on her face; smugly she said, "She's not much older than Alexis."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I was just trying to be helpful," Rick exclaimed. Gina studied him for a moment and re-evaluated.

Yes, there was a difference. She narrowed her eyes. "What's up with you?" she asked.

"Wha..? What do you mean?" Rick sputtered, clearly flustered at her allegation about his intentions and not happy about where their conversation was going.

"Richard, c'mon, there's something about you. Something different. I can't put my finger on it, but I'll figure it out eventually, so you might as well just tell me." She eyed him, but if you asked Rick, he would have said that she wasn't eyeing him as much as her laser eyes were boring into his soul.

His eyes narrowed, "Look, I just was hungry and figured you were too. I didn't imagine you'd be grilling me." He chortled at his own pun.

"Grilling you?" she asked, ignoring the pun. I can assure you that I have no hidden agenda. I just have a vested interest in your well being and I'm concerned."

"Concerned about what?" He did a quick mental assessment of himself, his attitude, appearance. He felt great. Better, in fact, than he had in a long while. Aside from his tardiness, he was her model client.

She took a deep breath. How do you ask if someone is alright because of his good behavior? "Okay, you've apologized several times for being late, but your head was someplace else totally all morning, and frankly you're not being … well, lecherous." She got it out fast. Like removing a band aid. "It wasn't that long ago that you would have come away from a signing like that with a promise or two for rendezvous' and you positively wouldn't have been having lunch with me in a diner."

He was momentarily speechless by her 'concern', but he quickly recovered. "Gina, there's nothing to be concerned about." His eyes flashed with humor. "Can't a guy try to improve himself?" He smiled his smile, but it was faraway, like he was somewhere else, not genuine and not in the moment, and she knew it. "See, you're gone again. I know you. I've known you for better or worse, remember?"

"I remember on the fifteenth and the thirtieth of every month." he interjected.

"My point is,' she continued, ignoring his interruption, "believe it or not, I want you to be happy. And not just because when you're happy, I'm happy. I truly do still care for you Richard, even if you don't think I do."

"Happy? I'm happy. I've got every reason in the world to be ecstatic." His eyes danced, what was it? Gina had seen it before. The electricity behind those eyes reached out to her, displaying all of his secrets. "Oh, my God, You're in love!"

In a corner booth of a non-descript diner, a young woman, reading a brand new copy of "Frozen Heat", overheard the conversation from the two people in the adjacent booth. She stopped reading and listened intently at the woman's assessment of the man, '"Oh, my God! You're in love!"' She peered around the seat and felt her heart catch in her throat, her pulse quickening, her mouth suddenly going dry. She was looking at Richard Castle. Her Richard Castle. The author of her life, her dreams, her nightmares. He had tortured her for so long with his pretense of not knowing who she was, of not acknowledging her love for him and now this? She had waited for him. Through all of the women, through his marriages that she knew would fail. She knew every detail, every nuance. She knew what he liked and what he didn't like. She kept a discarded bottle of his cologne so she could smell his scent. She knew his addresses and had been to his loft in SoHo and the house in The Hamptons. She'd followed him to hotels and restaurants. She never missed a public appearance. She waited and watched. She even waited through the police detective. That was just research, she had assured herself and the research was paying off. She had never read better work from her novelist. She was so proud. She had seen the two of them together, but it appeared to be a working relationship, albeit a close one. She was jealous, of course, she always was of anyone who spent their time with him, but this was too much. She was done waiting.

Rick smiled, but it wasn't his 'Hi, I'm Rick Castle and I'm going to charm the pants off of you' regular smile. It was genuine. Gina could see a depth in his eyes. The blue that he could sparkle at will was a deep navy; brimming with passion. "Wow. It's been a long time since I've seen that look in your eyes. Somebody I know?" Her knowing smile told him that she had an idea.

"Who?" Rick could never pull off the 'Hey, I'm completely innocent' look, but it didn't keep him from trying.

"Come on Rick, spill." Gina sighed.

"I really have no idea…"

"Beckett?" It was a good thing he wasn't playing poker at that moment. It was written all over his face. He felt his heart leap and his breath catch at the sound of her name. Gina could read him as well as she read his manuscripts and she could see he was just aching to shout it.

He regained his composure. "Detective Beckett?"

Jessica brought their lunch and set the salad in front of him and his sandwich was deposited in front of Gina. Amusement crossed his face, but whether it was from Jessica's ineptitude or Gina's current line of questioning, was anybody's guess. "Jessica, are you sure you're okay? That was quite a spill."

"I'm fine, just clumsy."

"Good, when you get a second, could you bring our drinks, please?" Her eyes widened as she realized that she had forgotten them. Today had gone badly; she was late for her shift and ever since, her day had been off.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Castle." Rick raised his eyebrows. Jessica continued, "I was at the book shop this morning, I saw you there, but I had to leave before I met you because I was already late for this place." It all spewed out of her at once. She gave him a weak smile hoping he would understand.

He smiled his sympathy. "Have you read Nikki Heat's adventures before? And it's Rick." he said, trying to put her at ease.

She lit from within. "Yes! I love all of your books and I usually can get them signed. I think you're terrific!" Swoon. Gina rolled her eyes.

"Thanks, Jessica. I appreciate that. I hope you enjoy Frozen Heat." He was turning back to his lunch when he had a thought, "Jessica?" She had left the table to retrieve their erstwhile drinks and her head from the clouds but turned back. "Do you have your copy with you?" he continued.

It took her a moment to realize what he was asking, "Yes, it's in the back."

"Well, bring it out so we can make sure you get your signature." In response, she practically squealed.

"Groupie." Gina said with a grin and a shrug. "Pays the bills."

They switched their lunches and ate in silence, each lost in thoughts of their conversation. Gina was the first to break the quiet. "Rick, I just want you to know that I'm happy for you." He looked at her. "You deserve to find what you've been searching for and I truly hope you have." He was quiet as he nodded and acknowledged her wish. She smiled at his silence. He was never silent. "Thanks for lunch, it was good." She slid out of the booth, stopped at his bench, bent and kissed him on the forehead. He looked up at her, his expression that of a mischievous little boy and totally serious grown man and she wondered, not for the first time, how he did it.

He said "Give me a sec and I'll walk you back."

"Really, Richard? I'm a big girl. Finish your coffee."

He relented. "Okay. Thanks, see you."

"Yes you will, tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" He gave her his best confused, lost, tourist look, "Oh, yeah, right….where was that?"

"The park, remember? The Park after Dark? The Mystery, Mayhem and Murder Convention? She rolled her eyes and felt her blood pressure rising. He seemed to take pleasure in her exasperation.

Judging from his smirk, he was satisfied with himself. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've got it. I'll see you then."

The occupant of corner booth left her two dollars on the table and left the diner right after Gina had gone. It was time.

A/N Thanks for reading! I'll try to post chapter 3 tomorrow, but with the Season 6 premiere tonight...we'll see.