Lanie was standing beside yet another body she sighed and pulled the sheet down revealing the face of a young man. She was back at work again and it felt good but she missed the connection she and Esposito had shared.

It had now been three weeks since the explosion and it seemed like it had been an eternity since she had been with Esposito and killed Michael Hayes. Kate was supposed to stop by this afternoon and tell Lanie how her date went Friday night it was Monday now.

Kate opened the door and Lanie smiled at her as she came over.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Kate asked and Lanie shrugged.

She pulled out the scalpel and prepared to make the first cut when the blade slid into the skin she was shocked at the reaction she experienced. She gagged instantly and dropped the scalpel barely making it to a nearby trash can before losing her breakfast. Kate rushed over and pulled a stool up.

"Lanie, Sit down" She helped her onto the stool.

"Thank you...I..."Lanie was exhausted.

"Hey, It's your first autopsy since what happened. It's going to be hard"

"Yeah, I just don't feel quite up to this yet" Lanie shook her head and Kate rubbed her shoulder.

"Come on, I'll call in sick and take you home" Kate helped her off the stool.

Lanie came out of her bedroom wearing her favorite pajama bottoms and an old t-shirt she felt a little better now she was back in her own safe home. Kate had made them tea and was waiting at the kitchen table.

"Lanie, Have you been sick before today?"

"Not really. tired maybe but my doctor said I'm still recovering. I think I will ask for a little longer off work"

"welll when was the last time you ate a good meal?" Lanie laughed.

"This morning. Trust me I'm eating fine I want to get back to my old self"

"I know. It's going to take time Lanie..." Lanie nodded and then asked the question she was dying to.

"How is Esposito?"

"He's alright still stiff. He's on desk duty...you could go see him" Lanie shook her head.

"He knows how to get in touch with me and he hasn't seen me since I left his place"

"That doesn't mean he isn't missing you. Call him Lanie"

"I don't know. So how was your date?" Kate grinned.

"Well, We've decided to go ahead and take our relationship to the next level" Lanie smiled.

"I'm so happy for you Kate. Congratulations"

"Thanks. I'm kind of nervous I mean...it's Castle"

"So...where did you sleep last night?" Lanie teased.

"My house. He walked me to the door and I thought he'd make a move but all he did was kiss my forehead and tell me he'd see me in the morning...who'd have thought?"

"Well some men like to take things slow...some don't" Lanie took a sip of tea and stared at her table.

"Lanie...give him time...everything will work out" Lanie gave Kate a weak smile but didn't quite believe her.

Esposito was sitting at his desk when Kate came in and he stood almost running to her desk.

"How's Lanie?"

Kate looked at him and rolled her eyes. It had now been three months since everything had went down. Not much had changed. Esposito was back on cases and Lanie though acting odd lately was back to her normal self. Kate and Castle were still dating and doing well. Esposito and Lanie still hadn't seen each other and Kate was getting tired of being the messenger between the two who wanted to continue and avoid their feelings.

"She seems alright I'm going to go see her tonight" He nodded.

"Tell her...I..." He trailed off and Kate gave him a pointed look before he shook his head.

"Never mind don't tell her anything" Kate caught the look in his eyes.

He was breaking. He just needed a push to make him tell Lanie how he felt.

"She has a date" Kate said and his heart looked broken.

"A date?"

"Yeah Esposito a date. You didn't expect her to never date again did you?" Kate sat down and he shook his head. She smiled a little to herself but she wasn't lying. Lanie did have a date.

"With who?"

"A guy she met in the morgue. He seems nice"

"He have a name"

"Yes, But I'm not giving it to you so you can run a search on him" She turned to her computer and he sighed.

"Alright. Thanks" He turned and left and Kate felt slightly bad.

Kate opened the door to Lanies and went inside Lanie was sitting on the couch and looked up when Kate shook the take out bag from their favorite restaurant.

"Hey, I stopped to get the food did you get the movies?" Lanie held up the cases.

"Right here, I'm starving I didn't think you'd ever get here" Kate laughed and shrugged off her jacket.

Later they were sitting on the couch side by side watching the movie. Lanie had finished her meal and was now eating most of Kates. Kate swatted at her hand.

"Hey, I'm hungry too" Kate told her when she stole another forkful.

"I know. I know"

"I didn't think you liked general tso chicken" Kate commented and Lanie looked at her and winced.

"I don't it's gross I'm just hungry"

"Well, Don't you think something might be wrong?" Kate asked as Lanie got another bite.

"No, I've got a healthy appetite" She reached for another bite.

"Here just take the whole thing" Kate handed her the plate and Lanie took it digging in.

"So, How are things with writer boy?"

"Uh...fine" Kate turned back to the television.

"You stay over yet?" Kate sighed and rolled her eyes.

"No. I keep trying to invite him in he just says not yet and leaves" Kate looked frustrated and Lanie smiled.

"In my experience when nothing else works you can always just make them really really mad" Lanie took another bit of food and Kate looked at her.

"Lanie..."

"Yeah?"

"Can I uh...ask you something?" Lanie looked over at her.

"Would you care if I said no?"

"Good point" Kate took a deep breath and sat up looking at her friend.

"When you and Esposito uh...You know" Lanie rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Did you...uh...use anything?" Lanie shrugged.

"Just me? why?" Kate smiled and sat back.

"Oh, No reason"