Rocket Man Chapter VI

I can't say it enough. Thanks for the feedback!

We have some case stuff coming up and a game changer. ;-)

Marjo's challenge for this chapter was: Unagi and DANGER! Who thinks this sounds familiar?

And yet again I have to thank my fabulous BBB's. You are awesome and your input means a lot to me!

Disclaimers:

They are not mine. I'm not keeping them, just borrowing, although I wouldn't mind to keep Castle. ;-)

He woke knowing she was gone, but still feeling the touch of her fingers on his head. He remembered the tenderness of her ministrations and the way it had soothed him. He would treasure those feelings that had made him forget about the throbbing in his head, made him forget how frustrating it was not to remember. Rolling over he glanced at his watch that lay on the nightstand. 9:30pm. He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep, but his head felt better and he knew he owed it all to her. He wondered, not for the first time, what exactly was going on between them. He'd hoped she might shed some light on their relationship when they were alone, had even thought about asking her, but something held him back. Something in her eyes told him he had to be careful, that whatever they had was complicated, fragile. He sighed, knowing he wouldn't fall back to sleep anytime soon, as he felt the restlessness return together with the doubt and fear. He needed a distraction and he knew they had brought him some of his own books, he just had to get the bag out of the closet. Castle pushed the covers aside with his good arm, and started walking towards the closet. He remembered they had brought him some of his own clothes, and was glad he could wear those comfortable cotton PJ's instead of the horrible hospital gowns which left too much out in the open for his taste. He passed the mirror hanging on the wall, and stopped to stare into it, looking at the face that greeted him. It was still hard to believe it was his own reflection, when all he could see was a stranger staring back at him. He felt the anger that slowly crept to the surface, felt the patience he had tried to maintain over the past days slipping. His right fist smashed into the wall right next to the image that seemed to laugh at him cruelly. He felt tears of frustration burning behind his eyes, but did not let them fall. He couldn't dare to, because it would rip him apart if he did.

Instead he fetched the bag from the closet, sitting back down on the bed to start sifting through it. How long was he supposed to stay here? The girls had packed clothes for at least two weeks it seemed. He knew he was being unreasonable but he was offended by it. A few minutes ago he was fine and now he could feel it flare inside of him again, close to exploding. Taking a few deep breaths, his fingers closed around the books, pulling them out, and he studied the covers. The first one was a Derek Storm novel, the character he had killed off before he had met Detective Beckett, remembering what his daughter had told him. The second one was another Derek Storm, but the third cover really caught his attention. It was a silhouette of a naked woman. The first Nikki Heat novel. They hadn't mentioned packing this one in as well.

His decision was made before he really thought about it. Abandoning the Derek Storm novels, he crawled back into bed and took a careful first peek into Heat Wave. Turning onto the page with the dedication, he read: To the extraordinary KB. He read it again, just to make sure it was really there. What was he missing? What was it they were keeping from him? The flame flared higher and higher.

Kate stared at Maren Leichsenring's Facebook profile, confusion written all over her face. She wasn't into this whole social networking thing and didn't know where to start.

"So, what do you suggest?" she turned and asked Alexis, since Castle's daughter seemed to know a lot more about this.

Alexis gave her a surprised look, "Me?"

"Yes you," Kate grinned. "You seem to be an expert at this."

Alexis expression turned from surprised to excited and she moved closer to have a better look. "So you want to know if the victim might have met with someone, right?"

Kate nodded, "Yes and anything else that might help us figure out what happened."

"Okay, so we should check her Wall first." Alexis suggested and already clicked on the button with the victim's name.

"Wall?" Kate frowned. She really needed to catch up with technology.

"You're really not into this, are you?" Alexis smirked at Kate, who shook her head and started nibbling on her bottom lip. "Okay I'll give you a quick Facebook 101." She didn't even stop for Kate to nod she just dove right in. "So you have your personal wall, where you can post what you are doing, where you are, how you are, whatever you want. And all your friends can read it, comment on it or leave you a thought or greeting."

"That sounds a lot like Twitter," Kate said and already knew why she didn't like it. She was a private person, she did not want everyone to know what's going on in her life.

"Yeah sort of," Alexis agreed. "But while Twitter is mainly designed to let the whole world know what's going on, Facebook is a bit more private, at least if you want it to be. You decide who your friends are and who you want to see your entries."

Alexis looked at Kate, checking to see if the Detective was following her before she continued, "In addition you can also add photos, create whole albums and share those with your friends. You can create events, invite people and you can exchange messages. Okay?"

"Yep," Kate nodded, sorting the things she had learned once more.

Alexis brought them back to the Wall and they where faced with a laughing version of the victim. A young woman embracing life on a yacht somewhere out on the ocean. A sudden rush of sadness overcame Kate and she could see that Alexis felt the same.

"She looks happy," Alexis mumbled, realizing she used the present tense, she turned quiet.

Kate glanced at the teenager next to her, her hand coming to rest on Alexis', "You don't have to do this." She said gently.

But Alexis shook her head, "I want to help." she said determined and Kate could only admire her. Castle had raised a very special young woman.

"Okay what does the wall tell us?" Kate turned her attention back to the computer, while Alexis started to scroll down the page, studying the entries. Some were in English, some in German. Alexis finally stopped scrolling her expression one of pure concentration. "Two days ago she posted that she arrived safely and that she's looking forward to see Manon." She pointed towards the entry, written in German and as an after thought she added, "I really like Massenet, especially Manon."

Kate looked surprised, and then smiled, "Me too."

They exchanged a knowing look, as if being members of some secret club, before Alexis continued. "After that she just bookmarked some Starbucks shops that she visited."

"What about the comments?" Kate asked and watched Alexis click at the comment button under the post. She took a minute to read the posts until she shook her head.

"Just numerous versions of 'Have fun'." She stated and moved the cursor to the home button and then clicked on messages. Kate let her take the lead and waited for her to read through some of the messages. "This might be something," she suddenly exclaimed and pointed at the latest message she had opened.

"What does it say?" Kate asked and moved a bit closer to the screen. An excited tingle ran though her veins, the same she always felt when she was on to something.

"This Petra writes that she's looking forward to seeing Maren in New York," she skimmed a bit further. "She obviously had tickets for the opera as well." Alexis suddenly fist punched the air, causing Kate to chuckle, this was way too Castle.

"What?" she asked amused.

"Petra Kröger is staying at the Marriott Hotel on Times Square and she's staying for a whole week." Alexis leant back in her chair, regarding Kate with a satisfied grin. Again way too Castle.

"Are you sure?" Kate asked and looked from the computer to Alexis and back.

"That's what she wrote," Alexis confirmed.

"That is great!" Kate beamed. "Good work," she raised her hand for Alexis to high-five it, while they grinned at each other. "Thank you Alexis, that really helps a lot."

"I'm glad I could help." And then she stifled a yawn.

"Time for bed, huh?" Kate suggested.

"I guess," Alexis agreed and got up. "Night Kate."

"Night," Alexis was already at the door when Kate called out after her, "And Alexis! Thanks for dinner, it was delicious."

Alexis closed the door behind her and for a moment leant against it. Maybe it was time to let those feelings go. Maybe it was time to forgive.

Beckett was the first to arrive at the precinct the next morning, eager to follow the new lead and to talk to Petra Kröger to see if she could help them to find out what had happened to Maren Leichsenring. Placing her bag under her desk she noticed the post-it that had been taped to her computer. She took it and grabbed for the phone when she realized what it was about. After waiting to be put through, she finally talked to one of the Officers that was working Castle's accident. After a short but informative call, she learned that the driver of a Mercedes had simply overlooked Castle who had crossed the street, taking full responsibility and things would go from there. She thanked the Officer and hung up, just in time to see Ryan walk into the bullpen, nose deep into a new book.

"What are you reading?" she asked when he stopped at his desk.

"Morning," he held up the book for her to see the cover, "The concept of Unagi."

"The what?" she regarded him with a blank expression on her face and could see him getting excited.

"It's about being in total balance with yourself to be prepared for any kind of suddenness that might come your way. Unexpectedly."

Suddenness?

"Huh?" was all she could come up with.

"I'll show you," he said and pointed towards the men's restroom, knowing Esposito would come out of it any minute. He quickly hid behind the break room door and waited, placing his index finger over his lips to signal her to not give him away. She waited. Sure enough Esposito walked up to his desk, greeting Beckett and oblivious to Ryan's plan. When he was about to sit down, Ryan shot out of the break room, yelling. "DANGER!"

Esposito almost jumped out of his skin, letting out a scream that was Castle-worthy and shooting around he barked, "Ryan, what the hell!"

"Yeah Ryan, what the hell?" Beckett could hardly suppress the laugh that threatened to escape.

"That was a lesson in the importance of Unagi. See, if Espo here had Unagi, he wouldn't have screamed like a little girl!" Ryan stated, obviously satisfied to have proven his point only to wince a second later when Esposito head-slapped him.

That was it. She couldn't hold it any longer and she laughed, shaking her head at the two boys in front of her. "You two."

"Would someone care to explain what's going on in here?" they were brought back to reality, when three sets of eyes shot to Gates who was standing in her door way. She glared at each of them, "No one? Then I suggest we all get back to work, if I'm correct you have a case to solve."

"Yes, sir!" Beckett nodded but shot another smirk towards the boys when Gates had turned around again.

"So really? Unagi?" Esposito glared at his partner. "That sounds like Sushi."

"I bet Gates does have Unagi," Ryan grinned.

"You can discuss that on our way to the Marriott." Beckett stated.

"You found something?" Ryan questioned.

"Actually Alexis did," she said, pride and something else in her voice they had never heard before. "Let's go!"

They followed her to the elevator, Esposito leaning towards Ryan as he mumbled, "What's with Beckett sounding all maternal."

"Zip it, Espo!"

They met Petra Kröger in the lobby, the elder woman was shocked by the news and they had to guide her to one of the armchairs, crowding the lobby. Beckett sat next to her and waited until the woman had composed herself.

"Mrs. Kröger how did you know Miss Leichsenring?" she gently asked and the other woman lifted her head to look at the Detective.

"I saw Maren two years ago in Salzburg, first time," the woman's English was broken and they could all hear that she was nervous, but she declined the offer to wait for a interpreter. "We go to the Festspiele. Romeo & Juliet by Gounod with Anna Netrebko and Piotr Bezcala. She is nice young woman and we ate together that evening. We are friends since then," she seemed to search for words, "Facebook, you know?" Kate nodded. "We go to opera all around the world together."

"What happened on Thursday?" Beckett pushed but still gentle.

"We go to opera together, with Juan, he's friend from Spain. Manon."

"And after the opera?" Kate needed to know what happened after the performance.

"Juan and I, we go for dinner, aber … but Maren, she visit a friend." Petra Kröger said and this got Beckett's attention.

"A friend? Do you know the name?" she asked.

The woman shook her head, "She seemed to be …," again she searched for the right word and when she couldn't find it, she threw her hands up and made a joyful face.

"Excited?" Kate suggested and Petra Kröger nodded.

"Yes, excited! That is what I know. We want to meet tomorrow, so I'm not concerned to not hear from her."

They covered some other basics for their timeline, noted Juan Sarazibar's hotel and phone number and finally thanked the woman for her cooperation and left.

"So, a mysterious friend?" Ryan stated and looked at the other two Detectives.

"Yeah, let's see what Mr. Sarazibar can tell us about that," Beckett stated and let the way towards their car.

They were getting in when Beckett's phone rang, picking up she stilled just outside the car.

"Beckett," her partners watched her listening and then ending the call with. "I'll be right there."

Leaning into the car she tossed the keys at Esposito, "You guys, go and see Mr. Sarazibar. I'll take a taxi and head back to the precinct. Video conference with the Germans." She explained.

"Video conference?" Ryan popped his head through the opening between driver's and passenger's seat, "A phone call wouldn't do?"

"Welcome to the new world," Beckett shrugged and raised her hand in a 'See-you-later" kind of way, before she got into one of the taxi waiting right in front of the Marriot.

He put the book aside, not knowing what to do with the emotions that were swirling through him. He had finished Heat Wave and was faced with a new level of doubt. Was it all fiction? Surely not, he was shadowing her, so that part was true. So was the Nikki Heat on paper Kate Beckett, and was he Jameson Rook and did this mean they were they were what? And the part about Nikki's murdered mother. Was that the cause of the sadness in her eyes, was it true as well that she lost her mother in this cruel and barbaric way? He needed to know. And yet he was afraid. Wouldn't she have told him if they actually were something? And if they were, why didn't she? He felt a sting of betrayal rising up in him. He had been ready to trust them, but now there was doubt. And he knew he couldn't ask her. She would shy away like she did on that first day at the hospital when he had made that ambivalent comment about them going on for almost four years. And it would get him nowhere. He would have to ask his daughter. He needed to know.

Beckett stepped out of the conference room, Gates at her side, her head spinning. Of course their victim was the daughter of an important politician so authorities were more than eager to be involved as much as possible in the investigation. As an upside she would get the phone records in the next hour. She had learned some more about their victim, but nothing that looked like a breakthrough. They would need to keep looking, with increased pressure from the outside. Just what she needed right now: Someone peeking over her shoulder.

Surprisingly Gates followed her to her desk and Beckett raised a surprised eyebrow at her superior.

"It's politics, Beckett. Don't let it get to you. It's not your business to put up with that, it's mine. You do your job. I'll take care of the rest." She said and returned to her office.

Beckett's eyes followed her until they were drawn to her phone, announcing a call from Martha.

"Hey, Martha," she greeted her partner's mother, her eyes travelling towards his empty chair.

"Hello Kate, my dear! How is it going?" Martha asked with her warm voice.

"As well as can be expected. But I'd say you are greatly missed," Kate answered and walked over to the break room, shutting the door behind her for some privacy.

"That's what I'm calling about. I'm on my way to the airport. I'll be arriving at JFK late this evening."

"Oh that's great news, Martha! Alexis will be very happy."

"You make it sound as if she was miserable staying with you," Martha said amused. "From what I heard, she's quite comfortable with this arrangement," the Detective didn't know what to say to that, so she didn't, "Kate, since I will be home rather late, would it be too much to ask for Alexis to stay one more night with you?" Martha asked, although she already knew the answer.

"Of course not, Martha! She's more than welcome to stay another night." Kate immediately replied.

"Thank you kiddo and not only for taking Alexis in. It is a great help and reassurance to know that you are there. It means a lot to me. Thank you!" Martha warm words seemed to settle around Kate's heart like a warm, soft blanket and she had to blink away the moisture in her eyes.

"I'm glad to help," Kate almost whispered.

After Kate gave Martha the lastest news on Castle they finally hung up, after agreeing to meet sometime tomorrow.

Hours later Esposito, Ryan and Beckett were still crouched over the telephone records, and so far nothing had popped. The questioning of Juan Sarazibar, a man in his 50's, hadn't produced any new leads. He had confirmed Mrs. Kröger's statement that they had separated after the opera, because Maren had wanted to meet with someone, whom, he didn't know.

Her family had no idea that she wanted to meet someone beside her two opera friends in New York but they had stated that she had some friends living in the US and she might have arranged something last minute. They would look into it, but Beckett wasn't hopeful.

The clock was ticking towards 9:00pm, too late to visit Castle she noted and was disappointed. Deciding that they had done enough for the day and that it was better to start with a fresh mind in the morning, she sent everybody home.

She stepped into her apartment, almost crashing into Alexis who was reaching for the door. Surprised, Kate noticed the bag in her hand. She was confused, had Martha changed her mind?

"What happened?" she asked smiling at the girl, but her smile quickly faded when she saw the rage in Alexis' eyes.

"You! You happened!"