Watched Tick Tick Tick this evening, and just had to imagine what was going on in their minds during this episode. I don't own anything about Castle, outside of my own imagination.

Italics are the thoughts in their heads.

As they got to Beckett's apartment, Ryan and Esposito nodded, and broke off. Esposito stood in the doorway, and just observed, while Ryan moved right to Beckett.

"Ok ma'am. . ." he smiled.

"Ok, Ryan, haha funny"

"So tell me what happened, and please be as detailed, as possible. From what you reported, you said you found our victim this morning?"

"Yes, that's right. It was about 7 or so."

Ryan jotted down some notes, slightly annoyed that she wasn't giving up much outside of the specific details after she found the body. Ok, here we go. Let's investigate. "So, you had just gotten up, right?"

Kate responded, not picking up on his thoughts. "Yeah, Castle just finished making breakfast", she grinned faintly, and Ryan's eyes got a bit wider. Interesting, he thought, as she continued, "and he went to the door and.."

"What kind of breakfast?" he interrupted, throwing Kate off.

"Uh, I'm sorry?" she stammered, not understanding why he asked that. It didn't make sense.

Ryan felt giddy. "What kind of breakfast was he making?", he inquired, with a serious tone in his voice, although his facial expression and eyes looked like he was about to laugh.

"Pancakes", she recalled. Haven't had those in a long time.

"Well, isn't that domestic?" he smirked, bouncing on his toes.

Kate realized what he was thinking, and cut him off. "Anyway, " she started seriously, trying to bring the conversation back to normal. "the paper usually arrives at four, and we were up at seven, so that means the killer had a three-hour window where he could've left the body there unnoticed."

"And exactly what time did you and Mr. Castle go to bed last night?", he innocently asked. Come on Mom, admit it. Go for it.

Kate felt her back stiffen slightly, and she fixed her stare directly at Ryan. Enough of this. "I think we're done here."

Ryan stepped back, grinned and gave her a mock salute. He started to walk over to Castle and Esposito.

When Ryan had cornered Kate in the kitchen, Javi moved over to Castle. They made eye contact, and he pulled out his pen. "Richard Castle, Detective Esposito. I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Castle laughed, "Come on Esposito. What's up with that formal stuff? How's your day going?"

"Not as great as yours, or at least how yours started today" he laughed.

Castle tilted his head to the side, confused. "I didn't have my coffee yet" he muttered. "Ok, Detective, what do you have to ask me?"

"Mr. Castle – I'm sorry, can I call you Rick – "

"Ok, come on!"

"Sorry, Castle. What happened?"

Castle started to describe the morning, feeling anger at the situation again. "I was in the kitchen, and realized I hadn't grabbed the paper, so I walked to the door. I opened it up and she just fell in. Thought maybe the killer was there, but it's not like we heard anything before I opened it. I guess he left her there late last night, early today?"

Javi just shook his head. "Dude, come on, tell us what happened. Leave out nothing." He started to walk around Castle, noticing Ryan heading towards them. "Dude, I see Beckett in her jammies-" Castle glanced over at her, as Javi continued on, and smiled. ". . wine glasses on the table..."

Castle focused back on Javi, realizing where things were going. "There is nothing going on with Beckett and me. No more than there was yesterday." He ended as Ryan walked up next to them. Not that I wouldn't have said no, he thought. She had captured his attention, both mentally and physically since day one.

Ryan stepped into the conversation at that point. "Dude, you made her pancakes?"

Castle straightened up, hoping his words came across the right way, "It's just breakfast."

Esposito leaned in, intently. "Pancakes is not just breakfast. It's an edible way of saying, "Thank you so much for last night.".

Ryan added, "Castle, come on. We're your friends. Details."

CASTLE whispered, "Alright, come here." You brats! Maybe you'll hear me now? "There are no details!"

Javi was disappointed. No dirt! "I can't even look at you right now."

Ryan looks at Castle, grabbing his pen and pad. "Witness refused to cooperate."

Ryan and Javi rolled their eyes together. Looks like no details would be forthcoming. They joined the team, working the case.