Chapter 28 – One Shot, One Chance, One Opportunity

Disclaimer – not any closer to be being mine, although it would be nice.

Also don't own the brilliance known as Eminem. Reviews are appreciated, even those telling me about my typos and inability to maintain proper tense.

Castle pulled his head out from underneath his pillow and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Out of habit he reached for his phone, checking to making sure he hadn't slept through a body dropping.

Nothing.

Of course Beckett wouldn't be calling him. What was he thinking?

Castle pulled his iPad out from under the pillow next to him, the pillow that still smelled of her. Castle immediately surfed to 'Page 6.' Part of him was pleased that the PR worked, he and Mother were front and center along with a mention of 'Heat Wave.' Thankfully the caption below his picture shouldn't provoke Beckett, but it stung to his very core.

'Richard Castle attends the NYC Benefit for the Arts with his Mother, stage and screen star Martha Rodgers. Richard Castle was happy to talk about his upcoming movie adaptation of 'Heat Wave', but avoided the question that all the ladies wanted the answer to; Is Richard Castle's own 'Nikki Heat' hiding in the wings? Or is he still one of New York's most available but uncatchable bachelors still up for grabs?'

He wished knew the answer. Was she hiding in the wings?

Kate dressed for work in a fog. Lanie's words were the only thing to penetrate the mist that held her mind captive 'You weren't having any fun in your life until Writer Boy came along.' Almost the identical words Captain Montgomery had spoken to her. Both had told the truth.

Only in the privacy of her own mind did Kate admit that Rick Castle had stolen her heart and she didn't want it back. If only she knew for certain that Rick wanted to keep her heart. How many times can a man watch a woman walk away before he stops trying?

Kate knew that she had to do something – she wanted to, needed to do something to turn things around. Kate needed to reach out to him, the question was how? Alexis was out of the question, Martha is a wild card, contacting Castle directly would open up to a line of communication she wasn't ready for. She needed time. When she talked with him it HAD to be right.

'She had one shot, one chance, one opportunity to seize everything she ever wanted-

One moment – would she capture it or let it slip?'

Kate revved her Harley's engine and headed off to the 12th. By the time she dismounted her bike Kate was striding towards the elevator that led to the bullpen with new purpose. A little lighter on her feet, she had a plan.

Maybe it was Eminem's lyrics that started as a chant in her head until they screamed from her very core:

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You want it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime you better,
You can do anything you set your mind to, Kate.

Or maybe, just maybe Kate was truly ready to race the wind. No more self-doubt – carpe diem.

Kate was still humming her newly adopted anthem as she settled at her desk. The sight of the empty brown chair, long ago hauled out of a supply closet, dubbed Castle's chair, only served as fuel to the fire. She would call Martha.

With a tap on the neck, at the base of her ponytail, Esposito interrupted her planning. "Good thing Castle isn't here."

Her immediate gut reaction was what did Lanie tell him?

Kate held her composure "Why is that?" Esposito tapped her neck again "Looks like Bruce is a vampire."

Shit, shit double shit. Kate scrambled from her desk and sprinted to the bathroom. She quickly checked her neck. A guilty little smile played on her lips. Rick had branded her. It had been over 48 hours ago, but he had left his mark. Kate had been consumed by Castle's confession and her immaturity that she totally forgot about how he had been drawn to that particular spot. The soft spot at the base of her hair line that made her first giggle like a school girl and then moan like a woman.

That settled it, Kate was done playing games. With one hand she freed her hair from its band and with the other she yanked her phone out of her pocket and hit speed dial.