A/N: I'm uploading a lot lately, aren't I?

In The Written Word: Part One I had a scenario where Beckett thought she'd already said it to Castle a bunch of those times, and I got to thinking, A good way to incorporate Jim, because I know there's no way to give him an honest TTG chapter that I would be happy with.

Upload Date: April 30, 2012

Chapter Rating: M for language(it may technically fit a T rating but with all the work I do with teens, seriously, they already swear enough. )

Chapter Summary:What if she had said it one of those times she thought she said it? Each scenario played out.

#77
Sock Puppets

#78
Castle Sees Jim at the Old Haunt

#79 The Link

#77

When Beckett returned to her desk Castle had MR. Piddle's Sock Puppet's on either hand.

"Castle! Are you wearing evidence?"

"What?! No, I found this in a box of Alexis's old stuff. Aren't they cute? 'Hewwo, Kate. You have beautiful hands. I'd love to have you inside me!"

"Castle!"

"Benji!" he chided. "You can't talk to her that way.'Oh, why not? She's such a beautiful lady!
'Oy, then treat her with some respect, love'."

Beckett nearly choked on her coffee trying to suppress her laughter.

"Castle - "

"I know, I know. It's not professional; it's just... Nigel and Benji were such a big part of Alexis's life at one point. Harris was Nigel and Benji. Now that he's gone; it's like they're gone... unless they can somehow live on in people like me, people who don't know how to grow up. They're like my... pals. They saw her through potty training and teething... they helped chase away the monsters under the bed. I just... I'm going to miss them. But... I'll get rid of them."

He took off one of the socks.

"Wait."

He paused.

She put on the discarded sock.

"'Don't listen to Kate," she said in a surprisingly good imitation of Benji. "She likes watching you like this. You don't have to grow up completely, Castle. That boyish wonder you have at the world is one of the things that made her fall in love with you."

Castle looked up, astonished.
"Kate."

"Shh, Benji, I'm not ready to tell him that yet. 'I'm sure he understands."

"I do," he said meaningfully.

Needless to say, there was a lot of handshaking that night - with, then without the puppets.

#78

Castle liked owning his own bar. He was rich enough that he could pay a bunch of other people to do all the work.. All he had to do was lay back and enjoy it. Another benefit was owning the booze. He was on his way out with an ordinarily expensive bottle of wine when he saw a familiar face leaving the bar.

It couldn't be...

Maybe he was there to visit Castile? He hoped so.

Castle followed him out, running to catch up with him.

"Jim!"

The man turned around.

Crap, it was him

"Rick."

He looked surprised.

Oh, damn, damn.

"Hey, Jim. Uh, what brings you here?"

"Uh, I was meeting with a client."

He smelt strongly of alcohol, though his breath was clean. The old breath mint trick, no doubt.

"What about you?"
"Jim, I own The Old Haunt."

Jim raised his eyebrows.
"The Old Haunt."

"Yeah, it's a bar. Just around the corner. Heard of it?"

"Uh, can't say I have. Look, Rick, I have to run. Say hi to Katie for me."

He took off.

Oh, fuck, fuckity fuck.

'Beckett sat down on the couch, merely staring into space.

Eventually, she took a deep breath and spoke.

"Castle, I know you wouldn't make something like this up, or joke about it, but... God, I really hope you are."

"I'm so sorry ."

She shook her head, wiping a single tear fork her cheek.

"Kate..." he leaned down to comfort her m=but she stood up, retreating to the safety of his loving arms.

"Castle," she sobbed softly.

"I just wish I could tell you everything's going to be ok..."

"I just don't know if I can do this again, Castle. The first time was hard enough."

"Well, you won't have to do it alone this time, Kate. This time, you'll have me. You'll always have me."

She looked up into his eyes, so certain and sure, the eyes of the steadfast, stalwart, solid man in front of her, and she meant to say, "I know", but instead the words that came out were "I love you."

He wiped away a tear with his thumb, his face deep with emotion.
"Kate - "

"Just hold me, ok?"

"Of course."

So he did. He let her be vulnerable, let her cry, as she could only do with the people she truly trusted.

There was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," he said, kissing her on the forehead. "Whoever it is, I'll get rid of them, ok?"

"Ok."

"Sit tight."

He answered the door.

"Jim,' he said in surprise. "Ricardo!" he exclaimed, even more surprised.

"Hello, Mr, Castle."

Beckett looked up. Standing at the door was Jim and a young man she believed to be the new bartender at The Old Haunt.

"Rick, is Katie - Oh, Katie, I don't know if Rick told you about where I was tonight but it's not what you think."

So the two men came in and Ricardo explained that due to a mix-up with paperwork, he was going to be deported even though he was a permanent resident. Out of pure coincidence, Jim had been the lawyer who was helping him sort it out. He'd left something at the office. Jim had called and Ricardo has asked him to drop it off at his place of work. Jim hadn't known it was the same bar Castle owned, and someone had spilt their drink on him while he was there. He, of course, couldn't explain himself due to Attorney Client Privilege but now that he knew his status in the country was safe, Ricardo was not afraid of telling his boss what was going on.

After Ricardo left, Jim and Beckett embraced while castle gave them time alone.

"I'm sorry, Katie."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Dad. God, I'm just so glad you're ok."

"Katie, I promise you, I'm never going down that road again."

She smiled back up at him.

"I know. I'm so lucky to have two men in my life I can rely on."

#79

"Anything?"

Castle enquired.

"Nothing," she replied, yawning."

He handed her a coffee.

"Thanks," she smiled.

"Nothing? "

"Not even a parking ticket. White and Fernandez were from completely different neighbourhoods, they didn't work near each other, had no friends or family in common. And Fernandez was practically a boy scout. Actually, I think he was a boy scout. I have no idea how his death could be linked to a drug-dealer's."

"But it's there, Beckett - '

'I know, I know, we just have to find it."

"Exactly. So, what do we know about Fernandez?"

"He was an investment banker, early forties, married, three kids, allergic to dogs... really liked rice crackers according to Lane's assessment of his stomach content - "

"Vegan!"

"What?"

"He loved rice-crackers, he was allergic to dogs but he still let his assistant have time off to go to her dog's funeral, even sent her flowers. So, he was an animal lover; Most people hate the things they're allergic to. Fernandez was a vegan. That's probably why he and his brother aren't that close; he used to work in an abattoir. White used to deal outside the Valley Club, right?'

Her eyes widened.
"The Valley club is just behind Mercurial's - "

"Best vegan restaurant in town!"

"That's our link!"

She got up.
"Fernandez and White were in the same area at the same time, " said Castle as they inched closer, the excitement building as they put the pieces together.

"Either they both witnessed something or were involved in something near that club. "

"And whatever happened at that club led to both of their deaths."

"We find out what happened - "

"We find our killer!"
They were close enough to feel each other's breath now, blood pumping with the adrenaline, staring into each other's eyes.
"God, I love you when you help me solve things."

Castle was so shocked he had a sharp intake of breath. Unfortunately, it went down the wrong pipe and he started to cough.

"You ok, there?" she asked, striking his back.

"Yeah," he said, recovering, I just won't expecting - "

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry? This is the second best day of my life, after the day Alexis was born.

"That makes me happy."

"You make me happier."

"It's not a competition."

"I know, but I still win."

"Wait, if I make you happier, wouldn't I be the one who wins? That's my achievement, not yours."

"Touche', sexy."

"Castle! Not at work."

"Oh, public declarations of love are ok, but I can't state a simple fact?"

"Touche... Big Rick."

"Careful, you want me to break into another coughing fit?

Yep, you're right. The bloopers.