Hi Everyone, Knight Rider Alpha here again.

It's time for Season Two set around the time 02x21 'Overkill'. I know again this feels like an absolute age ago but it's still fun to revisit the oldies.

Now i know is said one shot, But this sort of just developed and with the fantastic response i had to first chapter i couldn't help but do another.

Standard Disclaimer: Not mine, Never will be. Belongs to the fantastic AWM and the guys and girls at ABC Studios.

Chapter 2

Later that evening his chest heaving grunting under the strain Castle aimed a mid kick to a heavy bag, The bag swinging from the force his mind replayed the events of his battle with Demming. He took such delight in embarrassing the robbery detective and by extension Beckett, His Partner he almost laughed at the word.

Over the past couple of months he had seen a change in Beckett going from his partner and friend with conversations filled with banter and easy laughter, To some one who would barely give him the time of day unless asked. Then some swaggering Robbery Detective strides in, Suddenly Beckett has no time for him, no rides to the crime scene, no calls, no interrogations all due to one person.

Demming

That name was like a thorn in his side he couldn't stand the man the arrogance he displayed at having Beckett on his team, The final straw was the cruel laugh Beckett had given him when he asked if he could join in on the Interrogation of their latest suspect.

He felt like a child asking if he could have some more.

His fists impacted the bag his mind flashing though each event in rapid succession, Each hit rocked the bag until he finishing with a final spin kick as the bag rocketed off it's mount and crashed the floor a large hole torn in the material it's heavy filling leaking onto the hard wood floor of Castle's home gym.

Taking big gulps air his fists rested on his hips as sweat drops raced across his bare muscled body, He was alerted by the doorbell throwing on a black vest and exited through the door his bare feet sticking against the cold surface. He knew that Alexis was sleeping over at a friends house and his Mother was out with her theatre friends, He reached the door and pulled it open his eyes narrowed at the site.

Beckett

"Castle can we talk?" She asked from the hallway

Castle didn't answer but just simply stepped back and Beckett nervously stepped into the loft, Closing the door he turned as Beckett stood in the open plan living room nervously wringing her hands.

"Beckett what do you want?" he asked voice devoid of all emotion

Beckett eyed her partner carefully, On the drive over here she had thought long and hard about her recent actions towards the writer. She knew she had treated him quite badly since Demmings arrival, She had reflected on her own jealously about FBI Agent Jordan Shaw and aspiring actress Elle Monroe. The green eyed monster was clearly on show with her sniping comments and general attitude.

She didn't blame Castle for any of it, She had no control over him and who or what had got excited about, But her developing feelings for the writer scared her to no end. The walls carefully constructed around her heart since the death of mother keeping everyone at arms length, It was defence mechanism and it had served her well ever since.

"I came here to talk" she replied simply

Castle eyed her carefully he really was not in the mood "So talk Beckett I'm not in the mood for games"

Kate's nerves sky rocketed she had never seen him this angry before just how much damage had she done to the world famous writer, He legs weak she took a seat on his leather couch and raked her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath.

"Castle I'm sorry for how i have acted recently, I know you were just trying to help and i was blinded to that"

Castle folded his arms the muscles of his huge arms straining against the skin "Look Beckett if you came here for sympathy your barking up the wrong tree, I can't control what you do, God knows no body can. But I'm not some little puppy that you throw away when you get bored of playing with it, then focus your attention on something new when it comes along"

"Castle I know that...That's why I'm here to apologise" Beckett said getting to her feet her anger was starting to rise, another defence mechanism against Castle's harsh but true statements.

"Well apology not accepted Beckett, So if your done I have other things to do you can show yourself out" Castle said walking away but stopped suddenly "With everything that was going on it forgot to mention this too you, I'm behind on the latest chapters for 'Naked Heat' So once this case is through I'm heading to the Hampton's for the Summer i won't be coming back to the precinct"

The simple statement shocked the beautiful Homicide Detective "Wait Castle what does that mean" She asked

"It means I won't be a bother to you any more Detective, I hope you have a nice life I'll probably see you around" Castle then disappeared down the hallway

Beckett was frozen in her position her very core shaken by his words he wasn't coming back, he wasn't coming back the words repeated in her mind. She had finally done it the one person who had tried to defeat the walls she put up, the one person who actually took the time to know her as a person was leaving her.

What had she done.

A lone tear ran down her cheek as she stepped slowly towards the door leaving the loft and moving towards the elevator, She didn't break on the ride down, She didn't break on the drive to her apartment, She didn't break as she unlocked her door. The floodgates truly opened as the closed it behind her back pressed against the hard surface as she slid to the floor sobs wracking her body.

Soon enough her tears dried up her mind still replaying the disastrous events of the evening, How could a simply apology spiral into Castle saying he was leaving the precinct, the team and especially her.

It then hit her like a ton of bricks, Castle couldn't just stand at the sidelines and watch her be with Demming, it echoed of the same thing Esposito had told her in the break room the afternoon Castle had left the precinct.

"Do you think it's about the books anymore Beckett, He's probably got enough material to write fifty books. It's about being a part of this team, Being your partner and i don't think that involves him watching you be happy with someone else"

She couldn't hide behind her walls any longer she couldn't keep him at arms leg nth anymore, If she wanted to keep Castle in her life she needed to give him the one thing she guarded above all else.

Her Heart, Something he was willing to give her

She stood to her feet and yanked open the door and marched towards the elevator, exited onto the street she jumped into her car and raced back to Castle's loft with sole intent of changing his mind.

Screeching to a halt at the curb she jumped out and ran into the building, jamming the top floor button as she waited impatiently for the ascent to complete. She was out before the doors fully opened and jogged down the hallway to his door pressing her doorbell repeatedly, Hearing the footfalls approach she steeled her resolve as the door opened revealing a sweaty and shocked Richard Castle.

"Beckett i have said all i needed to say, So please leave" He said pushing the door closed only for it to stopped by an outstretched hand.

Beckett barged her way in and turned to face him a more serious expression on her face than before "Well i haven't Castle, So please hear me out if you still want me to leave i will. But not until you have heard all i need to say"

Castle closed the door and sighed "Fine Beckett, Let's talk"

"Look Castle i thought long and hard after our first conversation, I know i disregarded your feelings and i can't take that back" She said taking another deep breath "...but i think you deserve to know why"

Castle remained silent waiting for her to continue.

"I was scared Castle, More scared than i have ever been in my entire life"

"Scared of what Beckett?" Castle asked his voice notably softer than before

Kate turned to look him directly in the eye, "Scared of my feelings for you, Over the past year we've grown closer, become best friends, i trust you more than anyone Castle and you have no idea how much that scares me"

Castle features grew softer, This was a side of Kate Beckett he had never seen before the scared, vulnerable young woman. Not the tough as nails, by the book Detective he had grown used to. He knew that behind the tough exterior of Detective Beckett, Lay the emotionally guarded daughter of a murdered mother.

He again stayed silent as she waiting for her to continue "...When you came off so impressed by Agent Shaw it was something i couldn't compete with, It almost felt like i was losing you and then your tryst with Ellie Monroe just amplified those feels. I know that i don't have a say in how you go about your life, I think that was the one of the main reasons by I started this thing with Demming"

"Kate" The use of her given name gaining her undivided attention "You don't have to justify yourself to me, I admit I've mad my fair of mistakes i mean i have two ex-wives for god sakes. But it was your total disregard for my feelings that made me angry. I was just trying to be the good partner that you needed but the minute Demming stepped on the scene it was like i had just faded away into nothing"

Kate nodded her head as a lone tear streaked a jagged line down her cheek, "I know Castle and can only apologise for that, But i just wanted you to feel what i felt when ran off to the FBI"

Castle narrowed his eyes "That's a petty reason Beckett for trying to get my attention"

Beckett shot to her feet anger once again rising to the surface "I know that Castle and it was stupid i can admit that now"

"Then tell me Beckett, Why did you try so hard to forget me" Castle shouted his eyes burning with a fiery anger.

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU CASTLE, THAT SIMPLE STATEMENT SCARED ME SO MUCH THAT I TRIED TO FORGET YOU!"

Suddenly the anger drained from Castle's body from her candid and fiery declaration, Kate Beckett loved him, Kate Beckett loved him, He repeared over and over in his mind.

"You...love me" He said slowly

Beckett nodded once again wringing her hands "When that bomb destroyed my apartment crouching alone in that bathtub I was so happy to hear your voice, Then staying with you and your family I got a glimpse of the real Richard Castle not the playboy millionaire but the caring son and devoted father"

Castle stepped slowly towards her and raised a hand to caress her cheek catching another tear on the end of his thump, "I was outside your apartment when it exploded, All I could think was i would never see you again and it would be all my fault"

"But you saved me Castle"

Castle smiled for the first time since any of her arrivals this evening "Kate..." Again the use of her given name getting her attention "...I want you to know that you are not alone in your feelings, But it's going to take some time to process i want you to understand just how much you hurt me. But you will always have me, So take the rest of the evening their are things we both need to figure out but I'm only a phone call away"

Beckett nodded placing her own hand on his at her cheek and smiled sadly "Thank you Castle"

Again with a smile Castle replied "Always"

Placing a chaste kiss on his cheek and stepped towards the door pulling it open she turned and smiled "Until tomorrow Castle" she said

He smirked at the use of his version of goodbye "Until tomorrow Detective"

She stepped into the hallways and walked calmly towards the elevator, The heavy load that had settled on her chest lifted sending a sense of pure elation through her body. Knowing what she had do pulled her phone from her pocket and sent off a quick text.

"Hey, I need your help!, Wine at my place"

Beckett didn't have wait long for a reply

"Sure Girl, Give me thirty minutes"

Exited at the lobby she stepped onto the sidewalk her eyes cast skywards to the top floor windows, She smiled before climbing into her car and setting off back to her apartment.

Back in the loft, Castle stood at the window observing the New York Skyline, He couldn't describe the sense of joy that had rushed through his body at Beckett's statement of 'I Love You'. It was like a dream come true something he would gladly shout from the Empire State, He reached into his pocket and pulled his phone scanning for a number and raising the device to his ear.

"Hello"

"I need you help, Can we meet?" Asked Castle

The line was silent for a moment "This wouldn't have anything to do with that lovely Detective you talk about so much would it" Said the voice on the other end of the line.

"How did you know?"

"Because she is all you ever talk about Ricky, Meet me at the Dojo in an hour"

"Thank you Sensei"

The call ended as Castle went to get more appropriately dressed to brave the chilly night air, He needed guidance and who better to provide that than advice than his a former teacher.

Hi guys

Again (I know I'm so sorry) But this isn't the end of this story, I've have now decided to make this a three chapter story. This characters write themselves sometimes they really do.

Anyway i would just like to thank all of those that have reviewed, clicked favourite, and clicked followed. I can not tell you how much it means to me.

So you all know the drill let me know what you think.

Knight Rider Alpha.