Prviously:

Trying to defend herself she reponds "That's not true."

Causing Esposito to repeat what he has repeatedly over the past couple of weeks "Really Kate... So you having Tom in interrogations and telling Castle he has to watch from observation is not pushing him out." She goes to repsond but he cuts her off. "I'm not finished... what about building theory with Tom and snapping at Castle anytime he tries to present one of his theories. Or better yet, sorry Castle I'm riding with Tom you need to get a ride from Esposito and Ryan. He is supposed to be your partner is he not? Yet when Mr. Wonderful comes around he is kicked to the curb. So once again tell me that Demming has nothing to do with it."

She is stunned by what the boys have brought to her attention. Was she really so caught up in her budding romance that she caused her.. her what? Partner, friend, writer, confidant... really all of the above to feel he was no longer wanted or needed.

She feels deflated, like all the air has been sucked out of her. She sits in one of the chairs needing to get herself back under control. After a few seconds pass she looks up at the boys and replies "Oh God what have I done?"

"I..I need to fix this, I have to apologize, I have to tell him that Demming can never replace him when it comes to our team."

Esposito tells her "Go Beckett, we'll take care of the paper work."

Smiling she gets up ready to head out when her phone goes off. Looking down she sees its Dispatch. Damn she thinks to herself, great timing as usual.

Frowning she answers "Beckett". After hearing the location she replies "got it, we'll be right there."

Turning to the boys she says "Looks like Castle will have to wait, we have a body."

Freeman Alley

Beckett along with Ryan and Esposito reach the crime scene located in Freeman Alley off Livington. The trio make their way out of their crown vics proceeding under the police tape, Beckett approaches Lanie who is already processing the scene.

"Hey Lanie what do we have?"

Lanie looks up towards Beckett, then past her expecting to see Castle. "So where is writer boy?"

She should have known it was coming but she was still unprepared for the question. "Um... he insn't shadowing me anymore."

Lanie is shocked "Kate what do you mean he isn't shadowing you anymore?"

Not wanting to discuss this here and cause a scene "Look could we get back to the victim."

"Fine, but don't think you are getting out of this Kate Beckett. Our victim is a female between 25 to 30 years of age. No purse or ID was found on her person. COD is exsanguination. If you look here you can see that both the carotid artery and exterior jugular were cut causing her to bleed out. There was no defensive wounds which causes me to believe she might have known her attacker."

"Do we have a TOD?"

"Based on Liver temperature and lavidity I would guess between 5 and 7 this morning, but I'll know more once I get her on the slab."

Turning away from Lanie and towards the boys she asks "Who discovered the body?"

Esposito replies "A James Lake, he is a busboy and Tony's... he was taking out the morning trash and discovered the body."

"Alright boys canvas the area see if anybody knew her or saw or head anything."

Kate exits the crime scene heading back to her vehicle when she gets a text. Hoping it's from Castle she pulls it out of her pocket in a hurry. Unfortunately it's not, it's Demming seeing if she wants to grab lunch. She quickly texts him back letting him know that she can't and is working a case.

Entering her vehicle she pulls out to traffic heading back to the 12th. Knowing see won't be able to stop by his place today she once again grabs her phone calling Castle. It rings only twice before going to voice mail. "Hey Castle it's Beckett. Look I really need to talk to you. Please call me back."

Castle's Loft

Castle has been forcing himself to get some writing done on Naked Heat. He is actually suprised by how much he has completed considering everything he is going through. He is just about to stop for a break when his phone goes off.

Looking at the screen and seeing her image appear causes the air to be knocked out of his lungs. After the second ring he picks up his phone and hits the ignore button. A minute later his phone sounds letting him know he has a voice mail. Without even listening to it he hits delete.

He has made up his mind... he is moving on. As much as it hurts him, he does not want to see or hear from Kate Beckett again.

12th Precinct

Beckett and the boys were going over witness statements and phone records for Ms. Hannah Franks. Uniforms were able to track down her missing purse in a dumpster a block from the scene. Her phone suddenly rings and she jumps, pulling it out as fast as possble... telling herself it could be him. She sighs when she sees it isn't, it's Lanie.

Answering "Beckett", she listens to Lanie and then gets up letting the boys know she is headed down the morgue.

Entering the OCME Beckett sees her friend and calls out "So what do you have for me?"

Lanie gives her her best death glare causing Beckett to stop in her tracks "what?"

"You tell me what? It's later so now spill."

"I thought you called me down here because you found something."

"Kate, you're stalling. I do have some info but you are going to tell me what happened with writer boy."

She knows there is no way getting around this. She takes a steadying breath and fills Lanie in from the past three days to her talk with Montgomery and finally to the boys making her see what she had done.

The whole time Lanie just stands there processing everything her friend is saying. She doesn't interupt or ask any questions. When Kate finishes she looks at her waiting for her reply and when it doesn't come right away she asks "So?"

"Wow, how could you be so oblivious? You really Fucked up."

"Lanie!"

"No Kate listen to me. I know Castle can sometimes be a pain in the ass, but that man has been by your side for two years through thick and thin. Tell me who it was that found the missing peices to your mother's case? Who gave one hundred thousand dollars of his own money for a shot at her killer? Who let you stay at his place without any strings attached after your apartment exploded?"

Kate feels ashamed a lowers her head before answering the obvious "Castle."

Sighing herself Lanie responds "I know Demming is attractive, he is a cop like you and you enjoy having him around. But is it worth losing Castle?"

She doesn't reply and Lanie figures she wouldn't so she changes the subject. "I found hair and fibers on your victim."

Later on in the day Beckett has just finished interviewing one of the victims friends and is heading back to her desk when she sees Demming sitting waiting for her in Castle's chair.

"Tom what are you doing here?"

"Well I havesn't seen my girlfriend for a few days, she wasn't able to go to lunch, so I figured I stop by to see if we could grab something for dinner."

"Sorry, but I can't I still have information to look over regarding my case."

"Maybe I could look it over with you... you know we have made a pretty good team the last couple of weeks."

Thinking about what the boys have brought to her attention and wanting to fix things with Castle she blurts out "No... I'd rather you didn't."

Taken back he responds "Why?" and then thinking back on the last case he worked with her "What, did Castle go crying to the Montgomery or the mayor that he wasn't receiving enough attention."

"Tom, that's my partner your talking about."

"Kate, he's not a cop... he is just some writer wanting to play the roll. And where is he by the way? Usually when I'm here he's around sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."

Feeling a knot startibf to tighten in her stomach she replies "He... he is no longer shadowing me."

Demming gets a hugh grin on his face "That's great."

He notices his girlfriend does not second his comment "What do you mean that's great?"

"Come on Kate ever since we started seeing each other, he has been nothing but a pain in the ass. Always butting in trying to give his opinions when we both know that they are useless."

Anger flares and before Demming knows what hit him, he is being dragged into the break room with Beckett slamming the door behind them. "Where the hell do you get off making a comment like that?"

"Kate"

"No don't Kate me... you know nothing about Castle and you are going to go off sprouting rude remarks about him."

"Look I was just trying..."

"Don't" she starts pacing back and forth before she stops and looks him straight in the eye. "I thought that this is what I wanted, but I was wrong and it might have cost me someone special."

Demming is taken back by her statement "Kate, I know you are upset but think what you are doing. You can't tell me the last couple of weeks have meant nothing."

"I'm sorry Tom you are a good man, but you're not what I want."

"You can't be serious... you are dumping me for him?"

She tried letting him off easy but he just doesn't seem to learn. With finality in her voice she responds "We're over." And turns walking out of the break room back to her desk leaving a stunned robbery detective in her wake.

Taking a seat and looking back over statments, Ryan and Esposito approach her. Javier asks "Hey is everything alright."

"Why shouldn't it be Espo?"

"Well your boyfriend ran out of the break room heading towards the stairway and he didn't look to happy."

With a smirk she replies "That's ex-boyfriend... now can we get back to the case."

Both boys are smiling as they head back to their desks.

Castle's Loft

That evening Castle broke the news to his daughter and mother about ending his partnership with Beckett and deciding to take some time away from the city to their Hamptons home to finish his book.

Both Alexis and Martha were surprised. Both knew by the way he talked about his detective that he had feelings for her. Something must have happened between them to cause him to make such a drastic decision.

As Castle has packing his suitcase Martha entered his room. "So son do you want to talk about it?"

"Mother there is nothing to talk about."

"Really Richard, you don't think I can tell when you are lying? And lets not forget how you've not been yourself the last couple of weeks."

"Was I that obvious?" Taking a moment to gather his thoughts he continues "I'm falling for Beckett."

"That's it, son I hate to break it to you but I've known for a while."

"What? How?"

"Ever since you started following that woman I've noticed a change in you; And I mean it in the good way. Plus you can't go 10 minutes without mentioning her."

"So tell me did you two have some sort of fight?"

"No it's nothing like that. I know this is going to sound jealous but it's her new boyfriend, Detective Demming."

"Are you telling me you are quiting just because she is seeing someone?"

"Mother it's bad enough she is seeing him, but I feel I'm being pushed out altogehter and he is taking my place."

Thinking over what he has told her she reponds "Well if that be the case maybe you are making the right decision."

"Thanks for you words of wisdom."

"Don't be such a smart ass. I'll miss you while you're away. Make sure you call Alexis and me often."

"I will." As Martha leaves Castle finishes his packing. He plans on getting an early start.

AN: Needed to get some Lanie/ Beckett and Castle/ Martha talks in there. Also needed to get rid of Demming. Next chapter will focus on Kate's attempts to get Castle back. Dont' worry he won't give in as easy as he does in the show.

Thanks again for everyone's support and reviews. I really appreciate them.