Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance
Rating: M for language, sexual situations and violence
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: I know some people might comment on how this chapter is pretty short, but with a setup like this it's harder to write that much since there are only so many details I can have.
A/N #2: Have to say thank you to my reviewers for the Prologue as it's definitely deserved. Unputdownable (I was very happy to see that you liked the Prologue so much. And I was glad you could tell the progress Julia's made since the end of Deep Blue Sea, since I didn't want to write her in the same place emotionally. Was great seeing you picked up on that lighter tone to this chapter, with it being Halloween and Julia there, wanted to have that way since that's how I remember the holiday being with my cousins when they were her age. I am really glad that you like the way Castle and Beckett are closer here. I know on the show they're not as much as I write them here, but, I figure with Julia, it would definitely bring them closer to each other. Plus I wanted to just make their relationship more balanced to quote you. So a definite thank you for you taking the time to review both halves of the Prologue) and vetgirlmx (I was pretty surprised to see you had read my stories over such a short amount of time, since you said you weren't sure of it the first couple chapters of Beware of Darkness. But seeing you continued all the way to the Prologue was very nice to read, a nice compliment for me to read, and of course, I enjoyed seeing that. Though I am sorry about the need for caffeine, if I could, I'd buy you a coffee… or whatever liquid form of it you'd like, lol. I really, really enjoyed seeing how much you like how I write Alexis, as I do like her on the show. But I really do my best not to write anyone OOC; I've watched episodes… not constantly but a lot so it might help me writing everyone; so to hear you think I didn't with her, definitely a joy to see! And I'm glad to see I may have someone else who'll stick around for this story; very much hoping it'll keep you interested, and awake as you said!) I really had a blast reading what you both had to say, and I definitely appreciate all you said as well to let me know you enjoyed the beginning of this story!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter comes from the song Long Leather Coat by Paul McCartney, an extra track from his album Off The Ground: The Complete Works.
Bloody Red Floor
"A week until Thanksgiving Jessa and you still don't have the menu set? We have to figure out how much we need to cook for all our guests."
"I know Martin, but I have no clue what exactly you want me to make for your mom. You're always complaining she's so picky. And this is our first holiday now we're married; I want it to go well."
The young couple was riding down the path in Central Park slowly on bikes, the day bright and crisp though chilly as New York City was in the full grip of autumn. They argued good naturedly as they rode past some pedestrians also taking advantage of the day's clear weather to enjoy the outdoors. They came to an empty length of the path, and sped up their cycling until they came around a bend and had to brake hurriedly, seeing someone lying half on the concrete and half on the grass.
"Is he hurt?" the woman asked as they got off their bikes when they were near.
"Sir? Hey, are you okay?" the man yelled ahead of him as he motioned for his wife to stay where she was. He walked up to the man, noticing he was wearing riding boots. "Must be from those stables that are right outside the park," he told his wife. "Hey, you're gonna get run over man, you need to move," he said as he reached him.
"Martin, he might be drunk, I should call 911," the woman said, watching him.
Leaning down, the man touched the unconscious man's shoulder when he heard the sound of heavy breathing on the grass that wasn't him or the man. Glancing up, he was startled to see a grey horse and he looked down at the man saying, "Looks like he threw you hard."
"Do you want me to call an ambulance Martin?" his wife then said in some exasperation.
Placing his hand on the man's shoulder to steady himself as he nearly became unbalanced turning to his wife, the husband watched as the man's head turned to the side, and with a yell he threw himself back, seeing the bloody mass that was the back of the man's head.
Thick, dark blood coated the grass in a neat circle where his head had lain, and the wife screamed as she saw the back of the man's head as blood gushed, descending to mix with the red and yellow-green grass.