AN: Many thanks for the positive reviews. I'm quite surprised that many of you saw the same things that I did in these episodes. I felt that Beckett wasn't the only one that was out of character during this arc. Would her best friend let her off the hook as easily as Lanie did in this episode? At least Jim accused Kate of being afraid of commitment saying she always kept one foot out the door.

Once again, I own nothing but the time it took to write this. Everything else belongs to ABC and Marlowe.

Four:

Rick quickly dressed in a pair of dark jeans and rust colored tailored shirt. He slipped on his shoes and walked back into his office to retrieve his sport coat. He glanced at the blue velvet box sitting there on his desk, mocking him. A symbol of the life that Rick would never have with Katherine Beckett.

He silently exited his apartment, afraid of waking his mother and listening to any more of her advise. Rick hailed a cab and gave the driver directions. Kate wanted to meet at the swings. A neutral site, in public yet private enough for her to tell him that they were through. Rick had accepted that fact already. In fact, he wasn't sure what he would say if she said that it was all a big misunderstanding and that she was 'all-in' with him. 'Sure you do. You'd take her back in a heartbeat. You love her.' His mind said mockingly. Exiting the cab he paid the driver and walked to where the swings were, empty.

Grabbing ahold of the chains, he lowered himself down onto the rubber bottom and felt it flex tightly around his thighs. He stared straight ahead at nothing in particular as he mentally prepared himself for Kate's dismissal.

Kate spent the entire drive from the 12th to the park preparing the script in her mind of what she would tell Rick. She placed her NYPD vehicle tag in the windshield so she could park fairly close to the swings. The beautiful late spring day had cooled in the last hour and the sunny sky was now overcast and threatening. Exiting her car, she grabbed her leather jacket from the passenger seat and slipped it on. As she approached, Kate could see Rick sitting in the swing perfectly still, looking straight ahead. When she was about ten feet away, she calls out. "Hey Castle."

Rick never moves or looks in her direction. "Beckett." Was all he says in response.

Deciding that she wants to be able to look at him when she speaks. She sits down in the swing beside him facing the opposite direction. Deciding an apology would help get this conversation started, Kate begins. "I'm sorry Castle. I should have told you about the job interview."

Rick continues to look straight ahead as he speaks, almost as if he was afraid that if he looked at her, he'd lose his resolve. "It's who you are.. For five years I've had to scratch and claw to try to break down your walls.. And last night proved that I'm no closer to getting through them than I was two years ago. In fact, I may actually be farther away. A year ago you appeared at my door soaked and shivering and told me that all you needed was me.. And I believed you because I loved you.. I guess that I'll never be enough for you.. There will always be something that you need more than me. Wether it's a billionaire playboy, or a better job, I'll always come in last."

Kate started to speak, but Castle held up his hand to stop her while never breaking his gaze straight ahead. She had planned out this whole conversation on her way here. She was going to tell him about the job and how they should 'take a break' for a while until Kate got settled into her new job and then they could see how they feel about each other. Rick would wait until Kate decided she was ready to be with him, if she decided that. Kate had lost control of this conversation before it ever started.

"I want more than this.. I have to be the number one thing in the life of the woman that I love. I've never experienced that before. I deserve better. WE deserve better.."

Kate was stunned. She knew what was coming. All she could offer was "I agree" in a weak voice.

"At least you saved me the humiliation of rejecting my proposal. I've carried that ring around in my pocket for the last month waiting for the right time.."

"They offered me the job. I accepted it. I'm leaving for Washington DC next week." Kate blurted out in a last ditch attempt to take control of the conversation.

Rick actually smiled at her rushed confession. "I knew once you interviewed for the job that they would offer it to you. After all Kate, you are an extraordinary woman. They would have been crazy not to make the offer. I always knew that you were destined for bigger things. I had hoped that I'd be with you, but I guess that wasn't meant to be."

It physically pained her to hear Rick confess that in spite of everything that has happened, he still believes that she is extraordinary. Fighting back a sob, all she could offer was a weak apology. "I'm so sorry.."

Still looking straight ahead, he replies. "I'm sorry too." He paused for a few seconds waiting for Kate to say anything that would give him hope that there was anything left for them. Kate sat there silently staring straight ahead in the opposite direction. Accepting the inevitable, Rick decides to address the aftermath of another failed relationship. "I'll pack up your stuff that you've left at the loft. I'll give Lanie a call and you can pick them up while I'm out.. Anything that I've left at your place you can either throw it away or donate it to charity." He glanced at his watch and commented. "I'm sure that you have a million things to do with your big move, so I best let you get started on your new life."

He rose up from the swing finally looked at Kate for the first time. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears. Bending over, he places a gentle kiss on her cheek, much like the one he gave her on their first case. "Goodbye Katherine Houghton Beckett. I hope that one day you find what you're looking for. I'll always love you." He turned and walked away without another word.

Part of Kate wanted to call out to Castle. To say that it was all a mistake. To ask for another chance. The other part said that this job is what you really want. You've already made your choice and it wasn't him. Life is full of trade-offs. Richard Castle was the only man she ever knew that loved the real Kate Beckett.

She walked back to her car and made her way through the rush hour traffic back to the 12th. During the drive she tried to process everything that Castle had said to her. Part of her couldn't accept the fact that he had given up on her. That he was the one calling it quits and it stung her pride more than a little bit. After all, she decided to end her relationships with Sorenson, Deming and Davidson.

Pulling into her parking spot, she exited the car and was on the elevator to face her partners. She hoped that they would see the job as the opportunity she believed it was. It was nearly 6:00pm when she exited the elevator and walked back to the desks of her soon to be former partners. The two detectives had their backs to the elevator and appeared to be having a debate. Judging from their hushed tones and animated movements, there was a strong disagreement on whatever it was.

Sensing someone approaching, Espo jabbed Ryan in the arm to silence him as he turned to see Kate nearby. "Yo Beckett. What's so important that you would keep us here after hours on a three day weekend?"

Kate offered an embarrassed grin and replied. "Sorry about that, but there was someone that I had to speak to first." Her smile quickly faded replaced by a serious look. "I suppose that you're wondering why I wanted to speak to you.." Her voice trailed off as she spoke and Ryan turned to face her, sure that whatever she was about to say would not make them happy.

Kate raked her fingers through her hair and sighed, debating with herself how to tell her 'friends' that she was leaving them. Steeling her resolve, she began to speak. "Do you remember that case we had a week or so ago with the drones?"

"Sure I do." Espo replied. "I clearly remember what a tool that Fed was that came in here and stole all of our evidence. What an asshole."

Ryan laughed. "Yeah, a real prick. What was his name? Crack?"

"Stack." Kate replied. "After we wrapped up the case, agent Stack asked me if I would be interested in becoming a special agent for the Attorney General's office like him.." She paused for a few seconds to see what reaction her partners had. Espo looked pissed and Ryan looked disappointed. "I flew to Washington DC yesterday for an interview.. To make a long story short, they offered me a job this morning and I accepted." She paused again and saw that the look on both of the detectives faces was one of hurt.

"I can't believe that you're leaving us to work for the enemy. I clearly remember how pissed you were when Shaw and Fallon came in here and took over our place.." Espo said flatly, trying to suppress his feelings of betrayal.

"What about Castle?" Ryan asked quietly, afraid that he already knew the answer that would explain why he would leave them in the middle of an active case.

"Rick and I decided that we want different things.." Kate replied with no emotion as she stared at the cleaned-off murder board, unable to make eye contact. The two detectives just stared at each other in disbelief that Beckett would throw away the man that had been by her side for the last five years. "I wanted to tell you guys about the job before the captain makes a formal announcement."

"How soon do you leave?" Ryan asks.

"There's a training class that starts the first of the month."

"So this was your last case?" Espo inquires. Kate can only nod in response. "I hope that this job is everything that you hoped for Chi-ca." Javi turns and walks out of the bullpen.

Ryan offers a sad smile and extends his hand. "Congratulations Beckett. I'm sure that you'll do fine in DC."

Kate shakes his hand and thanks him for his show of support. "I was wondering if you and Javi would like to go and have a drink to celebrate?"

Kevin can only shake his head. "Sorry Beckett, but I promised Jenny that I'd come straight home from work and I'm pretty sure that Javi's got a date with Lanie.." He didn't like lying to her, but he was trying to keep from hurting her feelings.

Trying to mask her disappointment, she smiles and replies. "That's ok Kevin. Tell Jenny that I said hi." Ryan slipped on his sport coat and walked out of the bullpen and to the elevator. Kate walks to her desk and sits down as she glances at the mementos sitting there. She stares are the elephant family sculpture and thinks about her mother. She wonders if she would be proud of her. Kate glances at the chair beside her desk facing her and can't help but think about him. A year ago everything was so clear. All she wanted was him. Now all she wants is her new job away from everyone and everything that she was used to.

X-X-X

Rick walked from the swings and back to the street, never looking back at her. His thoughts were a jumbled mess and he didn't want to be alone. Hailing a taxi, he climbed in and gave the driver directions to his destination. Castle was blankly staring out the window as his phone began to ring. Seeing the caller ID, he quickly answers with a cheery. "How's my favorite Medical Examiner?"

"Mad as hell. How's my favorite writer-boy doing?"

Castle has to chuckle at her name for him. "That's writer-man Lanie. What can I do for you?"

The M E knew that he was putting on a front for her. "Well, writer MAN, Ryan, Espo and I are going to meet for drinks at the Old Haunt. You remember that place?" Lanie asks teasingly.

"Yeah I do vaguely." Castle replies. He'll play along. "I hear the owner's a really nice guy.."

"We're going to be there in an hour or so and we expect to see that guy in person."

Rick's expression changes at the offer. He really didn't feel like he could be around Kate's friends. "I'm afraid that I wouldn't be very good company tonight.. Don't worry though, drinks are on me.."

"I didn't call you to get free drinks. I expect to see you there. No excuses. Remember, I know where you live." Lanie's tone left no doubt that she was not going to accept any excuses from him.

Sighing in defeat, he replies. "How can I turn down an offer from such a lovely lady?"

"You're damn right. I'll see you by 7:00pm. Talk to you later." She ended the call before he could protest or offer any excuse.

Rick could only smile as he stared at the phone. Lanie Parrish was a force of nature that you did not want to cross. He tapped on the divider between him and the driver and gave him the new destination.

Twenty minutes later that cab finally makes its way through the holiday weekend rush hour traffic. Rick pays the cabbie and exits the car stopped directly in front of his bar. Castle couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride in the updated entrance. He had spent a considerable amount of money modernizing the bar while keeping the original ambiance. He never considered it an investment. It was a labor of love for the place where he wrote the majority of his first best seller on yellow legal pads. Surprisingly, his investment had paid off. The bar's business was booming. Castle's involvement with the NYPD had brought in plenty of business with law enforcement and the renovations brought in the rest.

Walking down the stairs, he opened the door to enter the bar. Scanning the room, he saw that the bar was nearly packed for happy hour. Mike, the head bartender spots Rick and gestures for him to come over. Rick smiles and waves back to him as he makes his way through the crowded bar. "Yo Rick! How ya doin' man? Didn't expect to see you here." Mike calls out in his thick Brooklyn accent.

"Some friends invited me out for drinks." Castle replies. Can you ask Sherry to make sure my booth is available for us?"

"Sure thing boss. Where's that pretty lady of yours? I haven't seen here around here in a while.."

Whatever good feelings that Rick had were snuffed out in an instant. Trying his best to mask his emotions, he simply replied. "I don't think that she'll be coming around here anytime soon." Wanting to change the subject desperately, Rick asks. "Where's Larry?"

Mike could tell from the look in Rick's face that he had touched on a sore subject. "Larry's down in the office." He gestured to entrance to the lower level. Rick thanked him and walked down to the office.

Rick walked down the stairs silently and saw the Old Haunt's manager busily at work on something. Castle rapped on the door frame to get his attention. "Rick! What brings you in on a Friday night. Shouldn't you be out painting the town with that pretty girlfriend of yours?"

Rick grimaced at the second mention of Kate in less than five minutes. "Some friends from the 12th invited me out for drinks and seeing as I just so happen to own a bar..."

Larry Mills was good at reading people. He could tell that something had changed between Rick and his 'girlfriend'. Something that wasn't good. Rick had 'stolen' Larry away from one of the more popular bars in the area to run the Old Haunt by paying him more that he was making before and giving him a percentage of the bar as incentive. Castle's trust had been rewarded with someone that put in the extra effort necessary to make the Old Haunt a success. Rick's role had been reduced to check writer, which was fine with him.

"Everything going ok?" Rick inquires.

Larry grins. "If the owner of this place would pony up a few dollars we could expand and put in a real kitchen.. I've looked at the financials and they look pretty attractive."

"Send me what you have. I'll review this with the owner and see what he thinks.." Castle grins back. "I'll leave you to your work. Take it easy."

"You too Rick." Larry replies and returns his attention to his work. Castle walked back up the stairs and into the bar. Rick walked back to the bar and asked Mike for one of the micro-brew draft beers that they served. Rick thanked him and put a generous tip in the jar as he walked back to his booth. Sherry had placed the reserved sign on the booth while Rick was meeting with Larry.

Rick scoots into the booth and sits where he has an unobstructed view of the entrance. He glances at his watch and notices that it's nearly 7:00. Lanie was the first to arrive. Rick spots her as she enters the bar. She scans the room and spots Castle waving for her to come join him. He slides out of the booth as she nears and wraps her in a hug. Lanie wraps her arms around him and squeezes tightly. She lets go of him and gives him a stern look. "What would Javi think if he caught you trying to make time with his girl?" She grinned as she said it to let him know that she was only teasing. "Not to say that I mind."

Rick gestured for Sherry to come over and asked Lanie what she wanted to drink. The waitress took his order as Lanie slid into the semi-circular booth sitting beside Castle. Lanie made small talk with Rick, mostly about Alexis and how she was doing in school. She knew that Castle was proud of his daughter and loved to talk about her. Working with the younger Castle, the M E learned that despite his childish behavior, Rick had been a wonderful father. The fine young woman that Alexis became was the proof. Lanie knew that Alexis never really trusted Kate, but tried her best to please her father.

Ryan and Esposito came in together a few minutes after seven. Rick slid out of the booth to shake both of their hands. Sherry took their drink orders. Rick and Lanie both ordered their second one. Rick slides back into his spot beside Lanie and Esposito slid in on the other side of her. Ryan sat beside Rick. For five minutes they tried to make small talk about sports, Jenny's pregnancy, everything bu the 800 pound gorilla in the room that brought them all together.

Deciding to fall on the sword, Rick starts. "I just want to tell you guys how much I appreciate you being here.."

Lanie grabs Rick's hand and squeezes it. "You're our friend too writer-boy." Kevin and Javi both nod their heads in agreement. "I can't believe that Kate would give up everything for a job the she never mentioned wanting before yesterday." Lanie took a sip from her wine.

"I've known Beckett since we were beat cops. She was like a sister to me." Espo stated to no one in particular. He took another swig of his beer and continued. "I owe you an apology man."

"Why's that?" Castle inquires.

"I saw Kate start to withdraw again, you know, like she used to be and thought that you were the reason.. I thought that she was having problems with you. I thought that you were going to break up with her.. Especially after we caught her kissing Vaughn." Espo paused again to see how Rick reacted. "I'm sorry if I treated you badly.."

Rick offers a sad smile. "I understand Espo. You were just protecting her. Just being a good 'brother'."

Ryan had sat there silently listening to the entire conversation while nursing his beer. "Did you have any idea that she wanted another job?"

Rick continues with his drink and then replies. "Honestly, I didn't have a clue. Things have been a little off between us since the bomb scare. I thought that it was PTSD. I suggested that she talk to her psychologist about it. She assured me that everything was fine. She started to ask where our relationship was going.. The next thing I know, you guys," He gestures to Ryan and Esposito. "catch her in the arms of Erik Vaughn after kissing him."

Lanie couldn't contain her gasp as she saw the hurt look on Castle's face as he discussed 'the kiss'. She knew all about Meredith's infidelity. How it ended his marriage. Kate knew it too. 'Was she deliberately trying to sabotage her relationship with Castle?' She wondered as she sipped her wine.

"I was making diner with her last night and her boarding pass fell out of her coat.. When I asked her what it was, she told me that she had flown to Washington DC for a job interview.. I asked her why she didn't tell me about it and she said that nothing would come from it. She told me that it was her life, as if I had no place in it.. I told her that if she took the job that it would be the end of our relationship because she wouldn't have any time for us.. I guess I was right."

Lanie was shocked. Kate was her best friend and she never thought that she could be so intentionally cruel to the man she supposedly 'loved'. Lanie took Rick's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm so sorry Castle." She commented while fighting back a tear.

Rick can't help but laugh at the irony of it all. "It's just like Meredith again. She cheats and leaves me with the 'kids'." Rick gestures to the three of them sitting with him. "You want to hear the really ironic part? I was planning on proposing to her last night. I thought that if I proved just how serious I was about her that she'd come around. How pathetic is that?"

Lanie couldn't hold back the tears any longer. She wrapped her arms around Rick as best as she could, resting her head against his broad chest and sobbed. "I'm so sorry Castle." She managed to get out between sobs.

Rick realized that Kate had not only abandoned him, but her friends also. The all loved her in their own way and were rejected. The people that she had trusted with her life for nearly a decade. He knew that even if they remained 'friends' it would be limited to an occasional phone call or email and possibly a brief visit on holidays. Her new job would demand the majority of her time. Castle gently stroked Lanie's back as she cried for her friend. Ryan and Esposito sat there in silence.

Deciding to put an end to the maudlin conversation, Rick calls out. "Enough of this! She got the job and I got the kids. I think I got the better part of the deal. Rather than sit around her getting sloppy drunk talking about things we cannot control, let's go out and have a good dinner with friends. My treat." He paused to see their reaction. "And if the 'kids' are good, I'll even buy ice-cream. What'd ya say?" The 'gallows humor' that these people shared at the most horrific crime scenes to deal with the situation just wouldn't work here.

Ryan tries to beg off by telling everyone that he needs to be home with Jenny. Rick smiles and tells him to call her and invite Jenny to dinner with them. He'd send a car for her so she wouldn't have to deal with public transportation. Ryan smiles and pulls his phone from his pocket. Lani and Javi agree to go providing Ryan is there also. The three sit there watching Kevin talking on the phone. Ryan turns his head and tries to cover his face so the others cannot hear what he is talking about although they knew. He ends the call and turns to face the others who were waiting to hear the answer. "She said that she'll be ready to go in twenty minutes." Ryan replied with a small smile.

"Great." Castle replies. "I'll call my service and have a car pick her up."

"So where are we going?" Espo asks.

"Anywhere you want."