A/N: You are going to start seeing some of my favorite lines from season four and season five show up in the coming chapters. These are scenes I cannot really use because my A/U branched off in season three. But I also could not bear to exclude them because they were so powerful so I fit the in where I could.

Please know that this is meant as an homage, not plagiarism. I claim no ownership of these particular lines or scenes at all.

I just loved them.

A/N #2: I don't know if the morgue is in the basement, but I do know Pathology has been in the basement of every hospital I have worked in. So I am running with it. ;)

Castle yawned as he cracked his eyes open, blinking contentedly at the ceiling for a few moments as he relived the night before in his mind.

They had stood there, holding each other like that for a long time. Kate was so still that it was only her breath against his neck and the rapid beating of her heart that calmed his concerns.

Eventually he had whispered, "Kate?"

She had pulled back, smiling up at him. "C'mon Castle. Let's go to bed."

He had followed her into his bedroom where he slowly undressed her. He removed the jewelry carefully, setting it aside without a thought. Then he picked her up and laid her down gently on the bed before stripping off his own clothes and sliding in next to her.

Nothing would have made him happier than to make love with her.

But that didn't seem to be what the detective needed. She had kissed him quickly and rolled over, pulling his arm around her to tuck it under her breasts. When she shivered slightly, Castle had tightened his grip, burying his lips in her hair.

Slowly, she had relaxed against him until her breathing evened out and he knew she was asleep.

Castle made a promise to himself right then and there... that he would be whatever she needed him to be... whenever she needed him to be it.

Always.

Rick shook his head, trying to clear out the cobwebs. Unable to help himself, he reached out, looking for her warmth.

When his hand closed on nothing but cool sheets, he sat up in confusion. Looking around, he saw a pad of paper leaning up against the lamp on her side of the bed. Grabbing it, we wiped the sleep from his eyes before focusing on her slightly slanted script.

Castle,

Thank you for last night. I... well... just thank you.

There was a development in the case we closed yesterday and I needed to head in early. You looked so peaceful I didn't have the heart to wake you. Do what you need to do, I know tonight is a big deal. Meet me at the station later.

I love You,

Kate

P.S. Don't forget my coffee!

Castle grinned as he swung his legs off the bed. "Like I could." He laughed, heading for the kitchen; caffeine his only objective.

Once he had a cup and a half of Arabica in him, Castle looked towards his study. He WAS two chapters behind on the newest novel and Kate DID say to do what he needed to do...

Picking up his mug he shuffled into his study, closing the door firmly behind him. Settling into his high back chair, Castle opened his laptop. His fingers tingled when he touch the keys.

Within moments, he was lost in the world of Nikki Heat.

Beckett stepped off of the elevator and into the basement, slowing her pace as she neared the double doors of the M.E.'s domain. She looked through the window at the same moment Lanie glanced towards the door. The black woman frowned at her; one eyebrow raised.

Kate squared her shoulders and pushed the doors wide. "Hey." She said brightly.

Lanie blinked. "Hey."

"I just uhm..." The detective frowned. "I needed the drop this off." She held out a vial of blood.

"I didn't think you had any open cases right now."

"We don't... officially."

"There's no file number on this vial." The M.E. took the test tube, a confused look on her face. "And why didn't C.S.U. drop this off?"

"It's a late collect." She looked her friend in the eye. "Will you just run it for me? Please?"

Lanie took a deep breath. "Kate... what's going on?"

"I'm working a hunch." Beckett chewed on her bottom lip. "So if you can keep this between us... I'll reimburse the department for the tests if you need me to."

The other woman's jaw dropped. What Kate was asking was a violation of protocol...

But still... This was Beckett. If she was being evasive, she had a damned good reason. The M.E. quelled her natural curiosity. For the moment anyway.

"What do you need me to run, sweetie?"

Kate sighed in relief. "Everything. Full panel? And I'm sorry to ask but... can you rush it?"

Lanie nodded without hesitating. "You'll have it by the end of the day."

Beckett couldn't keep her eyes off the clock all afternoon; except for when she was staring at her phone. It was bad enough waiting to hear from Lanie, but she hadn't heard from Castle either. It was after two.

She had just decided to call him when the elevator dinged, the doors sliding open to reveal his broad frame and matching smile. He walked towards her with a confident swagger; making Kate blush when she had to admit... he had earned it.

"Hi." He sat her coffee down in front of her before lowering himself happily into his chair.

"Hey." Kate couldn't help but smile back. He always had that effect on her.

Well, almost always. At least when she didn't feel like throttling him.

She took a sip of her coffee, moaning softly at the flavor and ended up blushing again when she found him staring at her adoringly, his chin in his hand propped up against the desk.

"Rick," Kate whispered, feeling her toes curl tightly inside her boots. "You need to stop looking at me like that."

Castle blinked. "Why?"

She couldn't help laughing. "It's not exactly discreet."

Rick leaned in closer. "Are you really going to talk to me about discreet after molesting me in a closet?" He whispered. "I think I lost a cuff link in there, by the way." He waggled his eyebrows. "Wanna help me find it?"

Kate laughed. "No!" She sat back in her chair. "What have you been doing anyway?"

Castle swallowed the smile that threatened to break free. "I was running around with another woman."

"Excuse me?"

He finally grinned at her. "Nikki." He leaned forward casually, his fingers brushing her thigh. "There are only two women in my life. You, and Nikki. Oh, and the redheads but for the safety of my breakfast, we're going to leave them out of this equation."

Beckett smiled down at her desk. If there was one thing she could count on, he would always be Rick. "Please." She agreed.

"So, what do we have going on?"

Kate grinned, sliding him a stack of files. "Paperwork."

Rick groaned, but grabbed the top file gamely. "You are so going to owe me for this."

At four-thirty, Castle closed the last file. Leaning his head to the side, he whimpered when his neck cracked loudly.

"Getting old, Castle?" Kate looked at him out of the corner of her eye; the smile on her lips giving her away.

Rick's eyes narrowed. "Just wait until we get home tonight. We'll see who's old."

The detective smirked.

"Speaking of which." Castle rose. "We should head home. Get ready."

"Uh, yeah." Kate shut down her computer. "I need to check in with Lanie on something first."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, it's okay. You head to the loft. I'll meet you there as soon as I can."

"Okay." He met her eyes. "Don't be late?"

"I won't. I promise."

His smile faltered. "I so wish I could kiss you right now."

Kate's lips trembled. "I know."

With a strange look on is face, Castle held out his hand.

Beckett looked at it curiously, then at him. He inclined his head towards it.

Slowly, she placed her hand in his, ignoring the jump in her heart rate when their skin met.

"This is me," he said softly. "Softly touching your face as I pull you in for a long, slow kiss."

Kate couldn't help but smile. "And this is me, kissing you back. Running my hands through your hair."

The look in Castle's eyes took her breath away. "Best. Handshake. Ever."

"Yeah." Kate laughed softly, her thumb running over his in small circles.

Letting go, he stood quickly, nodding to her with a smile. "See you soon."

Kate watched him walk away, swallowing hard.

That man would be the death of her.

Kate waited for fifteen minutes after he had left and then jumped out of her chair, striding purposefully towards the elevator.

The whole way down she tried hard not to chew on her nails.

When she reached the morgue doors, she took a deep breath, pushing through them forcefully. "Well?"

"Well, hello to you too." Lanie shot her friend a dirty look, gratified when the detective flushed. "There were no drugs present. No toxins either." She looked at Kate sadly.

"What?"

"I'm sorry, honey." Lanie pulled the sample and the chart. "Your vic was pregnant."

The detective sat down heavily, grateful for Lanie's rolling chair. "How long?"

"About six weeks."

"Six weeks..." She laughed softly. "Six weeks."

The Old Haunt.

The detective paled...

"Are you all right?" Lanie gripped her shoulder tightly. "I know it's hard but you can't feel guilty. The only person at fault is the one that-"

"Run it again." Kate whispered.

Lanie stepped back, her head turning to the side as anger flashed in her eyes. "Are you questioning my ability to do my job?"

"No..." Beckett covered her face with her hands; looking at her friend through her fingers. "I'm questioning my ability to use contraceptives."

Lanie blinked.

And then she blinked again.

"This... is YOU?"

Kate took a long shuddering breath before nodding.

"You lied to me?"

"I..." Beckett took another deep breath. "I didn't want to. I just didn't know what to do."

Lanie looked at the tube in her hand for a moment before rushing away. "I know what I'm going to do. I'm running this shit again!"

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