A/N - Hey guys. Getting impatient to get this done. Spent a few hours writing in a cafe old school with paper and pen. It was fun. I do it often but main idea or sentences that I like. It's been a while since I wrote actual pages.

So here is the new chapter. Please read and if you enjoy, please drop me a review. I live for them!

Chapter Three – Shadow Hunter

By the time he got home, Castle felt deliciously numb. In fact, he was so numb; Beckett had to help him to his front door. He leaned on her as he handed her his keys and she unlocked it quickly, pushing it completely open with her hip. When they stumbled through the door, Alexis was in his arms. Kate kept her arm around Castle, keeping him balanced. Alexis released him, searching his face.

"Gram told me. Is it true?"

Castle nodded. Martha appeared around the corner and when she hugged her son; her arms went around Kate as well. Kate returned the embrace and together they got Castle onto the sofa.

"Sorry Martha but I promised him a drink. He took it to mean multiple drinks."

Martha gave her a sad smile as she watched Alexis fuss over her father. Castle was a little bit beyond anything now, letting Alexis pull a blanket over him before heading to the kitchen to get water.

"My boy always feels things so deeply."

Martha tugged on Beckett's arm and led her into a corner away from Castle.

"Thank you for being there for him today."

Beckett shrugged and told her the same thing she told Castle hours earlier.

"He's always there for me. It's my turn now."

"Kaylee. I cannot believe that she's really gone."

Martha wore the same expression that was on Castle that morning.

"Castle said she was one of the few women in his life that you liked."

Martha chuckled.

"He's right. She's one of the few that treated him properly. Almost completely drama free. It was a refreshing change. Every other women in his life brought drama. Oh excluding you my dear. You are also deeply refreshing."

Beckett returned the smile.

"Thank you Martha. I am happy to hear that. But do you think he's up for this? For finding her killer?"

They both looked at Castle, now snuggled deeply on the sofa, Alexis carefully slipping off his shoes. Martha sighed.

"Even if he can't, he will. He's too stubborn and as of this morning, personally invested. But you are the key in all this. You know that right?"

Beckett frowned.

"How so?"

Martha slipped her arm through the crook of Beckett's elbow.

"Because you, my dear, keep him balanced. Just as he does to you."

Beckett swallowed, unsure how to respond. Martha caught the silence and grinned.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. Now, you should get home and get some rest too. Unless you would like a cup of tea?"

Beckett shook off the invitation.

"No thank you Martha. And you are right; I should get some rest too. Hopefully, he will be better in the morning."

Beckett gave Alexis a small wave as she headed for the door. Martha gave her another hug.

"Thank you for bringing my boy home."

"Anytime. Night."

As Beckett made her way back to her car, Martha's words played through her head over and over. She kept Castle balanced. Did he really do the same to her? She thought of all the times that she laughed the coffee that he always handed to her and the feeling of relaxation that came to her in his presence. Even in a bad spot, she knew that he had her back and it made her feel safer. Always safe with him. She never had to question his motives with her or with anything else. He was just simply Richard Castle. She kept pondering as she drove home, the thoughts continuing to bounce around as she had her bath and settled into bed.

Kate had barely brushed her knuckles over the front door before it swung open. Alexis, all dressed and ready for school offered her a slight smile.

"Morning. He's still out. He has barely moved since last night. Good luck."

Alexis tugged her backpack over her shoulder and nodded towards her father. And then Alexis swung out of the doorway and down the hall. Kate blinked before stepping into the warm loft and approaching the still form of Castle. He had an arm slung over his eyes, his breathing heavy and even. Even in sleep, she could see the news from yesterday still on his face. She wondered if he dreamed about it like she had done. It wasn't the first time and it would most definitely not be the last. What had gotten to her was a picture in the Dean's home. One of Kaylee with the kids, their arms all tangled together, bright smiles on their faces. It was a sweet moment and heart breaking for what had happened to it. It helped fuel things though. The shattered left over pieces of the family certainly pushed the need to close this harder. She carefully placed the coffees on the table before removing her gloves and placing a hand on his shoulder, shaking gently.

"Castle."

The man in question groaned and shifted away from her hand. She saw the frown beneath his arm.

"Rise and shine. I have coffee."

When he finally relinquished to her request, removing his arm from over his eyes, he squinted as he turned to her.

"It was real wasn't it?"

She nodded as she handed him a coffee and then the Tylenol.

"Yeah it was. Are you okay?"

Castle shrugged.

"I don't know. I feel….numb. Like Kaylee is going to jump out from behind some corner and tell me it was part of some Murder Mystery plot. Stupid, right?"

Beckett sunk into the sofa beside him; the cushions still warms from his body. She took a deep breath, always needing those few seconds before she exposed that wound to someone.

"You know, for months after my mother's death, I thought the same thing. I heard a car in the drive and there was a small part of me that expected her to walk in. Even now, if I smell her perfume I try to find her. Or if I see someone with her hair. I don't think I will ever stop expecting to see her."

Castle's eyes softened, licking his dry lips briefly.

"So this is normal?"

"Hard to define normal when it comes to this. Plus it's you. Normal is not something that you do."

"Neither do you."

It was the first teasing he had done yesterday and it gave her an odd sense of comfort that he was still there beneath all this mess. Castle stood and stretched, rubbing his eyes before looking at her again, a little more alert.

"So where to from here?"

"Well, Brenson is a a loose end but not who we are looking for. We need to check Spencer's alibi and see if we can find people with any kind of issues with Kaylee."

"Seems silly to think that she had no enemies."

"Everyone does, even if the threat is far from them. She might have angered someone without even realizing it."

"Perhaps another stalker? Anyone worth their salt seems to have at least one these days."

Beckett cocked her eyebrow.

"How many have you had?"

"A few. They all seem harmless. But then I see this and it's sinking in that there may be no such thing."

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. They exchanged a quick glance before Castle moved to the front door and pulled it open. A man in a delivery uniform stood at the door, a half smile on his face.

"Delivery for Richard Castle."

Castle smiled.

"That's me."

Castle signed off for the package before kicking the door closed with his foot. The package was a fat one, heavy and dense. Beckett watched him as he tore it open. She watched the blood drain from his face.

"Castle?"

He held up the thick binding of paper, showing Beckett the cover.

"It's from Kaylee."

Beckett didn't touch the letter, didn't even try to read it. She was busy watching Castle. He was fluttering, moving around the kitchen, pretending not to be bursting with curiosity. He had ducked into the bathroom at one point and when he came back out there was puffiness to his eyes that had nothing to do with his vague hangover. Only when he brewed a third round of coffee, having thrown out the last two did she stand and moved into the kitchen. She took hold of his wrist, stilling his movements. She waited until his eyes met hers and offered him a small smile.

"Take a deep breath."

He did as he was told. She told him to repeat the process and after a few moments, he seemed calmer. Together, they finished making the coffee and then finally took a seat at the breakfast bar. She let him go at his own pace, his eyes going over the note that was on the cover. When he started speaking, his voice was steady.

Hey Ric,

I'm moving away from the normal and could do with your advice. You are the only person I can trust with this. My editor and publisher both think this is career suicide. But you get it, don't you? You had the same issues with Storm.

Please give me a call and tell me what you think.

Thanks,

Kaylee

P.S – We are overdue for a family dinner by the way. We miss you and Alexis. Come round soon. Spencer can make that red wine stew you love so much.

Castle voice cracked slightly at that last part. He cleared his throat before sliding the letter over to Beckett. She scanned it quickly before turning her attention to the manuscript in his hands. She watched him frown as he leafed through it.

"What's wrong?"

Castle shook his head.

"It's a murder mystery."

Beckett struggled to meet him where he was.

"I don't understand."

"You know that author Jodi Picoult?"

Beckett nodded.

"Of course. Relationships, usually death and redemption."

"That was Kaylee's style. But this…this is more my style. I don't understand."

"She's branching out."

Castle shook his head.

"That's not easy to do. Look what happened to Stephen King. He is known as a horror writer yet some of his best works were short stories that had nothing to do with death and things going bump in the dark. You know Shawshank Redemption? Short story he wrote and sold the rights for."

"You did it."

"I didn't change entire genres. I killed my main guy and started another with Nikki Heat. She had jumped from one to another in a single bound."

Castle put the manuscript down, placing it carefully before him. Beckett looked between the manuscript and Castle.

"You have to read it."

Castle shook his head.

"I don't know if I can. This…it's her last.."

His sentence faded. She hesitated for a moment before putting her hand over his.

"She trusted you with this. From what I know about you, considering what it took to get any kind of copy of Nikki Heat before it was published, it took a lot of trust. She trusted you."

"It got her killed."

"Maybe but for now, this is her voice."

Beckett put her other hand on the manuscript.

"She is trusting you with her voice. Even if it is a new one. And-"

She pushed it open to the first page.

"It might hold something that we need to know."

Castle nodded.

"Fine. I'll read it. But later."

Beckett shook her head.

"Nope. I want you to stay home today and read. And then re-read and make notes. I'm going to hit Brenson up again. I want to push harder on him."

Castle opened him mouth to protest but Beckett cut him off.

"Castle, you know Kaylee. You know her writing. You are the only one who can do this. I need you to do this."

Castle stared at the manuscript before he slowly nodded.

"Alright."

Kate stood, taking her coffee with her. Castle followed closely behind, pulling the door open for her. She was about to turn to leave but the look on his face made her pause. He looked defeated. She caught his eye.

"I know this is hard but we'll get this guy. Trust me."

"I do."

She lingered in his gaze before moving away, already onto her next list of things that needed to be done.