Hi all. Apologies for the delay in updating but life has had me busy. Struggling to write around this episode as there isn't much action. It's slowly happening.

Esposito and Ryan were onto a man named Bahir Harun who was an attaché at the Bahrain Consulate. Early in the morning, they met with the man, who had admitted to having a talk with Fink an hour before he was murdered, but that was all they got once it was subtly suggested that Harun had figured out Fink was selling fakes and had decided to get even. What annoyed the detectives was the fact the guy had full diplomatic immunity which prevented them from bringing him in for a bit of a chat.

When Ryan and Esposito returned to the bull pen they found Castle and Beckett at the desk, working through a report from the Coroner's office.

Ryan sat at his desk as he said to Beckett who was noticeably content, sipping on a coffee Rick had supplied, "So, I checked all the photo IDs off all of Fink's clients and artists. Our friend J isn't one of them."

That caused Castle to search about them, "So where is J?" He asked.

"Oh yeah." Kate sat forward, picked up a notepad, "Umm, Dr Holloway called from the hospital. He said that aside from a minor head bump, J's got a clean bill of health."

"Well, other than the memory loss." Rick smiled about his own sense of humor.

Beckett ignored Castle and directed her conversation to her team, "You know, why don't you guys grab J, take him down to the crime scene. See if that sparks his memory. And get a hold of Fink's assistant Darius. Tell him to meet you down there, with every file he has on Bahir Harun."

"He's quite cute." Kate shared right out of the blue.

Rick paused munching on his cheeseburger, glanced about their table then looked at Kate in question unable to isolate a guy better looking than himself. It seemed the guy wasn't in the coffee shop because her eyes were dreamily staring out the window. There was no one out there either. A full mouth of food, he kept chewing while Kate wiped her fingers clean.

Successfully through her first cheeseburger, she was done and left the second untouched. It wasn't possible to eat another right now. The plate got pushed toward the middle of the table for Rick clean up.

"Who?" He asked.

"J." She had a suck on the straw of her shake. "This is really sweet."

"Its caramel, Honey. I'm surprised, you shifted from strawberry and ordered a caramel." It was his turn to wipe his fingers on a napkin.

"I'm full of surprises. Who knows what it will be next time."

"God forbid." He mumbled which caused her to laugh.

"You really thing J is cute?"

She nodded. "I'd date him if he asked me out." She smiled, raised her eyebrows in an offering that told him she was teasing.

"You can't. You're with me." He stated, aware she was provoking. He would play along.

"I'm talking about if I were single."

"But you're not single." He reminded, ensuring his voice sounded a little vulnerable so she would feel bad.

She looked to him through long eyelashes, a soft smile. "Just saying."

"Yeah. No," he replied.

"Jealous?"

"Not as much as you get."

She laughed. "But, I belong to you, Ricky," she toyed with a French accent. Using accents worked for her every time. Blue eyes shined as she reached her left hand out to his right. They momentarily hooked fingers, but he had to retract when he suddenly shifted on the chair to give his jeans a tug.

"God, Kate. You can't be doing that in public." He cursed, "Shit." Comfortable once again, he grinned boyishly, his eyes shining, particularly when she laughed at his awkward moment.

Her phone pinged which caused her to drag it over the table so she could read it.

"Esposito says J doesn't remember anything about the gallery and Darius Langley said he wasn't there when he was."

"Okay. Did they collect the records books?"

"Yep. Going back three years."

"Well, once we wrap it up here we'll head back, huh?" He suggested, "But I need a minute or so."

"No control, Castle."

During the afternoon, after Castle left to go home to see his daughter, Beckett typed up notes on the file. The case was slow moving. She summed it up that Rocco was painting knock up pieces of art and Fink was selling them to interested buyers, such as Harun the guy who had diplomatic immunity. Because Harun was utilizing the diplomatic immunity she wrote that Montgomery was taking care of lodging an interview request with the State Department's which basically placed that problem in their hands. Period.

The team had turned their attention to finding out who J was. She consulted Montgomery who had agreed to let J spend the night in the break out room where there was a reasonably comfortable couch. She amongst others had spent a good handful of nights on that piece of furniture.

While Beckett was wrapping up the paperwork, Ryan collected some blankets and pillows for J to sleep on the couch.

She also emailed a photo of J along with a description of him to the media team for them to release details of J to the media tomorrow morning. With that done she called it a day. With Rick at home she caught a train to the gym near her home.

The rap on the door had Kate spring off the couch and hurry to the entrance. On her way, she grabbed a black coat and beanie, and turned off the main lighting to the apartment. She opened the door and smiled at Rick and Alexis who stood in the hallway.

"Ready?" Rick asked with a smile.

"Finally," Kate declared.

Alexis frowned and pointed to her right to her father who remained quiet. "Blame Dad, Kate."

"Sorry. She's right. My fault. C'mon."

"Where are we going?" She asked as she closed the door.

"Chocolate, Rockefeller Centre."

"Skating?" Kate asked the excitement level on the rise.

"For sure." Alexis replied and her father shrugged his shoulders.

"Got skates?" He asked.

"Will rent them."

"Good idea." Rick replied as they walked towards the elevator. They stepped inside.

"Chocolate?" Kate asked as they descended, aware Rick had mentioned the substance.

"Yes," Alexis replied, "My science teacher says that chocolate contains chemicals that are proven to relieve depression. We are going out to ensure we don't fall into depression." She giggled.

"Any excuse for my daughter to eat chocolate." Castle replied, slipping his hand into Kate's before they stepped out of the elevator.

"Mmhhh." Kate kind of grunted, "Well, it's good, but I prefer ummm a drink." She followed him across the lobby.

"So does my mother, and I actually."

"Scotch," she advised, "And chocolate."

Alexis laughed, "I'll stick with the chocolate."

"Yes, you will." Rick confirmed taking his daughter's hand as they stepped outside to the sidewalk. "We grab a taxi, Ladies?"

"Sure. How did you guys get here?"

"Walked." He let go of Kate's hand when she indicated she would grab a taxi. She always managed to catch one faster than he did. Tonight, Alexis also stepped to the curb and together his girls pulled in a taxi. They bounced after the cab, their laughter making Rick grin as he hurried after them. This was the first time he was out with both of them and Alexis had suggested they invite Kate. It had made his day.

They bundled into the back seat of the yellow vehicle with Alexis seated in the middle. The cab took off at warp speed.

Roughly an hour later they were standing at the railing to the ice rink overdosed on chocolate desserts they ate at Serendipity. Alexis was out on the rink, burning off the sugar hit. She had unexpectedly bumped into friends beneath the Christmas tree and had immediately taken off with them to the rink. After viewing the magnificent tree, decorated in lights, Rick and Kate had wandered to a coffee shop for a couple of take-aways. With the cup keeping Kate's hands warm she huddled in close to Rick. He wore a black beanie, a thick black coat and a blue scarf. Kate had a creamy colored beanie on, her dark hair tucked up inside it. She was a little jittery from the dessert.

"I'm glad you joined us." Rick said, standing behind her. He wrapped his free arm around her waist as she leaned into his body. "You know, it was Alexis who asked if you would like to come tonight."

"Really? That was nice of her." She placed her hand over his forearm as she turned to look at him over her shoulder. "What if someone see's us here together?"

"We're friends. Friends do things together."

"I mean this."

"You're cold. I'm being a gentleman," he joked. "Look at us, Kate. We are hidden by clothing. Its December-"

"And fucking cold," she finished. "Alexis is having fun."

"She loves skating. Every year we hit the slopes for a ski weekend too. I hope you will come with us."

"Just tell me when," Kate replied, "She likes the boy, Castle."

"How do you see that?" It was his turn to lean into Kate as he looked over the barrier to find his daughter. There she was, her long red hair flowing behind her as she speed-skated with a teenage boy.

Kate released a girlish giggle. "Because I was once a teenage girl, Castle."

"Yeah, I'm so glad you're all grown up. We have so much fun together, making memories we can smile about when we're sitting in a nursing home."

"Nursing home?"

"Mmm. Yes. Too soon? You sound disgusted."

"I haven't hit that age of thinking about nursing homes."

"I have. Well, I want you sitting there propped up in your arm chair with a smile on your face, with everyone around you wondering why." He had a laugh, amused by his own humor.

"I already do that. I got caught out the other day because I was thinking about what you had done to me the previous night. Espo made a comment."

"What did he say?" He keenly inquired.

"Something smart ass about me looking like I had been royally laid."

"Royally laid." He grunted in thought, "Well, he was right. I do ensure you're properly serviced." Rick chuckled and gave her a slight squeeze.

"Property serviced?"

It was joyous to hear Kate's tone, her laughter, to feel the way she wriggled about in his embrace, still buzzing on her dessert. He loved the closeness. "Oh yeah, I love it that I put a smile on your face. I don't wanna be the guy who makes your mascara run."

Kate quietened and turned about to face him. Shorter in casual footwear, she looked up at his face. "Castle that is sweet." She smiled, "I wanna have memories to smile about when I'm old. Lots of dirty memories."

"Good. Let's start tonight."

"Start? Continue, Castle." She wrapped her arms about him as he lifted his over her shoulders and she hugged him.

"People might see us," he warned close to her right ear.

"They might," she replied aware he was teasing her.

"You really don't wanna skate?" He asked aware she liked to skate.

"I'm good." She pressed her lips to his jaw. "We don't want to cramp Alexis' style."

For a minute or so, he held his girlfriend and watched his daughter play on the ice rick with some lanky teenage boy. They were having fun and it was pleasurable to watch his daughter enjoy herself. Reminded him of how much fun he'd had with Kate's 30th birthday a few weeks ago. He'd brought joy to what had been hard days at work for the team. It was now a fond memory for all of them. "Remember your birthday?"

"Yes." He felt her nod and heard her laughter. "What a surprise."

He'd surprised her alright. He had booked out a room at a Soho restaurant, provided a small group of friends and family a private and safe venue to celebrate Kate's milestone birthday and had then been witness to how hard cops partied. His detective had really cut loose that night and had suffered for it the next day.

He let her go a she pulled gently away, "Best surprise party eva." She declared.

"Yes. It wasn't bad considering it was a last minute decision." He stepped to the railing beside her. "Well, we certainly had plenty of public displays of affection that night and we got away with it…"

"Because I had a big night on the turps." She laughed, "I got all fresh with you and you let it happen."

"It was very funny. And you've made no apologies for getting fresh with me."

"They think I don't remember, Castle. Lanie told me what I had done over lunch the next day. I could barely hold it together, I wanted to laugh so much."

"Talking of memories, how do you think J is coping with is loss of memory?"

"He seemed okay. Ryan elected to take care of him over night."

Rick pointed at Alexis who had just fallen over on to her back side. The guy she was with, spun about on his skates and returned. He held out his arms to pull Alexis back to her feet. The teenagers then skated off, holding hands. Castle slipped his hand into Kate's.

"Do you feel there's an age difference in us, Kate?"

She glanced to him, smiled, saw an opportunity to get under his skin for once. "You mean Castle, do you think I see you as a sugar daddy?" She pressed her lips together to suppress the giggles trying to burst out.

"What? Sugar daddy?" He cleared his throat. "I asked for that didn't I." He squeezed her hand.

"No. Well, yes, but no I don't feel there is an age difference between us. I manage to keep up with you, Castle."

"Mm. You're funny, Beckett. You were what, thirteen when Meredith had Alexis?"

"I guess so. My parents were the same age." She turned, leaned her hip against the railing and looked into Rick's eyes, concern all over her face.

Confused, his brow furrowed, "What?"

She glanced over his shoulder then bit her lip in thought. "Are you talking subtext?"

Immediately, Rick turned toward her, took her empty coffee cup and placed both cups on a table. "No," he quickly replied his hands going to her shoulders. He dipped to close the distance in their heights. Studied her eyes. "No." He said softer. "Kate?"

"You're not too old for me." She quickly said.

"Hey?" He drew her in, pressed his lips to her forehead. "There's no subtext, Honey. I have no intention of changing a thing."

"But you're asking yourself whether one day I will feel our age gap." She paused, put her hands to his jaw. "Why don't we just be, and we will face that day if it ever happens, okay?"

Rick smiled, nodded. "Sounds like a plan, you gorgeous creature. The glass is half full." He wrapped his arms around her body as she did about his neck and he lifted her off the ground, hugging her firmly. It was comforting how hard she gripped him.

Tight and feeling very secure in his arms, Kate kind of snickered, a little bit of evil in her tone. She then whispered into his ear, "Granted you're the eldest, but I'm the boss."

He laughed, squeezed her, "Yeah, sure. You keep believing that, Honey." He pressed his lips to her temple, just below her woolen hat.

"Your lips are cold," she said as she leaned her head into his kiss.

"Mm. Stay with me tonight? Please." He quietly asked watching another guy with his girlfriend. They were teasing each other with food.

"I will keep you warm, Castle." It was cooed with the right amount of provocation that had Rick aroused. His body had him release a groan of longing, of want.

"You're definitely staying with me, with that promise coming off your tongue."

"Promise?"

"I heard the subtext, Beckett." He let her down, let her go but put his fingers to her jaw. "Kiss me."

Kate nervously glanced around them. They rarely kissed in public, unless she was intoxicated but tonight the mood was there. She glanced between his eyes and lips.

"Kate?"

His tone caused her to smile and she reached up for that kiss she wanted more than anything right now. His lips were colder than hers, but his fingers that slipped to the back of her neck were warm, tender.

Breathless, they parted, his forehead resting against hers. She smiled, thinking about how much she loved to kiss, how much she wanted to be with him, how much she craved him, all the time. "When your daughter gets off the ice, let's go home."

"I think I will call her off the rink."

Beckett wiped the smile from her face the moment she exited the elevator the next morning. It was time to bring out Detective Beckett who was running a little later than usual because she had to swing by her apartment for a change of clothes. As she passed by the breakout room she saw the empty couch where J had slept, the blanket folded at the end with a pillow sitting on top. She continued to her desk giving Ryan a nod.

"Hey! Morning."

Beckett replied, "Hey. How was he last night?"

"He slept like a rock. Doc Holloway stopped by this morning to give him a cognitive abilities test. Scored through the roof on the quantitative part."

"He's good at math?"

Ryan gave a nod.

"So maybe he was an engineer, or in accounting or financing."

"Or just good at math." He pointed towards the spare office, "Castle's testing his drawing abilities. See if he's an artist. Maybe he was trying to convince Fink to show his work."

Beckett glanced to the office to see Rick sitting at a desk with J opposite drawing on an artist's pad. She momentarily looked back at Rick. It caused her muscles to clench, her body to ache for more of what she'd had last night. She turned away, "I suppose we should be thankful he didn't offer to pose nude."

"Yeah. Thanks for that, Beckett. Hey, any idea if we're gonna get to talk to that attaché, Harun?"

Beckett replied, "Radio silence. We gotta ID J. That will help us."

"Yeah."

She glanced up at the mounted TV, that currently showed a news report with J's mugshot. "Speak of the devil."

Ryan followed her eye line, "Yeah. They've been showing it all morning."

Beckett focused on her computer as she asked, "Any calls yet?"

"No."

"Well, until we figure out who he is, we've got nothing." She said as she entered a password to her work login.

Once the computer was up and running, Beckett left it to enter the conference room to check in on J and Castle. J was sketching Castle with a pencil.

She leaned against the door jam. "So, what's the verdict?" She inquired.

J turned the sketch pad around.

Castle eyes widened, "Wow."

Beckett tried not to laugh, "You really captured his soul."

Castle frowned, but then saw the posited, "Okay, so you're not an artist. I'm sure you have many other talents."

"Just no talent for remembering them."

"Oh, that's him. No, no, that's him! Oh, thank God." A woman excitedly called out.

"Can I help you?" Ryan asked leaving his desk as a woman entered the bull pen.

Castle looked to J, "I think we're about to find out who you are."

Beckett pointed over her shoulder as she asked J, "Do you recognize her?"

J shook his head in the negative.

"Wasn't her." Kate pressed her lips together a little frustrated with the time wasters popping up wanting a husband or partner out of J. She momentarily looked to the conference room where Esposito, Ryan and J were eating lunch. "Poor J. This must be driving him crazy not knowing who he is, what he likes to eat."

"Yes, it is doing his head in." Rick rubbed his chin in thought, then stated. "And this news bulletin," he pointed at the screen, "Is bringing the crazy ones out, Beckett."

Kate leaned in, "That woman, Castle, she was all over him," she hissed so J wouldn't hear their conversation, "Like, kissing him and all that."

Rick waved a hand to hush her and nodded, "It wasn't good. Neither was the second one. He was really over the top."

"On the up side, we know he gets asthma and he's allergic to cats."

"Yes," Rick agreed, "And thankfully, he's carrying the inhaler."

Beckett said, "So has Harun told us, we know that J had an argument with Fink, that he was there when Fink was murdered.

"Yes." Rick agreed.

Beckett said, "The night that Mr Fink was murdered, Harun called him not long before he was killed."

"That's correct, Detective. He showed up around 9:45, but he was sent away."

Beckett said, "Because Fink was arguing with a man but we don't know what it was about."

"The man being J." Rick said, glancing to the gents in the conference room. "And we can't ask J what the argument was about. Annoying."

"Frustrating," Kate submitted between gritted teeth, "So frustrating I need to go to the gym and hit the kick bag."

"Oh. Well, I might come over your place tonight. Will bring the hand cuffs."

Kate glanced about before she smiled, "Be hard pressed to beat last night, Castle."

A smug smile appeared. "That was special," he quickly replied thinking about their activities after they returned home from the ice rink. They had really made love. For hours into the night. Some nights they played around, tackled each other into submission, had sex, raw sex, but last night the events of their evening had unknowingly become foreplay to make love. She'd trembled with anticipation, perhaps emotions. It had blown him away that he could do that to another person.

"What?"

Rick snapped from his day dream, looked at Kate's questioning expression. "What?"

"Where did you go?" Kate asked.

"Last night, at home."

Immediately he saw her cheeks brighten. "Oh."

"Yes." He confirmed, "Was thinking about you."

"Oh." She swallowed then smiled.

Castle cleared his throat, shrugged his shoulder, "This is a really boring case Beckett. If we could wrap this one up I would be happy."

"I agree." Beckett said getting them back on the case, "Harun said he saw J arguing with Fink."

"We need to figure out why J was at the gallery."

Beckett sighed, "And we can't do that if we don't know who the hell he is." She hit a button on her keyboard to light up the monitor.

Rick sat up and looked about them for an evidence box but he couldn't see one. "Where is J's stuff, Beckett?"

"What he had on him?"

"Yep. I want to go through it again. See if we can't find another clue."

"Knock yourself out. Ryan has it."

Rick stood off his chair and went off to speak to his detective friend.

Rick figured out another clue about J that had Kate accompany him back to the art gallery. He was excited but he refused to even give her a hint about what had him on the go.

"Why are you dragging me back to the art gallery?" Beckett asked for the umpteenth time since they had left the Precinct, and now they stood on the curb out front of the gallery wher Fink had dried. Distract, Castle circled and searched about.

He replied, "Not to the art gallery, to the street. It's gone."

"What's gone?

"The dog. That's why he had the bag. To clean up after his dog."

Beckett said, "How do you know it was his dog?"

Castle said, "Well, why else would he have a bag? Why else would there be a dog tied up outside a commercial building after midnight? Maybe someone stole it."

Beckett got out her cell phone, "I will get onto Animal Control."

Twenty minutes later, Beckett and Castle followed a woman through a veterinary surgery, where the dog had been located. A microchip and records noting the dog had been collected had brought them to this place.

"All the canines with ID tags we picked up in the last 24. Mostly their owners lost them accidentally and are relieved when we call."

Beckett saw the red setter in one of the cages housing lost dogs, and pointed as she said, "Castle."

Castle who hurried forward, recognized the dog, "Aw. Who's a good girl?"

"That one's from 148 West 26th." The carer advised Beckett.

Beckett said, "That's Fink's gallery."

Castle said, "Good girl. Lucy."

Castle checked the dog's license tag. "I have it Beckett. His name is Jeremy Preswick."