On Tumblr, I stumbled upon a series of posts (credit to: brstanakatic) that was gifs of every jacket Kate wears during the series and what episodes she wears them in.

The gif set in particular that I am referring to can be found here: www [dot] tumblr [dot] com [slash] brstanakatic [slash] 154078715024 [slash] every-kb-coat-ever-jacket-1-102-106-107

For those of you who don't want to follow the link (or if it doesn't work), it shows images of Kate wearing the same brown leather jacket in the following episodes: 1.02, 1.06, 1.07, 1.09, 2.02, 2.13, 5.20, 6.20.

Now, the episodes must have triggered something in my brain because I just felt like I had to find a way to explain that 3 year gap!

Anyways, I'm done rambling now.

Enjoy : )

Lost and Found

Three years after her apartment blew up, after she lost most of everything she had ever owned, Kate is searching the hallway closet for something when she finds the box that she had tucked away when she first moved in.

The box contained the few items that were able to be salvaged from the wreckage of her home, her life. She had tucked it away because, at the time, it was too painful to look through. She was grateful for these things, but at the time she wasn't in the right mindset, seeing what was saved would only remind her of what was lost.

But now, life is good. Her career is solid, her relationships - both personal and professional - are blossoming and she has made a new home for herself within these walls.

She's strong now, she's ready now.

She pulls the box from the back of the closet and sets it on the bench, opening it slowly.

She gets emotional as she pulls out photos and other trinkets from her past life; a little sad, but it's the good kind of sad. She pulls out a family photograph, a captured memory that could have never been replaced, and tears well in her eyes.

She makes a mental note to buy a new frame so that she can display this, like she used to. Maybe even ask Castle if she can keep it at the loft, seeing as she spends most of her time there now. She doesn't think he would object to that, not at all.

She keeps digging through the forgotten time capsule, paying careful attention to each item she pulls from it, taking her time to reminisce, to appreciate.

Finally, she pulls out the last item, and she can't believe it; her favourite jacket.

She had put it away after Coonan's death, unable to wear it without the memories flooding back in. But she had hoped that she would wear it again one day, that the day she was strong enough to slip into it would mark the day she was finally at peace. And with the loss of the jacket, she had felt some sense of hopelessness, like that peace would never come.

She shrugs the light cardigan she's wearing from her shoulders, replacing it with the leather jacket. Her arms slip into the sleeves and she slowly zips up the front. It's a perfect fit still.

"Did you find it?" Castle asks as he enters the living area. His eyes land on her and he recognises the jacket instantly - the memory of her wearing it as she sobbed over Coonan's body was, unfortunately, permanently ingrained in his memory.

But she smiles and he knows that she is okay.

"You look good," he comments.

And it's decided. She's found her peace.