Hey Everyone! So, as a fan of Castle, I heard about the Ficathon and thought I'd give it a shot! This idea came to me one night when I'd watched several episodes of Castle. Its set after the season 3 finale, I guess an AU start to season 4. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle, or any of the characters. The producers are the awesome ones who do own it. Looking forward to the 7th season!

"Don't move another step!" An evil, deep and cold voice says slyly. Castle freezes. He hears footsteps getting closer behind him. As he reaches for the gun waiting for action in his back pocket, a strong scaly hand grabs his wrist; gripping so strong that the pain is unbearable. He feels the gun being removed from the pocket. As he turns, he snarls.

"Where is she? What have you done with her?" His voice is filled with anger and concern. Despite the fact his own gun is being pointed at him- a simple pull of the trigger away from death- he remains calm and focused on his mission.

"She's safe… for now." There is a tense silence between the two men. Except, there are more than two men, as Castle knows that the antagonist standing in front of him has plenty of backup. He appears strong; dynamic; over-powering; a leader nonetheless. However, behind that wall, that barrier is a very scared man. Afraid to make a move, not sure what to do next despite all his training, Castle slowly closes his hands into fists and bends his elbows.

"Ah- now the question is you are ready to die, but is it for her or for the page 6 story that you are normally always after?" It's a low blow. Castle has to set himself to avoid tackling the vile man to the floor. It wouldn't end how he would write it to put it lightly.

"Shame neither will happen." Before Castle can do much else, a gunshot rips through the air…

2 months earlier

"Daniel Moore, you're under arrest for murder!" Beckett announced as she locked the handcuffs around the suspect's wrists. Two uniformed officers took over, grabbing the tall, lanky, unshaven man and dragging him toward holding until the paperwork was complete for the transfer to the DA's office.

As Beckett began taking the pictures down from the murder board on another successful case, she couldn't help thinking how this case would never had been solved had Castle not made that important insight into how Daniel had lied about how involved he was with the victim. Love. It was a great thing, except for when someone cheated and they literally got stabbed in the back for it. A smile graced her features as she thought of him: Castle. His handsome features; those imaginative ideas into what supernatural creature had risen from the dead to kill an old enemy; the way he finished her sentences when they caught on to something; those deep blue eyes; those lips… those so very kissable lips. WOAH she thought. She had only recently broken it off with Josh. She could not think of Castle in that way no matter how caring and clearly attractive he was.

Then she felt that feeling. Not of love, no, but that feeling she was being watched. Spinning around, still alert, she came face to face with the very mystery novelist himself. She relaxed. Since she had been shot by that sniper in the chest at Montgomery's funeral, she had become very on edge, but then who could blame her? Her guard fell down and a small smile came back on the corners of her lips.

"Hey Castle." She gave him a quizzical look.

"Hey." He responded. They stood in silence, staring at each other.

"Is there… something you wanted to say?" Beckett asked, beginning to feel a little anxious at his comforting yet secretive gaze.

"Uh… yeah. I just wanted to come and congratulate you on another successful arrest." Castle grinned, his eyes smiling with his mouth.

"Thanks, but it was you who cracked this case wide open." Beckett admitted modestly. Their eyes locked; holding their gaze a little longer than they should have…

"You know, I've been thinking…" Castle began slowly, taking a step toward the homicide detective in front of him. Beckett's hearts swells; her stomach does a flip. She wants this so badly and yet she doesn't. She's so confused by everything happening that she doesn't see Josh exit the elevator and begin storming over to the pair…

"That maybe we could…" Castle continued, taking another step, daringly touching her forearm with the tips of his fingers.

"Kate!"

And just like that the moment was gone. Beckett jumped, saw Josh, rolled her eyes and begun walking away from him. But he caught her up.

"Just tell me what I did!" He exclaimed. She turned to face him. His tone of voice was pleading, sorry- but there was a raging fire of anger behind his eyes.

"You didn't do anything. Look it just wasn't going to work out between us, okay?" Beckett went to turn away again but he grabbed her wrist. She tensed, lashing back round in fright as though he was holding a weapon- but he wasn't. She was just frightened. Castle observed, trying to come up with a plan or at least something he could do. This did not look good.

"Was it because of the other night?" Josh questioned, lowering his voice.

"Get your hands off me!" Agitated, Beckett ripped her hand from his grasp, and held it where it throbbed from the strength he had gripped it with. Finally fed up, Josh stepped back, laughed and looked back at Beckett with cold eyes.

"Let me guess, writer boy over there has stolen your heart?" He challenged. Everyone in the room quietened down, staring at the pair who were standing in the middle of the office. Awkwardness hung in the air. Castle was both wishing he was anywhere else, but also curious at what Kate had to say. Beckett's face turned red. Whether it be from anger or embarrassment, no one knew. But her eyes widened and for the first time in a long time, Castle witnessed a very enraged NYPD detective.

"Josh. In case you are unaware, I am a very good woman. I don't skip from one relationship to the next; I don't get bored with my boyfriends and I've certainly never ever cheated on anyone! His name is Castle, not writer boy and Castle is my best friend! You know you forever play the jealousy card and I'm sick of it Josh! Why can't you just accept that I don't want to go out with you, huh? Why do you have to assume I'm breaking it off because I've fallen in love with another man?" At first she was quiet, but her voice got louder and louder until she was shouting at him.

"I saw your diary Kate!"

"You were snooping in my personal stuff?" She hissed, though an aura of fear shot through her.

"Yeah, I read everything." Josh lifted his head. Beckett didn't know what to say. She felt her head drop slightly as the raging red was replaced with a gentle pink creeping across her cheeks. Castle felt eyes look at him, but he had no clue what Beckett had written about in her diary, but it sounded like it was about him.

"You're acting like a boy in sophomore year." She mumbled.

"What?" Josh asked.

"I said you're acting like a boy in sophomore year!"

"Well you shouldn't leave your book of secrets lying around for someone to read then should you?"

"I shouldn't have to worry about it. You should be able to trust me." Beckett glared at him.

"Well after reading that soppy lot I don't!" Before anyone could stop her, Beckett slapped Josh hard across the face. A series of 'Oooh!'s and grimacing faces bounced around the room.

"You've made a fool of yourself coming here. Now go home before I go detain you for harassment." Beckett snarled, turning away and rushing out of the offices to hide in the break room.

As Josh looked around, he noticed all of Beckett's colleagues staring at him with narrowed eyes. She was right. It was a mistake coming here. All the detectives, all the cops seemed to knit together in a massive alliance. They were like a big, inseparable family. Without a word he began to walk toward the elevator. As he reached Castle he stopped. Castle gulped. He'd already been attacked at the hospital when Josh blamed him for Beckett being shot.

"It's your fault." He hissed.

"I know nothing. Like she said. We're just friends." Castle remained strong, setting himself but found himself looking up with a frightened look on his face- the kind of image you'd expect to see between a naughty school boy and his head teacher.

"Yeah, well maybe you should take a look at her diary. It doesn't take a detective or a smug writer to realise she's pathetically in love with you, so you obviously know something." Josh told him. Castle felt like swinging a punch but he stopped himself. He just stared at Josh who snarled at him. After a very tense and awkward silence, Josh charged off, back to the elevator.

Finally, the surgeon left the precinct. Castle now officially hated the guy's guts. Maybe he'd write that the killer in his next book was a heart surgeon who was over-obsessing about a previous relationship with detective Heat… the killer that was then killed himself through some kind of torture. Later though, right now he had to find Beckett.

When he got to the break room, it was empty. No sign of her. He checked down near lockup; in the interrogation room. No luck. Just as he was about to leave the precinct, Castle noticed the door to the roof was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, it revealed a small slope upwards. Slowly walking up, he looked around. Sure enough, there she was. Beckett, beautiful Kate Beckett was sat near the edge of the roof with her knees drawn to her chest. Castle said nothing. Watching her, he could see she was off in her own little world; thinking deeply. Then, as he listened harder, he could hear soft sobs coming from her direction. Her shoulders shook as she cried. Castle's heart sank at the sight. She was a gorgeous girl, no, a gorgeous woman. She did not deserve what had just happened.

Castle decided he ought to say something, offer her some comfort. Clearing his throat, he stood still. Beckett's head turned suddenly to see who was behind her.

"Castle…!" She exclaimed, though the lump in her throat caused her to sound rough and weak. Her hand pushed her up from where she sat.

"No, Kate, please, stay there. I didn't want to disturb you." Castle held out his hand, gently but firmly commanding her to stay where she was. Beckett did as she was told, wiping the salty tears from her eyes. Castle made his way over to her and sat by her side. Neither of them said anything, just sat in comfortable silence. Watching the afternoon turn into evening as the world went on by.

"I'm sorry about Josh." Beckett finally mustered.

"What've you got to be sorry for? He's a jackass. You didn't cause that." Castle replied, getting a small smirk from Beckett and a short single laugh.

"No, I meant, causing you grief."

"Causing me grief? More like causing you grief! Mind you it all kicked off after you left!" Castle grinned. Beckett lifted her head and raised her eyebrow inquisitively.

"You should've seen what we did to his face! Wow he really is going to need some surgery after that…"

"You didn't…"

"Oh… there were chairs flying around the room; documents being thrown like Frisbees…"

For a moment, Beckett was fooled.

"… you… you did that?"

"Nah. Just kidding." Beckett lightly punched his arm then, a genuine smile finally spreading across her features.

"He's a nasty piece of work. You deserve better, Kate." Castle told her seriously, locking eyes with her. Beckett felt her breath quicken. She suddenly became aware that she was sitting on the roof, watching the sunset with Castle as her only companion. The summer breeze was gently playing with her hair; picking it up and making it dance in the evening light.

"What, um… were you going to tell me earlier before he… interrupted?" Beckett stuttered. Castle tensed. He wanted to tell her so badly. But, was now the right time? It felt like it, but… what if she needed time to get over Josh? Castle decided that it couldn't wait any longer. He had to tell her now. Opening his mouth, no words came out. He took a moment, formulated a sentence and tried again. Not once did Beckett divert her attention elsewhere.

"Well, this is probably going to be a little… awkward and difficult after… what just happened. But Katherine Beckett… will you go on a date with me?"