Okay, so yes, I wrote another one. Yes, I know I have unfinished and long-since updated stories out there. Mr. Educate always did say I have trouble finishing what I start. This should be easy though. Two chapters--that's it folks! Thanks for reading!

"What do you mean you're going to England?"

"What part is confusing?"

"Why? How long?"

"Why do you care?"

"I…I don't, really, but what about Alexis?"

"She's the reason we're going. It was her idea. She's thinking about Oxford, and since we've never spent a great deal of time over there, I rented a flat for a month so she can experience it. Decide if that's where she wants to go to school."

"You're coming back in a month?"

"That's the current plan. She does have school in the Fall. I have book stuff to do here. Who knows, mother may marry Chet. So, yes, the plan is to come back."

"Are you coming back here? To the precinct?"

"Well, I, uh… We'll just have to see I guess. I have quite a bit of material for my novels. And you've made it crystal clear how under foot I get, so…" Castle shrugged and she saw a ripple of what looked like pain cascade down his face, which was quickly masked by indifference.

"Anyway," Rick Castle held out his hand to her, "it's been delightful, Detective Beckett. I am forever indebted to you for your inspiration."

She took his hand, but couldn't stop the crease that formed in her brow. This was not how she wanted this to go.

"If you ever need anything," Castle's eyes betrayed him, revealing his feelings, "call me. Really."

She nodded.

"Bye, Kate."

She couldn't do it. She couldn't say 'Bye.' Dammit. She watched him walk to the elevator and then disappear. What the hell just happened?

Things between them had been strained. She knew that. Kate had been dating Tom Demming for about a month now, but things were strained before that. Castle went out with her best friend on a few dates. She said they didn't sleep together, that they just kissed, but Kate was having difficulty with the story. He slept with that Ellie floozy after just one date.

She was jealous, and she knew it, but then she started dating Tom and she was past it. Or was she?

She stood at his door. It had been three days since his announcement—that he was leaving for England—for a month. Castle did not come back to the station. Esposito was the one that told her he would be leaving in four days.

She was frozen. It was like her life would not progress. She couldn't go out with Tom, and she was running out of excuses. Even the case she was working on seemed to be stuck.

Why was she standing in front of his door? What was she going to say? Really she had no idea, and yet, this was the only place she could go to get "unstuck." Four days. He's leaving in four days. The pain in her heart was like déjà vu. When Sorenson left her she felt this. But she had been dating Sorenson, sleeping with Sorenson. Yeah, she was dating Demming now, but she's no idiot. Her heart was breaking at the thought of not seeing Castle again except on the television or the back of a book jacket.

He answered the door and invited her in. She looked around, seeing a few boxes, evidence that this was no joke, he was leaving for a while. She just stood there. Hadn't said a word since she entered the apartment. The lump in her throat was stealing any thing she might say to lighten the situation.

"Beckett, you okay?"

She shook her head almost imperceptibly, avoiding eye contact, not ready for him to see it in her eyes.

"Has there been a murder? Ryan and Esposito—they're okay, right?"

She nodded her head, her eyes closing. He still cares about Ryan and Esposito.

Walking further into the room she stood at the bar, remembering breakfasts here, a cup of late night tea at the table. How did they get from friends to…nothing? He was walking away, actually flying away—far away.

"Beckett," she turned his way, still avoiding eye contact. "I'm not leaving because of anything you did."

Finally. Finally she looked at him. He needed to see that she knew. She knew it was because of something she did, or rather didn't do. And see he did. She recognized the look in his eyes, a sorrow about things that would never be.

But they could be…couldn't they?

"Kate, I'm coming back. I told you. Alexis has school; mother will still be here—"

She crossed the room to him quickly, not able to stand it any longer.

"But not me." She stopped a few feet from him, far enough away that she couldn't touch him, but close enough that he could see her trembling.

"What?"

"You're coming back for Alexis and your mother, but not for me. You force yourself into my life, knocking down walls, not a thing you've touched is unaffected, and things start to get difficult for you and you leave. You leave the mess for me to clean up. How dare you?"

"What are you talking about? I tried to leave before. You convinced me to stay. But then you continue to act like I'm not wanted. Nothing but a nuisance. And even that I could handle, but…. Never mind. I don't want to leave angry at you Kate. I think you need to go."

"So it's good that you don't leave angry at me, but fine and dandy if I'm angry at you when you leave."

"Yes, I mean, no, but…why are you angry with me? What right do you have? What have I done to you? I mean, lately?"

"You're leaving."

"You should be happy now. You don't have to worry about me anymore. You and Demming can ride off into the sunset and have perfect little detective babies." He spat. "I won't interfere. I won't even be around to get shot and cause you more paperwork."

"You're jealous of Tom? That's why you're running away? Mature, Castle, real mature.

"Dream on, Detective. I'm not jealous. If Demming wants you, he can have you. You're perfect for one another—no skin off my nose. Heat Wave was fiction, but what am I saying, you're the one who always tells me that."

She took a step closer to him, "That's not what your face said when you walked in on us kissing last week."

"Really. What do you think my face was saying?"

"Let's just say your eyes were green, not blue." She smirked.

"Oh, you must have mistaken my 'pity' face for the 'jealous' one. I was just feeling sorry for Tom."

"Grow the hell up, Castle."

"That's what I'm trying to do. I still don't get why you're here. You come over here all upset that I'm leaving, when I'm just taking my daughter to England to check out a university. What's your problem, Beckett, really?"

She steeled her face, but her eyes betrayed her. "Nothing, I don't have a problem. Have a nice life, Castle."

As she tried to move past him he grabbed her arm and growled at her. "You really have no right to act like such a bitch, Detective. I gave you every opportunity. You knew I was interested and you shot me down every time-"

"Oh, I'm sorry I'm not willing to lay myself down in front of the great Richard Castle and spread my legs like a Hollywood starlet whoring herself for movie roles."

He gave a sardonic laugh, "Yes, only because I'm not wearing a gun."

"Excuse me?"

"Tell me, Kate," he spat, "how many FBI agents and cops have had the 'Great Detective Beckett' in their bed?"

"You are such a bastard."

"Technically, yes I am. And that has to piss you off royally, that a 'bastard' like me saved your life four times."

"The fourth time doesn't count; you were shot."

"Because I stepped in front of you."

"Next time, don't bother. I'm a big girl; I can take care of myself."

"There won't be a next time, Beckett. We're done." He let go of her arm. "Nikki Heat is not worth dying over. I have packing to do. You can see yourself out." He left the room.

She stood there, stunned for a few seconds, and then followed him into his bedroom. "Oh, no you don't. You don't get to have the last word."

"Kate…" He couldn't keep the exhaustion out of his voice.

"No! Shut up and listen to me Rick. Because if we're done, then this will be the last thing you'll ever here me say. You barreled into my life. Inserting yourself into my work daily, attacking me with a constant barrage of inappropriate jokes and stories and sexual innuendo. Verbally and physically ogling anything that walked by that had breasts and flaunting your sexual escapades in front of my team.

"Only when I decide to have a life, when someone is interested in me, then you decide you want to play. You're going to get jealous now? And I know you're denying it, but I am a trained detective, so don't bother. But I fail to see how I ever had a chance to 'shoot you down.' You were never serious.

"I came over here to ask you not to go, but you know, you're probably right, it's better this way." The tears came to her eyes, but somehow she kept them from spilling over. She started to go, and then stopped, with her back to him she continued. "When Hammonds shot you last week…I…my heart stopped. They could have been armor piercing. They should have been armor piercing. They were in the other two shootings. I would like to say my first thought was, 'How am I going to tell Alexis her dad was shot?' But it wasn't. All I could think was 'You do not get to leave me, Rick. Not now. Not like this.' And then you had the audacity to be blasé about it, as if it were a rite of passage. 'I'm Rick Castle. I'm too cool for school.'" She took a deep, steadying breath. "I…I'm glad you're alive, but I'm done. Good bye, Castle." And she left his apartment without looking back.