Choices

Like indecision to call you

And hear your voice of treason

Will you come home and stop this pain tonight

Stop this pain tonight

- I Miss You - Blink 182

Beckett stared at phone on her desk during every free moment she had alone at the precinct; sweeping her gaze over the chair where Castle used to sit. She remember how it had annoyed her when he swung back onto just two of the legs, or when he rested his feet on her desk. Her space in the bullpen seemed empty now and she missed his presence, however irritating it might often have been.

When she was at home, Beckett would scroll through the contacts in her cell phone, hovering over his name before throwing the device aside and reaching for her wine glass. She tried not to think of all the fun he must be having in the Hampton's with Gina; tried hard not to wish that it was her who was with him instead. He probably hadn't spared a thought for her since he had left Manhattan but still she was wracked with the choice of whether to call him or not.

Castle was grateful to find that Gina had fallen asleep following their latest round of love-making. He slipped into his boxers and left the room, trailing lazily down the stairs and out onto the terrace. On his way out of the bedroom, Castle had taken his BlackBerry from the nightstand and was now contemplating a call he had put off for too long. He sat on the edge of the pool, his bare legs dangling in the perfectly warm water. He sat, immersed in his thoughts as he debated the merit of calling Beckett. He had held off this long because he had expected her to be spending time with Demming and, although he hated to admit it to himself, she had probably spared him very little thought.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed but, before he knew it, Gina was standing behind. She bent to press a kiss to the back of his neck, taking the BlackBerry from his hand and setting on a sun lounger, well out of harm's way. She reached out for his hand, dragging him into the water with her. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, Castle knew he should be happy but he couldn't help thinking he had made the wrong choice for his summer companion.