This is one I've been thinking about for a long time, and actually started writing it a few times. I'm finally going to give it a shot. Parts will be sad, not for our main characters (hence no Angst classification), but the case involved may trigger for domestic violence. Everything that has aired is fair game and all takes place after the events of the Finale. Rated M for content ranging from violent themes to sexy times…be warned and be of legal age. Thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't own them, but if I did I would sure have them try to hide their relationship in early Season 5...because I think it would be fun to watch...

The Greyhound Bus pulled into the deserted terminal, allowing the exhausted travelers to step out one by one. For some, it was a transfer spot, where they would wait for their connection bus to travel through. It was bitterly cold and there was a light rain that sent a chill straight to the bone.

The blonde woman did her best to keep them warm, using her body heat against the small child who was wrapped within her jacket for extra warmth. The little girl's face was buried in her mother's neck, breathing in and out continuously, trying to ignore the cold that was in her feet. She wanted her big fluffy blanket, but mommy had said there was no time. There would be other fluffy blankets when they got to their new home.

The woman walked across the street, sneezing in the cold, damp air as she tried to read the now wet piece of paper that was in her hands. It was useless though, the rain had soaked the ink and the number was no longer legible. She wasn't sure what she could do with just a name in a city where she knew no one.

Tired and exhausted, the woman walked down an alley where she slid down against a brick wall. She found several dumpsters nearby and next to one were several old boxes. "Lucy," she spoke to her daughter, "Lucy. It can be like back at home where we play blocks." She unzipped her coat and urged her daughter to crawl into one of the boxes. It wasn't warm, but at least it was out of the rain.

"You can have a nice fort here, just for tonight, and mommy will sleep right next to you like we we're camping outside." At the sight of her little girl trembling, the mother pulled her own jacket off and covered her daughter. She pulled another box in front of where she was to insulate her too.

"There, snug as a bug in a rug little one." Her mother softly spoke. Suddenly the woman heard noises, she shot her head up and looked around but saw nothing. The hair on the back of her neck stood, her intuition screaming at her. She leaned in and whispered. "Lucy, I need you to listen to mommy. You need to be quiet like hide and seek. You can't say anything and you have to be still. No matter what you hear, don't come out. Promise me Lucy."

"Mommy…"

"Listen to mommy Lucy. Listen to mommy. Promise me that no matter what, you'll stay there; quiet as a mouse little one."

The woman stood up and backed away from where her daughter was safely hidden, she walked to the end of the alley and back, taking stalk of the surroundings. She was too unsettled to let herself go rest near her daughter.

"Ah, Beth." She heard his voice and her blood ran cold.

"How did you find me?" She asked him.

"It's not that hard to do, and you're not that smart Beth." The man came right up to her and slapped her hard across the face.

"Now Beth, be a good little wife and tell me where she is."

"She's not here David." Beth lied, praying that somehow he would believe her.

"THEN WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?" He screamed, "SHE'S MY DAUGHTER TOO! We can do this the hard way or the easy way…it's your choice Beth."

"You're not going to get your hands on her. You will never get the chance to hurt her again." She spoke as he threw her to the ground and pulled the knife.

As she took her last breaths, Beth said over and over again "You can't have her."

It was a cold and dreary November morning when detective Beckett and her partner were called to the crime scene. She walked purposefully, head held high and face expressionless as she made her way to her latest murder victim. Her heels clacked against the pavement rhythmically as she reached into the pockets of her red trench coat, pulling out a pair of purple gloves and preparing herself for yet another heartbreaking and gruesome scene.

Her partner walked beside her, holding a giant black umbrella over both of their heads to protect them from the cold, pouring rain. It had been raining in the city for days, casting a dreary and overcast setting to the bitterly cold day. Kate reflected to herself that it was quite early in the season for such cold weather, but it wasn't out of the norm for New York. Afterall, it wasn't unheard of for it to snow as early as Halloween.

This was one of those seasons, and the wetness of the rain did little to warm her, a chill settling into her bones. She turned to look briefly at her partner, who had a similar somber look on his face, the same cold apparently getting to him as well. She couldn't blame his mood, which obviously reflected her own, especially considering that this call had pulled the pair out of the warmth of her bed on a Sunday morning.

She approached Lanie, who was currently working under the shelter of a tarp that had been set up in attempt to preserve as much evidence as possible. Ryan and Esposito were making their way through the crime scene, questioning potential witnesses and gleaning any information they could about the events that had transpired in the alley sometime earlier in the night.

"What have we got Lanie?" Beckett questioned, her neutral tone snapping into place as she knelt down to take a closer look at the victim. "Bethany Evans, 33." Lanie spoke, "victim of multiple stab wounds, but I'll need to get her to the morgue to identify the fatal strike."

Ryan stepped up beside them and added, "Her driver's license says she's from upstate, Utica."

"Utica?" Rick spoke out loud, "That's practically on the other side of the state, what was she doing out here?"

"I don't know, but the sooner we figure out as much as we can about her, the sooner we can catch the son of a bitch that killed her." As Kate stood, she felt Castle's hand rub the small of her back comfortingly. He knew that stabbing cases got to her, add in the non-descript alley and it was an emotional nightmare for her. Simple gestures such as this reminded Kate that she wasn't in this alone anymore.

She wasn't worried about anybody observing the gesture, as they were both backed against a wall and under the protection of the umbrella. She was frankly surprised that her colleagues hadn't figured things out already. It wasn't that shocking that Ryan and Esposito hadn't, but Lanie was usually more observant.

It wasn't that she was ashamed of her relationship with Castle, in fact, she was happier than she could recall having ever been. However, when she'd been reinstated to the NYPD in September, they'd decided that their relationship needed to stay on the down-low.

"Heaven forbid Gates found out we were together," She'd told him, "she doesn't need any excuses or ammunition to throw you out Castle." He agreed, but sarcastically added, "And here I thought she was warming up to me."

It had been easy to keep their relationship a secret over the summer. They kept it between them for the first month, Kate having left early the morning after their first encounter to avoid alerting Alexis before they were ready. During those days he would spend most evenings in her bed, and on the nights when it was safe to do so, she would venture to his.

Those first weeks were hot, raw and passionate. They tried to keep the affair to themselves, but by early June Alexis and Martha challenged them about it. When they finally admitted that they were, in fact, together, Kate was overwhelmed by the level of warmth and acceptance she'd received from the Castle/Rodgers women.

From that point on there was very little need to sneak around from apartment to apartment. However, in attempt to save everyone the awkwardness and embarrassment that was bound to occur the first time Alexis or Martha overheard Kate scream in the throes of passion, they kept their intimate encounters primarily to her apartment.

In order to avoid interactions with Lanie, the boys, or anyone else, Kate spent the remainder of the summer out of the city. It was assumed that she was out at her father's cabin, but in actuality, she was with Rick in the Hamptons.

As they grew more and more deeply into their relationship, they moved past the initial awkwardness that was bound to happen, and on to a more sweet and companionate nature. Balanced within their growing intimacy was the very present physical need that they both shared for one another.

They gave of themselves, and took of each other, surrendering walls and learning to how literally become one, physically, emotionally and spiritually. By the time they returned to the city that fall there was no denying that both were in it for the long haul.

The need to re-establish boundaries, to re-evaluate their behaviors and interactions came on a day in early September when Captain Victoria Gates called Beckett to the 12th. As she entered the precinct she saw Esposito, who was speaking somewhat formally with Ryan. It was clearly forced, but she was glad that the partners were working their differences out.

"Ms. Beckett, please sit." Gates politely but sternly requested. Kate complied.

"I'm going to cut to the chase here Kate. You handed me your badge and gun when requested, and at the time you indicated that you would like to resign." She looked up to Kate, glasses low on her nose as she peered at the younger woman from behind them.

"Kate, does that wish still stand?"

"Excuse me?" Kate questioned.

"Kate, you've been on administrative leave, along with Javier. However, that leave is over. Now I am asking if you would like for me to process the paperwork for your resignation. If that is the case, I am going to need a written statement from you. Otherwise, I'm calling you back to duty detective."

Kate took a moment to process what Gates had done, she'd held back on processing the paperwork, she was giving Kate another chance to do her job if she wanted it. She smiled to herself and looked up to Gates,

"Sir if it is possible, I very much would like to resume active duty." She thought for a moment before adding,
" I was in a very bad place in May and I promise that nothing of that sort will happen again."

"How can I be so sure Beckett?" Gates pressed her.

"Because sir, I've had a lot of time to sort my priorities, and frankly I've done some growing up this summer. It was wrong to place my life, or the life of my team members in danger. It was wrong to put the NYPD in the position it was in. I understand that now and will never make those mistakes again sir."

Gates contemplated her for a moment before nodding her head. "I believe you Beckett. You seem different. You seem calmer and I think that's good. Perhaps you did do some growing." She handed Kate her badge.

"You get your gun-"

"When I re-qualify, I remember sir." Gates simply smiled tersely and nodded to Beckett.

"Then get to it detective, I want my best team back on the beat. Our numbers have been abysmal and I'm counting on you people to bring it back up." Kate nodded and turned to leave, as she grasped the handle and pulled the door open Gates spoke again,

"Oh, and Beckett, are you still working with Mr. Castle?" She asked, not showing any emotion in her question.

"Castle still works with me from time to time, but it is more about the developing character of Nikki in his latest book. There hasn't been much to shadow, for obvious reasons." Kate explained.

"Well detective, I am happy to assign you a new partner, but if he is interested and you are willing, I will have no objection to Castle consulting with our team again. He did, afterall, offer useful insight on several occasions." Kate smiled to herself before turning back to face Gates. She knew that it was the closest Gates would ever come to admitting that she wanted Rick Castle back.

"I'll let Castle know he's been called back to duty sir."

Gates nodded, and returned to the mountain of paperwork sitting on her desk.

The solid warmth of his palm on her back brought her attention back to the crime scene. She contemplated the young woman on the ground, she'd been stabbed multiple times, and that was usually something that would indicate anger or rage toward the victim.

She also knew that in such cases, the victim probably knew the perpetrator. "Esposito, get me a list of her close contacts, especially any romantic partners she may have had." Castle looked at her, "You really think that a lover did this?" he asked.

Well, half of all women who are murdered are killed by a current or former romantic partner, so it always has to be one of the first places you look. She wondered at his question for a second, it seemed like something that Castle would have known.

"Who did this to you Beth?" Beckett asked out loud.

"What were you into and why were you so far from home?" Castle was still holding the umbrella over Beckett's head as he adjusted himself slightly closer to the boxes by the dumpster. He watched from his new location as Esposito approached Kate, who now stood under his umbrella.

"Yo Boss. We got the murder weapon out of a dumpster, but it looks wiped clean of prints."

"Ok." Beckett sighed, "Get it to CSU to see if anything can be recovered."

"This case seems to be a wash," Castle spoke in the rain, "and the pun was intended."

"Ah-chew!" A sneeze sounded, prompting Lanie to speak, "cover your mouths people, I don't need any of you contaminating my crime scene."

Castle signaled for Kate to come closer, and bring her gun, but to move quietly. He leaned in and whispered in her ear,

"I don't think that sneeze was us. I heard it coming from these boxes." He whispered.

She nodded, "ok, you pull apart and I'll cover you." He nodded and ripped the first cardboard box back fast. They were met with a bulky Jacket, but nothing else. Beckett raised her eyebrows at Castle,

"You heard a jacket sneeze Castle? Ryan, grab me a bag so we can bring this coat into evidence, it may have been our vic's." Gloves on and bag in hand, Beckett pulled the jacket back quickly and moved it to the bag.

"Kate." He whispered next to her. She was giving Kevin instructions for dealing with the evidence.

"Kate." He urged her again. This time she turned to look at him and asked, "What is it Castle?"

"The jacket…the jacket didn't sneeze Kate."

"What are you talking ab-oh" She corrected herself. There, on the bottom of a cold and soaking wet cardboard box, was a drenched little girl, who looked no older than 5 or 6. Her long, light brown hair was matted to her head, her face had streaks of dirt on it, and her body was shaking. Despite her poor and terrified condition, Kate couldn't help but be struck by the little girl's round cherub-like face and bright blue eyes. No matter what else was going on around them, the child would not remove her gaze from Kate.

Castle, typically the one equipped to handle children, reached his hand towards the little girl and smiled, "Hi! My name is Richard and I have a daughter who has eyes that are nearly the exact same color as yours." When his hands came close enough to touch the child she pushed herself back as far as possible and started shaking her head no, violently fisting her hands in her hair, while she locked her knees together and her body went rigid.

Kate switched places with him, leaning in to place her hands on the girl's arms, afraid that the child might pull her own hair out.

"It's ok. He's a nice man. He would never hurt anybody." The girl looked up at Kate again, only calming and relaxing once she had solid eye contact with her. Kate tried to reach her hand, "My name is Kate and I'm not going to hurt you ether. Can you tell me your name?"

The girl remained silent, but did not become distressed as Kate moved closer. Slowly, Beckett placed her palm on the girl's cheek and smiled at her. "Are you hungry? How about I take you somewhere warm where you can have some food. Does that sound ok?" Kate softly asked.

The girl considered her for a moment. She knew that there was no point in staying in those boxes anymore. She knew her mommy was dead. Something was warm in the lady's eyes and Lucy wanted to trust her. Besides, the cold was biting and the hunger was gnawing and she so badly wanted to get out of this horrible place where horrible things happened.

Lucy took a deep breath and decided, raising her shaky arms for the lady to pick her up. Within a few seconds, the child was in Kate's arms. Ryan brought a blanket to cover and warm the girl while the child held tightly to the detective's neck and wrapped her legs around her hips. The lady smelled like cherries and it comforted her.

As they walked together, Castle stayed next to them both. He carried the umbrella to keep everyone dry and noticed the girl eyeing him suspiciously every now and then. It was unsettling for him to be so distrusted, and he couldn't imagine what the girl had been through.

Rick drove back to the precinct as Kate sat in the back seat, holding tight to the girl who had her in a vice grip. As the heat in the car warmed them up Kate tried again,

"Can you whisper your name in my ear? I would love to know what to call you, little one." The girl's eyes widened at Kate's use of the words 'little one', words that she'd never her from her mommy again. She dropped her head into the crook in Kate's neck, feeling as if the emptiness might swallow her up.

"Oh sweetie. I know you're sad. I know that it's been such a scary day and I'm so sorry. It's ok to cry, little one." There it was again, Little One, it comforted her and made her not as scared. Lucy sniffled after a few moments and wiped her eyes, but no tears came.

"You can tell me your name when you're ready." Kate soothed the child as she spoke, her little head resting on the detective's shoulder. Kate was never particularly maternal. She loved kids, but rarely had opportunity to practice.

However, with this child she just seemed to know what do, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The little girl was close enough to her ear that she didn't even need to move, she just whispered.

"Lucy."

Kate smiled softly at her, "What a beautiful name you have Lucy." The girl smiled a little, but it came to look more like a grimace.

"Lucy, we are going to bring you to the station where we will get you warm, clean and fed."

The girl simply nodded, refusing to let go of Kate.

It was apparent that the NYPDs finest now had a shadow.