Nice portrayal of unseen events. Apt title. We read only Castle.

Lovely.

Really liked these scenes, wish we'd seen them

Nice that she spent that time at the loft. Makes you sad to know where she was headed from here. Where they were headed.

I really loved this :)

Whether she will admit it or not...Beckett's got someone to back her when she makes a stand, several someones really. Much as a fan might lament, Beckett's the kind of person you want fighting for you when it's you who is at your lowest...but even more dangerous when she's brought low.

I think this is interesting. Because I think we are different, you and I, I sometimes find it hard to fit into the Beckett's head that you draw. Castle is easier, partly because I don't know him so well, partly because you seem to identify with him more. Here, particularly the first section, I could feel Beckett in 'Knockout' mode, as anyone who has ever experienced a devastating loss would understand. Feeling too much, feeling too bad, so that everything becomes number, everything real is far away. The only moment I don't understand or agree with is Castle kissing her in the last moments. It doesn't seem like something he would do. I don't think he would cross that boundary at that moment, unless you are implying it had already been crossed. Even if it had, he knows Beckett well enough to know she doesn't like to be touched when she is angry and afraid and trying to put on armour. I think he would respect that.

Great

Fantastic. I loved this part:

"Talking solved nothing. She needed a name. A name for the dark shadow that had fallen over her life. She wanted silence and space to be nothing, lest the shadow take her over."

You just get into their heads so well. Great job.

Woah. This is intense. Amazingly written, and so... Just FULL, you know?

I am still not prepared to comprehend Knockout. Still. But this is beautiful.

"She needed a name. A name for the dark shadow that had fallen over her life. She wanted silence and space to be nothing, lest the shadow take her over. But Castle was keeping her here, tethered; she needed nothingness."

I really liked that line!

"And his arms were tight around her, holding her up, holding her in, so that her insides didn't spill out everywhere."

And that line.

This one just made me sad. :( (But in a good way!)

another great one!

this is a fantastic read and a great insight into beckett and castle's bond. it was just so lovely! I just want to hug beckett as well!

beautiful job...