AN: I don't own Castle, except for the DVDs of course.

Okay so this is just a little AU pre series meeting fic. I hope you enjoy and yeah what does everyone think of the dress? It is totally black and blue but I can't believe Nathan Fillion sees white and gold. My favourite actor has betrayed me :(

2005

Rick Castle heaved a sigh as he walked out of his apartment. He had just dropped his eleven-year-old daughter Alexis off at school before returning home in order to get a head start on his next Derrick Storm novel. His publisher and ex wife, Gina, is demanding for him to finish it soon but the author seemed to have lost inspiration. After a solid three hours of writing the young man realised that he needed some fresh air. He had hurried out of his apartment, boarded the lift, and walked through the lobby. He needed a break.

Richard felt the fresh air pulsing against his cheeks as he took a deep breath. The breeze made its way up each of his nostrils and helped clear his fuzzy mind. He began walking down the footpath. Breathe in, breathe out. The fresh air circulated throughout his system. Birds around him tweeted and the happy chatter and bustle of New York's citizens passed him. He waved toward a pair of fangirls who were giggling about seeing 'The Real Richard Castle'. This day was going pretty well.

He picked up a coffee from the coffee truck and began back towards his apartment. Ideas had begun flowing throughout his mind and he was eager to jot them down before he forgot them. His strolling legs brought him straight into central park. The happy bustle made him feel warm, or maybe that was just the effect of the coffee. He slowly stepped along the path. Before he was even aware of it his standard "Na, da, da, da," was slipping out from between his lips. Castle paused in order to take another sip of his latte. His eyes closed and his head tilted back as he felt the warm liquid slip down his throat. Rick took a gulp…

* CRASH *

The man stumbled backwards and regained his footing. What was that? He looked forward to see a young woman standing before him. She was scratching at the back of her head sheepishly and her eyes were cast down toward the ground. She had short dark brown hair, with an almost red tinge, that only reached her ear lobes. She wouldn't have been very old, early twenties if that, but the emptiness that was evident in her eyes showed that she had been through more then most. The tear stains on her cheeks only helped confirm that. Richard saw her thin fingers clinging onto the cuffs of her sleeves as though she was hiding her arms from him.

"Sorry…"

Richard opened his mouth to say that he didn't really mind but the girl was gone. He looked behind him and watched as she walked down the path. She was slumped over and he could still hear her crying. Whatever happened to that girl must have left her in a mess. It wasn't Rick's business anyway; he had nothing to do with her. He continued down the path but his mind didn't leave that girl.

X-X-X-X

God he was a procrastinator. Gina was ringing at every interval demanding this book and he was far from getting it done. He had only written a few chapters and his inspiration was running dry. He needed something to lift his creative spirits. He paced back and forth through his apartment before finally coming to conclusion of what to do. He was going to go to the gym. Usually running slowly on the treadmill tended to jog his thoughts (no pun intended). He quickly dressed himself in some track pants, a black "Derrick Storm" t-shirt, and some sweatbands around his wrists and forehead. His iPod Nano was then shoved into the deep pockets of his pants along with some headphones. Music was inspiration. No one could possibly deny that.

After a quick cab ride Rick pulled up at his local gym. He felt in his pocket to check for his membership card before hurrying inside. After picking up some towels he walked over to the treadmills. The long line remained empty except for one, which sported a young woman. She was dressed in a loose grey shirt that was sticking to her form in a sweaty mess. He could just make out the lines of a sports bra under the shirt and her legs were completely obscured by grey sweats. He listened as the girl sung softly and notices some headphones hanging out of her pocket. She must have sensed his staring because Rick was soon flashed with a sharp glance. He turned away sheepishly but not after getting a good look at her face. Something about her rung a bell, he had seen this girl before.

After a good ten minutes of slowly jogging on the treadmill Rick was still trying to determine who that woman was. Maybe she had been at a book signing or maybe she was one of Alexis' friend's older sisters. He needed to get a better look at her face if he wanted to determine more. Hey what would a quick glance hurt? He averted his eyes from the heart monitor on the treadmill to the girl. They directed themselves at her face. He knew who she was; she was the girl from the park the other day. He remembered her crying face as she collided with him accidently. His eyes then averted to her arms. He breathed out quickly as he sees an array of red gashes along her lower forearm. He couldn't remember that from the other day, she must have been wearing long sleeves. He smiled softly at her; he knew that she must've been hurting. With a strain of his eyes he saw a small tear trickling down her cheek, her backhand swiped forward and wiped it away before it became any more noticeable. He didn't even know her; he didn't have the right to worry about her. He scolded himself for being nosey before turning away, this time for good, and continuing his jog.

X-X-X-X

* Tick, tap, tap *

The keys of Rick Castle's computer made their own kind of music as he typed himself his story. He was seated at his usual seat in the back of the coffee shop drinking an espresso. Stereotypical writers live for caffeine and he was no different. He continued writing and drinking. He was on a roll, words were coming out and pages were being filled quicker then ever before.

* Ting *

The bell on the door of the café shook him out of his little writer's cone and Richard looked over to see who was coming in. Half expecting a businessman or an old woman he was surprised to yet again see that girl from the park and the gym. She ordered a slice of lemon cheesecake and a latte before sitting right at the back of the coffee shop. He craved to get back into the writer's spirit but his eyes failed to look away from her. He was yet again surprised when he saw her pull a book out of her bag. It wasn't just any book; it was his book. Hell Hath No Fury was placed on the table before the girl and he stared amazed. That wasn't one of his biggest sellers; it was only for the true Castle Fangirls.

He waited for her to start reading but she didn't. Her fork scooped up small mouthfuls of the cake and she stares forward as though she was waiting. Maybe for a friend to come in through the door or maybe for the world to change.

After a couple of hours of her staring and him observing the girl looked towards the novel. Tears form in her eyes and she began to cry. They streamed down her cheeks and with a small strain Rick could hear her sniffling. She lifted an arm and wiped away the tears before looking forward again. Something had definitely affected that girl big time.

Rick moved his arm and grabbed the unused napkin from beside his laptop. He unfolded it and with the click of a pen he began scrawling.

Hey,

Things are going to get better.

He knew he couldn't promise that, at all, but maybe she just needed a small shove in the right direction to keep her going. He clicked his laptop closed and tucked it under his arm before strolling casually past her table. Her eyes were glancing to the side as he dropped the napkin down before her and began toward the door. He heard the bell chime as he walked out of the café and onto the pavement. Rick's eyes glanced through the coffee shop's windows just once before he left. He saw the woman lift the note and just gaze at it emotionless for what seemed like forever before tucking it into the pocket on her leather jacket. He smiled and continued home, he knew it wasn't much but it was something and maybe he had made a difference.

AN: That's it, hope you liked it. Please Review to tell me what you thought.