Author's note: Hi everyone! Okay, so I've started watching season 8 and I have to say that even though I do have mixed feelings about the current situation between Castle and Beckett (on some days I feel like it's a great idea, on others I feel like it's a horrible one), I was impressed by the sheer risk the writers have taken. That alone, I think, deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt.

As for this little story, it takes place in season 8. I'm not quite sure how long it's going to be, but I was aiming for a two-shot, maybe three.

Constructive criticism is always welcome, but bashing isn't because, hey, nobody's forcing you to read.

As usual, I apologize for any mistakes I might have made - please keep in mind the fact that English is my third language. :-)

I do not own Castle, of course. I'm just using its characters to have fun and make sure my writing doesn't get too rusty.

The title of this story obviously comes from Oscar Wilde's famous quote: "Truth is rarely pure, and never simple."

And last but not least, enjoy your reading!

Rarely pure, never simple.

The soft, almost timid knocks on her office door startled her more than she cared to admit. Quickly covering her current work with other files, she spared a glance at her computer screen to check the time.

11:30 P.M.

Sighing to herself, Captain Kate Beckett was tempted to ignore the interruption but knew she could not afford to do so. Whoever was standing on the other side of her office was resilient and knocked twice again, prompting her to finally react.

"Come in."

The door was slowly pushed open and one of the precinct's cleaning operatives quietly entered, nodding his head to greet her.

"Good evening, Captain."

"Daniel?"

To say that Kate was surprised to see him would have been a huge understatement. She had known Daniel Barry ever since she started working at the Twelfth.

Well, maybe "known" was too strong a term to use since one could not exactly state they were spending a lot of time together, but he had most certainly been working here for longer than she had and she regarded him as a kind man, albeit extremely discreet. He was nearing his fifties now and Kate had always appreciated how calmly he behaved himself.

Tonight, though, he seemed troubled and hesitant, which was strange enough as it was.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Captain. I know you don't like being disturbed while working, but –

"There's no need to apologize, Daniel, especially when you haven't done anything wrong. Now, how about you tell me what brings you here? Would you like to take a seat?"

"Oh, um…No, but thank you. I just came to give you this." The older man explained as he extended his right hand to present her with a black leather wallet that looked suspiciously like her husband's. "I found it under Mr. Castle's chair and I thought that maybe it'd be safer with you."

Kate was momentarily rendered speechless as she took her husband's wallet from her interlocutor's wrinkly hands. Gently stroking the soft leather with her fingertips, she felt her throat tighten and swallowed with difficulty.

"I – Thank you, Daniel. I'll let him know it's here."

"You're welcome, Captain. Good night," was his only reply as he turned round to leave the office.

"Good night."

Only when the door clicked shut did Kate dare to exhale and sit back in her chair – she was not sure how much longer her legs would have been able to carry her, considering how badly they were shaking.

After unlocking her cellphone, her fingers moved quickly on the screen to type a text for Castle.

Hey. Just to let you know you forgot your wallet at the precinct. One of the cleaning operatives brought it to me. You can pick it up in the morning. Lo-

She stopped, hyperaware of how she had to physically prevent herself from adding "Love you" at the end of her message. After having erased the last two letters, she hit the send button before she could change her mind.

She hated this. Absolutely loathed this fucking mess she knew she'd created all by herself. She could only hope she'd get to the bottom of this case as fast as possible so she could go back to Castle and beg for his forgiveness.

Her phone pinged, signaling a reply.

OK, thanks.

Nothing less, nothing more and she felt like crying again and, really, shouldn't she be out of tears by now?

"Of course not. You brought this upon yourself." Said the little voice in her head. "Now you need to fix it before it's too late."

Easier said than done, that much was clear.

Kate was just about to square her shoulders, push her emotions back down and continue working her case to uncover whoever was hiding behind LokSat when she noticed the corner of a small piece of paper emerging from her husband's wallet.

Curiosity taking over her, she opened said wallet and felt her eyes fill with another wave of fresh tears when she saw the miniature sized wedding photograph that Castle kept there. Steeling herself, she carefully extracted the piece of paper that had attracted her attention and unfolded it.

She instantly wished she had not.