The murder board, covered in random details never meant to be revealed, served as the backdrop to some of their greatest discoveries. That Saturday morning it stood as the lone witness to how close they came to finding the one answer that still eluded them.

That they were together at 6am surprised no one anymore. Her presence at the precinct at any hour had long ago become routine. His resistance to the habit he once criticized and mocked had been short lived. Three years later, he had adopted it as his own. Whether because unanswered questions stole his sleep too or because it was a chance to steal a few private moments, was only known to him. She never questioned it and, whatever his motives, those early morning breakthroughs only served to grow the myth of the detective and her shadow.

For over an hour that morning, the pair stared at the lines connecting the guilty and the innocent. With failed theories piling up, they resorted to reenacting the crime. She had objected mightily early in their arrangement, reluctant to play the happy wife. Then, as with so many things between them, she acquiesced when she could no longer deny that it worked. Still, the final argument of an ordinary marriage that ended in the violent death of an unsuspecting wife, remained her least favorite scenario. Maybe it bothered her to see marriages fall apart that way. Maybe the prospect of a husband named Castle made her nervous even in the world of make believe. She didn't know. It didn't matter. What mattered was that they were about to bring justice to another victim.

They theorized that there was an argument. Turning, she began walking away like they believed the wife had. Before she could get far, he wrapped his fingers around her arm. Not expecting him to yank her back with such force, she lost her footing and gravity drove her closer than she wanted to be. Instinctively, her hands came up to his chest to create distance between them, except, she didn't push away. Not when her hands landed on his chest. Not even when his hands fell to her waist. Neither said a word as they drifted further into a dangerous space. She watched as his eyes fell to her lips, felt her heart race as his hands slid around to the small of her back and pulled her towards him until only her hands separated them. Then, just as she realized she was holding her breath, came the chorus of Dad, Dad, Dad blaring from his cell phone. That was her cue to retreat. She didn't. Neither did he. Only when she fished the iPhone from his pocket and smiled, did he reluctantly take a step away.

More than willing to wait a few more minutes, she took her familiar place atop the desk. Her eyes never strayed from his as she basked in the excitement that three years of flirting was about to turn into something more. They had moments before but never had they gotten this close. Not so close that the only thing left was for their lips to meet. Not so close that they both knew the interruption of a phone call would delay, not stop their moment. This was different. She was afraid, she was nervous but she was ready. The hunger in his eyes and the ridiculous grin on his face confirmed that he was too. Finally, they would act on what seemed inevitable from that first night. Eyes raised to the ceiling, she bit her lip to control a smile that threatened to match his as her thoughts wandered further and further away from the business of murder. Then, almost as abruptly as she had landed in his arms, familiar voices brought her face to face with reality. Lost in the thrill of an almost kiss, she had forgotten about the two very unhappy detectives she roused from sleep on their day off.

Complaints of an early weekend wake up call filled the bullpen as the boys made their way to their desks. Distracted by the writer's escape to the break room, her greeting lacked the snark their whining deserved. Not sure what to think, she abandoned her perch for pacing to regain her focus. With every step, she pushed away disappointment as she found the possibilities of their almost kiss quickly fading away.

Allowing herself one last look at eyes that mirrored her own regret, she shifted her attention to the remnants of a life cut short strewn across a murder board that now held one more secret.

A/N:

This is the shortest chapter....I swear. Thanks for reading!