~ Heat Exchange: Flashpoint ~

Chapter Twelve ~

'Melt our defences, bring us back to our senses, give us strength to try once more, baby that's what love is for.'

"Good morning sweetheart," Castle said, dropping a kiss on Alexis's head as she made her way into the kitchen.

"Morning dad," she said cheerfully, always a morning person.

They made breakfast in silence, then sat together at the island to eat. "So, what's on the agenda for today?" he asked.

"I have a french test fourth period and then drama club after school. Oh, and Grams and I are going out shopping and to dinner tonight - you don't mind?"

He shook his head, smiling. "Of course not. Girls' night out. I understand. Just don't tax my credit cards too much, okay?"

"I promise." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks dad. Oh, and thanks for not prying."

"Prying?"

"Asking me about my conversation with Beckett."

"I'd completely forgotten about it, we've been so busy with the case."

She glared at him playfully. "You are a terrible liar. You have not forgotten."

He threw his arms up in the air. "How come you women can all read me so well? Am I that transparent?"

She smiled. "Yes. But we love you that way. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I've decided not to see Shawn anymore."

"Oh really? Why?"

"I just think things are moving a little too quickly. He's a nice guy and all, but I'm not ready for anything more than a casual date or two."

Castle leaned over and hugged his daughter hard, making a mental note to thank Beckett for her words of wisdom. "I'm glad you've come to that decision. It's good to know yourself and know what you want."

She smiled slyly at him. "Maybe it's time you did a little soul searching to figure out what you want."

"Trust me Alexis, I know exactly what I want."

She leaned in and whispered, "I'm pretty sure it's what she wants too. Go for it."

The crime scene hadn't been touched since they'd left it several days earlier, but it had a completely different feel now. The malevolence was gone; all that was left was a sense of sorrow, of loss. Castle wondered how much of that was emanating from his partner. He knew she was pleased to be closing the case but there was a haunted look in her eyes that he recognized from the last time her mother's murder had been brought to the forefront.

"Castle, I need you to be Manny." Beckett's voice brought him back to the present where they, along with Lanie, were reconstructing the crime.

"Where do you want me?"

She consulted Manny's deposition. "Over there. On the carpet, just a few steps in from the door."

Castle moved obligingly and watched as Beckett mimicked Susan's actions. Lanie caught her as she fell backwards towards the counter, and did a few measurements, all the while talking to herself.

"So … is Manny's story plausible?" Beckett asked eagerly.

"Very much so. Susan's wounds are definitely consistent with a fall into the corner of the counter. It was just bad luck that she hit the wrong part of her head and died instantly. If she'd landed just a little further over the EMT's might have been able to keep her alive and surgeons might have saved her with minimal brain damage."

"Well, what might have been isn't an option," Beckett said softly, "no matter how much we might like it to be."

"Are you okay?" Castle asked her once they'd left the apartment and returned to the car.

"Yeah, I'm okay." She paused, started the car and cleared her throat. "It just seems so pointless, you know? Losing someone so important to you to a freak accident like that."

He didn't say the firs thing that came into his mind. Instead, he said, "can I come with you when you tell Abbey what happened? I'd like to be there."

They stopped at a red light and she looked at him. "Why don't you tell her?"

"Are you sure? I know how much this means to you."

She nodded once. "You're responsible for making sure we got the truth and you and she are already close. I think she'd prefer to hear it from you."

"Thank you," he said softly, an unaccustomed lump growing in his throat. His cheeks began to grow warm as their eyes stayed fixed on one another.

A horn behind them beeped, ending the moment. Beckett cleared her throat and turned her attention back to the road. They talked of nothing in particular the rest of the way to the Armstrong's house.

"So it was an accident? Our Susan died because of a stupid accident? It's not fair."

The elderly woman wept. Her husband patted her shoulder. Abbey looked dazed.

"Accidents that take our loved ones from us never are," Castle said.

"Maybe it's a little better this way," Beckett added, voice unsteady. "At least you know no one hurt her." She cleared her throat. "That doesn't make it any less painful now but in the long run it might make remembering what happened easier."

"You sound as if you have personal experience behind your words," Mr Armstrong said, a thoughtful expression in his sad blue eyes.

"I do," she said, facing him squarely. "My mother was murdered ten years ago. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it."

The couple smiled sympathetically at her.

"Thank you, Detective," Abbey said solemnly.

"Thank Mr Castle. He's the one who figured out what happened."

Abbey launched herself into Castle's arms, nearly knocking him over. "Thank you," she said, barely audible over her tears.

Castle swallowed hard and hugged her. "You're very welcome," he whispered.

He watched as she removed the pictures and erased the white board. She didn't have to say she was relieved this case was over; it was evident in every line of her body.

"So, I know it's kind of early but you want to grab some lunch? I think we've earned a few hours off," Castle asked as she returned to her desk.

She checked her watch - her father's watch - and made a face. "It's barely eleven."

"I rushed through breakfast - did more talking than eating, and I'm starved."

"Me too but lunch can wait."

He made a pathetic puppy face at her. She'd have laughed if her heart wasn't pounding so hard. She walked around the desk and stood right in front of him, barely an inch away from his face. "There's something we need to finish first." Her eyes drifted down to his mouth, then back up again, noting he was doing the same to her.

Their lips touched and passion flared. This time they gave in to it, his hands slipping around her waist as hers slipped up his neck and twined in his hair. Their bodies pressed against one another and the kisses became more intense.

Someone cleared a throat nearby. "Am I interrupting something?" Esposito said.

Beckett broke the kiss only long enough to say, "Yes. Get lost." She didn't even open her eyes.

He grinned and backed away. "You two might want to get a room, you know."

They came up for air long after his footsteps had receded, Castle's grumbling stomach making them both laugh.

"Shall we go?" he asked, pushing her hair behind her ear on one side.

"Let's go to my place and order in. I'm enjoying my appetizer far too much to go sit in a restaurant now."

They didn't make it to the elevator. Somehow they ended up entwined again and stayed that way until another voice interrupted them.

"While I can't say as I'm surprised by this," Montgomery said, amusement in his voice, "I think you two should take the day off and find yourselves someplace else to do this before you end up breaking the law … in a police station of all places."

Beckett felt her already red cheeks grow hotter. "Yes sir."

Montgomery shook his head but smiled as he walked away.

"So, are you sure you want to go to your place? Mine is closer … " Castle asked with a smirk.

"Mine first. Then yours."

~ The End ~

A/N: Thank you all for reading and for your wonderful comments throughout. I've really enjoyed sharing this story with you!