Martha opened the front door to a flustered Detective Ryan.

"Mrs R, is Castle in?" He asked politely.

She laughed merrily. "Call me Martha, dear. Any friend of my sons is a friend of mine." She ushered him inside. "Come in, come in, Detective Ryan… Richard is just whipping up some horrible concoction supposed to cure hangovers." She leaned into him and winked conspiratorially, "Both he and Alexis partied way too hard last night."

Ryan could hear the buzzing of the blender as he turned into the kitchen area. Castle stuffed a pickle into the blender and then added tofu as well. He turned off the machine as soon as he noticed Kevin.

"Hi Castle."

Rick grinned in greeting but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey Ryan. What brings you to my humble abode?"

Ryan immediately noticed his blood-shot eyes. When the hell are those two stubborn partners going to get their act together and finally admit how they feel about one another?

"I'm here concerning a case." He glanced cautiously at Martha.

"Well, that's my cue to leave then." Martha said with a flourish. "Ryan, tell that lovely wife of yours that you two have an open invitation for dinner anytime you'd like… You're always welcome here."

"Why, thank you. She'll be very happy to hear that."

"I'll just go check in on Alexis and see how she's doing." She turned dramatically and swooped up the stairs.

Kevin watched her walk up the stairway before turning to Rick. "I could really use your insight on this case as both Beckett and Esposito have been suspended from the force."

Castle hesitated before answering. "I don't know if I'm the right guy to ask, Ryan… Did Beckett let you know that I'm out of the game? … I'm done… I'm no longer shadowing her."

Ryan could tell by the tone of Rick's voice that he was hurting just as much as Beckett.

"She said yesterday that you were off the team, but of course I didn't think it was permanent." He tried to tread lightly. "Look Castle, I don't know what happened between you two and I don't need to know, but you have to understand that Maddox is still out there." He gazed into Rick's hung-over eyes. "He's most likely still coming after Beckett and I need your help to stop him."

Rick took a deep breath. "Have you talked to Beckett about this?"

"Yes," he nodded. "I just came from her place. I tried to convince her to come with me to speak with you but she refused, saying she had quit the force and was trying to put her mother's case behind her... She also said she needed to respect your wishes and give you some space."

Rick's eyes widened and a look of 'hope' crossed his face. He couldn't help asking, "How's she doing this morning?"

"How's she doing, Castle?" Kevin's voice rose in anger. "Do you really want me to answer that question? … Her partner of four years suddenly deserted her in the hour she needed him most and from the looks of things she also believes she lost her best friend in the process." He glared at Rick before saying, "I think it's accurate to say that she's as miserable as you are."

"God dammit, Ryan, you don't have the right to judge me. You don't know the whole story."

"No, I don't…" He paused and then lowered his tone apologetically. "I apologize… You know that Beckett is like an older sister to me and I hate to see her this way."

Rick nodded in understanding.

"Let me make it perfectly clear that she takes full responsibility for the rift between you two… She takes 100% of the blame, but I know you, Castle… I know you both." He looked intensely at him before continuing. "You care too much about her to throw away your partnership without giving her the chance to make amends. She deserves a chance."

Castle gritted his teeth. "You can't expect me to stand by and watch her implode, Ryan. I refuse to watch her continually chase the dragon and make herself a target. She's willing to die for her mother's case… I can't bear to witness it. I already lived through that hell last summer. I won't do it again."

Ryan glanced at him with brotherly affection. "Castle, then help me stop Maddox before he gets the chance to try and kill her again." He pulled the old wedding photo out and handed it to him. "This is the guy we believe Maddox is after."

Castle's eyes lit up in recognition. "This is the man I told Kate about… The one who's been keeping her safe."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, he's older now, but it's definitely him… Whatever information Montgomery gave to him he's been using it to protect Kate, - - but now," Rick's eyes darkened with worry, "they've sent Maddox to hunt him down and get it back."

"This guy whom Maddox is looking for, he's the key. We find him, we find Montgomery's file."

"Which could lead to who's behind this whole thing, … including Johanna's murder." Rick continued gravely, "And if we don't get to Mr. Smith before Maddox does, Kate will never be safe again."

Ryan confirmed his deepest fear. "Yes, it looks that way… In all the times you talked with him did he ever give you his real name?"

"No. - He only told me to call him Mr. Smith."

"Did he tell you where he worked? Where he lived?"

"No, nothing like that... Umm… " Castle's voice raised in excitement. "He did call my cell phone though 2 nights ago, but it came from a blocked number. "

"I'll run the phone number and see if I can trace where the call came from." Kevin got the number from Castle's cell and then turned to leave.

"Hey Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"Please call me when you have any information concerning either Smith or Maddox."

"Sure thing, but I need you to do me a favor." Kevin walked to the kitchen island, and slid Smith's photo across the counter. "Take this with you and go to Beckett's apartment. I need both your sharp minds working together on this one. You may locate Smith before I do."

And before Rick could refuse, Ryan was out the door and was closing it shut behind him.

XXXXX

Just before noon, several knocks at Kate's door interrupted her preparing lunch.

"Ryan, you've found something already?" and she opened the door to stare directly into probing blue eyes which she hadn't planned on seeing again so soon. "Cas –stlle," she stuttered, obviously surprised to see him. "Come in." She gestured for him to come inside.

"I take it Ryan stopped by your place?"

"Yes, and even though I told you I was done, Beckett, - - " He ran a hand over his tired eyes, "I just can't leave knowing Maddox is still out there and most likely won't stop until you're – you're dead." It didn't matter what his personal feelings for Kate were at the moment; his top priority had to be her safety.

He looked at her with his heart in his eyes. How she wished that she wasn't the cause of the pain she saw in their depths.

"Well, I'm glad you're here." She smiled adoringly at him and grabbed his hand. He squeezed it briefly before letting it drop. Kate was grateful that he didn't immediately recoil from her touch. "I was just preparing a bite to eat. Are you hungry?"

At his nod, she said, "Come into the kitchen and help me finish making lunch."

He sure does look good this morning in his black Levi jeans and navy-blue button-down shirt. And when he walked by her, she got a whiff of his expensive cologne. God, he smells divine.

"I hope my early-morning text didn't wake you." Kate said while slathering miracle whip onto a slice of wheat bread.

"No, it didn't. I was out."

"How'd you sleep?"

He grinned grudgingly. "About as well as you."

The blood flowed south when Rick noticed the black lace bra she was wearing beneath her see-through, gray top. His fingers itched to feel the lace to see if it was as delicate as it looked. His lips longed to trace a path along the edge of the lace, marking the new territory as his own. He picked up a cheese slice and started unwrapping it to give his fingers something to do.

This was a bad idea to see her again so soon.

"Ham okay?"

"Sure."

They stood side by side, occasionally bumping shoulders, while making the sandwiches. Kate couldn't help thinking how domestic it all seemed. Her heart ached for it to be real.

"Castle," she said a little breathlessly after removing an oriental salad from her fridge. "Are we – " she cleared her throat, looking at him beseechingly. "Are we okay?"

Her beautiful face filled with apprehension as she awaited his response. Her uncertainty tore at his heart strings.

God, it was just so sweet that she was worried about him, … about them.

He felt the strongest urge to wipe that pouty mouth of hers with his own and kiss away the hurt and doubt from her face.

The heart wants what the heart wants.

"We'll be okay, Beckett." He gave her a reassuring smile before grabbing their plates and heading to the kitchen table.

But his answer did nothing to calm the apprehension Kate felt right then. 'We'll be okay' hinted that in the future they'd be alright, but for now?

She grabbed water bottles out of her fridge and brought them to the table with her.

Rick waited for her to sit down before he took a bite of his ham sandwich. As she tasted the oriental salad, she couldn't tear her eyes away from his mouth. Even while eating, his lips fascinated her. They were large, full, manly lips…. Her mind immediately jumped to their undercover kiss over a year ago. His lips, - warm, sensuous, and demanding, - fit perfectly against her own… She longed to prove that they'd fit perfectly on other parts of her body as well.

She flushed and looked away when he caught her staring at his mouth.

"Beckett, don't." He said with a slight tremor in his voice.

Their eyes met and all of the contention from the night before seemed to fade away, and in its place, electricity shimmered between them.

Kate felt an overwhelming urge to brutally kiss him... His eyes, his mouth, the curve of his cheek, his stubbled jaw, his prominent Adam's apple. She wanted to fill her mouth with the taste of his skin.

But first, she knew she had to make things right between them.

"Rick, I'm so sorry for yesterday." Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. "I'll never forgive myself if I've hurt our relationship permanently."

Every part of Rick was crying out to reassure her, to make her feel better. God, he was kidding himself for ever thinking that he could get over her. Kate Beckett was the owner of his heart and always would be. There was no denying it. There would never be another woman for him. She held the key to his happiness.

He stared deeply into her hazel, moist eyes, filled with truth... Compassion for her suddenly ran molten through his veins, consuming him, overwhelming him.

He couldn't help brushing a curly strand of hair away from her face before saying, "Kate, you know how I feel about you. Even though I said I was through, it doesn't mean that I won't be here for you if you need me. I'll always come if you need me."

She ducked her head and glanced nervously back up at him as a beautiful smile spread across her face. "I know, - partner."

They finished their lunch in comfortable silence and after the dishes were cleared away Rick sat down on the leather couch. Kate purposefully crowded him, invading his personal space, needing him close to reassure herself that he was actually here with her and willing to forgive her for her thoughtless actions yesterday.

His breathing quickened and his heart practically beat out of his chest as she settled in next to him; her enticing body only inches away from his own. He revelled in the fruity scent of her perfume. He would never tire of her unique, womanly scent. His pants suddenly seemed too tight.

To try and distract himself from her beauty and his traitorous body, Rick brought up the reason he stopped by her place.

"Beckett, I stopped by because Ryan needs our help to find Mr. Smith."

Her eyes clouded over with worry. "I already told you that I turned in my badge, Castle. This was supposed to be over," she said apprehensively. "I can't go back again. Not now."

"Well now we don't have a choice. If Maddox gets to him before we do -"

Kate interrupted him, shaking her head. "But I don't know how to do this... I'm not even a cop anymore."

He reached out to her but stopped himself before grabbing her hand. "I tell you exactly what we do. We figure out who this is." He held the photo out to her of Mr. Smith. "We've done it before and with less to go on… And when we do?" He gently smiled. "We lay all of this to rest, Beckett, and go back to where we were… This is what you're great at and now I'm not so bad myself."

"Go back to where we were, Castle?" she asked incredulously, with a painful edge in her voice. "Go back to just being friends? - Back to partners who flirt, banter and continually deny that there's anything happening between us?" Her eyes flashed hotly and she sidled closer to him, placing her palm on his thigh.

Rick's breath hitched as her fingers molded over the large muscle and then slowly, dangerously, roved upwards.

"Castle," she simpered, "I don't want to go back to where we were. .. I want, I want –" She bit her lower lip seductively and purposefully scanned his body, … starting at his striking blue eyes, down to his square jaw, his lean neck covered in new stubble, the breadth of his shoulders, his wide chest, his tapered waist and down, down to his muscular hips. Her eyes noticeably darkened with lust.

Fuck, was Castle's last thought as she whispered huskily, "Please let me show you what I want."

Before he could even inhale, Kate had whipped one gorgeous, leg over his lap and straddled him intimately… Her hands splayed roughly in his hair and then her lips forcefully crushed his.

Her mouth twisted, turned, tasted, tested… With a groan, Rick felt her tongue touch his, a velvet stroke that reverberated through his body in heavy waves. He couldn't think clearly as her long, pink tongue stroked boldly into his over and over again. It swirled around his mouth in perfect harmony. Her taste intoxicated. He felt light-headed as every ounce of blood left his brain and went pounding down to his manhood.

God, Kate was kissing him… No, more accurately, … Kate was attacking him.

She pressed herself as close as she could get to his broad chest. He felt the rise and fall of her breath, a fast counter rhythm to his own. While Kate's mouth continued to devour him, her hand rose up to trace from his jaw to his neck to just above his chest, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt.

Need for her spiraled through him in torrid currents.

Rick had wanted her from the moment she had flashed her badge in the bar at his book launch party. He had wanted Kate Beckett from the moment he had seen her: A striking, cunning cop who commanded respect; who had a smile that could light up even the stormiest of nights. Short, auburn, feminine hair and intriguing, insightful eyes highlighted her smoking hot assets. It had been a covetous wanting, based on instinct. Rick Castle saw a sexy, career-driven woman and naturally wanted her.

Now… now he knew Katherine Beckett, the whole woman. The cutting edge of her mind, the forged steel of her strength, her clever wit, flirty repertoire, her empathetic heart… And it stoked the fire of his desire to a burning point he'd never felt before with another woman.

Their lips continued as one. Mouths opened. Tongues stroked against each other. Her lips were hot silk beneath his, thin and warm. Within, she tasted spicy and lush. She was sweet nectar to his dehydrated veins. His head spun, and he let himself spin with it.

A tantalizing moan left her sultry lips and brought Castle out of his sexual haze. He drew back from her and gasped, "Kate."

His hands landed on her firm derriere and swept over the taut cheeks. He settled her directly over his bulging erection, tormenting them both to the brink.

"Don't stop, Castle. Don't stop." Her voice mottled with desire pleaded with him. Her eyes were heavy lidded; her mouth swollen.

His hands stilled.

In all the years he'd fantasized about Kate Beckett, the reality of her long, lean legs straddling him and her perky breasts pressed against his chest, far surpassed even his wildest dreams. He knew that if they made love, she'd forever be in his blood, marked as his own, and he'd never be able to let her go… She would spoil him for any other woman. Kate Beckett was the only woman he ever wanted to be with again and his heart wouldn't survive it if she let him go.

And even though it was the most difficult thing in the world to halt her caresses, he had to make sure that she understood his feelings before it progressed any further.

He buried his face in the slope of her neck. "Before we continue, I need to ask you something."

"Hmm?" and she placed a tender kiss on his scalp.

"You're on board with this right?"

The insecurity in his voice dealt an unexpected blow to Kate. God, how she hated that he was always so unsure of her feelings, and she knew his insecurity was completely justified. It was completely her fault that he felt this way. She intended to rectify that immediately. She grabbed both his cheeks and lifted his face to hers while he continued...

"It's not some, Oh I quit my job, I almost died, and I'm in crisis thing?"

"No, Castle. It's not at all like that." Her hand tenderly smoothed away the wrinkles on his forehead. "This is," she nibbled on her lower lip before releasing a gush of warm air against his lips, "real for me."

His smile sent shivers of anticipation tingling down her spine.

"I need you to understand, Kate," his large hands started caressing up and down her back, "that this isn't just a fling for me."

Their foreheads rubbed together as Kate nodded in understanding.

"I need you to promise me something," he whispered, and Kate held her breath as she waited for him to continue.

"Promise me," and his eyes seared into hers, "that you're as committed to this as I am." His hand came up to the nape of her neck and began teasing the soft tresses there.

As she looked into his mesmerizing blue orbs, full of longing, … full of the promise of a happy, fulfilled future for them, Kate realized the magnitude of Rick's request.

She took his hand and brought the back of it up to her lips. She kissed one knuckle suggestively, never breaking eye contact.

"Yes, Richard Castle." She kissed the next knuckle in line. "Famous mystery writer." Her lips tickled the next knuckle. "Author extraordinaire." Her mouth placed an open-mouth kiss to the final one. "And ruggedly-handsome partner."

She entwined their fingers together before bringing his hand up to her lips and sucking his index finger into her mouth… She looked at him with desire spewing from her eyes while she swirled her tongue lasciviously around his finger. She then bit down on it aggressively, eliciting a sexy groan from Castle which reverberated throughout her entire body.

She growled in the back of her throat, "Yes, I'm committed to us," and her hands greedily started tearing at his shirt buttons. "Hold on, Writer-boy, because I'm going to show you just how much."

XXXXX

And by the time Kate Beckett was through with him, Rick Castle had absolutely no more doubts about them.