[ where it begins ]

[fanofthegenre]

She needs to change. She keeps a spare set of clothes at the 12th - but they're meant for the shifts where she pulls an all-nighter and doesn't have time to go home.

They're not for this, for the red that stains the white of her sweater - someone else's (I'm fine, Castle, it's not my blood). She was just supposed to have a conversation. She'd hoped it was one that would bring her a little closer to the truth.

Instead, she's got one more murder on her hands, and more questions than answers.

She's not expecting the door to the Bar when she walks in, but a part of her is almost relieved. She needs a place to decompress, to think about her options and to consider her next move before she heads back out into her world, into the place where all of it becomes real again and everyone's counting on her to step up, relying on her to tell them where to go from here.

Because, right now, Beckett's not even sure she knows what to do.

Comments

[fanofthegenre]

"Of course," she replies, without even missing a beat, but doesn't move in to maintain the same kind of proximity.

"You know I'd keep you in the loop on whatever's going on."

[trigger_man]

"And be careful out there. The closer you get to this guy, the more dangerous it's going to be," he says, his tone gruff.

[fanofthegenre]

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" she mutters, pinching her lips together in a thin line.

"I'll check in, as often as I can."

[trigger_man]

Jack gives a sharp nod. "Okay."

[fanofthegenre]

She wants to say I'm sorry, wants to be able to find the words she knows will make things up to him.

But all that comes out in response is, "Okay."

[trigger_man]

He gives her another jerky nod. "Are you staying in here for a little while, or are you heading back out after you change?"

[fanofthegenre]

A few beats of time pass; she looks over at the coffee he'd ordered her, watching it grow cold.

"I have to go back," she says decisively.

[trigger_man]

"Okay. I'd better go, so you can change and get back out there," he says, taking another step back.

There's a small part of him that would rather step closer, wrap her in a hug, but he's not entirely sure he'd be able to let go.

[fanofthegenre]

She nods silently, her mind already working ahead of her, trying to concentrate on everything she has to face.

And then she turns to him.

"Jack."

Even if he doesn't, she can't let him go without leaning in to embrace him quickly, hiding the worry in her own expression against his shoulder, the flicker of fear.

Just in case.

[trigger_man]

He tenses for a second as her arms wrap around him, before he relaxes and hugs her tightly.

Just in case.

For a moment he can't say anything; there's too much he wants to say, and there's a growing lump in his throat. Finally he rasps out, "Be careful."

[fanofthegenre]

"I will."

Her voice is muffled, and she draws in a breath to keep her expression steady before she finally pulls back, forcing a quick smile.