We sit at the counter; Castle's

presence now more apparent than ever. There is something different about him. The way he carries himself is almost unrecognizable, if it wasn't for him speaking or the strong smell of blood, I don't think I'd be able to tell who it was.

'He didn't want to fight. He was resisting, even. Weird...' As the tension in the room grows painfully uncomfortable I wonder what to say to him.

'Offer him a drink'

"No..."

"No, what?"

"I-" I took a breath, because honestly, I didn't know what to say.

"Do you want anything to eat?" I ask walking into the kitchen.

I could tell he was confused. But he was smiling, too. This was definitely not the Castle I once knew.

"No thanks, you got beer?"

I nod and pull one out from the fridge.

"How did you know I lived here?"

"I followed your friend Foggy here. I've been scoping out this place for awhile, but I wasn't sure if it was your apartment until a few weeks ago. Finding out who you were was the easy part actually."

I scoffed. "Y'know you're one the only people who know that I do what I do. I haven't even told Karen about it, yet."

"She doesn't know?"

"Why are you surprised?" I asked.

He didn't answer. Instead, he moved on.

"The hard part was getting you alone." Frank said, taking a sip of her drink.

"So, why me? Why not someone else? Karen still talks about you Frank; she misses you. It makes Foggy upset so she doesn't talk about you when he's around but when she can she doesn't hold back."

He doesn't look up from his drink and for a moment he seems saddened by the mention of her. I know how close they were. Shouldn't that make him happy? He leans back in his chair and puts the bottle up to his lips, but he can't take another sip.

"I couldn't do that to her.. not after what I put her through. Karen needs a life separate from mine - something normal, something stable. I know she would risk everything to save me and I can't have that. Her not knowing is the best thing that can happen for all of us..."

I wanted to say more, but I couldn't because I knew what he was saying was right. Karen could never know. They had a bond that I could never understand- no one could.

"Why did you come back to New York?"

"I think someone is after me. I'm not sure who it is, but they left this on my friend Curtis' doorstep."

I can hear his arm stretch out, the chair creaking with him

"What?" I ask.

He takes a moment and then let's out a chuckle.I tilt my head, brows furrowed. It takes me a second.

"Did you just try to hand me something to look at?"

He then let's out a much louder laugh; it's hardy.

"So what is it?"

"Its a picture," he says catching his breath to talk "Of me and Curtis."

"So what's the problem?"

He turned to look at me.

"At the time Curt and I were under government protection, for a job we did after I left Hell's Kitchen. The government said if I left I could keep doing jobs, stuff to put me to good use.

"We were hidden in a remote location in D.C. We stayed in a cabin in the woods. No one knew we were there. For months we stayed hidden and suddenly a picture of us the night before a classified mission showed up on our doorstep."

"So your friend, where is he?"

"He is still under government protection, but I came back."

I look at him, confused. Why come back to the place they know you're gonna be at. It doesn't make any sense.

'Unless-'

"You're gonna bait them out? Frank you know they're going to catch up to you, right?"

"I know what I'm doing Red-"

"Obviously you don't because if you did, you wouldn't be carrying this out!"

He sits his drink down.

"Red, if I wanted you to lecture me about what is right and wrong I would've asked. I mean you seem to want to do it a lot."

Our words had become mumbled together at that point, and I couldn't understand anything anymore. That didn't stop me from hearing faint footsteps from down the long apartment hallway. They were light, a woman.

"Ssh." I tell Frank as I approach the door.

"Oh so now-"

I cut him off. "Shut up. There's someone coming. They're gonna be here any minute. Go inside... my room." I say, rushing him towards my bedroom door.

I open the door and push him in. "No matter what you hear, do not leave this room."

"Yeah I get it.."

"Good." I close my bedroom door and shortly after I hear a knock.

"Who is it?" I shout.

"It's me." I sigh, it's Claire.

I open the door making sure to only open it a crack.

"Hey Matt."

"Claire... what are you doing here, it's late." I say,stepping aside to let her in.

She sits her bag down on the couch. I close the door behind me and walk up to her.

"Foggy sent me to check and see if you were ok. He said you went out, so I came to patch you up."

"I'm fine Claire, you know how Foggy can be. I laid low tonight." I say sitting down. I gesture for her to sit down next to me.

I could feel her eyes looking me up and down.

"So, you don't need my help?" She asks, turning her head to me. Anyone could tell by the sound of her voice she wasn't buying it.

"I mean you could always give me a checkup." I answer with a chuckle. She nods and opens up her bag.

-

"Alright Matt you're all done." Claire says packing up her stuff.

"How am I doc?"

"Besides the already previous damage from a few nights ago, that's it."

"Thanks Claire, I appreciate it. Also make sure Foggy's alright. I know he worries about me a lot."

"Sure thing..." She replies, not moving from her spot.

"What's up?" I ask her. Anything that'll help her to get her out of here the better.

She sighs and shifts to her side. "Alright Matt, spill."

"What do you mean?

'Please go Claire.'

"You have someone here don't you?" She holds up her fingers stopping me from speaking "and don't lie to me Murdock, there are two beers on the counter with two chairs pulled out. I'm not an idiot."

'Damn she's smart.'

"I don't know what your talking about."

She rolls her eyes before turning her back to me.

"Whatever..."

She goes to grip the nob but before she can a loud bang comes from my bedroom.

'Frank what did you do...?' I think. I put my head down and fold my arms.

Claire drops her bag turns towards me.

"What was that?"