As Beckett said she "believes in the everyday magic of life in … the way that I feel when I hear Coltrane", this is from his album "The Gentle Side of John Coltrane". While there is not a vocalist this song on the album, there are lyrics to the songs.

These vignettes come to mind when I hear the songs as played by John Coltrane.

This song is "Soul Eyes" by Mal Waldron. You can hear the song as played by the Coltrane quartet on YouTube.

watch?v=GoYAGNLqFwg

There is a version with by Mal Waldron and Jeanne Lee, vocals on YouTube also.

watch?v=hl7fnSPx87I

Disclaimer: The characters are the property of Andrew W. Marlowe and ABC television. The lyrics are the property of their respective owners. No infringement is intended.

A soul, I'm told

Can be both hot and cold

But how is one to know

Just which way to go?

A/N: 4x01 Rise

Rick Castle contemplated the tumbler of scotch he had in his hand. The cut crystal reflected and scattered the light from his desk lamp around on the papers. Colors of the rainbow moved across the papers as Castle shifted the glass in his hands.

"The reviews of 'Heat Rises' are pretty good," Rick thought.

He looked at his computer browser at some of the links his publicist, Paula had sent him. He had another email from his ex-wife and publisher, Gina with more links to reviews. Both were beside themselves because of the publicity.

"It is gratifying that the majority of the reviews are positive," Castle thought.

His mind wasn't on Nikki Heat right now. His mind was on a gorgeous brunette with fiery hazel eyes that sat beside him on some playground swings a few days ago. A woman who implied that she would be ready for something more once she solved her mother's murder. A relationship that he so desperately desired.

But he also thought about the phone call he received. The mysterious caller told him in order to keep her alive, he had to prevent her from investigating her mother's murder.

"I'm damned either way I go," he thought.

He looked at his now empty tumbler. Smiling wistfully, he walked over to the cabinet with the scotch.

Pouring another two fingers, he thought, "There must be a third way."

Pondering the tumbler and then looking out his window to the evening sky illuminating the city. The clouds were reflected in the steel and mirrored windows on the buildings nearby. Oranges, blues, violets and reds splashed across the sky and edifices. Lights were coming on and starting to lighten the darkening streets below. The sun going down meant that 'the city that never sleeps' was getting ready for its fun shift. Daytime meant work time for New Yorkers, nighttime meant party time.

But for Rick, nighttime didn't mean party time anymore, now it only meant he had helped keep Kate alive for another day. He had hope for another day.

Rick looked at his laptop, the cursor pulsing in the open empty document. It was almost taunting him 'write something'.

But now, he had nothing.

He was twisted in knots.

He could almost see a generic little girl with a daisy, pulling petals off saying," loves me, loves me not …" until the flower was denuded of petals. The little girl hoping that the on and off of love is positively, happily predicted by the flower.

He realizes that he is that little girl hoping that his love is requited. Is accepted. Is returned.

The sun finally retreating, allowing the darkness to penetrate. Castle sat in partial darkness, the desk lamp futilely holding back his office's gloom. Beyond the lamp's puny glow, the lights outside cast thin streams illuminating the rest of the loft.

"I did this to both of us, didn't I?" he ruefully thought. "If I hadn't gone to 'Dr. Death' and asked him to look at Kate's mother's murder, she wouldn't have been shot. She wouldn't now be threatened and maybe … just maybe I would have a chance with her."

He pondered for a moment. Then he shook his head.

"Her mother's murder is what defines her, what drives her. And until she finishes the job, solves the case, she won't move on. She'll remain in limbo. And now … now I am stuck in limbo, too."

The soul is mirrored in the eyes

But how can I be sure

When the whole world is filled with such lies?

A/N: 4x23 Always

Kate walked out of the twelfth precinct with her duffle of things, her mother's elephants, and the other personal items from her desk. She walked a couple of blocks to the subway station to take the train to her apartment.

More zombie-like than human, she sat in the subway car thinking of where she is in life, the stations passing every couple of minutes until she reached her stop. She walked the short block distance to her apartment and went up the stairs. She was too keyed up to wait for the elevator and needed to burn off the nervous energy she had.

Beckett didn't stay long in the apartment, her mind going too fast to be confined to the four walls. She felt like that woman in the picture in her living room, buffeted by winds she could not control, holding on to her hat, the only thing that she could control.

Her adrenaline finally started to wane, she could think a little more clearly.

Kate walked through the city aimless. Thinking about her mortality. Thinking about how close to death she came. How this was the second time she flirted with death after a big argument with Castle. How Castle kept her grounded.

How he was always able to help her.

He always brought her coffee.

He always …

Always.

Their word that was so full of subtext.

Always.

Their word that meant so much more.

Always.

The word that when he said it, he stopped and looked directly into her eyes.

The word that she said because she was scared to say more.

She knew it meant more from her.

She thought she could see it in his azure blue eyes.

That he meant more.

He loved her.

He said it when she was bleeding out on the green, green grass at the cemetery.

"Kate, I love you. I love you, Kate."

He told her he kept clues on her mother's murder from her because of it.

"Because I love you! But you know that. You've known that about a year."

But after she essentially rejected his impassioned plea and, more importantly, his love, she wondered if he could forgive her.

Was his love big enough to overcome her shortsighted rejection? His love big enough to overlook, to break through her single-minded focus on her mother's murder.

She found herself at the swings outside that bookstore. The bookstore where she told him to "make it out to Kate" after being away with no contact for three months. Where they talked in more subtext unable to tell the other how they really felt.

She sat down in one swing, holding the chains.

It had started raining during her walk, now it was pouring down. Raining down, washing away … all her sins, perhaps?

She had sinned.

Sinned against Castle. Her partner. Her more than a partner. Her friend. Her one-and-done maybe? Conceivably, her always.

She looked at the empty swing beside her. Where Castle sat. Where he listened. Where he spoke in subtext that he would be patient. Is he patient still?

So darling

Watch those sighs

And even more those eyes

And when you see them smile

For a long, long while

Then you'll know you've found the one

Who will always be true

I know that's how I found you

A/N: 7x06 The Time of Our Lives

After seeing the Justice of the Peace off, Castle noticed his new father-in-law standing by himself and went over.

Shaking Jim Beckett's hand Castle said, "Jim, thank you for coming on such short notice."

"My pleasure, Rick," he responded. "I wouldn't think of being anywhere else."

They both turned toward where the ladies were congregated. The three most important women in Rick's life were together, his mother, his daughter and his wife. He was glad to see them gathered in such a joyful time after the difficult circumstance they had been through from this summer's fiasco. Martha, Alexis and Kate were talking animatedly with big smiles on the three of them, the biggest was on Kate of course.

Smiling at his new wife, he said to his new father-in-law, "I know this was sudden, but the case we just finished made me think. About leaving Kate at the altar, about how I hurt all of us, and how important Kate is to me. I wanted … I wanted to get past all of that. And the best way I knew how was to just do it. Just be where we should have been last summer. Married."

Turning away from the three ladies, Jim put his hand on his son-in-law's shoulder, "Rick, I may not totally understand your other reasons. But I understand the main one. I see how you look at Kate. I've seen that look before … well sorta. The look you have on your face is the look I had when I looked at Johanna. The look of pure, unadulterated ardor."

As if on cue, Kate looked over at the two men standing, but really she only saw one. Her new husband. Her big beaming smile softened. A demure smile crossed her face and her eyes glowed. Jim glanced at Castle and saw the same glowing look in his new son-in-law's eyes returned to his daughter.

"You should go to your bride," Jim said knowingly.

Shaking his head as if waking from a daze, turning to Jim, Castle said, "Sorry, Jim, I didn't mean to be so rude."

"No, no, Rick. I understand perfectly. You're in that newlywed bubble where all manner of things could happen around you and you don't notice."

Taking his arm and pushing him toward Kate, Jim continued, "Please, Rick. She's waiting. Mustn't keep your wife waiting. Don't want to start out on the wrong foot."

Chuckling Rick said, "No, I don't."

Starting to walk to Kate, Rick turned to Jim with a pondering look, "Jim, thank you also for being so understanding about … everything. I don't know if I would be as understanding for Alexis's intended."

"Rick, you're a good father. You would do anything for your daughter even if you may question her intended. And maybe question her judgment," Jim teased.

Rick smiled acknowledging the joke.

Jim continued, "Although I've had more than my share of failings, I'd like to think that I'm a good father, too. I know I'd do anything for Katie."

Rick strode toward his bride pulling her close as he reached her.

"May I have another dance, Mrs. Castle?"

"Another?" Kate responded.

"Yes, it gives me another opportunity to hold you close."

"Well, then, by all means."