A/N: The idea for this little story came to me a while ago, but I didn't manage to form it into coherent sentences til now. But here you go with the first part of... well, some more ;) Hope you enjoy! Reviews are always appreciated, taking compliments as well as constructive criticism :)

Bowling

Every once in a while, the team of the 12th - including their inofficial member Richard Castle and their more than official captain Victoria Gates - decides to spend an evening together as friends rather than colleagues. Therefore they do something fun, they meet for a drink in the Old Haunt or play a round of pool. Today Ryan brought up the idea to go bowling, getting a mix of more and less convinced reactions.

Especially Beckett still seems rather not amused, even though everybody else already agreed. Sighing heavily she turns around to her own desk again, getting a smug grin from Castle.

"Well, Detective, is there any specific reason for you not to like tonight's activity? Oh, wait, let me guess, you're terrible at bowling? But, don't worry, I will offer my irresistible expertise and teach you how to bring the pins to fall?"

Another of these self-confident smiles that light up his whole face and a glance to the boys, who give him sceptical shakes of their heads. He punishes them with a sulky look and turns back to Beckett, who lifts her eyebrow in that familiar way.

"Really, Castle, you couldn't think of a cornier pick up line?"

That actually gets a chuckle from Ryan and Esposito which Castle in return answers with a snort, otherwise ignoring them.

"Your choice if you wanna embarrass yourself . Not going to ask you again."

"My loss." She watches him walking towards the break room, obviously being deeply wounded by her turning down his generous offer. Maybe she'll make it up to him later tonight.

An hour after she finally finished the stack of paperwork crowding her desk, Kate finds herself entering the bar that houses the bowling alleys, the smell of cigarettes mingling with beer and people and the all too well-known sound of the bowling ball crashing in the pins surrounding her. She missed this. Just a little. She hasn't been bowling since college, since she left her team after totally screwing up in an important competition because of some guy whose name she doesn't even remember.

Being back to the game brings mixed feelings she pushes aside before joining the others who are sitting in a corner booth waiting for her. When she takes her seat next to Castle, she feels him squeeze her knee as compensation for the kiss they missed because of her captain's presence.

After ordering their drinks and some snacks the group moves their party to the table in front of one of the alleys and changes their shoes. Castle smiles at the height difference caused by Kate not wearing heels, since he usually only gets her to see without them, when they are at either of their apartments. As much as he loves her wearing shoes that require a gun license, he also enjoys her in flats because it takes away some of her sometimes smashing cop appearance and makes her look rather cute and kind.

Castle opens the first round of bowling with a spare and turns around to the others, arms thrown up in a triumphant gesture. "Ha, what did I tell you? You better watch out, the champion is in the house!" Smugly grinning he takes the seat between Ryan and Kate and leans closer to the latter, almost whispering in her ear. "Still not interested in that lesson?"

Although his deep and throaty voice gets to her in a way she'd rather not show in front of her colleagues, despite the warmth settling low in her belly when only thinking about how close he actually is (too close.), Kate manages to answer as fast and snappy as always. "I think you're kind of overestimating your qualities, Mr. Castle."

"Didn't hear you complaining- " He shoots a look around, making sure that nobody (especially Gates) is paying attention. " -between screaming my name last night, my dear Detective." His long exhale tickles her neck and a small smirk plays around the corners of his mouth while she is just breathless about how he can so easily talk about the very private moments they shared without having to pin her down on the next flat surface. Because she'd enjoy that a lot right now. Not here of course. Hell, even here if it means that he does the things to her, he did to her yesterday. Wicked man. Evil man.

Before she gets a chance to react somehow, her attention is drawn to her Captain, who is about to throw her bowling ball when Esposito sneezes unnaturally and Gates' ball drops on the alley to roll agonizingly slowly towards the pins just to change it's direction mere inches before it hits them and lands in the gutter without even attempting to knock one of the pins over.

The boys high-five each other whereas Kate and Lanie both politely try to hide their smiles until they see the stare Gates gives Ryan, Esposito and Castle (If looks could kill...), then break into laughter at the frightened expression of five-year-old girls on the boy's faces. The three murmur their excuses while the captain already turns around again to get her second bowl done. Oh, she's angry. Kate sees that in the way the muscles in the woman's back contract as she aims her shot. That's going to be a funny evening. Poor Castle. Well, he kinda deserves it though.

When Kate's turn is next, she nervously stands up, getting a reassuring smile from Castle, that she interprets as encouragement to make the best of her lacking abilities. If only her abilities were lacking. She could always just fail on purpose. But that would so not be Kate. So she decides to just go for it and if needed downplay it as beginner's luck.