A/N: So I am an on again, off again author, usually only writing when I have a lot of time. And since its winter break, I have a lot of time. So this is meant to be like an entire episode of the show. This is just the teaser because I don't have a lot of time at this specific moment. But trust me, there will be plenty of Castle/Beckett action for those who love their sexual tension (though I don't think there will be a resolution of the tensions…but who knows?)
I may be straying a bit from the popular view of Beckett and Christmas. I'm not sure if its really from the show or if its just sort of assumed that she doesn't like Christmas. But I've decided to take a different approach, which you'll see here (well, later). Hope you all enjoy.
Without further adieu ….
Chapter 1
Snow was falling quietly all over the streets of New York City. It was nearly midnight, and it seemed that for once the city was sleeping. Or at least its occupants were otherwise occupied inside somewhere. Very few noises could be heard from the street and the silence is eerie.
A sudden crash is heard from an alley way as a door is slammed open. A man comes running out, a wild look in his eye. His breath comes out in heavy spurts of white steam. His footsteps seem to echo down the alley for miles. He reaches the street corner and stops, looking to hail a cab. No cabs seem to be out tonight, however, and his body starts to shake. He stands there another few minutes before his body falls to the ground, with no one around to hear the sound.
"Castle." Detective Beckett says with a curt nod in his direction as they pass in the hall way. He is just getting in for the day and she is already heading back to the break room for a second cup of coffee.
"Detective." He says with a huge smile. "Top o' the morning to ye." Beckett stops, coffee cup in hand and slowly turns on her heels to face him, one eye brow crooked in her signature fashion.
"What?" She says simply and watches his face fall just a little.
"It's a traditional Irish greeting." He says, a little despondently.
"I'm well aware of that Castle. I live on this planet. What I'm not aware of is why you're saying it." She said, one hand falling to her hip.
"Just getting into the spirit detective." He said, and he turned to walk away.
"What spirit?" the tone in her voice made him stop in his tracks. The one thought that had crossed her mind was that Castle was up to something.
"Why the Christmas Spirit detective." He said as if it all made perfect since, a smile on his face that reached all the way to his eyes.
"What does Christmas have to do with a traditional Irish greeting?"
"In case you didn't notice from the fiery hair of my mother and daughter, we celebrate Christmas in a traditional Irish fashion, passed down from generation to generation." He said gleefully.
"And what does a traditional Irish Christmas entail, praytell?" she said, her eyes squinting in slight disbelief.
"Well….mostly a lot of booze." She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her and his grin fell another couple of notches.
"Oh Castle, your family doesn't need a holiday as an excuse for booze. Or a heritage." She said and winked at him as she turned back towards the break room. The wink brought his smile back full force as he turned to face Ryan and Espisito.
"Dude. The grin?" Espisito said simply. Castle simply ignored them and strode over to his usual seat next to Beckett's desk. He began fiddling with her stuff, un-organizing the neatly organized desk.
"Castle!" Beckett said sternly on her way back from the break room. "What did I tell you about my desk!"
"Hands off!" he said, holding his hands up in a surrender position. "But you know you can't really be mad at me this time of year."
"Yes, I can." She said with a glint in her own eye. "This time of year is no different than any other." He was about to protest but he shut his mouth when her phone began to ring on her desk. "Beckett." She picked it up on the first ring. She listened silently for a moment, all of the mirth falling off of her face until she hung up the phone. "We have a body."