Here goes. . . my first Castle fic. There will be a second chapter, which is already finished and almost ready to post!
I'm a sucker for the angst/hurt/comfort genre, and apparently, also with tawdry, overused plot devices. Sorry kiddies, no smut, but I'm calling it M just in case.
I pulled the covers off and stumbled out of bed, searching for the shrieking phone. I found it and picked it up, for no other reason than to turn it off and make it quiet again. I made the mistake of holding it to my ear first, instead of just throwing it against the wall. There was quiet breathing on the other end. For some reason I just listened, until the silence was broken by her voice.
"Castle?"
I cleared my throat, and tried to shake off some of the confusion that was clouding my still sleep muddled brain. "Yeah. . . . Kate? What time is it?"
Detective Kate Beckett was never one for small talk and exchanging pleasantries, not like me anyway. "As much as I really don't want to, I need to ask you to do something for me." I heard scuffling, scratching, on the line, and her voice was muffled.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right, Detective Beckett. I thought you said you needed me. We must really have a bad connection." Hearing her voice, in my bedroom, at . . . I stole a glance at the alarm clock that declared it was officially the middle of the night . . . midnight, had a clearing effect of my sleep induced stupor, and the sarcasm started rolling off my tongue.
"Castle..."
I could picture her squirming, and it felt good to be on the other side of that situation for once. "Just name it. Your wish is my command."
"Could you just . . . not be a child for a few minutes, and listen to me?"
"I'm listening, but you are being very rude for somebody who is trying to ask a favor, Detective." I heard her take a deep breath, no doubt counting to ten. I was pretty sure she would have hung up on me by now. In some far recess of my mind, the fact that she was waiting me out made me slightly suspicious of her intentions. "Seriously, what do you need?"
She finally broke the long, uncomfortable silence with another sigh. "I need you to come to my apartment . . . please. No questions. I'll explain when you get here. The key is under the mat."
Something in her voice concerned me a bit. It concerned me more than a bit. It concerned me enough to find my keys and head for my garage while I was still listening to her on the line. "Why do I need a key?"
"No questions, Castle."
It was my turn to sigh now. "OK . . . but just so you know, it's not my birthday, so a surprise party would be out of line. I don't like them anyway. Oh, I know . . . . You can't come to the door because you are too busy cooking me dinner, wearing only a silk tie and high heels . . ."
"Castle." She was scolding me, but she was also amused. I could tell. "You are the one doing me a favor, remember?"
"Oh, in that situation, I would definitely be prepared to do you a favor."
There was a momentary pause, just long enough to make me believe that she was actually taking my offer into consideration, before she dashed my hopes. "Just so you're not disappointed, that is definitely not going to happen. Ever."
"The seed is planted. We'll see." I held on to the phone, listening to nothing, but I couldn't hang up. My patience paid off because I finally heard my name, making me jump.
"Castle?"
"Yeah, I'm still here."
"I had a really bad date tonight."
"With Mr. Wonderful? Is that possible?"
"You call him that, not me." I waited for her to go on. I could tell there was more. I listened as the signal went fuzzy for a minute, and I thought I lost her. "He is fascinated by my handcuffs . . . ."
". . . as any red-blooded male should be."
"He handcuffed me to my bed."
"You're kidding me. We do this now? We bail each other out of bad sex? Is he still there?"
"No. He got pissed and left . . . with the keys."
"Ahhh, so that explains why I am playing our very own version of The Amazing Race. I should be there in five minutes." All of the sudden I had flashes of what she was telling me, and the concern was back. "Are you OK? I mean, how bad was the sex?"
"Who said there was sex?" I was still not convinced. I needed to assess the situation myself. I decided to be there in three instead of five.
"Kate, it's me. I'm letting myself in." There was no response. I opened the door, and decided to pocket her key. I shouldn't have to discuss the unsafe practice of leaving a key under your door mat with one of New York's finest.
I found what I assumed to be her bedroom, and on the floor outside the door, there were two tiny keys on a ring. I knocked on her door. "I think I found the key. Can I come in?"
"I don't know how else you are going to get these off me." She sounded frustrated. I heard the chain rattle, then she added. "Just . . . close your eyes."
I put my hand over my eyes, and opened her door. I knew I was in the right place, because it smelled like her . . . . lilac, linen, shampoo, or maybe bubble bath. "Are you going to give me some direction, or can I uncover my eyes?"
"I don't care, just get these off of me."
I slipped off my jacket as I uncovered my eyes. I placed it over her, covering her while I worked on the lock. I was not nearly quick enough. The brief glimpse I took in will surely be fodder for daydreams and fuel for fantasies that I am positive will keep me awake for many nights to come. I was momentarily mesmerized by her pale skin against the rich chocolate suede bedspread, the black camisole that is far too tiny and thin to be classified as a shirt, the black, low cut, lacy panties that left little to the imagination, and finally the sparkle of the metal cuffs, holding her fragile looking wrists above her head.
When I finally finished fumbling with the lock, she sat up, slipping her arms into my jacket, and pulling it closed around her. She sat there rubbing the pink rings that were forming around her wrists. We both decided to talk at the same time, interupting each other. "I'll just wait outside while . . . ."
"Can you give me a minute, so I can get dressed?"
I was suddenly feeling very awkward, and was relieved for the excuse to get out of her room and catch my breath.
Ooooh. If anyone else picked up on it.....sorry for the Pretty Woman reference. Where did that come from? LOL.
Please let me know what you think. I love reviews. They inspire me to post extra fluffy ending chapters. :)
