A/N: Alright, this is just my idea about the kind of scene I'd like to see between Beckett and Castle at the end of Linchpin. Spoilers for Pandora sorta. I own nothing, etc., etc., etc. Enjoy!
"So you're telling me there's noting else you want to know about Sophia and I, nothing at all?" Kate sighed, and stared determinedly at the form she was filling out.
"That's exactly what I'm telling you."
"And you're absolutely sure?"
"Alright, Castle, get out of here, go home." She was so over talking about this, she just wanted to go home, take a nice relaxing bath, drink a nice glass of wine, and forget that this whole case even happened.
"Oh, no, I don't mind staying until everything is wrapped up—"
"No really, go. I know you want to get home to Alexis. I'm gonnna refill my coffee, finish this paperwork, and then head out myself." She picked up her empty mug and stood. "I'll see you Monday, Castle."
"Beckett." He snagged her free hand. She looked down at him, seated before her in his chair. "You should know… I've worked with a lot of people, and I—well, I've been with my share of women. And yes, some of those women were women I shadowed." She tried to tug her hand from his grasp but her fingers were tangled with his, trapped.
"Castle—" She tugged again but his fingers tightened around hers.
"But I've never had a partner before." He squeezed her hand and she met his gaze, blue, and deep, and honest. "This—what you and I have—it's different. Special. Singular. We're singular, Kate. This kind of thing only happens once in a lifetime. Just once."
His voice was so sincere, and his eyes were so clear, and his hand was warm around hers. Partners. Singular. Once.
One and done. She'd said that to him a long while ago. His words now seemed an echo of what she'd said that day. And they seemed more than that, too. A statement. A promise. A declaration of intent.
Alright then. Good.
"You gonna actually help me finish this paperwork then, partner? Or are you just going to sit and watch and make me do all the work, like usual." She grinned and let her own fingers return his squeeze, smile widening when his stretched across his face.
"I'll probably just watch…and annoy."
"Well, you could at least refill my coffee for me."
"I'd be more than happy to." He stood and tugged the mug from her hand, fingers brushing hers and lingering. For a brief moment they stood, close, connected, both hands joined, eyes linked. Then he stepped around her and headed for the break room. She watched him go with a grin then sat down to continue where she'd left off.