I just couldn't help myself after tonight's fantastic episode. I actually have at least three more post-eps planned just for this episode. It's been so kind to my muse. So look out for those.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The morning had begun late. Captain Montgomery had told his team that he didn't want to see their faces until well after noon so when Lanie had called asking to meet for a late breakfast Beckett couldn't deny her. They were dining at a little diner half-way between their apartments and Kate collapsed into the booth across from her friend, exhaustion evident on her face, "Hey."

"Hey girl," Lanie nudged a cup of steaming coffee over to her side of the table, "did you get any sleep at all?"

"Not so much," She offered a small smile and shrug, "How's Esposito?"

Lanie furrowed her brow in fake confusion, "How would I know how Javier is?"

"Maybe," She teased as she stole a long drink from her mug, "because you and Javier have been dating for the past two months. Minimum."

"I hate you," Lanie mumbled into her coffee before the waitress came to ask for their orders. They ordered their usual and Lanie continued to talk, "He's fine. More worried about Ryan than the fact that he was held hostage. I didn't get him to leave the hospital until they released Ryan around three o'clock."

"Put a damper on the post-traumatic sex?"

She pointed her fork at her friend, "You've been around Writer-boy way too much. And, no, it didn't. Thanks for asking. There's a reason it's a late morning."

"Enough said," Kate warned her, "I have to be able to look at him with a straight face later."

"So," Lanie asked around a bite of scrambled eggs, "how are you handling everything?"

Kate shrugged and ran her finger over the ring that she was finally wearing around her neck again, finally not feeling like it was her own chain weighing her down, "The case... I finally feel like I can breathe. It's still not over but for now... this is enough. It's not what kept me up last night."

"And what, dear Katherine, did?"

"Uhm," Her lower lip slipped between her teeth and she chewed on it nervously, "Castle and I may have kissed last night in the process of saving Ryan and Esposito."

Orange juice spewed out of Lanie's mouth as her jaw slacked, "I'm sorry did you just say that after nearly three years of this will-they-won't-they bull crap you and Castle finally kissed?"

"It was only so we could get past the bouncer and get the boys out," Her face contorted, not even believing herself as she recounted the story, "well, the first kiss was."

"You kissed more than once?" Lanie threw her hands up and backed her plate away, giving the story her full attention, "You're supposed to open with this stuff, Kate."

"It's just... we were undercover, Lanie," She sighed and ran her hand through her hair, "I mean.. it was obvious.. but.. he just broke up with Gina and I'm.. crap, I'm with Josh."

"Katie-girl," She reached across the table patting her friend's hand, "at some point you're gonna have to start being honest with yourself and go after what you really want. And I think we both know that that is not Doctor McPretty."

"Lanie!" She sighed, "I'm not getting together with Castle just because he's single again. I won't be a conquest."

"Please," Lanie rolled her eyes, "if you were just a conquest to Richard Castle he would have never written a book series on you. Stop being so afraid and jump in with both feet. Break up with Josh and get in that man's bed. God knows you've waited long enough!"

"I hate when you're right," Beckett slid her jacket on and stood, "Thanks for breakfast, I've gotta go."

"Go get your man and get carnal, I've got this." Lanie shoved her hand away as she tried to grab the bill.

She rolled her eyes but was half-way to the door when she called over her shoulder, "I owe you one."

"Mhmm," Lanie nodded, "you know that's right."