Authors Note: This is my first foray into writing a fanfic, most of my online scribing has been angry rants on my blog. Enjoy!
Summary Teaser: It's another case for the dynamic duo, and in no way shape or form does this have to do with Marvel's superhero. Par for the course though in regards to the dynamic of Beckett and Castle, a tough case, and overall good time.
DISCLAIMER: CASTLE AND ITS PROPERTIES BELONG TO ABC.
"Lanie, what have we got?" Beckett asked as she strode up to the M.E., her shadow right on her heels.
"The vic has GSWs to the chest and head and based on lividity, time of death was between 11:00 pm and 1:00 am."
Beckett narrowed her eyes as she scanned the dank alley that was now bustling with members from the NYPD, "That was about six hours ago, this was pretty fresh. Do we have an ID?"
"Not yet, but the homeless John Doe, down at the end of the alley was the one who found him."
"Yo," Esposito called out as him and Ryan walked up to Beckett and Castle, "We found the vic's wallet a block away, no credit cards or money, looks like a possible robbery."
Taking the wallet, Detective Beckett scanned through what documents were left. "The vic's name was Joseph Wallace…make that Sergeant Joseph Wallace, there's a military ID behind his driver's license."
"Hmmm, military ID and what appears to be a double tap shooting, it's gotta be more than just a robbery," Esposito observed in looking down at the corpse.
"Double-what?" Castle questioned finally chiming in.
"Dude, how many games of Call of Duty and Halo have you played, and you don't even know what a double-tap is?" Esposito asked incredulously.
"I'm more of rocket launcher and grenades type player…maximum damage at a distance," Castel retorted back.
"Yeah well maybe if you knew how to shoot you'd last more than a few minutes against me and Ryan," Esposito smugly replied while giving a quick fist bump to his partner.
"Children, care to focus on the task at hand," Beckett stated clearly irritated with the ease of how Castle was able to get everyone off topic, "we have a crime to solve. And Castle, a double-tap is a rapid firing of a gun, that while the gun is rising from the kickback from the first bullet, the shooter fires again. That gives the neat vertical line of firing."
"Ohhhh, makes sense. Well this one is easy to solve then. Military man stumbles upon some top secret files about a new weapon, and the CIA sends their top agent to have him silenced." Still in thought, Castle added, "Check to see if the bullets are melting," remembering their not so legal case out in L.A.
Beckett visibly flinched at the mention of their time out in L.A. The dynamic between her and her partner had taken an even larger shift than she had expected, and she was still swimming against the current that was her emotions.
"Castle, CSU has already bagged and tagged the bullets, as both shots were through and through. Very large caliber, and very close, but I won't know more until I get him on the slab," the M.E. stated concluding her report.
Chewing her lip Beckett quickly replied, "Thanks Lanie. Ryan, Esposito go canvas the area and ask around maybe someone saw something or there's a business of interest around here. Me and Castle are going to go question the homeless guy and see if he saw anything suspicious."
Back at the precinct, Beckett was setting up the murder board, while Castle stared at the board intently or possibly he was staring at his brunette muse. "Castle, I can feel your eyes on me, and if they don't make their way up northbound, your ears will not be thanking me," she replied coolly with her back still to him.
"Sorry, I was just picturing you in that nifty little swimsuit you wore out in L.A." And there it was again, that flinch. Castle noticed it this time, but pressed on, "I figured you to be more of a two piece type of girl."
With that, Beckett turned on him and with a smirk and her voice laced with seduction, "I usually wear two pieces for pleasure, but since we were out in L.A. on business, the one piece seemed more appropriate…and might I add you really blended in as well at the pool with long pants, a long shirt, and a jacket. What's the matter Rick, afraid to get burned?" The way she stressed, the word "burned" was not wholly lost on Rick. Could it be that she was finally opening up to him? Calling him out on his reservations?
Swallowing hard Castle replied, "Not at all Detective, I was just watching out for your well being," he stated in a calm voice before cocking an eyebrow and smirking, "I wouldn't want you to besmirch your honor by seeing me in a bathing suit. It's just not my face that's ruggedly-handsome." This comment earned him an eye roll, but in her head she couldn't help but picture him in trunks. Looking back at him, they locked eyes and before it looked like Castle was about to say something, they were interrupted with a, "Yo!" which could only indicate the arrival of Esposito and Ryan and breaking the awkward spell that was weaving between Beckett and Castle.
"We checked out the area there was a pawn shop around the block, a seedy nightclub nearby, and what appears to be a couple out of business offices," as Esposito finished, Ryan picked up where his partner left off, "There were a couple security cameras in the area and we're pulling the video now. We should have it in a couple hours."
"That's good, maybe we'll get something more to go on after you review video," Beckett said as she played with the dry-erase marker.
"I'm telling you, Sergeant Wallace, stole some fancy new gun or something and wanted to make some quick cash and was going to sell it to the pawn shop…"Castle began, before Beckett cut him off, "Really Castle! That's the best you could come up with? Even for you I think that's reaching."
Sighing, "Maybe you're right, I think it's the lack of coffee talking. Get you a refill?" Castle indicated to Beckett's empty mug.
"Sure," she replied with a bright smile that melted his heart. Most people would take someone getting them coffee for granted, but not Beckett. Every time he showed up with her morning coffee and bear claw. Or ran to get another refill during a late night murder board review, she always smiled. It was a true smile; the type that he knew was genuine from the way her eye's twinkled.
Castle left her staring at the murder board, while he headed to the break room to make refills. Lost in his thoughts, he thought about how much their relationship had changed over the past couple months, and how it intensified over the last couple weeks since L.A. He began to feel, that maybe if the timing was right, they might get their chance. His thoughts were interrupted by what sound like a loud squeal. Beckett! He thought thinking she might have fell or something, and ran out of the break room to see her being held in a bear hug. When the man put her down, Castle got a good look at him. He was about his height, but Beckett's age, his chestnut hair high and tight, and he looked to be quite muscular. The other thing that caught his eyes, were his army dress greens. And Beckett was smiling, the smile he loved so much, the ear to ear eye twinkling smile that only moments ago she gave to him simply for getting him coffee.
"And who might this be?" he asked as he walked up to the what appeared to be very giddy pair.
"Oh Castle!" Beckett replied with a bit of awkardness. "I'd like you to meet, Captain Jake Murphy."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Castle," Captain Murphy said as he shook Castle's hand.
"Likewise, and please call me Rick" Castle replied coolly.
"So Kate, why don't you grab your things, I'm just going to go use the rest room and then we can get out of here," Captain Murphy said still with a beaming smile on his face as he looked at Detective Beckett.
"Yeah sure, I'm so glad you're here," Beckett replied still with that smile plastered on her face. As Captain Murphy walked away to use the bathroom, she could feel Castle's eyes on her, "What Castle?"
"Hmm, oh nothing," he replied his voice slightly crestfallen.
"Don't 'oh nothing' me, you are thinking way to loud for it to be nothing," Beckett replied earnestly.
"It's just…just…well…," he stammered.
"Castle, I don't have all night as you can clearly tell," Beckett replied.
"Well, what about Josh? When did you meet Army boy?" He blurted out.
"What about Josh?" she replied slightly irritated.
"Well don't you think Josh would be a little upset if he knew about Captain America?" he prodded.
"What are you talking about! Josh and me…," Beckett was saying before she was interrupted by Captain Murphy, "Kate, you ready?"
"Yes sir! Captain sir!" She exclaimed with a mock salute and a laugh. As they left the precinct Captain Murphy slung an arm over Kate's shoulder as another laugh bubbled out from her.
"Until tomorrow, Kate?" Castle called out a bit insecurely.
"Goodnight Castle" Kate replied still with that smile on her face.
Castle was crushed as she disappeared out of sight. Was Beckett really fooling around behind Josh's back? That wasn't Beckett's style, but maybe there was more to the story. Maybe Josh had broke-up with her, but surely he would have known. Him and Beckett were so close he would have picked up on the signs. His writer's mind began weaving all sorts of tales, all of which led him to the same conclusion…he had missed his chance.
Hope you liked it, I plan on continuing this story, so more to come