A/N: One shot, possible multichapter if people would like me to continue. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this piece of writing, but thought I'd share it anyways. I do have ideas on where to take this if people would like to read more, so feel free to leave a review!
She doesn't know how she got here; knuckles vigorously colliding with the door before her. This isn't like her, this isn't what she does. She doesn't show up at stranger's doors, one that she's only had brief conversations with – all of which have been her being a complete ass to him for the noise and havoc he seems to create above her apartment, just to ask if he's okay because she hasn't seen him smile in forever.
She moved into the apartment complex no more than five months ago, and for four out of five of those months – the tenants above her have done nothing but bother her. It started with heavy heels on hardwood, and what seemed like dance practice – which wasn't too bad, Kate could handle that. But then the noises only developed. His apartment was above hers, so how in the hell could she always hear the bed frame banging against the wall?
She'd gone up to his floor many times with rage burning inside of her and given him a piece of her mind – told him to keep the damn noise down. But for the past three, almost four weeks there's been complete silence. Kate presumes it has a lot to do with the red headed companion the man was always with, and was always half of the reason for the noise.
She should be glad really, that the noise has simmered down and she can finally get some peace and quiet in her own home. But she's not glad, because she hasn't seen his captivating and infectious smile in so long – and really, she should not be this bothered or worked up over a complete and utter stranger. She only knew his name because his face resided on the back of one of her favourite books.
Maybe that's why she cares so much, because his books helped her get through the first few years after her mother's death, and seeing the glumness radiate from the man makes her feel like she owes something to him. Like his words helping her meant that if the roles were reversed, she should at least try and help as well, right? At least that's what she keeps telling herself so she doesn't look like some creepy stalker who's noticed her upstairs neighbour's smile faltering.
It hadn't occurred to her until now that he might not even be in, and now she feels like a complete and utter idiot for standing here for the last ten minutes banging on some stranger's door. She really should just retreat, save herself from the most awkward and embarrassing situation she's about to throw herself into. But before she can think to turn her body around, the door is flinging open and her fist stops mid-air, brows quickly raising and lips forming into the shape of an o.
Richard Castle stands before her in what she presumes is his sleepwear – a t-shirt, pyjama pants and a robe he's now trying to tie up while simultaneously trying to juggle the bottle of wine in his hand. His face is the embodiment of irritation and disinterested as he eyes her up and down and his head cocks to the side, brow quirking.
"Uh, hello?"
Kate swallows the small lump that's begun to form in the middle of her throat as heat begins to flare across her cheeks, and shit. She hadn't thought this far ahead. She hadn't come up with a plan as to what she was going to say when she came face to face with the man.
What exactly was she supposed to say? Hi, I know I've complained about the noise a lot – but can you go back to wreaking havoc because at least you had a smile on your face? No, that simply wouldn't do it. That'd make her look like a mad woman.
She clears her throat, gaze darting down momentarily as she tries to compose herself together. Her hand lifts to tuck some short loose curls behind her ear as her tongue dips out of her mouth to moisten her lips.
"Hi…" She pauses, chest rising as her head rises, brown irises meeting the dull blue that's usually always so radiant and vibrant.
"If you're here to tell me to keep it down, I've been quiet all day."
She almost laughs as her head shakes, teeth slowly sinking into her bottom lip to pull it into her mouth. "Uh, no. I'm not here to tell you to keep it down… kind of the opposite actually. Can I – can I come in?"
"I guess…" His brows pull together as he slowly steps to the side, gesturing for her to come in – which she does, and as Kate moves past him she takes in her surroundings. His place is ten times bigger than hers, much larger but slightly less filled than she would've thought.
"So, what did you want to talk about? Were you after an autograph or something?" She turns around to see him close the door and take a swig from the wine bottle and her face can't help but scrunch up; memories of her father just months ago flooding into her head and she has to tear her gaze away from the man, focus on the coatrack in the corner by the door.
Rick notices this of course, and is immediately intrigued as to why the woman before him seems so squeamish about the idea of him drinking from a wine bottle in the middle of the afternoon, it wasn't that uncommon.
"I – no, I'm not after an autograph." She tries not to roll her eyes at his comment, tries to focus on the reason why she's actually here. "Well – okay, this is going to sound extremely weird, and maybe a little creepy…" An airy laugh slips through her lips, her palms starting to become sweaty as her chest rises once more, and why is she so damn nervous? She's a damn detective. She interrogates people daily, she rarely ever gets intimidated or nervous. You could put her in front of the toughest, most hardest criminals and she wouldn't even flinch. Yet, somehow standing before this complete stranger has made her turn into a pile of anxiety.
"I've heard a lot of weird and creepy things. I don't think there's much you could say that would shock me." He shrugs, taking another swig from the bottle and Kate's brows pull together. She just needs to get it out – rip the band aid off.
"I know it's not my place, and I know you probably think I'm some kind of jackass for always showing up and telling you to keep it down but I've noticed that the past few weeks… well, it's been quiet. Too quiet. And the redhead you're always with, well – I haven't seen her around in a while, and you don't seem happy, I mean – whenever I see you, you just…" Her shoulders shrug, words flowing out rather fast that confusion only washes across Rick's face as he tries to keep up with her rushed out words. Her hands mimick her words as her gaze stays planted on the ground, unable to glance up at him.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is… are you okay?" Her teeth dig further into her bottom lip, head slowly lifting to make eye contact with him as her pulse begins to beat rapidly beneath the cage of her ribs. Her words are more of a question, and it pains her, physically pains her to say them because she feels so out of place. She doesn't confront people in this way. Has always been pretty reserved, and although she's very good at comforting victims' families, confronting strangers that were her neighbour was another thing.
She watches him carefully, the way the edges of his eyes crease, and his lips twitch in the slightest at her words.
"Am I oh – okay?" His brow arches, and a chuckle can't help but slip past his lips, which only makes the red prominently arise across Kate's cheeks and for her brows to pull tighter together. "I mean, now that you put it – that is just a little bit creepy." There's the teeniest of smirks beginning to play across his lips, and Kate wants out of this situation now.
"I'm – I'm a detective. It's my job to notice… things." She swallows hard, arms coming to fold across her chest. She should've stayed downstairs in her apartment, enjoyed the quietness and finally relaxed on. But instead she's standing here, looking like some creepy stalker.
"A detective? Hey, now that is pretty cool." He moves around her, fingertips still gripping the wine bottle as he glances over her shoulder. "You want a coffee? I want a coffee."
Her head turns, eyes closing momentarily as a wave of confusion washes across her face. "What?"
"Coffee." His brows raise as he places the wine bottle down and moves towards his coffee machine, pulling out two cups.
Kate's confused, as she stands there just watching him. How they went from her asking him if he was okay, to him now suddenly making coffee just boggles her, and she's really not sure if she should make a run for it or wait to see what happens next.
"To answer your previous question – yes, I'm okay. Okay as one can be when they find their wife in bed with somebody else." He sees the apprehension and confusion on her face when he sees her standing in the middle of the room still.
Kate's eyes can't help but widen, lips gaping as she now stares at the back of Rick's head. Out of all the possibilities as to why he'd be like this – his wife cheating on him hadn't been one Kate had thought of, and she's really at a loss for words now.
"Her names Meredith by the way. I'd rather you call her that then that redhead. Because well, my daughter is as red as they come, and this conversation could get very awkward." He spins round, two coffees filled to the brim in his hands as he moves around his kitchen island and past Kate towards his living room.
"Daughter? You have a daughter?" She spins round, still standing in place as she continues to gawk at him in confusion. How had she been here for five months and not noticed that he had a daughter? Every time she'd seen him or gone to complain about the noise she'd never seen a child around, and his apartment barely had any toys lying around. Maybe his daughter was a teenager, though he looked pretty young to have a daughter that was almost an adult.
"Yes, Alexis. She's four." She sees some light etch into his face as he brings up his daughter, and the edges of her own lips can't help but crease. "You can sit down, you know. You don't have to stand there like a duck out of water, detective… speaking of, I never actually got your name?"
"I never gave it." She moves slowly, carefully sitting herself down in the single chair next to his couch. "It's Kate, and I'm… really sorry about what happened with your wife – with Meredith, that's… such a shitty thing."
He shrugs, taking a small sip of the coffee before placing it down on the coffee table. "Actresses, what can you do?" The laugh is bitter, and it leaves a sour taste in the air, one that makes Kate's face scrunch up once more and the anxiety inside of her to build. "Caught her in bed with a casting director after putting our daughter down for a nap. She thought we were going to be out all day…"
Her brows pull together, heart beginning to tug in the slightest as he explains to her. This is too much for her. Like she's back in group therapy and people around her are laying out all their struggles on the table. She hated it – didn't know what to say or do, and this is exactly why she doesn't approach complete and utter strangers. She doesn't deal well with confrontation or laying your feelings or issues out on the table.
"I… wow, that's..." Kate swallows, unsure of what to say and she glances down to the coffee cups on the table; starts watching the steam float up off the cups.
"Yeah, it's… a lot to take in. But I figured since you came all the way up here to ask if I'm okay, the least I can do is tell you why."
She's touched that he's being so open with her, like he feels he owes it to her for her coming up here, and the edges of her lips twitch, head lifting as she meets his gaze once more. She didn't expect him to tell her the exact reason, just wanted to know if he was okay or not, and now she can see why he wouldn't be.
"I'm really sorry that happened to you, Rick. Nobody deserves to find their partner in bed with somebody else." She reaches out, fingertips lightly brushing his knee before she realises what she's doing and her hand quickly retreats, lifts to tuck another curl behind her ear. A force of habit when comforting people – reaching out to squeeze or grip their arms or knees.
"It's not too bad, I guess. I mean, I get to keep this place – and I get full custody of my daughter." He takes another sip of coffee to that, and Kate takes another look around the apartment.
"Is she with Meredith now? I mean, I don't see much kids' stuff around… sorry, I'm being nosy. Force of habit, being a detective and all." She shrugs, a slight laugh slipping through her lips. Her curiosity was probably one of her greatest, yet most terrible qualities.
"Uh, no, it's okay. I mean, anyone else poking around… might be weird, but you poking around is nice." His brow quirks and she pulls her brows together, quickly shoots him a look as a laugh slips through his lips, though she can't help but smile as she sees the smile etching across his own face. Glad to see something else on his face other than a frown. "Inappropriate jokes, it's what I do. I'm sorry. But my daughter, she's staying with my mother for now. I just didn't want her to be around… well, all of this." His hands lifts, gesturing around the room. "I didn't want her to hear all the fighting and see half of the furniture disappearing. I was planning on redecorating before she came back so it wouldn't be too weird for her."
"I see." She pauses, fingertips reaching out for the ceramic coffee mug he'd made her. "I think that's a good idea. Fixing things up after… life altering situations can be good. Nice sense of change." She shrugs, thinking back to when her father had gone up to their family cabin to remodel it and fix it up. Though he'd fallen off the wagon half way through fixing everything up.
She lifts the cup to her lips, letting the warm and delicious liquid flow down the back of her throat, and she almost moans from how good the coffee is. Probably one of the best she's ever had. The machine at work only produced pure sludge, and the one at home was on the verge of needing to be replaced.
"Wow." She murmurs, eyes opening and glancing down to the cup she's now balancing on her knee. "This is, really good. Way better than the sludge we have at work."
"Work – detective, right." She glances up at him, sees the smile and intriguing expression on his face. "I would not have thought you'd be a detective. You look too…" His eyes travel up and down her and she feels uncomfortable in a way, pulls her legs in closer to the chair as she clears her throat, his eyes snapping up to meet hers. "You just seem like you'd be some hot shot lawyer or something." He shrugs and she almost laughs, instead her eyes only roll.
If only he knew. She thinks to herself.
Becoming a detective hadn't been her dream, hadn't even been a mere thought until her mother passed away and justice wasn't served. She transferred straight away when she realised how corrupt the justice system really was. She didn't want to be a part of it, wanted to be on the opposite side and actually make a difference. And maybe Hoped she could figure out her mother's death and get the justice she so desperately yearned for.
"Guess your views of people are a little wrong." Her lips twitch into a small smirk as she tries to lighten the mood, shift it into another direction.
"Is that so? Why detective then? You got a handcuff kink. Ooh, you totally have a thing for putting people in handcuffs, don't you?" His brows waggle and she almost reaches across to slap him but instead rolls her eyes again and shakes her head.
"Yeah, I totally became a detective just so I could have my own handcuffs and use them against the public." She snorts as Rick's smug grin only grows wider. "No, I didn't become a detective for that reason!"
"Hey, hey, no need to get defensive now. Your secret is safe with me, detective." His hands are raised in defence, his smirk still wide across his lips.
"You try and be nice and ask how someone is, and instead it backfires."
She sees his gaze slowly drop, the smirk disintegrating into a small smile as his thumb brushes against the side of his coffee cup. "Hey, I really do appreciate you coming up here, Kate. It means a lot." She can hear the sincerity in his voice, and sees it in his eyes when his head lifts to meet her gaze.
Truth be told, Rick didn't have many people in his life who seemed to genuinely care about his wellbeing. All he had was his daughter and his mother who really cared. So, It made him feel a little lighter to know that the woman below his apartment – one that was only ever complaining to him about the noise, had taken the time out of her day to come and ask him if he was okay, that she had noticed his usual chipper and upbeat self-had dissolved. It made him feel good inside.
She intrigued him, the way she responded to his actions and words. How there seemed to be so much heartache and tragedy behind her eyes that made her so sweet and generous that she'd approach a complete stranger to ask if they were okay. He wanted to know more about her, know what lingered behind those eyes. She was easy to talk too, probably the first person he's sat down with and told about Meredith.
A phone going off causes him to pull away from his thoughts, and he realises he's been staring at her in a bit of awe.
Kate pulls her phone from her pocket, sees one of her partners names come across the screen and clicks answer before bringing the phone to her ear. "Beckett." She murmurs, flicking a glance at Rick who continues to watch her with such curiosity.
"Mhm-hmm, no it's okay, I don't mind. I'll be there in ten, okay? Okay, see you soon." She hangs up, pulls her bottom lip into her mouth as she glances down at her phone.
"That was my partner, uh – I have to go." She begins to rise, Castle quickly following suit as his head nods at her.
"Been a murder?" His head tilts, brow raising as the slightest bit of excitement starts to course through his veins and Kate tries not to roll her eyes at the glum man who's now turned into one of zing.
"Something like that." She shakes her head, lips pulling up wide. "Again, I'm really sorry about everything, Rick. You don't deserve that. Aside from all the noise you seem to make, you seem like a pretty alright guy."
She sees the smile across his face and the small gleam in his eye at her words. "Thank you, Kate. That means a lot, you coming up here… I didn't realise how much I actually needed that talk."
"Well, I'm glad I could have been of assistance. As weird and creepy as this entire situation was." She laughs, scratching the side of her head. Although the anxiety inside of her has simmered down, she still feels super uncomfortable for approaching him and now with the information she's gathered, she just feels intrusive. It's personal, what he's going through, and a complete stranger showing up and asking if you're okay is just an invasion of privacy, and she knows if the situation was reversed she'd be super creeped out – probably start looking for a new place to live.
But he seems lighter in a way, the glumness he was radiating when he'd opened the door seems to have disappeared and he seems like a completely different person, which makes her feel a little better and not like some creepy stalker.
"Weird and creepy is good. Beats all the other boring, normal qualities." He smiles, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his robe.
She smiles back at him, before her head dips. "Well, I Guess I'll see you around? And of course, come and complain if the noise starts up again." Her brow can't help but kink in the slightest, a smirk creasing across her lips before she's carefully turning towards the door, reaching out for the handle and turning it as she pulls it open.
"Oh, now I just have to create a lot of noise so my creepy stalker knows I'm okay." He smirks as she shoots him a look, her lips opening wide. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But, I do hope we see each other around, Kate."
She smiles at him, digging her teeth into the corner of her lip as her head nods and she's soon disappearing out of his apartment.
