Staring at himself in the bathroom mirror, he tried to steady his breathing as the realisation dawned on him. He was in love and it hadn't occurred to him until he had seen her kiss Demming. He had felt a strange crumbling in his chest that he hadn't experienced since he'd walked in on Meredith and her director.
But this was worse.
This physically hurt.
He'd brought up the Hampton's with pure intentions - well, mostly pure - just to see if there was a spark. If they could work domestically like they did at work, with such acute precision that they could share the same thoughts. He wanted to see how serious she was about this new man and for now it seemed that she was staying true, but something in her eyes said she really wanted to say yes to the Hampton's holiday. If he could just convince her.
She was in the middle of talking to Tom about their plans when the thought popped into her head. She was talking about her plans with Tom, but thinking about her possible plans with Castle. This was crazy! Espo's words kept echoing in her head - "Why do you think he's been following you around all this time?" - she didn't know, she thought there was something there on those odd occasion where he isn't driving her crazy but it's Richard Playboy Sleep-and-run Castle. He was a ladies man, he didn't care about her, he just wants her to satisfy his curiosity and then he'll leave like the rest of them.
But one thing was for sure. She couldn't string along Tom while her head was like this. Overloaded with Castle. There was only one thing to do.
End it.
She had to know, she needed to know what her and Castle were, why he had invited her. And before she can stop herself, she's asked him to talk in private. She takes the lead dragging him into the interrogation room and locking the door, not really wanting an audience when she bears her soul. She grits her teeth. (Well, no turning back now)
She turns away from him but compensates her voice so he can still hear. "Look, I need to know what this invitation means before I can give my answer."
He's confused but he silently thanks The Lord that she's looking away so she can't see that he's shaking. Nerves raw from an internal battle to tell her the truth or to lie.
"Just a friendly holiday, no funny business, just partners." Lie it is then.
Her heart stops as tears begin to fill her eyes. It's worse than she imagined. It wasn't that he didn't want anything more than to sleep with her. He didn't even want that! She dragged in a shaky breath in a failed attempt to calm herself down.
"Oh, okay."
He didn't understand, she sounded disappointed! She was the one with a boyfriend and did everything she could to tell him that they were never going to happen so what was she expecting!
He could feel himself becoming angered at the thought of her spending the time with Demming instead of him and couldn't hold back the words that fell out if his mouth.
"Well what were you expecting Kate? A holiday affair before you return to your REAL boyfriend? You've made it clear you don't have feelings for me an there's only so many times you can bang your head against a brick wall before you get a headache and believe me, I'm done with trying to stand the pain."
"I understand, I'm sorry I just got the wrong -" she couldn't bear to finish her sentence, she needed out, now! She whisked around aiming for the exit. That's when Castle saw her properly, tears streaming down her face, her body quivering. She was so vulnerable. So perfect.
Without thinking he had grabbed her and placed a firm yet tender kiss to her lips, unable to control himself and just wanting to make her smile again.
"Don't kiss me." Well she wasn't sad anymore, in fact, she looked PISSED.
"How dare you, toying with me, saying we're just friends and then kissing me. I mean shit if you just said you just wanted to fuck me and leave because you didn't feel the same I would've been able to deal with it because at least then I'd know where I stood with you. But kissing me and saying we're FRIENDS!? Why wou-"
He'd cut her off, unable to listen to anything else she had to say "Me toying with you Beckett? Are you serious? I don't want to be friends with you! I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU!"
