"Between Ticks"
By December21st
Fandom: Castle
Rating: PG
Pairing: Castle/Beckett
Warnings: Spoilers for "Tick, Tick, Tick …"
Summary: There is time between the ticks of a clock.
Response to the Castleland writing challenge "Redo". The challenge was to write a drabble (100-200 words) that starts off with an event from show and change the end result of the scene.
"What, with your vast arsenal of rapier wit?" Beckett retorts.
"There is a madman gunning for you because of me. I am not. Going to leave you. Alone." Castle argues stubbornly.
Beckett shrugs in resignation, crossing in front of Castle as he stands to pour the wine from her glass into his. They're inches from each other, Beckett drawing in a breath to say something, when she pauses. Beckett looks into Castle's face, her expression almost startled, while he stares into her eyes with a questioning look.
Their lips meet tentatively at first, then with growing intensity. Beckett's wrists rest gently on Castle's shoulders, her fingers lightly touching the back of his neck. Castle's hands settle tentatively on Beckett's hips. They're drawn together an eternity when Beckett finally pulls away, her eyes slightly glazed.
"Castle, we can't. Not now, not like this."
Castle doesn't protest, making an understanding noise in the back of his throat.
Beckett's halfway to her bedroom when Castle finally speaks.
"Kate? You'll let me know when we can?"
She smiles. "I'll let you know."
