Castle decides he's done waiting, resulting in a karaoke battle. Multiple songs. A little out of character, seeing as I don't think there's anything that would get him to give up. Rated T for a few naughty words. I had issues getting the songs to format the way I wanted - sorry!
Disclaimer: I own nothing Castle-related or song-related.
It had been over a year since Detective Kate Beckett's shooting at Captain Montgomery's funeral. A year since Rick Castle had told her he loved her. A year of Kate lying to him, still pretending she hadn't heard him. A year of Kate going to therapy and still, they were no closer to being together than they were the previous May.
Six months earlier, Castle decided to do something about it. He asked her to dinner, told her he loved her (again) and that he wanted to start dating. They could go as fast or as slow as she wanted, as long as they were moving forward. She said she still wasn't ready, so he continued to wait. Strike one.
Three months after that, he tried again. Neither of them had touched her mother's case and Castle felt like they were in a holding pattern. Not losing ground necessarily, but not gaining any either. Strike two.
Another month after that, he gave it one more shot. He brought her flowers and explained that he didn't want to pressure her but he needed to know where he stood. She apologized (again), told him that she cared about him but she still wasn't sure. He told her that if she was waiting for the perfect moment, she was being foolish; that perfect moment would never come. He wanted to be there for her to help her work through whatever issues she had left to resolve, but she was determined to do it on her own. Strike three.
Now, today, he decided he was done waiting. For real. If she was so dead-set on keeping him out, he would stay out. Inviting Beckett the guys from the 12th Precinct to the Old Haunt one night, they all sat down at their normal booth in the back corner of the bar. The place was crowded, mostly because of a new feature Rick had introduced - karaoke night. He had set up a small stage on one end of the bar for live music, with a guitar and keyboard pushed to the side, and a karaoke machine set up in the center. Kate could tell something was bothering Castle but she hadn't gotten a chance to talk to him alone all day. After a few rounds of drinks, it was Rick's turn to sing. He made his way to the stage as the music was starting:
Baby what you doing now you're pissing me off
But your hair is so luxurious and your lips are so soft
Anyway you slice it you doing me wrong
But I love the way you walk now and your legs are so long
Well your looks had me putty in your hand now
But I took just as much as I can stand now
And you can walk your long legs baby right out of my life
(So long you did me wrong)
Yeah you can walk your long legs baby right out of my life
(So long you did me wrong)
From the moment that I met you I thought you were fine so fine
But your shitty fucking attitude has got me changing my mind
Everybody tells me I need to let go I know
But your cocoa butter skin now has got me begging for more
Well your heels keep a running through my head now
Tried to deal but I'm coming to the edge now
And you can walk those high heels baby right out of my life
(So long you did me wrong)
Yeah you can walk those high heels baby right out of my life
(So long you did me wrong)
Leave me alone
He set the microphone back in the stand and walked back to the table. Kate looked furious.
"Really?" she said angrily. Ryan and Esposito decided it would be a good time to get another round.
"What?" he asked, pretending to be innocent. "I like that song. I heard it on the radio earlier and it's been in my head all day." He picked up his glass and took a drink, staring her in the eyes the whole time, daring her to react.
"You want to play this game?" she asked. "Fine. We can do this now, in front of everyone. See if I care." She swallowed the rest of her drink and slammed the glass down on the table as she stood. She stormed up to the stage, scrolled through the music on the machine and chose a song. The music started:
Keep drinkin' coffee, stare me down across the table
While I look outside
So many things I'd say if only I were able
But I just keep quiet and count the cars that pass by
You've got opinions, man
We're all entitled to 'em
But I never asked
So let me thank you for time
Try to not waste any more of mine
Get out of here fast
I hate to break it to you babe but I'm not drowning
There's no one here to save
Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died and made you king of anything
You sound so innocent, all full of good intent
You swear you know best
But you expect me to jump up on board with you
Ride off into your delusional sunset
I'm not the one who's lost with no direction oh
But you won't ever see
You're so busy makin' maps with my name on them in all caps
You got the talkin' down just not the listening
And who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died and made you king of anything
All my life
I've tried
To make everybody happy while I
Just hurt
And hide
Waitin' for someone to tell me it's my turn
To decide
Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died and made you king of anything
As the song ended, she headed back to the table. Instead of sitting down, she walked passed Castle and the guys and took a seat at the bar. She ordered another drink and sat by herself, unable to face Rick. A few minutes later, she heard another song start and was surprised to hear his voice.
I want a real love to let me in
I want to zero out and be born again
No more false starts and no dead ends
'Cause I'm no shape to do what's right
I see up as down and black as white
It makes me dizzy I come apart
All this love love love in the dark
Mercy mercy, both hands
I need less drowning and more land
Mercy mercy, understand
Less drowning, more land, less drowing
Lit a fire in the crowd just to watch you move
Tie your hands and demand a salute
All these gardens full of snakes and fruit
Hear the click click click of the camera flash
It's in the definite kick up in the fame ball blast
but they don't call and they don't last and you're gone
Outshined
Mercy mercy, both hands
I need less drowning and more land
Mercy mercy, understand
Less drowning, more land, less drowing
Come on kill the light
Leave it all behind
I'm right by your, right by your side
Lean on the tick of time
Put your hand in in mine
Watch it all, watch it all ignite
By the time the song was finished and Castle returned to the booth, he didn't see Kate sitting at the bar. He scanned the room but she was gone. He regretted choosing that first song; he should've kept his mouth shut and waited like he said he would. Making such a public scene was a huge mistake. He couldn't even blame his behavior on being drunk, which wouldn't make it any better if it was true. He told Ryan and Esposito he was going to call it a night. They uncomfortably said goodbye as he headed toward the basement office.
After an hour-long nap on the couch, Castle woke up and checked his watch. It was just about closing time so he sulked back upstairs. He was shocked to see Kate, sitting at the bar alone. As he walked toward her, he waved to the bartender letting him know he could leave. He didn't need an audience while he got yelled at.
"I thought you left," he said.
She stared at her drink as she answered, "Obviously not."
"Look, Kate, I'm really sorry," he said. "I didn't mean anything by that first song, I'm just an idiot." He sighed, trying to come up with something else to say to make things right. Twelve hours ago, he was frustrated to the point that he actually thought he could live without her. He knew now how completely wrong he was. He could never leave her, even if they never moved past being friends.
She turned to face him, looking hurt. "Do you really feel that way?" she asked. "Do you want me out of your life?"
"No!" he responded quickly. "Absolutely not!" He took both of her hands in his and stared at her with a pleading look in his eyes. "It was a stupid idea, I don't know what I was thinking, I swear. At first I sort of like the song because all the talk about long legs and high heels made me think of you. The rest of it doesn't though, I promise. You have no idea how sorry I am, really."
"It's ok," she said quietly. "I know I haven't made this easy on you." She looked down at their joined hands and smiled. "You were right, you know."
"About what?"
"When you said it's foolish to wait until the perfect moment to take a chance. I'll be waiting forever if I keep doing that." She let go of his hands and stood, wrapping her arms around his waist. Pressing her cheek against his chest, she sighed and said, "I'm sorry too, Rick. I'm so afraid of letting myself take that leap but all I'm doing is hurting you in the process."
He wrapped his arms around her back and said, "Don't apologize, Kate. I promise I won't push you on this anymore."
"I need you to keep pushing, Rick," she said, leaning back to look in his eyes. "I'm ready for this - I really am. I'm so insecure about doing something wrong or making mistakes, I keep doubting myself. I promise you though, I want to be with you. Do you forgive me for making you wait so long?"
"Of course I do, Kate," he said. "Do you forgive me for embarrassing you in front of the entire bar?"
She smiled and tilted her head, considering his apology. "I guess. You can make it up to me by giving me a ki -"
His lips were on hers before she could finish her sentence. Besides their first undercover kiss, which may or may not have counted, it was the most amazing kiss she'd ever had. As they pulled away, she asked, "Can I sing you the song I actually wanted to do earlier? It didn't seem to be the appropriate level of angry at the time but now it seems right."
"I'd love to hear it," he said, gesturing towards the stage.
Kate walked past the karaoke machine and instead picked up the guitar from its stand. Sitting on a stool, she began:
If you were falling, then I would catch you
You need a light, I'd find a match
Cause I love the way you say good morning
And you take me the way I am
If you are chilly, here take my sweater
Your head is aching, I'll make it better
Cause I love the way you call me baby
And you take me the way I am
I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair
Sew on patches to all you tears
I love you more than I could ever promise
And you take me the way I am
You take me the way I am
You take me the way I am
She set the guitar back down and watched Rick. He stood up and moved to the stage, stopping to cup her face with his hands. Kissing her softly, he said, "I love you so much."
She smiled and said, "I love you too, Castle."
"Ok, my turn," he said. "I thought of the perfect song when I was downstairs, after kicking myself for being such a jackass." He moved past her stool and sat down at the keyboard.
"I didn't know you could play the piano," she said, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I can do a lot of things, Detective," he said coyly. "Have you not seen the piano in my apartment? It's not just for decoration, you know." He started to play and she immediately recognized the song. It was one of her favorites that made her cry every time.
I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?
And in a wide sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
He finished the last notes as he looked back at Kate. There were tears streaming down her cheeks. He stood up quickly and went to her side, wrapping his arms around her.
"Kate, what's wrong? Are you ok?" he asked, worried.
"Yes," she answered, wiping her eyes. "How did you know that's one of my favorites?"
He smiled as he replied, "I didn't. Lucky guess, I suppose. I had a playlist on random a few weeks after we met and it came up. It's reminded me of you since then."
"Wow…" she said. "You've really felt that way for that long?"
"In the beginning, it felt like love at first sight but I had been wrong about that before. It kept getting stronger though, and after awhile I figured out it was real. It didn't take long - how could it with someone as extraordinary as you?"
She stood on her toes and kissed him again, this time more eagerly than the last.
"Hurry up and close the bar so we can get out of here," she said.
"Yes ma'am," he said. Maybe karaoke night wasn't such a bad idea after all…
Songs:
Mayer Hawthorne: "The Walk"
Sara Bareilles: "King of Anything"
Matt Nathanson: "Mercy"
Ingrid Michaelson: "The Way I Am"
Ben Fold: "The Luckiest"