Author's note : It's been a while since I wrote in english. So bear with me. But I'm happy to hear every critic. This is not beta'd.
I don't like song fics, but this is one because, well it's that idea that popped in my head. No lyrics in it, because that's what I hate. This isn't quite the kind of story I wanted to write but I'm starting again. I'm testing the waters, sort of.
Disclaimer : I don't own anything.
Having a famous novelist for partner had its perks. Kate Beckett was able to recognize as much. Last week, her shadow offered tickets for Jason Mraz's concert. For all the gang. So, as she stood, enjoying said concert, with Lanie, Esposito, Ryan and Jenny, she could admit that Richard Castle was not just an annoying man-child.
"Where's Castle ?", asked Esposito, stepping away from Lanie and leaning closer to Beckett so she would hear him over the music.
"How would I know ? He said he had someone to see. Haven't seen him since", she answered loudly. Castle had left them some twenty minutes ago, disappearing into the crowd to the back of the venue. She smirked at Esposito before adding : "Miss him already ?"
"He said he would bring beer !", Esposito pouted but turned back to the concert.
When Castle finally joined them again, he was indeed carrying beers.
"Man ! Took you long enough !". Esposito grunted, passing the beers along to Ryan, Jenny and Lanie who were standing in front of him.
"You're welcome !", Castle shouted at him. « It's so easy to carry four glasses in a crowd", he mumbled. He drew nearer to Beckett :
"You're sure you didn't want one ?", he asked Beckett, leaning in so he spoke directly in her ear. She shook her head. Her hair brushed his face with the movement and she saw his eyes closing for a moment, his lips curving upwards. He was smelling cherries.
"How would you have transported it anyway ?", she asked loudly.
He leaned back so he could look her in the eyes. "I would have found a way".
The concert ended and the crowd was walking towards the exists. But Castle steered them to the left side of the stage.
"I have a surprised" He exclaimed, smiling broadly. "Hey Jerry !" He bumped his fist with the security guard as the large man let them enter backstage. The three detectives and the medical examiner, used to the author's antics, rolled their eyes. Jenny, on the other hand, was in awe.
"Don't tell me we're gonna meet Jason Mraz ?", she asked excitedly.
"We are", Castle simply replied, happy to have impressed at least one person.
The corridors were pretty busy with musicians and technicians, but with Castle's guidance, they quickly found the artist's dressing-room.
"Rick, he greeted. What's up ?"
Castle bowed "Enjoying yet another concert. Thank you. I want you to me meet the finest of the NYPD. Detectives Kate Beckett, Kevin Ryan, and his fiancée, Jenny, Javier Esposito and Dr Lanie Parish. » Pleasantries and compliments were exchanged and the group enjoyed a nice little chat. Castle was standing back. Beckett noticed he was very quiet and gave him a look, lifting an eyebrow. Her partner just shrugged. After a few more minutes, he butted in the conversation.
"...Jason, you must be tired. We better let you rest."
"Oh, yes, sorry", the others added. "Thank you again. The concert was really great !"
"Don't worry, it's always nice to meet new people", the star said, shaking their hands. "Rick, I'm still waiting for another song."
This spiked Lanie's curiosity : "'Another' song ? Castle ?" Her eyes went from the singer to the author.
"He didn't tell you ? He wrote a song on the album We Sing, We Dance, We st..."The artist stopped mid-sentence, noticing his friend wildly shaking his head. "And I guess I shouldn't have mentioned it ?" He then mouthed "sorry" to Castle, who was hurrying everyone out the door.
But this piece of information was not yet forgotten. Once on the sidewalk outside, the detectives decided to grill the author. They were intrigued that Castle would hide this, when he was so proud of his writing.
"Come one, Castle, spill !, deadpanned Ryan, like he was interrogating a suspect. Which song it is ?"
"I didn't write it per say"
"So there is a song...", noted Esposito.
Castle sighed heavily. Beckett took pity oh her partner. But just a little. "I didn't know you wrote songs Castle. That's great. Why wouldn't own to it ?"
Castle looked at them. Ryan and Esposito stern stares, Jenny and Lanie amused smiles, Beckett smirk and arched eyebrow. He sighed again and decided to talk.
"He's a friend. At a party, we talked about... something and he said it would make a great song. So he took some things I said and turned them into lyrics. I didn't wrote any song. I just... gave him ideas. Happy ?"
"Which song ?", Jenny pushed, surprising everyone.
"Ah.. I'm not telling", Castle insisted. "Now... It's late. See you on monday, guys, Good night", he quickly added. He hailed a cab and went off. The others stood there shaking their head.
It was barely nine, the following morning. Esposito cursed whoever was calling him this early on a sunday. He rolled over in the bed and picked his cell-phone up on the nightstand, not bothering checking the caller ID.
"Esposito... What the ?... And ?... Seriously ?.. What does it say ?... No !.. Yeah, I'll tell her. You too, man." He hung up and turn to face a still sleepy Lanie on the other side of the bed.
"That was Ryan. Jenny found the song : If it kills me..."
This woke her up : "Not the song with the guy in love with his best friend and the 'you know nothing' and the 'can't say it even after all we've been through'", she cited, sitting up.
"That one", he confirmed.
"Well..."
"Well..."
They looked at each other, contemplating.
"I don't know what to do with this piece of information", Lanie finally stated.
"I say we let it rest, Esposito nodded, as if to convince himself. He'll find a way."
End.
Author's note/disclaimer bis : The song is If it kills me by Jason Mraz, and of course, Richard Castle didn't write it. I guess it's Jason Mraz himself.