Chapter One

So, this is the first story I've had the guts to publish here! I'd love any kind of feedback. :D I'm going to do my absolute best to keep it well updated, but I can't promise anything on how often that will be. . Basically, just enjoy! Title is from the lovely Coldplay song, 'Fix You'. ~Murph

"No. No way in HELL."

Kate Beckett's face was the very picture of mortified, eyebrows risen so they almost disappeared beneath her wave of hair, hazel eyes widened to make two giant circles. In comparison Richard Castle, sitting in the chair next to her, had a wide grin of amusement spreading over his characteristic face.

"It's a big ass company Beckett, they don't want cops interrogating their customers. If you want to find this killer, the best way to do it is to pretend you're one of the visitors." Esposito couldn't help a sly grin. "Besides, we all know that the pair of you act like a married couple anyway."

"A whole week? Pretending to be married to HIM, on a honeymoon?" Beckett shook her head fiercely. "Send someone else. Or let me do my job properly. I'm not an actress, I'm a cop."

"I don't know, you've proved to me many a time you're capable of acting to get what you want." Castle's eyes flashed, and he lowered his voice slightly. "I shall never forget that Russian accent."

Ryan and Esposito's badly-disguised snorts only increased the tension on her face, and she grit her teeth. "Sir, there has to be another way to-"

"There isn't." Captain Montgomery smiled, the picture of innocence. "It's only one week Beckett. Besides, you both could do with a break."

"A BREAK? What do you expect us to be doing?" The Detective's mouth opened slightly in disbelief. "You don't mean you're intending us to actually have a holiday?"

"It will make it a lot easier to find the killer behind all this if you blend in. So yes, that means relaxing, taking part in the activities, and enjoying the island."

Beckett just shook her head, unable to believe her ears.

Castle was virtually beaming. "I can't wait to see you drive a quad-bike."

"Fifty bucks they're a couple by the end of this." It was fortunate Beckett was several rooms away, because Ryan's stage-whisper was anything but subtle.

"That's a sucker's bet, bro." Esposito rolled his eyes. "Even Beckett's going to break after a few days of that." He shook the leaflet, eyebrows raised.

"If she overhears that, you might be the one being broken." Lanie appeared behind them, coming to confirm news for herself. "It's really going ahead then?"

"She didn't get much of a choice." Ryan admitted, somewhat grudgingly. "But she'd have said yes anyway."

"I'm sure." Lanie raised her eyebrows, looking somewhat out of place in her clean white clothes and plastic gloves. "This is undercover work to the extreme. Even for them."

"At least they booked a two bedroom." The glint in Ryan's eyes was rather deadly. "Just imagine.."

Esposito had a sly grin creeping onto his face, and lowered his voice. "Come on, it's Valentines day next week. I don't think the Captain's influence was entirely in the name of justice."

"And what makes you think that?"

The group almost jumped out their skins as Captain Montgomery appeared without warning at Ryan's shoulder, face fixed in a stern frown.

"I, eh, just.." Esposito's mouth worked open and shut a few times then he gave up. Ryan and Lanie exchanged a quick glance, mouths set to muffle the laughter.

"My decision was entirely in the name of justice." The Captain swept his powerful gaze around them, before treating them to a slight smile. "If it's not justice to give that woman a break, I don't know what is."

In unison everyone span round to stare across the precinct, over to the bullpen where Beckett was lost in thought, perched on the desk with her eyes set on the almost blank board.

Lanie nodded appreciately. "That girl needs some time in a spa. With writer boy or not."

"It's more like an ultimate training camp than a spa." Ryan's brows joined as he swept his eyes briefly down the leaflet. "Can anyone else see Beckett going for this? She'll probably spend the whole time in her room trying to puzzle out the case than...well, doing water sports or riding horses."

"Which is why we packed Castle along with her." Esposito shot his partner a 'keep up, will you?' look.

"I can see Castle being plenty happy to stay in an apartment with her." Lanie put in, smirking slightly.

"They won't find out a thing by staying inside, and Beckett knows that. They need to get to know the other visitors, as much as they can get without directly canvassing them." The Captain glanced quickly over to check the Detective hadn't overheard the rest of her team plotting against her. "Trust me, she won't have a choice."

"Won't have a choice in what?"

This time even the Captain jumped. Castle glanced back and forth, one eyebrow raised, before his expression sank into that of extreme suspicion. "What's this cosy little gathering about?"

A small silence fell as the others debated about explaining to him, but it turned out there was no need. There was a tapping of heels from the bullpen, and a few moments later Beckett appeared behind Lanie, face like thunder.

"I think she read the board properly." Ryan mumbled.

"The flight's tomorrow morning?" Her voice resembled how Castle imagined would be the vocal equivilent to icicles.

"We didn't mention that?" Esposito's voice was a bite on the too innocent side, and suddenly everyone was very interested in random objects around the precinct.

Beckett schooled her features into something less livid. "Lanie. My apartment. Now."

"Major girl clothes packing due." Lanie gave the group a cheerful wave before being dragged into the elevator by Beckett, the doors shutting before she even had a chance to point out she was still in her work clothes.

"She never actually had a choice, did she?" Even Castle was incredulous, turning to the Captain. "You couldn't have got tickets that fast otherwise."

Montgomery gave him a casual shrug. "Don't sound so surprised. We just let her think she does."

"Now get packing Castle. And don't forget those luxury boxers.." Ryan did a fake swoon, reducing he and Esposito to badly concealed hysterics.

Castle shot him a long look before heading for the elevator too, attempting to sweep his jacket off with a whirl and almost bringing the entire hanger on top of him.

"We'll get it!" Ryan was having far too much fun. "Save your precious time for choosing what deodrants you're going to use on Beckett.."

The doors thunked shut, and Castle finally let his grumpy expression spring into one of excitement. He couldn't help but wonder at how much thought Beckett seemed to be planning to put into choosing what she was bringing..

"I can't believe I'm going along with this."

Kate stalked around the main room of her apartment like a wet cat, heels clipping the floor as loud as she could make them.

Curled up on her sofa, head resting in her her hand, Lanie grinned at her. "I think you're more worried about spending a week living with Castle. What to wear, what to say, how to do your hair.."

She was treated with a withering look in response, but then Kate fell back on the sofa with a sigh of defeat. "Don't you start too."

Lanie's smirk turned to sympathy. "Look girl, you do need a break. You work all day every day, and it's not an easy job. Even cops take holidays."

Her friend shut her eyes, flipping a wave of her hair away from where it was crowding her face. "I'm not getting the feeling that this one's going to be the relaxing spa holiday you're cracking it up to be."

"Or maybe you're just trying to make sure it won't be?" Lanie narrowed her eyes. "Come on. I guarentee this will appeal more once we plan your wardrobe." Jumping to her feet, she dragged Kate to her feet and almost skipped through into her bedroom, flinging open the doors to her closet.

"Lanie, this is a murder investigation-" Kate started to argue, then gave up, perching on the corner of her bed chewing her bottom lip. Clearly she wasn't going to get any choice at all in how this one went.

"Aaand, you're going to on a romantic honeymoon break. You have to look the PART, girl." Her friend had a devilish smile on her face as she took an armful of hangers, flinging them over her shoulder and rifling for more. "So we need the sexy, clingy dinner dress, THE underwear, some shorts.."

Kate scrunched up her face in disdain, but there was a grin hovering on the corners of her mouth. It was a while since the two friends had been sitting here with nothing on their minds other than clothes planning. It was enough to make her happy to play along..for now.

"You seriously...really? This is still here?" Lanie held up a vibrant pink dress, one eyebrow raised high up her forehead. "I thought we agreed this one was for the shredder."

She couldn't hold back a sheepish smile this time. "Oh. I kept meaning to, I just forgot."

"I think I'll take it back with me just to be sure." Her friend shot her a somewhat worried look. "I wouldn't want to risk Castle seeing you in that."

Ignoring the jibe, Kate winced at a painful memory. "Yeah...that pink wasn't really my colour."

"This on the other hand? That's for the evening on the balcony.." Lanie threw in a summery dress on top of the pile, unhooking another armful of things and tossing them on the floor. Kate gave up on the nonchalance, settled onto her knees and dug in after.

Within an hour, the entire contents of Kate's wardrobe had been sorted into a messy assortment of piles strewn over the floor. It practically looked like the apartment had been bombed again.

"I can't see all that fitting in a suitcase." She pointed out, casting a doubtful look over pile her friend had assigned 'going'.

Lanie snorted. "Me? I take about three suitcases on holiday. I think you'll manage." She sat back to admire her handywork, nodding appreciatively. "He's going to worship me."

"Who?" Kate stiffened. "Lanie. I'm not dressing up for Castle. My cover is someone on their honeymoon, I'm just...fitting the part."

"Uhuh." Lanie's eyes glinted at her. "I'll say no more." Getting to her feet she danced to the door, the offensive pink dress tucked under one arm. "I'll be there to wave you and Writer boy off tomorrow."

Kate opened her mouth to protest, but her friend had already left. With a heavy sigh, she threw the assortment of unwanted clothes back in the wardrobe, and the rest into two bags, before settling against her bed frame, one hand running through her hair. She was never going to hear the end of this.