Author Note: Because I'm Widget demanded it, Sucker Punch continues…
Chapter 2
The low light of dusk and a smooth breeze met Rick Castle as he exited the precinct. It was a pleasant evening and one which he hoped would continue to be so in the company of his ex wife and agent, Gina. He pondered a moment on those two descriptors and wondered if any outsider would consider such a person good social company. He shook it off, crediting his apprehension to his wandering imagination.
He followed Gina to the passenger side of his car and was a about the open the door for her when his cell phone came alive to the tune of 'Monster Mash'.
Gina rolled her eyes.
Castle opened her door absently as he fished the phone from his pocket.
Beckett.
He had only left her a few minutes ago and wondered what could be so important that she would need to call him now.
"I need to take this," he told Gina, now seated in the car. She folded her arms in irritation.
He stepped away from the car and accepted the call.
"Miss me already," he said, magnanimously.
His opening statement was met with momentary silence.
"…If I didn't have something monumentally important to tell you, I'd reach through this phone and slap you being so presumptuous."
Castle stopped walking. Her words and the somber tone of them cut through his façade.
"Is everything ok, Kate?" he asked, intentionally using her first name.
"No, Rick," she replied sharply. "Everything is definitely not okay."
"What's up? I just left you. Has something happened?"
"I'm on my way down to talk to you. Don't leave."
Castle was used to taking orders from Beckett, but this wasn't a case and he really wasn't in the mood to be dictated to. "We were just leaving. Can it wait? I thought you said it whatever it was we needed to talk about could wait."
"Dammit, Castle," she said, angrily. "You can be such an ass, sometimes, without even trying. What floor are you on?"
"Two."
"Meet me by the door to the garage entrance. I'll be there in five minutes."
"What do I tell Gina?" he replied a bit nervously.
"I'd be more concerned about what you're going to tell me," Beckett said, and disconnected the call.
Castle returned to the car and approached Gina's window. "It was Beckett. She has something to tell me that can't wait."
"So, what you're telling me is that I'm going to have to wait?" Gina replied, icily.
Castle's previously sheepish grin, hardened slightly. "Yes, I guess that's what I'm telling you."
Gina's eyes looked straight ahead, away from his.
Castle was waiting by the door when Beckett came out. He watched her look in every direction, then land on him. He was leaning against a concrete pylon with a Navy blue number two hovering over his head like a halo.
She looked nervous and vulnerable. Her hands were firmly in her pockets and, at first, she couldn't meet his eyes. He noticed this kind of uncertainty in her when she was trying to tell him something in the hall. She had been such a force of nature on the phone, but the woman before him seemed broken somehow. He opened his mouth to speak but she beat him to it.
"I'm not with Demming anymore," she declared without preamble. "I broke up with him earlier…this afternoon."
Castle stood stock still, recovering slowly from the figurative bat which had just cracked his skull.
"Something has definitely happened," he finally said. "But why did you wait til now to tell me?"
Beckett immediately rejected a retort about how obtuse he was being in favor of a more direct answer.
"I suppose you wanted me to spill my guts in front of Gina?" she answered, her tone rife with sarcasm. "I'm sure that little id bit would have made for a good addition to 'Heat Wave'."
Castle was completely surprised by Beckett's aggressiveness. He didn't know where the venom was coming from.
"I'm going to ignore that last comment," he replied, seriously. "But, I think you have something to say that needs to be said now."
"Yeah," she said in a short breath. "I do. I want you to know, Rick, that this, here, is not how I pictured it in my head. I never intended to chase you down the stairs and hold you…and Gina hostage. When I asked you to come into the hall, I wanted to tell you something private. It's not about work, though that has been a large part of it; it's about us."
"About…us," he said, skeptically. "What does that mean, Kate?"
"It means that I've finally gotten a taste of what my life might be like without you. And I don't like it. It...hurts."
Castle didn't know what to say. Demming was out. Just like that. Beckett was standing in front of him for all intents and purposes, pouring her heart out.
"How is that possible?" he finally said. "Nothing can hurt Kate Beckett. You're a rock; an unbroken, immovable object."
Beckett scowled at him. "If that meant to cheer me somehow it failed miserably. As long as we're using the analogy, I guess that makes you the unstoppable force."
He smiled sadly. "Hardly. If that were the case, we'd be butting heads all the time."
She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "Are you blind, Castle? We butt heads all the time."
He shook his head and smirked. "I'll give you some of the time, maybe even most of the time, but not all of the time."
"Can't you just shut up for a second?" she said harshly, raising her hands to motion cupping her ears. "Just be quiet!"
"Don't you get it, Castle," she almost pleaded. "I'm trying to tell you that I'm willing to give us a chance. In all the time we've spent together, I've never taken you…I mean, I've taken what you've given for granted. I think it's because you couch every compliment or act of kindness in silliness and crass innuendo. But the fact is, you've shown me that you care; that my happiness is important to you. I just never saw past the sarcasm and class clown antics, however fun and funny they might have been. You've been an invaluable part of the team. But, more importantly, you've been invaluable to me. You took me in when I had no place to live. I just never.,,"
"…Never thought I was for real?" he finished for her.
"The things I thought I knew about you, the things I saw with my own eyes never gave me reason to believe you wanted any more than a another conquest. At least, that what my head was telling me. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but my heart wanted something with you. I think it could see through your bluster."
Castle had to admit this was weird. Conflicting thoughts and emotion swirled within him.
Beckett was talking about her heart. Awkward. Beckett was confessing real feelings. Fascinating. Beckett was nervous. Impossible. Beckett was saying she wanted to give him a chance. Awesome!
Kate put and hand on his lapel. She looked into his eyes expectantly. "Say something," she whispered.
Kiss her. Don't kiss her. Tell her what you feel. Save yourself the trouble. It's what you've been waiting for. She'll break your heart.
TBC
