A/N: thank you for your reviews on the last chapter, they really do make me happy! We're actually going back in time right now, to after Flowers for your Grave..so yeah, chapter one hasn't happened yet ;)

Timing: anytime after Beckett has found out Castle will be following her, but before Nanny McDead.

"So, you looking forward to having Richard Castle follow you around for a bit?" Lanie asked Kate. They were at Kate's apartment, Lanie having been invited over at very short notice due to Kate being grumpy and needing someone to drink with.

"Oh yeah, I can't wait for some egotistical, self-centered, playboy, jackass to annoy me all day at work," Kate replied sarcastically. She was dreading it, she absolutely hated Richard Castle, but as her Captain had explained, she wasn't getting out of it.

"He can't be that bad," Lanie said and suddenly realised that was the wrong thing to say at this moment.

"What do you mean not that bad? He's incorrigible, he has the attention span of an excited puppy, is like I nine year old on a sugar rush and doesn't listen to a word I say!" She took a deep breath and Lanie thought she had finished but apparently there was still more that Kate disliked about Richard Castle. "He doesn't care about the victims, he just wants material for his new book. He has this bad boy charm thing going on that drives me insane and I swear all he wants from me is sex. God I hate him," she finished finally.

"And you don't want to sleep with him?" Lanie asked.

"Lanie! Out of everything I just said about him and that's what you focus on?"

"Well how can you blame me? The man is gorgeous, he's funny, he's a millionaire and he wants you. You're stupid to not go there," Lanie stated simply. She thought Kate was an idiot, there was no way Castle was as bad as Kate was making him out to be, the girl just needed to loosen up and have a little fun. Ha, that'd be the day.

"Lanie," she grumbled, "you know me, you know I don't care how much money he has. In fact, I think it makes it worse in this case, just makes him so much more..more.."

"More what?" Lanie pressed.

"Ugh, I don't know. I just..I can't stand him! Do you know what he said to me at the end of the Tisdale case?" Lanie shook her head. "He asked me out to dinner, for a debriefing. I mean seriously? He's so fucking full of himself, I don't know how anyone can stand to be around him!"

"And you said no? Girl, are you crazy?!"

"Well I didn't just say no.." A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.

"Okay, what did you say?"

"He said it would have been great.."

"And?"

"I told him he had no idea." She bit her lip, just as she had done during that conversation with Castle.

Lanie let out a laugh, god that girl was amazing. "And that's why he came back," she said, "I bet he's used to women rolling over whenever he says - but you? Well, you're a challenge to him."

"I don't want to be a challenge to him, I just want him to leave me alone!" Kate grumbled.

"Do you?" Lanie asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I..what is that supposed to mean?"

Lanie pursed her lips, trying her hardest to suppress a smile - Kate hadn't answered her question. "I don't know girl, you tell me?" Kate remained silent, waiting for Lanie to expand on her comments. "Ever heard of the phrase 'the lady doth protest too much'?"

"Yes, I have read Shakespeare." Kate replied snappily. This conversation was so not going the way she had envisioned it.

"Great, and I'm sure Castle knows Shakespeare too, given his profession, you've got something in common already!"

"Oh stop it. I don't want the man around but I don't have a choice."

"You do." Lanie said quietly.

"What?" Kate's head snapped up," "I told you what Montgomery told me, the mayor has practically insisted that Castle follow me around. Damn the man for having the freaking mayor on speed dial."

"Kate, I know how much you mean to Montgomery. He looks at you like a daughter, if you really didn't want Castle around then all you'd have to do is say and Montgomery would get rid of him, mayor on speed dial or not," Lanie said. She had a feeling Kate knew this already but was going with the 'I want him here but I'm going to pretend to hate him' routine. She knew why, she knew Kate didn't let people in and from what she'd seen of Castle herself so far, he was the kinda guy to poke and prod into peoples lives.

"I..no..I don't think..that's.." She sighed. Was Lanie right? Did she really want Castle around?

"Mm, well I think that's my answer," Lanie smiled. "So, why are you pretending you don't want him following you? I think it could be fun..especially if you agree to the whole debriefing thing - I want details!"

"Oh, I don't know. He drives me insane..but I haven't been this entertained at work in..well, ever." Lanie raised her eyebrows. "Okay, I'll admit it, he can be a little fun," she conceded and Lanie practically squealed. "Do you really think he'd be as good as the others have said he is? In the bedroom, I mean," she asked thoughtfully. "Oh don't look so pleased with yourself, I'm not sleeping with him, not ever, I was just wondering, now that you've met him..what do you think?"

"Yeah well, never say never," Lanie winked and Kate rolled her eyes. "But yes, I honestly think he's as good as they say. I mean, have you seen those hands? Girl, that man totally knows what he's doing in the bedroom and I still say you should find out."

"Mm, you would. Told Javi you've got the hots for him yet, have you?" She teased. Lanie had blurted it out one night after a few too many drinks but she was convinced Espo wouldn't be interested in her - not that she was letting it have a chance.

"Katherine Beckett I told you that in confidence when I was drunk!"

"Oh relax, I haven't told anyone. I just think you're being a bit hypocritical, that's all."

"Yeah, but Javi is Javi. This is Richard freaking Castle we're talking about. Trust me, if he asked, I definitely would."

"Mm, you're welcome to him if you want. Perhaps he can get an inside look on how the morgue runs.." Kate suggested wistfully. Chance would be a fine thing.

"Oh no, it's you he wants. Not that I blame him, mind. No, he'd have to be either blind, stupid or gay not to want you!"

"Well, I think it's safe to say he isn't gay," she finished her third glass of wine and poured herself another glass. "Anyway, I think I'll just carry on the way I am, hope he gets bored and leaves me alone in a couple of weeks."

"Trust me, you'll change your mind soon enough," Lanie smirked and Kate rolled her eyes once again.

A/N: reviews would make me happier than chocolate. And chocolate makes me happy.

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