An Accidental Kiss
A Castle FanFic
Vol. 1; Ch. 2
(Rating: K+)
Castle and Beckett stepped from the car, still arguing about whether bearclaws or cream-filled doughnuts reigned supreme. Waiting for them, Ryan and Esposito stared, shaking their heads.
"Same car, huh?" Ryan quizzed.
"Nothing's going on guys."
"Uh, huh," Esposito said before looking at Castle to catch a raised eyebrow.
"What've we got?"
Ryan smirked at his partner, then jumped into the details.
"White male, mid-40s, no ID. We found this in his pocket, though."
"Looks like a local number. Let's run his cell and check with any family on why he was out here. He doesn't look like the usual clientele for this part of town."
"Wait," Castle chimed, "He's in a tux, with a purple ribbon on his lapel."
"So? Do you have a theory based on purple ribbons?" Becket asked, resisting an eye roll. She no longer was quick to mock Castle's theories at least until they involved aliens or a CIA cover.
"No theory. I just know where this guy was last night."
"Where?"
"My launch party."
Beckett tacked up the victim's photo on the murder board and scribbled a few more facts on the timeline, narrowing the kill zone to some time between midnight and 2 a.m., which meant their victim was killed shortly after leaving Castle's party. Esposito slid next to Beckett to check the latest on her work.
"Castle get an ID yet?"
"Not yet. Doesn't look like our vic was an official guest, his name doesn't appear on any of the guest lists."
"A stray?"
"Get with Ryan and start interviewing some of the partygoers; see if anyone caught a glimpse of this guy or talked to him."
"No need," Castle interrupted as he strode along Beckett's desk and positioned her daily coffee.
"You got a name?"
"Brett Sebastian."
"Who's he?"
"Don't know."
"Castle!"
"Wow. Miss Ungrateful Pants." Castle turned to Ryan to finish reporting.
"I don't know WHO he is, but I know WHY he was there." Castle waited for the reply, always intent on building drama.
The three detectives glanced at each other to see who would bite. Kate finally jumped in. "OK, Castle, why?"
"He's me. I mean he was supposed to be me, my double."
"Your double?"
"Yes, a lot of these book signings get a little out-of-hand, and there's no way one person can sign 500 copies in just a few hours, so …"
"You cheat," Esposito chimed.
"I like to think of it as effective use of my time."
"But, I don't remember seeing him," Kate followed.
"They set him up in the back to sign my signature before stacking the books out front. And, besides you were a little busy."
Kate's scowl at Castle was not missed by Ryan and Esposito who cocked their heads in confusion.
"So, we've got …"
"Wait," Esposito interrupted, "Why was she busy?"
"No reason, just helping out as Nikki Heat."
"We're not buyin' that load of crap. Come on. Did something happen between you two? A fight? Hand holding? A kiss?"
Castle smiled; Kate's eyes shot to the floor.
"You kissed her, bro!"
Castle shook his head and discreetly pointed his index finger toward Kate.
"YOU kissed HIM! Why, Detective Beckett, do tell," Ryan scooted closer on the desk to hear her response, his smirk threatening to break into a booming smile.
"Nothing happened. Can we just get back to the case?"
"No, I don't think we can," Esposito responded. "Not until we get details."
"You want details! We have a murder victim who's counting on us to find his killer and all you two can do is pump Writer Boy's ego for the sake of whatever bet you've got going!" Kate capped the marker and slammed the case file on the desk before heading to the breakroom.
The smiles disappeared. Castle headed for the breakroom door and leaned against the frame, watching her pace the floor in front of the espresso machine before finally deciding to use it.
"Can I come in?"
"What do you want Castle."
"I just want to say I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you out there."
"You didn't embarrass me."
"Then, why are you in here, staring at a corner, rubbing your mom's necklace like a Genie bottle?"
Kate turned around and looked at him, catching Castle by surprise. Her eyes were filled with emotion as the necklace dropped, torturing Castle with a sudden tightness of guilt.
"I just wish she was here to help me. Moms are supposed to tell you what to do in these situations."
"What situations?"
Kate smiled at his denseness.
"She's supposed to offer wise advice on what to do when you kiss someone you shouldn't, regret it … and then want to kiss him again."
"Really?"
"Don't gloat Castle."
"Not gloating. This is me not gloating."
Kate flashed a grin, drawing a sympathetic return.
"It doesn't have to be hard, Kate," Castle consoled, reaching for her hand, tracing his thumb across her fingers. "The heart wants what the heart wants, remember?"
He leaned to kiss the back of her hand and started to stand when he saw Kate's face and stopped. He knew that look, but he'd never seen it from Beckett.
Before she had a chance to rethink, Castle stepped toward her, moving his hands onto the side of her face and slowly touching his lips to hers. The softness intrigued them both and their bodies responded. Kate slipped a hand under his jacket and pulled him tight against her before remembering where they were.
She broke the kiss and wiped her lips. "We can't do this here."
"Then, have dinner with me. Tonight. My place. My mother is on a college trip with Alexis and I really don't like being by myself. You know what kind of mischief I get in when left alone."
Kate closed her eyes. It was now or never.
"OK."
Castle nearly skipped. "I'll send a driver to pick you up."
"No need, Castle, I can take a taxi just like everyone else."
"For our first date? No way. You aren't everyone else anymore. You're my date." He smiled and brushed his thumb across her chin.
"Now, what are we gonna do about this Brett character?"
To Be Continued
