December 23rd, Detective Kate Beckett is putting her stuff in her purse, ready to go. It was about 4pm one of these rare days she is leading home so early.
Castle, who was at the break room, making himself coffee was surprised she was about to leave already. He observed her while waiting for his coffee to be finished, he was about to spent the next 3 hours at the precinct...with her. « Without her, it is just useless » he thought. So he made another quick look at her desk, and « oh no...she's gone ». He panicked and ran at the door to finally see her in relief with the boys, they didn't talk that loud so he couldn't here, he didn't know what to do, go between the guys and her without his coffee to be in the conversation or wait for his coffee to be done in only 1 second. He found it so long, so he picked his cup quickly and almost ran to the door then slow down his pace to make it look like he was just fine. Not knowing Kate already put her jacket on that made no doubt she was leaving for the day. Then he made his entrance to the group.
- « Hey Beckett, don't tell me you give up! » with a smirk on his face. She turned around, facing Castle.
-« No, actually I just told the boys I have to leave early...some stuff to do. » She pauses a while as she saw him become a bit nervous, joining his both hands on the burning coffee cup. She continued « Anyway, they can handle this very well. They are doing few calls to verify alibis ». Castle's face became more serious, he realized she was actually leaving, « she leaves now...so I'll see her...wait...there is Christmas coming next week then that trip he promised to his daughter ... they only come back to NY on new year's eve ». He realized indeed, he wouldn't be able to see her in weeks. He was about to talk, tell Beckett that long program to finally come up with a date in his mind but then he remembered « Oh no, Paula planned to do that « happy new year » writer party ». He didn't remember when so he was more sorry for not knowing when he would be able to step in the precinct again.
-« Castle? » she interrupted his thoughts, raising an eyebrow as she thought responding with a silly joke could have been a better idea. -« Yeah...huh...stuff hun? » he said to know more about those stuff she planned to do. Because just then he only wanted to spend his free hours with her. Free was the right word, Alexis and Martha would take him to the malls and spend God knows how many hours there. But he was more concerned on not seeing his favorite detective for such a long time. He knew he would miss her.
-« Well Castle, I have a life you know, I am not handcuffed to my desk », she said that may bring her Castle back. It was worst, he dropped his head down staring at his coffee like hiding his face from her. She was lost, she thought a joke was a better answer. By this time, the boys went busy on their task and she stepped closer to Castle trying to reach his face with her eyes. That was so awkward, since when Richard Castle seemed to be shy?
He didn't really appreciate the joke, « handcuff » the keyword to the « next time » his hope in a relationship with Kate. And the « I have a life » he feared she was sending signs about her dating some dude. He was so jealous, he felt it in his lungs so he wrapped that coffee very tightly in his hand, his mouth closed and it was then he looked down to his coffee. « Damned...I won't let her go » he thought rising his head, showing a great smile and « Oh » when he realized she was closer. She was surprised, what was that smile for ?
