Remember this
A/N: I love that you guys explain why you like something in a chapter! It has helped me a lot while writing this chapter. Now, did Johanna break up Castle's date on purpose? Who knows! Oh wait- I do. Ha.
Disclaimer: Well, the characters are not mine. I am, however, a 20-year-old with ten years of bartender experience (yes, really). Family business. So the crazy stories that are in/are going to be in this fic are mine, technically.
No no no no nooooo... Her mind practically screamed. Madison had failed to show up, yet again. It was one thing to work a six hour shift every day, but it was a whole other story to do it four days in a row and now- Another shift! She just wanted to scream, punch something and maybe cry a little as well.
''Kate, I'm so sorry but we need you tonight.'' Her mom said with an apologetic smile on her face.
''It's okay, I understand.'' She saw her mother sigh in relief. ''I'm just going to freshen up and then I'll be down again, okay?''
''Take your time. Oh and there might still be some leftovers in the fridge, honey. Michael made some extra of that lasagna that you love- you know the one with extra vegetables? All yours.''
She nodded. ''Thanks mom.'' Johanna motioned for her to come closer and embraced her.
''I know this isn't what you imagined your life to be like and your dad and I will try to work out something about maybe hiring another employee so you can get a bit more free time-''
''Mom, it's okay.'' Kate said, trying to calm her mom. ''This was and still is your dream- I will do whatever it takes to help you, anything. Though there might come a day I get sick of it all and I'll just pack my bags and move half way around the world. Just so you know.''
Johanna chuckled. ''You'd sent me a post card, right?'' Kate laughed and then mumbled something that sounded like a 'yes'. ''That's all I'm asking.'' She said as she held her daughter a little tighter.
After her mother finally released her, Kate made her way through the kitchen towards the stairs leading towards their house. It had taken some getting used to living so close to the place where her parents worked at, or at least, that was what she was told she couldn't recall that memory. They had moved into the two story building when Kate was only a little girl. She'd practically grown up there.
It hadn't been easy and she realised that would probably never be the case, but hey that's life. What did you expect Kate?
She made her way upstairs and quickly made her way to the bathroom where she had a quick shower and changed her clothes. Satisfied about how she looked, Kate walked towards the kitchen where she found the lasagna her mother had promised her.
She smiled. It was the small things in life that could easily cheer you up enough to get through a rough day. Kate turned on the oven and decided that music would help pass time. It took her a while to find it, but when she finally retrieved it in her bedroom, the timer went off, signaling that the oven was ready. She put the lasagna in the oven and put on her headphone.
Johanna was on the phone when he walked in. He waited patiently for her to finish scribbling something down onto, what seemed like, the diary of reservations - before he spoke.
''Good afternoon Johanna.'' He beamed.
''Castle! Back already?'' She joked.
''I- Yes, I'm picking up Kate to get a coffee or maybe have a late lunch if she wants to. She told me to meet me here at the restaurant.'' He said enthusiastically.
''Oh my God, I'm so sorry Rick, but she agreed to take the evening shift as well. We are very understaffed and its full house again tonight. Sorry.''
''That's understandable.'' He said trying to reassure that it was okay. ''Would it be alright if I'd go to check in with her?''
''Yes, absolutely, she's upstairs. Just go through the kitchen, take a left then go up the stairs.''
He nodded. ''Thank you.'' He did as told and made his way up the stairs. At first he saw no sign of Kate, that was until he heard a verse of ''Piano man'' coming from the back of the house. Castle followed the sound of her lovely singing voice and found his way to the kitchen.
He probably shouldn't be spying on her-
Scrap that. He shouldn't be spying on her. End.
Oh God, she was going to kill him.
The question was, however, how could he not? She was dancing around the kitchen, singing along to the Billy Joel classic while holding a spatula as microphone. So carefree, so beautiful. He could not contain the smile that broke out on his face and leaned back against the doorway, waiting for her to notice.
He did not have to wait very long.
''Jeez!'' He jumped at the change in her voice. ''Castle?! What are you doing here- or better yet why are you spying on me?''
He swallowed. ''I- um- You mother said it would be okay if I came up here to look for you.'' She still looked at him questionably. ''We were going to get coffee together, remember?''
''Shit, I totally forgot about that- Sorry Rick.'' Okay, that may have stung a little. He tried hard to mask his disappointment.
He shrugged nonchalantly. ''It's okay, you are busy, I understand.''
She narrowed her eyes at him. ''That does not mean that you're off the hook about the 'spying' me though.''
He put up his hands in surrender. ''Hadn't dreamt of it.''
''I have about another half an hour before I have to be downstairs again, since it usually gets extremely busy at about six.'' She turned around to the counter where she found her lasagna getting cold. ''Would you- um-''
''I'd love to.''
''You didn't even know what I was going to ask!'' She said, putting her hands on her hips.
''You weren't going to offer me a piece of your lasagna?''
''Well- yes! But that is not the point.'' He laughed.
''Then what is? Please enlighten me.''
Frustrated, she ran her hands through her hair. ''You annoy me, Castle.''
He smirked. ''In a good way, right?''
''I'm still trying to figure that out.'' She seemed to collect herself and walked over to where Castle was standing to grab another plate from the cabinet next him. ''Would you also like something to drink?''
''Yes, please. What do you have in store for me?'' He said, leaning against the counter.
She opened the refrigerator and sighed. ''Not much, apparently. We only have milk and I hope-'' She opened the carton with milk and smelled it. ''Oh, it's still good. Nice surprise.'' She remarked sarcastically.
He decided not to comment, he could already see that such a small thing could be very frustrating for her. Why? It made him realize how much the family invested into the restaurant and how many time went into keep it running. Lost in thought, Kate had already set the table and put a glass of milk along with their late-lunch... or early dinner. Depends how you look at it.
She motioned for him to sit down at the kitchen table as she sat down on the chair opposite of him.
She dug in and he took it as a sign to start eating as well. ''This tastes great, did you make it?''
''I did not, but Michael did.'' He stiffened slightly and she seemed to notice. ''He is our chef.'' She explained.
''Amazing.'' He said, taking a sip of his milk while looking at her. Kate blushed as he kept his glance directed at her. Both kept silent for a couple of minutes, enjoying their food. He studied her most carefully, which she seemed to realise as well, because her cheeks had turned a darker shade of red than before.
''Castle. Would you stop staring at me?'' She said, while looking at her plate.
He grinned sheepishly. ''It's quite hard not to.''
''Why do you keep- saying stuff like that?''
He raised his brows. Had she not have a guy pay attention to her before? ''Because I like you.''
She stayed serious. ''But why?''
Instead of waiting for an answer, she stood up and began clearing the table. Castle stood up as well, grabbing the remaining things. She put them in the sink and let the water run but when she turned around to grab the rest of the stuff, she walked against Castle, who dropped his plate and glass in the process.
She groaned. ''I'm sorry! I'll get you new ones.'' Castle tried.
''You can't these are from Tunisia, my parents went there once and they brought back a complete dinner set. My mom is going to be devastated.'' She shook her head.
''I swear I will get you a new set.'' He could almost hear her say 'how?'. ''I know a guy.''
''You are quite clumsy these days Castle, first the wine now the dishes...'' She said with a teasing smile on her face. He felt relieved.
''I'll be completely honest with you and say that the wine actually wasn't my fault. Technically.''
''Please, do explain.''
''Your mom might have let the bottle of wine slip while I was trying to grab it.'' He chuckled. ''I did manage to grab it though, however, that was until I'd spilled half of the bottle over Mandy's new dress, which I just got the dry cleaning bill from and now that was an expensive joke. Nothing I can't afford and I got to spent the evening with you, so I was glad it happened really.'' She chuckled, of course her mom would have had something to do with that.
Instead of replying she started cleaning up the fragments. Castle held up the trash can where she threw the fragments in. Once done, she checked her clothing in mirror which was located in the hallway and walked back to Castle who was patiently waiting in the kitchen.
''I have to go downstairs.''
''Okay.''
He walked after her, down the stairs and through the kitchen where he found Johanna looking slightly stressed out. That was an understatement, actually. Kate immediately walked over to her mother. Castle was beside them just in time to hear Johanna, what seemed like, having a breakdown.
''We can't handle the pressure- it's too busy! Even your dad is serving, honey, he hasn't done that in ten years!'' Kate whispered something in her ear, quickly hugged her mother and then turned around to me.
''I'm going to- work now-'' She said, pointing towards the door leading to the main floor. ''Thank you for coming.''
She was half way through the door when he stuttered. ''I could help.''
Johanna waved him off. ''We couldn't ask that of you, you probably have way more important things to do than pretending to be a waiter here.''
He stayed serious. ''I know you're not asking me. I'm offering.''
''Alright.'' Johanna nodded, trying to figure out how she was going to teach him their system all while working herself. Her idea was brilliant. ''Kate will help you-''
''I had a job as waiter while I was in college, I know the ropes.'' He said, proudly.
''Okay. Thank you. I owe you.'' She quickly hugged Castle, much to his surprise, and then ran off to the main floor. Kate stood there with a questioning look on her face. Rick shed his suit jacket on a nearby chair and walked over to Kate. She motioned him to follow her and he obliged.
After quickly explaining how to keep track of the orders and some simple etiquette, Rick set off to serve the customers. And boy did he succeed. There were a lot of female guests tonight and Kate couldn't help it but notice how much of a natural charmer Castle was. She supposed that he had to for his job, but he made it look so easy. She didn't even doubt that some of them had recognized him and she could swear that she just heard of them ask if he could sign her chest. He politely declined, thankfully. She wasn't sure if she was ready to witness such an event, since he was already like a friend to her.
And it was about time that she admitted that to herself. She felt as if he knew her better than most of her friends and he actually seemed interested in her - Let's not go there. She cleared her head and then proceeded to ask the customer what she wanted to drink. Again.
He had already made a few rounds when he found Jim at the bar. Castle took a sip of his coke and then proceeded to help Jim clean the dirty glasses.
Jim took in the crowd. ''It hasn't been this busy in years, what happened?'' He said, wondering out loud.
''I might have mentioned this to be my favorite restaurant in a New York Times interview?'' Castle said, shrugging.
''You did not!'' Kate said who just happened to walk by when the two men were talking.
''That's great, thank you so much Rick.'' Jim said and slapped Castle on the shoulder in a way of saying 'thank you'. Men.
''Anything I can do to help, Jim. No problem.''
Kate was still 'catching flies' as her mother called it. She could not believe that he would do that and why?! Maybe he really did like her. Oh no- don't go there Kate…
Castle had rolled up his sleeves in order to be able to help Jim who was still cleaning the glasses behind the bar and Kate had to admit that it was a sight she could get used to. Not that she would ever admit that to him. Seriously, ever.
Around midnight, the place was cleaned up, the customers had left and most of the staff had as well. Kate was sitting on a bar stool and Rick had decided to sit down next to her for obvious reasons. Her father was in the back counting money and Johanna had just disappeared, she was probably upstairs now that Kate thought of it. It had been a long day for everyone, rest was what they needed.
Castle took a sip of his coke and sighed loudly. Kate looked at him with an amused smile.
''You do this daily?'' She nodded. ''How?!''
''Yes, Castle this is what it's like to have a real job.''
''Oh, you hurt me Beckett'' He said, dramatically clutching his chest. ''Breaks my heart.''
''You'll survive.'' She quipped. ''That reminds me, I'll get your share of the tips.'' He grabbed her arm to prevent her from walking away. In response, she looked at her arm and then at him. She could not deny that there was a spark.
''I don't want the money, Kate. You can keep it.''
''You worked for it, you can keep it Castle.''
''It was my pleasure helping you guys and I'd do it again if you need me.''
''Don't let my parents hear that, they might 'hire' you and then ask you to work free for the rest of your life.'' He chuckled. ''I- I wanted to thank you for mentioning us in the newspaper. That was really nice of you.''
''Really Kate, no 'thank you's' needed.'' She nodded. ''However, if you are willing to pay me back for my services tonight-'' She waited in anticipation. ''You'll have to go out with me sometime.''
She laughed. ''I'll have to?''
He smirked. ''Yes.''
''Can't argue with that, I guess.''