Disclaimer: Castle and its properties belong to ABC
After a fitful night's sleep Castle woke with a start. During the night he laid awake considering all that had happened the day before. Beckett with a new man, his daughter's words, his mother's words, and his own thoughts. Was it worth his own anguish to see her happy and still work side by side with her or should he be the bigger man and bow out gracefully. Rick Castle was never known to do anything gracefully except pen his words. Maybe, he could just wean himself off of being at the precinct everyday and just not be there as much. A shallow compromise, but one that would allow him to still consult and give Kate her space, yet still allow him to maintain his friendship with everyone at the 12th.
He jumped in the shower, got dressed, and made his daily stop for two coffees and a bearclaw and headed on down to the precinct. His mind was still a jumble as to what he should do, when he strode into the bullpen and was greeted by the sound of laughter. Not just any laughter, but Beckett's. As he rounded the corner he stared incredulously at the man sitting in HIS seat, regaling Beckett, and Ryan and Esposito with a story.
"…so there I am chasing this drunken naked private through the base, when I finally tackled him, got him cuffed, and hauled him to his feet, when my partner let out a hysterical laugh pointing at the drunken soldier's crotch. Looking down I saw that he had painted his crotch with camo paint to match his face. When I asked him about it, he simply replied he was 'going commando'!" As Captain Murphy finished the story he was met with another round of laughter.
Castle cleared his throat as he approached having the four of them look up at him. "Morning everyone, hope nobody missed me too much," he announced sarcastically.
"Hey Castle, Jake here was telling us a story from being an MP," Beckett replied, "Anyway…guys how are we coming along with the surveillance video?" Beckett asked Ryan and Esposito wrapping up story time.
"Good morning Mr. Castle," Captain Murphy greeted him cheerily.
"I didn't know we were so informal here, calling this here fine soldier by his first name," Castle replied as he tried to navigate around Beckett's desk and find a place to sit.
"Well I usually allow civilians and people close to me to just call me by my name," Captain Murphy stated casting a furtive glance a Beckett. "Oh and Kate, thanks for letting me stay over last night, I was exhausted by the time we were done with dinner."
Castle felt a pang of jealousy as he heard Captain Murphy's admission to spending the night at Kate's.
"No problem Jake, you know my couch is always an open invitation," Beckett replied. At hearing this Castle replied, "You know those in the medical field say that sleeping on a couch can be very unhealthy, I'm sure Josh would agree." Sure it was petty, sure it was obnoxious, but Castle didn't care. What shocked him more was that he was defending Josh as well.
"Well Josh wasn't around, so it didn't really matter," Beckett replied irritably.
Sensing the awkwardness Captain Murphy said, "Well this all came about by chance, see I am stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey after I came back from two tours over in the middle east and I work for the 3-4-3 MP at the base. Anyway, when we caught wind of Sergeant Wallace's police report and I saw who the lead detective was, I volunteered to assist. When it's one of our own someone from the unit always gets involved. Plus it would give me a chance to reacquaint myself with Kate here."
"Well, that's certainly noble of you Captain Murphy, but I am sure Beckett and I and the rest of the twelfth will be able to handle it," Castle replied coolly. He also couldn't help but notice Beckett narrow her eyes at him.
"I'm sure you do, but like I said when it's one of ours we get involved," Captain Murphy bristled.
"Which we appreciate very much," Beckett replied trying to ease some of the growing tension between the two men.
"I'm sure that's not the only thing you appreciate from him," Castle mumbled under his breath. Clearly it was not quiet enough because Kate quickly stood up and snapped at Castle, "Castle do you mind joining me in the break room for a minute? Excuse us Jake."
As soon as they got into the breakroom and Beckett shut the door, she wheeled on Castle and immediately invaded his personal space, "What the hell do you think you're doing Castle!"
"What? I'm doing nothing just trying to get to know Captain America a little better that's all!" Castle defended himself
"Bull! And what the hell is with the Josh comments, my personal business is none of yours!"
"Look, Kate I can't stand by while you get involved with another guy, especially if you're doing it behind Josh's back. I know he isn't around that much…"
"Castle!"
"…but that doesn't mean you should go behind his back, you're better…"
"Castle!"
"…than that, besides this guy is in the military and you know he's gonna…"
"Castle!"
"…end up getting stationed somewhere else. Maybe that's why you're willing to get involved with him, because you know …"
"Castle!"
"…you won't have to fully give yourself to him. And another thing he's…"
"Rick!"
"…sitting in my chair! Huh, what?" Castle was so absorbed in his rant that only when she called him by his first name did he finally respond.
"First off, take a deep breath, okay?" Kate replied calmly. Placing her hand on Castle's chest, his breath caught at the overt sign of affection from the detective. "Second, I appreciate you watching out for my integrity like that, but you should know I'm not like that, third I'm sorry he was sitting in 'your' seat, and finally…" Beckett took a small breath, "he's my cousin."
"Yeah, but even still, wait? What?" Castle wasn't fully listening as he was about to launch into another diatribe, when it finally sank in. "He's your cousin?" Castle asked still slightly suspicious.
"Yes, he's my mom's sister's son," she replied nostalgically.
"Hmmm…I guess I owe you and him an apology," Castle meekly replied realizing the huge faux pas he had made by jumping to all sorts of conclusions. "I'm sorry Kate that I overstepped again and questioned your integrity." Part of his spirits lifted though knowing that he hadn't fully lost his chance yet.
"It's okay Castle, it's partly my fault too. I was so excited to see Jake that I didn't even realize I hadn't told you who he was. We were really close before my mom died, but after that and him getting deployed we lost touch with each other," Beckett replied still standing in Castle's personal space with her hand on his chest.
"Good thing I wore the expensive Italian leather loafers today, because any other shoe would taste horrible in my mouth right about now," Castle replied trying to bring some levity to the situation. "So we're okay?"
"We're okay Castle. And there's something else you should know. See after we got back from L.A., I did some major thinking, and the thing is…"before she could finish, there was a knock on the door, breaking the moment. It was Ryan.
"Hope, I'm not interrupting anything, but I think I got something off the video, plus Lanie called, it seems she found something very interesting."
Castle looked over at Becket, as she locked eyes with him and simultaneously said, "This isn't over," as they strode out of the break room. Getting in his last retort Castle chuckled, "Just because he's your cousin doesn't mean he gets to sit in my chair!" and Beckett just rolled her eyes
Hope you liked the chapter, I wanted to throw in a relationship red herring. I embellished Kate's family history because frankly I find it hard to believe she wouldn't even have any cousins.