At home here
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Any of the scenes from the show that involved them 'being together' are altered to fit in with the storyline- not being together-
the rest of the episode (and the characters) work around this story unchanged.
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Taking a deep breath, Kate pauses. The morgue's double doors stand closed and she can't bring herself to push through them. She knows that is Lanie waiting for her on the other side, and while the M.D. was willing to settle for pointed looks at the crime scene, Kate knows that she's going to be greeted with a very different conversation upon entering.
But she also needs a lead.
The victim's boyfriend knew next to nothing about the lawyer's work or who could have killed her; was unable to identify who might have fled the crime scene. The boys are chasing the ex-husband angle, because men are known do stupid things when it comes to their ex-wives; she's currently now exhibit A.
Which brings her full circle as to why she is standing, afraid to face her friend. Castle is off taking care of the deception; setting the record straight with Meredith. Hopefully explaining that they are not actually together and that the red head needs to find a hotel so that she can have the guest bedroom tonight.
And his exit leaves her alone to deal with the fallout that Lanie is no doubt about to rain down on her.
"Katherine Beckett, get your ass in here and explain to me what in the world is going through that head of yours!"
Apparently hiding behind doors with windows in them is a little pointless. Taking another deep breath she enters, faces Lanie across from Michelle's body. How bad could this be?
"Yes, Lanie? What do you have for me?"
"Oh, no, you don't. You're not going to walk in here and start talking shop when there are much bigger issues that need to be resolved first."
There's a look of utter indignation splashed across Lanie's features; eyes wide, head tilted, her finger already raised and pointed. Each word is emphasized with a jab in her direction and Kate reminds herself not to take a step back. Lanie can smell fear.
"It's nothing, Lanie. Or it won't be, once Castle sets the record straight. He's there now-"
"What!" Black hair shakes violently as Lanie throws her whole body behind the exclamation. "Why in the world would you let him go back and face his ex, alone?!"
"Lanie-"
"No, don't Lanie, me. This is Meredith we're talking about, the Deep Fried Twinkie that Castle has ex-sex with whenever she rolls into town. And where is she now, Kate? In town? They could be going at it right now!"
"I don't think they're doing it right now, Lanie."
Despite the conviction in her tone, now that the thought is in her head, it won't leave. All Kate can see is the two of them, slamming against the front door, rekindling the flame that she knows reignites.
"And how would you know that, Kate? Cause the man is yours? Cause you have a claim on him?" Lanie's sarcasm fills the room and Kate turns away as if she could hide from the truth. Could avoid the doubt that is swirling through her veins.
She has no say in who Castle sleeps with. They're nothing more than friends, partners, and she squeezes her eyes shut, wills herself to get a grip on the emotions that are welling at that thought.
What if Meredith's 'I want to be a better Mom' routine has Castle falling for her all over again? Leaving Kate to be pushed to the sidelines once more; forced to watch him walk away, arm in arm toward the sunset with another ex-wife.
"Girl." Lanie's tone softens and it does nothing to help her feeling of vulnerability. "You've been doin' this dance with Castle for far too long, and even you've admitted that the music is starting to fade. I don't want you to miss out on starting something with Castle because of Meredith."
Kate gnaws at her bottom lip, her shoulders curling in as she ponders her friend's words, but what can she do? It's a question that haunts her most days; she just doesn't know what to do to get them… started.
"Maybe you're right."
Lanie's head snaps back in dramatic shock, her hand waving about as she plays up her role as all wise and knowing guru.
"Maybe I'm right?! Of course I'm right."
"Lanie," she interrupts. A headache from this conversation begins to build between her eyes and Kate sighs in frustration as the day really is only getting started. "I didn't come down here to talk about this. You said you had something case related?"
Lanie smiles slightly, apparently ready to move back to the case, and she explains about the blood on the victim's button, while Kate listens with half an ear. Most of her concentration is still focused on Castle and what exactly is he doing at the loft- with his ex-wife?
Rick nods absently as Meredith goes on and on. How she is so grateful for the opportunity to be here, how sweet Beckett is, how this is her chance to be a good mother, and all he can think is that he doesn't want to tell her the truth.
The kiss with Kate this morning is playing through his head on an endless loop; the feel of her mouth against his, their bodies flush as they had canted toward each other, and he doesn't want to admit that it's all a lie. He so desperately wants it to be true.
Finally with an over-exaggerated wipe of her crocodile tear, Meredith departs up the stairs leaving him perched on the counter, contemplating the fact that Beckett is never going to let him forget that he wasn't able to undo his untruth.
But really, how is he supposed to kick his ex-wife out now that she has played the guilty mother card? And with her upstairs, and he and Kate in a supposed relationship- his breath catches. He realizes that it means if he survives until tonight, he and Beckett will be expected to share a bed as a couple.
Be in a bed together.
It's his dream come true- although he doubts that Kate would be willing to take the façade that far.
"Dad?"
His daughter's croaky voice breaks through his thoughts and he stands up straight, turning to face the music. It's the first time he's seen her since he had unexpectedly kissed his partner in the entry way, and this could be a rather awkward conversation.
"Hey. I thought you were sleeping?"
Shaking her head, she bundles the blankets closer to her body and comes to rest next to him.
"Mom dropped some soup in and I now need a juice or something."
"Ohhh. Aftertaste still lingering?"
"It was only one mouthful, but yeah." Her nose scrunches adorably and he swings an arm around her, pulls her closer into his side. Meredith and his mother have more than their red hair in common, that's for sure. He may be biased, but he thinks that their bad cooking skills having skipped Alexis was no doubt due to his influence.
"Soooo. You and Detective Beckett?"
"Mmmm. Yes. About that."
She looks expectantly up at him, ready for the explanation he doesn't have. How does he explain that he had been caught off guard by Meredith, and that having no inclination to repeat past habits, he'd panicked. How was he supposed to fight off the crazy red head and reassure his partner that nothing was going on, when both woman are well aware that things had previously gone on? Gone off?
"We just need to pretend that Beckett and I are together. Just while your mother is here."
"But why, Dad? I mean, how does you being with Beckett, even pretending to be with Beckett, change anything?"
He squeezes her tightly before standing up, heading toward the fridge to get her that glass of juice that she came down for, buying himself some time.
Even going slowly, he is soon placing the cup down in front of his daughter, whose eyebrows are raised high, head tilted as she waits a response.
"Well, your mother may have had certain… expectations when she arrived."
Alexis' face screws comically, but he forges on. He'd love to think Alexis is ignorant to his trysts with Meredith, but he knows she's not, and anyway, he's started now and he doesn't want that to be all she hears.
"And I don't necessarily… want that anymore."
"Cause you want to be with Beckett?"
It's a simple question, but his daughter has gone right for his jugular.
Nodding slightly, his eyes close for a moment. The topic of his relationship with Beckett is a subject that Alexis usually gives a wide berth to. After all, with her in college they have other things to discuss during the little time they do get to spend together.
"The thing with Beckett and I, it's complicated. But whatever it is. Whatever we want- It's not going to be helped along by your mother inserting herself in the scene. So. It was stupid in hindsight, but I thought that if she thought we were together that she would be happy to look after you from afar."
It had all made sense in his head.
"And you want Grams and I to go along with this? Is Detective Beckett going along with this?"
"Uh-" He shakes his head, avoiding the details. "Just don't say anything. I don't want you lying to your Mom, but just evade if possible. Okay?"
Alexis shrugs and he breathes a sigh of relief. At least she's not going to give him a hard time.
And Beckett… well now he has to go back to the precinct and break the news to her that he hasn't quite handled everything just yet.
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Thank you again for all the love and reviews, favourites and followers xoxo
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And to Jo and Trish for making me make sense even through all the Christmas cheer!
Hope you all had a great holiday!
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Thoughts are appreciated
