Disclaimer: Love them, but alas they belong to another.

Heart to Heart

Chapter 4: Rick/Natalie

Nikki Heat Part 2

A/N: Here's part 2 from one of my favorite episodes, Nikki Heat. Castle and actress, Natalie Rhodes (dressed in full Kate/Nikki Heat regalia) leave together for the night…"If I want to play Nikki right, I've got to feel that heat." Natalie purred before kissing him…

She was kissing him, in the precinct elevator. He'd had this one before; a particular favorite. This was good too, but usually he'd been the one to start it after pressing the button, stopping them between floors. And she'd have been backed up against the wall, not him. She's usually speechless, except for a few very sexy, low mewling sounds. Only it was different this time. She was speaking to him and it wasn't her voice and the faint smell of cherries was missing. Wait a minute; this isn't how it's supposed to go….

He opened his eyes and pulled away from her and realized who he was with. Well, this was new. Natalie/Nikki was looking at him like he was crazy then attempted to pull him back to her again for another kiss. She's not Kate, she's not Kate, she's not Kate, ran the mantra in his head.

He held out his arms to maintain their distance and she asked him what was wrong. He just shook his head and picked up the box he'd dropped, happy to have something safe to do with his hands. Thankfully, the elevator doors dinged open to the sounds of the busy main floor, effectively ceasing any further interaction between them until they were outside.

Natalie's car was waiting in front of the station and he debated declining the ride, but thought better of it. It seemed silly after their recent exchange. He knew where this was heading and figured he'd better nip it in the bud, clear the air, and get it over with before things got further out of control. After all, she'd be back at the precinct tomorrow morning and he wouldn't want things to be awkward. He held the door open and followed her into the awaiting car.

The minute the car doors closed she was all over him. She attacked his neck with kisses, and whispered she wanted him to make love to her, before inviting him back to her room. She's not Kate, she's not Kate, she's not Kate, once again ran the mantra in his head. She was relentless and wasn't pleased when he tried to pull away.

He said the first thing that came to mind which was an unsmooth "No." Not his finest hour, being a wordsmith. Then sat back, wondered when he'd become a nun, and watched her slowly register his refusal. She didn't look happy.

"I'm sorry but did you just say "No"? She asked, sitting straight up, completely dumbfounded.

"I know - I can't believe it either." He admitted. "Look, you're very beautiful and while it's tempting, I think we both know you only want to sleep with me because you want to sleep with Rook. But I'm not Rook, so… "I'm sorry, but no"."

She sat back, bewildered, and pondered this. He'd said no. She was floored and tried to remember a time when this had ever happened previously; she couldn't come up with anything. She turned and silently studied him carefully. Why? What's your motivation?

"I'm sorry if I insulted you." He said admist the quiet.

"Oh, it's fine, and I'm surprised, not insulted." She corrected him, as he continued to squirm under her scrutiny. Then he watched her expression change to what he hoped was acceptance, not psychotic, before she finally smiled. "I understand now." She told him, patting his hand, still staring.

"Why are you staring at me like that? You know, Beckett stares at me like that sometimes. I don't know what it means when she does it either. Help me out here." He pleaded. "And what exactly do you understand?"

"It's interesting…you are able to separate fantasy from fiction."

"I'm trying." He admitted weakly. "But I've got to tell you," he said pointing to her and the Beckett/Nikki get up she was wearing, "You can be very…persuasive." She brushed off the compliment, remained silent, and assessed him once more. She liked watching him squirm.

"It just took me a minute to figure it out." She finally replied. "But I get it now."

"What do you "get"? He asked genuinely puzzled. "And please explain to me why are women are so ambiguous?"

"In the elevator." She clarified. "Our kiss, earlier at the precinct, I get it now."

"I don't know what you mean."

"I think you do," she challenged, with narrowed eyes. "Or maybe…maybe you really don't, do you?" She asked now amused. He's staring at her as if she's from Mars so she attempts to explain. "The kiss. You kissed back, but you were kissing her, not me."

"I'm pretty sure I was kissing you Natalie. You've lost me."

"Oh, so I'm Natalie now, am I?" She laughs. "I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner. It's not just lust. You're in love with her."

"With whom?" He asks, unable to stop himself.

"With Kate." She says, as if speaking to a small child.

"It's… complicated." He hedged, but didn't deny it.

They arrived at her hotel which wasn't far from the precinct. She insisted he walk her in and convinced him to stop for a drink at her hotel bar. She held no hard feelings and frankly, he looked like he could use a scotch. He reluctantly agreed, they found a table in the quiet lounge, and she took charge of ordering a couple of drinks for them. He was basically silent, not knowing how to respond to her allegations. No one had ever really been so bold as to call him on it before. He was used to insinuations, which he could more easily deflect.

"You're staring." Natalie tells him.

"Sorry, but it's uncanny. You look so much like her." He said and she smiled at him. "I have to keep repeating to myself that you're not the real thing."

"So, you admit that's what you want then…the real thing."

"Sorry, what? No, no, Beckett and I are just good friends. We work together."

"Un-huh. So you're telling me you're still only following her for character research?" She challenged. "If you're not together, or in love with her, why don't you join me upstairs?" He didn't know how to respond to that.

"Oh, if you're afraid she'll find out, Kate doesn't need to know."

"I'd know." he said. "And, sorry, but you're way off base here. Kate already has a boyfriend, and I have a girlfriend."

"You have a girlfriend?" She says shocked.

"Yes. I almost forgot that I did, but yes. Like I said, you can be very persuasive." He said, downing most of the drink the waiter had brought over. "It's not working out, but still, it wouldn't be right."

"So, she's not the "one", but you're exclusive?"

"Yes, I'm in an exclusive relationship. Why do you sound so surprised?" He said, skipping over the "she's not the one" part.

"And Beckett?"

"She's also seeing someone - a doctor. A heart surgeon actually. He's really…tall." He said unable to contain his disgust.

"That's interesting. You're both seeing other people." She replied letting that hang out there, making him uneasy.

"Yes." He said pointedly, before downing the rest of his drink.

"Un-huh. Well, since you're being so honest, even though you turned me down, I think I should return the favor." He waited for her to fill him in.

"Kate's crazy about you Castle, and you feel the same way about her. You should have seen your face when you described her boyfriend." She laughs.

"I'm sure you're mistaken."

"Didn't you see how jealous she was when I took her coffee earlier? What's up with that by the way?"

"Yeah, well, coffee's a thing with us."

"A thing?" she repeated.

"Yeah, it's what we do. It's our routine, that's all. It's…"

"Complicated?" She finished for him before smirking.

"Yes, I can see that now." She continued. "Like the way you make eyes at each other. Is that a thing too? And the way you finish each other's sentences? By the way, I already sent a note to the screenwriter to add that in. It's fabulous."

"Anyway, we're just friends." He was done with this conversation, and motioned to the waiter to bring him another drink; Natalie however, was just getting started.

"Okay, if you say so, but I bet she'd dump that very tall doctor for you in a heartbeat if you told her how you feel about her. Although, she's super smart, so she probably already has it figured out. I mean, come on, it's obvious you fantasize about her through your books. You're Jamison Rook and she's Nikki Heat. You could have the real thing Castle. It's so clear to me now. I can't believe I didn't see it from the start…" She didn't stop there, but he'd stopped listening. He downed most of his new drink and made quite a show of looking around for something, even going so far as to check under the tablecloth when she finally asked him what the hell he was looking for.

"I'm looking for something to slit my wrists with Natalie. You're worse than my mother!"

"Okay!" she laughed. "Okay, I'm sorry, I'll stop. I just want to help. You two would be great together. And think of the sequel!" He could see her wheels turning in excitement.

He did laugh at that. She was a character in and of herself, Natalie Rhodes. Slightly nuts, but interesting just the same. He took care of the bill and walked her to her elevator doors. He would go no farther.

She gave it one more shot, already knowing what his answer would be. "So, you're sure then about…" Natalie motions to upstairs.

"Yes, I'm flattered but, I'm sure."

"What if I keep the wig on?" She said seriously.

"Okay, now you're freaking me out." He said making her laugh because she really was only teasing him. It was almost too easy. "It would be like sleeping with Beckett without her permission, which is way too weird, even for me."

"I was only teasing anyway. You, Mr. Castle, are already taken. You just have to figure out by whom."

She was quite something. And another time, another place, he would have taken her up on her offer. He wasn't sure when it happened, but he thinks this might be a sign he's growing up. "You know, you're a lot different from what I thought about you when we first met." He told her honestly.

"Well, people expect me to act a certain way. I am an actress you know. We're always on. You've got to give the people what they want." She winked at him.

"You're a little off your rocker, you know." He told her then added sincerely, "But you're going to make a fantastic Nikki."

"Thanks Castle. And thanks for writing such a great book. It's the role of a lifetime. I promise to give it everything I've got. I'll just have to improvise on the sex scenes."

"Something tells me you'll do just fine. But speaking of promises…one favor Natalie?" He asked before she stepped into the elevator.

"Sure. Anything."

"Promise me you won't take Kate's coffee tomorrow. I think you might be starting to freak her out too."

"I promise." She laughed. "Goodnight Castle."

"Goodnight Ms. Rhodes." He said, just before the elevator doors closed.

On her ride to the penthouse Natalie replayed her talk with Castle. Maybe she could help them. Maybe all Kate Beckett needed was a little push in the right direction...

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this Heart to Heart! I always thought Natalie Rhodes was hilarious and never as oblivious as they made her out to be. At the very end when she's saying goodbye and invites Castle (not Beckett) to visit her on the set, that had to be to make Kate jealous. To see her dressed up as Kate/Nikki had to confuse the crap out of poor Castle. One of their funniest episodes IMHO.

Anyway, a review would make my day. They sure keep me motivated. Now, on to the next one! I'm all over the map on these, so let me know if there's one you'd like to see done. I'd be honored. Thanks for reading, Karen