CHAPTER 4: Midwest
Chicago was far away as far as Rick Castle was concerned. He had not gotten any sleep on the plane and a five am wake up call was a bit much even for him. He went straight to his book signing and then headed to the hotel. The talk show appearance was tomorrow. For now, he just needed a long nap.
He had secretly packed the blue shirt that Beckett had worn at his house and now he used it as his pillow as he tried to sleep. His thoughts flashed back to the night before. He relived each move that Beckett made, disguised as Nikki. Was it real? He wanted to believe it was. She was very good at poker and it could have all been a ruse. When he woke up, he took a shower and ordered room service. He had just stretched out on the king sized bed when his cell phone rang.
"Detective Beckett, to what do I owe the honor?" he said.
"Thank you for helping us raise so much money for the PAL," she said. "It really was generous of you!"
"You were amazing!" he replied. "I am sure that you and your officers had a great deal to do with raising all that money." He paused slightly and then asked, "How is your dad?"
"My dad is doing well, thanks."
Beckett hesitated. She loved hearing his voice, but she had really just called to thank him. Captain Montgomery had been ecstatic over the money raised and the positive press in the papers that day. She had promised to pass the news on to Castle.
"Beckett?" he asked.
"Yes?" she asked hesitantly.
"Can you talk for a while?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah... is something wrong?"
"No. It is just that we really haven't talked in a while and I miss the banter. I just woke up from a nap and I would really like to just talk before I need to get more sleep. Where are you?"
"At home, curled up on the couch, and you?"
"I'm stretched out on my king sized bed in my hotel room. Do you want to know what I'm wearing?"
"No Castle, that is quite alright."
"I want you to know the the outfit you wore the other night was sheer torture for me." he said.
"You've seen that suit before. It's one of my favorites." Beckett was toying with him now. She was sipping a glass of good red wine and she was in the mood to play. "I had fun the other night. I could be Nikki and get away with everything I thought of doing to you."
"Everything?" he asked.
"Well, if we were seeing each other and I wanted to cut loose, I would probably surprise even you, Castle. But right now, I just have to chalk it up to being away from you for a week."
"It's been more like two weeks, Detective. I need to change the subject so I don't end up watching porn all night. What are your doing for Christmas?"
"You are the only one I know who would put porn and Christmas in back to back sentences. I am working."
"All day and all night? Doesn't your family celebrate Christmas?"
Beckett told Castle that she and her dad made time for the holiday each year, but it was much less than when her mom was alive. It was a hard time for both of them. She would be covering shifts on both Christmas Eve and Christmas, which could be really quiet or really crazy. She had the day after Christmas off. Castle begged her to drop by the house for Christmas. He always spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with his daughter, mother, and usually all the ex's (including girlfriends).
"There is one thing," said Beckett.
"What's that?" he asked.
"I am holding a dinner for my team next Tuesday. I do it every year. No gifts. Nothing to bring. Just a nice quiet dinner to toast the year. I sent an invitation to your house, but I wanted you to know that you, Martha, and Alexis are all invited." Beckett spoke with such sincerity that Castle had to sit up in bed and take notice.
"I would, I mean we would be honored," he replied. "The only down side is that I won't get to spend any alone time with you."
"You wouldn't know what to do with yourself it that happened," quipped Beckett.
Castle was momentarily at a loss for words. "There are many things we could do if we were alone, Detective, starting out with your Nikki Heat routine."
Beckett was the one blushing now. She tactfully changed the subject and asked Castle what he got Alexis this year.
"Alexis and I are going to Maui after Christmas. It is a big secret but I know I can trust you with it. I have two book signings on Oahu and then we are officially on vacation and the PR tour is over."
They had talked for over two hours when Beckett realized how late it was. She was thoroughly relaxed and had wandered into her bedroom during the course of the conversation. Now, she was curled up under the covers.
"It is getting late here in New York. Night, Castle."
"Until Tuesday, Detective."
