It was a respectably early hour in the evening when Kate finally called it quits and headed home. So far, they were no closer to finding the club, or where it was located. No other leads had come up on the case and it was really beginning to elevate her stress level. She couldn't stand when she wasn't able to solve the case, especially when she couldn't wrap it up without his help. This one she was going to figure out without him, she decided as she slid the tension of work off her and stepped toward the comfort she desperately needed. A flickering golden glow danced across her naked figure, highlighting every curve as she slowly lowered herself into the lavishly filled bathtub.
A serene smile graced her lips as she watched the shimmer of lights reflect through the room, enhancing the strong effect of rose fragrance filling her whole being. She loved this luxury. God she needed this. Kate leaned back against the cool porcelain, letting her head fall back as the tepid warmth embraced her entire body. For god sakes, she got along fine as a Detective before she met the writer! She didn't need him. Her eyes closed as she forced herself to absorb the sensations of relaxation, loosening her shoulders and finally releasing her tension, effectively soothing her rising temper.
Soft steps padded across the apartment of Detective Beckett as she moved slowly down the corridor to her kitchen, roughly drying her hair with a towel. Her chosen attire of black laced lingerie was a welcome relief and a rare indulgence for Kate, especially with her brand of neighbours. The temperature was far too hot to keep the curtains drawn, and there was no sign of life from the apartment across from her. She was fairly certain she was safe to wander her apartment in the complete comfort of undies and a bra. If anyone saw her, she could just shoot them and hide the body. Kate let out a small chuckle at the notion and discarded the towel, draping it over the black leather armrest of her lounge before returning to the kitchen.
Without skipping a beat, she snatched up the remote for her sound system and switched it to a low tune, singing softly to the gentle tempo as she leaned into the open refrigerator door. Tossing the remote onto the bench, she fished into the freezer compartment, pulling out a tub of ice-cream, another of her indulgences. Perfect for the borderline bearable furnace the summer night was proving to be. Bouncing back over to the counter, she rummaged in the drawer for a spoon, a wide grin of victory crossing her face as a hand grasped her prize. She flipped the lid off and dove into the velvety magnificence, spooning a large scoop into her mouth as she hummed happily to the melody faintly echoing through her apartment. Rolling it around on her tongue, she savoured the rich essence of chocolate, closing her eyes in bliss.
Kate did a quick twirl and danced a path out of her kitchen, relishing her favourite flavour as she continued humming the tune. She liked her apartment; sure it was nothing like the great Richard Castles palace, but it was a good size. Castle's loft was just ridiculously huge. She was surprised at first glance, finding it a lot more sophisticated and classy than she envisioned. In truth, she expected the apartment of a teenage boy, but it was tasteful and stylish. Far from what she assumed it would be. She liked the colours in particular, and wondered if the tones in her apartment could be spiced up.
Spinning around the room, she took in the vision of her lounge room. The cream patterned walls and the contrasting dark furniture always looked good, but a little colour wouldn't hurt. She made a mental note to duck into a shopping centre the next chance she got. Why not, she had the funds. The writer was dead on when he speculated that she came from a well off family. She had money, and her place was the only thing she allowed to come from that. Everything else she liked to work for, unlike the wise ass. Getting paid for his imagination, a child could do it, though she had to admit he was damn good.
Drifting through her apartment she surveyed each room, frowning in distaste at different features as she cased the entire floor, making a virtual list of all the things she would 'get around to doing'.
Kate prized another mouthful and dropped the spoon into the now half empty tub resting on her bare skin. A trickle of chilled water slowly snaked down the taut muscles of her stomach to melt into the fabric lining her hips. She lay relaxed against her duvet, enjoying the exquisite sensation of its journey.
Why did she feel so intimidated by him? She even felt like she had to upgrade her furniture, throwing out perfectly good fixtures, for what? Why was she even bothered? He was never going to see it. Never going to step a foot into her place, not if she could help it, anyway. She sighed. Her fight or flight response was always heavily weighted toward fight, but having outclassed any other male on the planet and being the only man that ever 'passed her test', so to speak, the possibility of falling in love with Castle was cosmic, and her reaction was only inevitable, right? Perfectly natural. Take flight, fast.
Only Castle... Kate froze, slamming her thoughts to a screeching halt as she heard the sound, faintly at first, then silence. She snatched up the container of melting chocolate and sat up, listening intently toward the open bedroom door. Again she heard it and this time soared off her bed, quickly backtracking to the source. Still focusing on the now half empty tub in her hands, she rounded the corner and subconsciously dove for her phone, missing it by inches. Instead, to her horror, her hand collided with a glass bowl and sent it spiralling off the bench toward the dining room, hurtling it to the floor with a loud crash, and in turn setting off a series of events she never could have prepared herself for.
Kate instantly dropped the tub onto the bench with a sharp curse, leaning down into the cupboard in search for a dustpan and brush. A loud thunk from beyond her front door made her stop in her tracks, demanding her undivided attention. Speed-swiping the remote off the bench, she quickly plunged the apartment into silence. Her eyes focused on the dead lock hanging loosely from its chain. She froze, watching in horror as the handle began to roll. Shit! How the hell did she forget...? Her heart pounding in her chest, she glanced at the lounge, then immediately calculated the distance to her off duty piece. She had a split second to make a decision. Cover, or arm herself? A dreaded click echoed from the door and Detective Beckett took over, lunging toward the indoor plant just outside of the kitchen.
Seizing her firearm, she stood squared against the other side of the bench, pointing her weapon toward the intruder's entrance, her finger on the trigger. The door eased open slowly, and from her extensive training, Detective Beckett knew it as a dead giveaway to her assailant's next move. Inching her aim a few centimetres to the right, she flicked the safety off and drew a deep breath. Every fragment of her focus was fixed on the door, and when she heard the stir of movement, she was ready. Kate tightened her grip and narrowed her eyes into a perfect tunnel vision on her target just as a tall, well built man ducked out from behind his hiding spot, making a quick dash into her apartment. Like hell!
A deafening series of explosions rang out as Kate stood steadfast against her kitchen bench, pursuing the intruder with a hail of bullets. She could hear the shattering of glass repeating in her mind like a broken record as the shots ricocheted off her photo frames, sending them crashing to the floor. The light tinkle of shells plummeting to the floor was the only other sound in the room that she could hear above the ear splitting blasts, until a fearful shriek pierced the now deadly silent room.
"STOP!"
Three more rounds fired before she heard the loud and unmistakable slump of a body hitting the floor. Kate stopped, lowering her gun but keeping it firmly gripped in her hands as she weaved her way through the scattered glass in the dining room. Moving swiftly into the lounge room, she now had a clear view of her hallway and the man laying face down on the timber floorboards with his hands raised in surrender.
"Don't shoot!"
Kate raised her aim back up to the body of her assailant. "Don't even think about moving!"
The body squirmed and a muffled voice squeaked a reply. "Beckett?"
She paused at her name, but kept her aim on the man now making a move to get to his feet.
"I said don't move!" She barked.
"Jesus, Beckett! It's me!"
Kate froze. "CASTLE!"
The writer lifted himself to his knees, brushing off his shirt. "YES! Ho-ly Detective!"
Kate stood in shock as her partner rose to his feet, turning to face her, still with his hands in the air. "Must I prove it Detec—"
His voice cut out as he caught sight of her, and he widened his eyes. "Whoa!"
She frowned, still frozen in her stance. "What the hell, Castle!"
"I heard..." He shook himself out of his trance and managed to utter a full reply. "I heard a smash, and I thought something was wrong... Can you please put that gun down? You're making me think that was an intentional attempt on my life."
A rush of confined air escaped from her lungs as she finally released the grip on her weapon, lowering it completely. "How do you know it wasn't?" She shot back.
She watched his eyes grow wide, and frowned as his mouth opened. "Now that is a better view than the barrel of a gun pointed at my head."
Kate suddenly remembered her attire and shot him a scowl as she snatched the towel off the lounge, quickly wrapping it around her body.
His face dropped and he stared at the now deplorably gift wrapped treat. It didn't matter, though; the image was already burnt into his mind forever. It just wouldn't hurt to see that heavenly sight again.
The Detective glared in response to his attentions. "Eyes up, Castle!"
"Sorry."
His gaze snapped up to her face, and he wasn't surprised to see the flare of anger there. But the other emotion swirling within those gorgeous green eyes of hers, he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"So, you wanna tell me what the HELL you were thinking! I could have killed you!"
He flinched at the memory. "You almost did. I heard the bullets whizzing by my head as I made an impressive dive for the floor. I was sure I was gonna get one in my ass."
She sighed, smiling a little. Leave it to Castle to find the humour in any situation. "Do you have any idea how much trouble I would get in if I shot you?"
A wide grin spread across his face. "It's a good thing you're not a perfect shot then, huh Detective? And your concern..." He added, taking a step closer. "Is truly touching."
Kate bit her lip as she narrowed her eyes and fought back a smile. "Hard to get a good aim on a moving target, Castle...ever tried?" She instantly regretted the comment as his features pulled into an expression that could only reflect pure mischief.
"No I haven't, but if you ever want to teach me, Detective, I'm more than willing to face the shooting range with you...all those secluded booths in dark corners..."
She arched a brow and rolled her eyes, stating blankly, "In your dreams, Castle."
He smirked. "Oh Detective, you are, trust me, you are..."
She took a step toward the writer, her heart rate increasing as he did the same. Despite the heavy thumping in her chest, she managed to keep a sense of decorum. For now. "Why are you here?"
Castle stood inches from her body, struggling with the urge to confiscate her towel. Instead, he opted to give her a polite smile, knowing he had to keep a certain level of control. "Honest and respectable intentions, I swear."
"Uh-huh," she quipped, her eyes flashing as she closed the distance between them, torturously daring him to push the limits.
"Yes. I actually got you a gift." He whirled around and disappeared beyond the front door, allowing the Detective a moment to catch her breath before he re-emerged with a large wrapped box.
She arched a brow and threw him her best unimpressed glare. Though within the locked confines of her mind, her curiosity levels were shooting through the roof. She couldn't possibly open it in front of him. He would see right through her.
"Don't look so suspicious, Detective. Open it!"
He held it out to her and she cautiously took it from his hands.
"It's not a bomb." He grinned audaciously, before adding, "Cross my heart."
She dropped the gift onto the safety of the lounge and spun around, crossing her arms. "Don't think this makes everything okay, Castle!"
"Wouldn't dream of it. It's just a little something I got you a while ago. I wanted to give it to you before..." He paused. Before she kicks me out of her life.
She suddenly remembered the other book deal and could have literally felt the walls solidifying around her heart. Before he leaves.
"You should go," she stated coldly, crossing the room to her front door, swung wide open. A wave of regret washed over her when a flicker of hurt flashed in his eyes. She wondered if she had been a little too hard on him.
"It's getting late." She smiled politely. "And thanks to you, I have cleaning up to do."
"Okay, I take a hint." He raised an eyebrow, pairing it with a bold smirk. "When it's as subtle as a freight train." Returning her smile, he stepped toward the Detective, leaning against the door frame.
She bit her lip as he leaned in to her ear. "I'm just curious..."
She grinned and straightened out the dishevelled collar of his shirt, brushing off a shard of glass. "Uh-huh...of?"
His hand snaked into the towel and brushed against her stomach, descending to slip into the side of her lace panties, resting against her hip. A rush of breath escaped her lips as her eyes closed with the sensation, and he knew he had the Detective right where he wanted her.
Seizing the moment, he drew his mouth to hers, tasting the sweetness of her lips and testing her. Their bodies melded as their kisses became urgent and deep until Castle pulled back, tasting the tang of her flavour on his tongue. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and grinned cheekily. "Mmmm chocolate, as I thought."
She bit her tongue to keep from laughing and gently pushed him into the corridor. "Goodnight, Castle."
"What, no big send off? A good tumble in between sheets?" He smiled chivalrously. "Until tomorrow, Detective."
A small smile sneaked into her expression as she nodded, slowly enforcing the physical barrier between them.
As soon as the door met its frame, she slid on the dead bolt and leaned against the hard wood, unable to stop herself from grinning like the Cheshire cat. Her eyes flicked across the present and she vaulted off the door to satisfy her curiosity. Sliding the lid off, she was met by two smiling faces: Castle's and her own. She pulled the frame out of its casing and stared at it. They were at the Gala, her in that outrageously exquisite and ridiculously expensive dress, and Castle in that rather fitting, very attractive suit. They were turned slightly toward each other, undeniably focused on each other, with the biggest grins. Did she always smile like that with him? She liked that the background was blurred, and they were in complete focus, it seemed to mean something, though she couldn't quite pin what it was. Who got the chance to take this?
Kate turned it over and her eyes flicked up to the now bare wall where the faces of her college friends used to be, now laying in a shredding of smashed glass. Well, he managed to create a space for it.