Title: One Hundred Coffees
Summary: The story of each and every one of those one hundred coffees that Kate owes Rick. Castle/Beckett.
Warnings/Spoilers: Cuffed
Disclaimer: All rights for the characters and the world go to their owners. I, in no way, believe – or would lead others to believe – that I own Castle.
Author's Note: I know that I left you all for a very long time. It has been eleven days since I updated. I had some stuff going on and was busy, but I bring you some happy little coffees that certainly brightened my day. I hope they do the same for you. If you spot any mistakes, let me know as they are all my own.
thirty-one to thirty-five
31:
Kate isn't a Scrooge or a Grinch by any means. She really isn't. People get confused because she typically works the holidays and doesn't do more than a phone call to her dad and sort of locks herself away if she isn't working, but that doesn't mean she hates the season. She loves it. She does. And she wants to prove it this year. Part of that is definitely proving to herself that she is nowhere near as broken as she thinks she is. So when there's twelve days until Christmas, the coffee cups get a new theme.
She arrives to work with a cup in her hand and a smile on her face. Rick is in his chair, cozily waiting for her arrival. She walks up behind him and tells him that he has full permission to sing. He looks confused so she starts instead.
"On the first day of Christmas, my true love-" and her voice hitches for just a moment because really she can't believe she didn't think about that part of the song before now and Rick's got this look in his eye like he's about to spill his heart out to her right here and now and, oh goodness, she forgets how to breathe "-gave to me a cup of Starbucks coffee."
Rick's still got that look. She's got a scared one. It's slight, but she knows he picks up on it. He picks up on everything. He wrote the book on Kate's subtle quirks. Literally, as we all know. Thankfully, he chooses to take the high and kind road and not mention the way she froze at the L-word. He takes the cup with a little "Thank you."
Kate also picks up on Rick's subtle quirks. The slowed pace to his words tells her that he means more than what he actually says. He holds eye contact in that way he does when he tries to convey a point as seriously as possible. His hand even lingers, which isn't so much subtle as a blaring sign that reads: Love me, Kate. She does. Though, now is not the time to say anything. She wonders when that time is. Day two? Day twelve? Coffee one-hundred-and-one? How long are they going to wait? Four years and they have loving glances and an army of people telling them to get together. You know, despite every childish hop and ridiculous comment, Rick is the most patient person that Kate knows. He doesn't pressure her. He doesn't even bat an eye about it all. He believes in their love story, their fate. He helps her believe too.
"You're welcome, Castle."
32:
Rick sings under his breath at their crime scene. "On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two fresh bodies and a cup of Starbucks coffee." He grabs his cup from Kate to punctuate the end of the line.
Lanie chuckles at the two of them. They're cute. Esposito smiles at Lanie. She's cute. Ryan ignores them all. He's stressed. He wishes that all Jenny got him were some dead bodies and not the very live soon-to-be-related-to-him ones that will be judging him in a few days. Again, he compares his relationship to Castle and Beckett's. It's so easy for them to find a rhythm, to be perfect. Ryan and Jenny are pretty damn perfect, but they're not the well-oiled machine that the duo is. Ryan is also not as charming and witty as Rick. He doesn't win over everyone with a few well-spoken words. He has to smooth them over. Spend time with them. Alone. On Christmas. Oy vey.
Rick clears his throat. Ryan turns around sharply at the sound only to find Rick holding out the cup towards him.
"You look like you need this more than I do," Rick says. Ryan looks at the cup and then up to Kate who seems perfectly okay with Rick giving away the morning coffee. With that approval, Ryan takes the cup and drinks. It's purely psychosomatic, but he feels calmer after. He nods to show that he's better. Rick claps him on the back and wanders back over to Kate. Ryan forces himself to focus. As he glances at the victims, he wonders if fresh is the correct terminology.
At the same time, Esposito comments, "Dude, these are not fresh. They reek." Ryan chuckles. Maybe it's just a partner thing. Maybe.
33:
"Castle," grumbles Kate lowly. As cute as it is that he feels the need to sing every time she gives him the first coffee of the day, she wants the quiet to figure out what to do now. He, of course, ignores her.
To himself, he sings, "On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three suspects, two fresh bodies, and a cup of Starbucks coffee."
Kate corrects, "You found one of the suspects, Castle."
"True, but we already have the two in the twelve days so you get the credit for all three."
Kate rolls her eyes. "Lucky me," she says sarcastically.
"You are lucky. You have an amazing partner, a challenging case, and the best party of the season to prepare for."
Kate almost rolls her eyes a second time. Rick's annual Christmas party is not until the day after Christmas this year. That being said, he is still requiring every person to say 'Merry Christmas' even though it will be after the special day. He's roped her into helping him decorate, but only after they close this case. He's so excited. If Kate's being honest, she is too. For both the decorating and the actual party. That does not stop her from messing with him through. She takes a slow sip of her own coffee in mock consideration.
She says, "You know, with the way this case is turning out, I might not be able to make it, Castle."
His face falls quickly but subtly. He obviously doesn't want to guilt her with his puppy dog sadness, which tells her just how much he must want her there. She actually starts to feel bad for a joke. A joke! But then, lowly, he starts, "On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three broken hearts, a casket for my body, and a lie that won't stop me this time." He gives her a smug look. She narrows her eyes.
"For that, I'm taking back your coffee," she says. She reaches over to do so, but he pulls it closer to his body.
"No take-backs," he insists.
"Castle-"
"Take it and I promise you I will not stop singing," threatens Rick. Kate plucks the mug from his soft, warm hands. One blissful moment of silence follows before Rick bursts into the loudest and most obnoxious version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Detectives and uniforms look up from their work to the newly blushing detective and ridiculous writer, who does not stop by the way. Somewhere before Santa appears in the song, Kate gives Rick back the coffee. However, the rest of the precinct seems to see that as the cue to join in. It's 'Piano Man' all over again, only more festive. It actually inspires Kate's next coffee.
34:
She writes the song on the cup. On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four strips of duct tape, three suspects, two fresh bodies, and a cup of Starbucks coffee.
She says, "For next time you sing." She also instructs Rick to turn the cup around. There's one thing he didn't see that doesn't fit into the song. It reads:
Say "apples" all you want. I got myself earplugs.
35:
Rick looks confused at the start of the fifth day when Kate is nowhere to be seen despite having called him in about the killer. Instead, he finds Esposito in her chair, dangling her car keys. Rick starts to ask where Kate is, but Esposito cuts him off.
Esposito takes his songs very seriously. He sings low and strong as he stands from Kate's chair and offers out the keys to Rick. "On the fifth day of Christmas, your true love gave to you five minutes driving!"
Rick's jaw drops slightly.
Ryan jumps in to continue the rest of the song. "Four strips of duct tape, three suspects, two fresh bodies, and-"
Esposito joins Ryan to sing, "One big kiss in the precinct!"
The last part is improvised and Kate does not approve one bit. She clears her throat from behind them and offers Rick the actual end to the song. Meanwhile, Ryan and Esposito laugh and feed the birds and generally get so wrapped up in their bromance that they don't recognize the look that passes between Kate and Rick. It's not lewd, or even about the moment they're in currently; it's a look of possibility because, one day, they will be kissing on the street. And in the precinct. And anywhere else they possibly can. Before that, though, they have a killer to catch.
Rick heads towards the elevator, saying, "Five minutes, huh? You know, I'm sure it would be dangerous to switch drivers in route. I'll just drive the whole way."
Kate steps into the elevator first.
"Are you sure you can handle that? Five minutes is a long time for someone of your… expertise."
Rick does not find the crack as humorous as she does. He takes it as a challenge, moving closer to her. Towering over her. At least, it feels that way even with her heels.
"Oh, Kate, you have no idea about my expertise. You will be amazed by what I can do," he says.
The words slip out of her mouth before she thinks about them. "Prove it."
And Rick smirks. And Kate bites her lip. And the elevator doors close.
Do you hate me for that ending?
Feel free to suggest coffee ideas in your reviews. Also, I'll put it to a vote. Should Kate do all twelve days of Christmas? (The decorating of the Castle abode is separate from that so don't let wanting to see that weigh in to your decision.)
We've got sixty-five left. What are you thinking now?
