A/N: I'm back (for a while anyway) :) Sorry for the delay but I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Thanks for all the reviews in the previous chapter! As usual, thank you Trish for the beta work. I added some last minute changes, so any mistakes you guys catch are all mine.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

True to her word, Leigh, the Vice Detective, called Kate on her cell the next day.

"Hey Beckett, how's that head?" she greeted cheerily.

Kate chuckled, answering honestly. "It's still holding up, if that's what you're asking."

"Good. So you remember the conversation we had last night while having drinks with the team? You're still up for that, right?"

Kate tilted her head to one side, trying to recall the mentioned conversation. Parts of last night were slowly coming back to her.

"Your partner has that case, right? The one that could do with Castle's help getting in?"

"Yeah, that's it. So I spoke to my partner, Turner, and she says your help would be greatly appreciated. If you could pop by Vice I can introduce you to Turner and she'll be able to give you a proper briefing, see if you're up for it."

"Give me twenty minutes and I'll meet you on the Vice floor?" Kate offered.

"Alright. See you in twenty."

Leigh made the introductions when Kate arrived, and the detectives warmed up to each other immediately. Kate was given the lowdown on the case, and, sensing an opportunity, quickly snatched up their offer. Turner, who was acting as Lead Detective for this operation, promptly put in the paperwork requesting Kate's assistance in Vice. The paperwork would likely take a few days to be fully processed, so Kate took the opportunity to get up to speed and learn all the necessary details surrounding the operation while she was still in New York.

Once she was given the go ahead, Kate was to go up to the Hamptons to do some recon work. It would also give her the perfect excuse to look up Castle, as an added bonus. He had been bugging her for undercover work, especially since that charity event last year. He had taken great delight in seeing Kate all dressed up in that red gown. He'd become even more persistent ever since she saved his ass by pretending to be a Russian hooker, relentlessly trying to find out what else she could be persuaded to do. It's research for Nikki, he would whine. And it had taken a large amount of creative threats from Kate to finally get him to shut up.

Kate coming to his doorstep and willingly asking him for help with undercover work would be like Christmas arriving early for Castle.

Kate finally got the green light to head up to the Hamptons on Friday. She was instructed use the weekend to set up her contacts – in this case, Castle would be her way in – before contacting Hamptons PD on Monday to receive her official instructions. Turner had given her the contact for the detectives from Hamptons PD that she would be collaborating with.

The drive up to the Hamptons was uneventful. Kate took her Softtail as she'd planned the week earlier, zipping through traffic with ease. She had even sent Castle a text right before leaving New York, but hadn't heard back from him.

Kate only stopped once for gas, the overhead clouds, which cast a solemn, gray tinge to the sky, spurring her to push onward. She hadn't planned on getting caught in the rain.

It didn't take long for Kate to get to town. In the distance, the storm clouds gathered and thunder rumbled, it's low cadence making the air hum with energy. The wind was also beginning to pick up speed, carrying the salty smell of the sea into town. She dismounted from the bike, the ground feeling solid under her feet after having been on the bike so long. She zipped up her leather jacket a little higher, to stave off the chill of the sea breeze.

Spotting a delivery boy, Kate showed him the piece of paper with Castle's address, now crumpled and slightly smudged, asking him for directions on which way she should head.

He gave her basic instructions before Kate thanked him and rode off. Droplets of rain had begun to fall as Kate approached his neighborhood. She hunkered down over her bike, trying to stay as dry as she could while locating his street.

Kate silently cursed Castle, these damned Hamptons mansions were spaced so far apart that even going from one street to another took precious time that she didn't have. By the time she pulled up to the correct address, the sky had opened up and was releasing a torrent of rain.

Kate quickly headed straight for the front door, her main goal now just to get out of the rain. She took a few seconds to wring the rain out of her hair, using the tempered glass of his front door as a makeshift mirror to fix her appearance the best she could. She sure hoped Castle was in.

Kate lifted her hand to press the doorbell but hesitated right before she made contact. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. She glanced around but there was no one in sight, no other signs of life out in the rain. She double-checked the number on the front door to make sure it was indeed Castle's address.

Bouncing from foot to foot, she transferred her weight back and forth trying to work up the courage to just ring the bell. The rain wasn't letting up and it didn't seem like she had much of a choice.

Here goes nothing.

Kate pressed his doorbell once, waiting a few seconds before pressing it twice more.

She could hear a muffled chime echoing from within the house and for the first time, wondered just how large this place was. She hadn't really been paying attention to the house but now she had time to assess the property she realized how huge it was, more akin to a mansion than just a summer house. He could probably comfortably host multiple families here!

Kate bit her bottom lip nervously when no one came to the door. She wondered if she should try his cell or if she should ring the doorbell once more. Maybe she should give him some more time – for all she knew, he could have been on the other side of the mansion when she first rang the bell.

She bounced lightly on the ball of her foot, silently humming a random tune to distract herself. The door suddenly swung open.

"Beckett?"

She stopped humming immediately and smiled sheepishly at her partner.

"Hey Castle."

His hair was all mussed, as though he had just woken from a nap or had been running his hands through his hair in frustration. Since he was dressed to go out, she deduced it was likely to be the latter.

He blinked rapidly and frowned at her confusedly. "Beckett?" he repeated, as though he couldn't believe she was really in front of him.

She let out a small chuckle.

"Yeah, you already said that."

"How did you find- Why are you here?"

"Didn't you get my text? I sent it from New York. That should have been a couple hours ago, and as to how, I'm a cop, remember? It makes looking up people easy."

He looked at her blankly, slowly saying, "My phone… Battery's been out. You're… here. You looked me up?"

Looks like she had really caught him by surprise. Kate stuffed her hands into her back pockets.

"Well, uh, yeah, I kinda looked you up on the database, but just to get your Hamptons address. Are you… heading out or something?" she asked.

He looked down to see what he was wearing and grimaced.

Kate added quickly, "Is this a bad time? I mean, I can always head back to town to find a hotel but uh, maybe after the rain stops?"

He finally opened the door wider and stepped back, apologizing. "I'm so sorry, no. Please, come in, I've just been- had something on my mind."

Kate ducked her head to cover her blush as she thanked him. They had been standing out in front for so long, she on one side of the door and he on the other, that she had begun to wonder if he would ever invite her in or if he was going to turn her away.

"Would you like a towel to dry yourself or do you prefer a shower?"

"Rick? What's taking so long? Who's at the door?" Gina's voice floated across the front hall before she emerged under the doorway two seconds later.

Kate's mouth fell open. She didn't know Gina would still be here!

Gina mirrored Kate's actions when she caught sight of the detective, mouth falling open in surprise. She looked at Castle and then back to the wet detective, clamping her mouth to a thin line. Gina turned to glare at Castle, fury rolling off her in waves.

If looks could kill, Kate thought, looking helplessly at Castle. Coming up to the Hamptons had been a bad idea. A very bad idea.

She hadn't really meant to put him in this position, but Kate didn't know what to do now that she was already here.

Castle started, "Gina, I didn't-"

"Detective Beckett," Gina cut Castle off mid sentence, looking back at Kate, a fake smile plastered onto her face, "what a… surprise."

Ironically, she sounded less surprised than Castle.

"I sent a text to Castle earlier, but I guess it was my fault he didn't know I was coming up. I should have called or something," Kate explained, trying to take some of the heat off Castle.

She waited for Castle to say something or to diffuse the situation but he seemed to be tongue-tied.

"Well," Kate said, "It's a very lovely place you have up here."

Gina scoffed. "Yeah, well you can thank Derrick Storm for that. Then again, if Rick ever actually decides to finish Naked Heat he might be able to build a new wing in your honor. Come on, I'll show you around."

Gina's tone left no space for either of them to bargain. She turned around and began walking away, leaving Kate and Castle no choice but to scamper across the hall after her. Kate was all too conscious of her damp clothes leaving a trail of rainwater wherever she went, but Gina didn't seem to care and Castle hadn't seemed to notice. He looked to be deep in his own thoughts.

Gina led them through the waiting hall and into the informal living room.

"At one stage this was called the Purple Room," Gina explained, her tone bland. "The interior designers originally gave it a blue theme, to match the ocean through those windows," Gina pointed in the general direction of the side windows, but due to the storm it was all a murky gray outside. She turned back to Kate and continued, "Anyway, Little Alexis came up here and decided purple was a better color."

Kate was taken back at the sudden bitter tone and glanced furtively at Castle. He, too, was looking warily at Gina.

"So of course Rick repainted the room purple, no discussions there, changing the furniture as well. I came up two weeks later, and you can't imagine how surprised I was. But then again, I should have known better, right?"

"Gina," Rick warned in a low tone, taking a step towards her while shaking his head subtly.

Gina took a few steps further into the room, not in the least bit bothered by Castle.

"And so it became the Purple Room. Two months later Alexis changed her mind. She didn't like purple anymore, deciding blue was a much nicer color since it matched her eyes. So Rick got the decorators back in to change the room back to its original design. He just doesn't know a good thing when it's right there in front of him, you know?"

Castle crossed the space between them in a few long strides, holding her close to him while he whispered harshly into her ear.

Gina didn't seem fazed by him, laughing bitterly as she shrugged him off, facing Kate as she continued, "What do they say about writers? You can't rush a genius?"

Kate fidgeted uncomfortably as Gina looked expectantly at her for an answer. She had been standing frozen at the same spot throughout Gina's little story, and as a result, a small puddle of water had pooled around her feet. That knowledge combined with Gina's scrutiny brought a surge of heat to Kate's cheeks.

Gina looked her up and down, eyes settling on the small puddle on the expensive hardwood floors. It was hard for Kate not to shrivel and cower under the look of contempt on Gina's face. She was looking at Kate as though she had just drowned a basketful of kittens.

So that's how she keeps her authors in line, Kate thought.

"I'm sorry, uh, for the-" Kate gestured at the mess around her feet. "Maybe you could show me the bathroom?"

Castle finally looked at Kate, taking in her disheveled, wet state for what seemed like the first time.

"Oh Rick where are your manners? Go fetch her a towel will you? I'll bring her around the house, get to know your muse a little better."

Castle looked as though he was torn. Kate smiled encouragingly at him as she tried to keep from shivering. To be quite honest, the cold was beginning to seep into her limbs despite the flush in her cheeks. She sure hoped she wouldn't catch a cold.

Once again Gina stepped in, driving Castle into action. "Come on, Rick, you're not afraid of leaving your detective with me, right? Surely Nikki can take some heat," she teased.

Kate wondered if she should be afraid when she detected the hint of malice in Gina's undertones, preposterous as it may sound.

Castle looked at Kate to see if she was okay with the situation, and she gave him a tiny nod. "I'll be back soon," he said, giving Gina a parting look.

"So, Detective Beckett, shall we?" Gina asked.

"Please, Kate will do."

"Kate, then. Come on, let me show you the next room and Rick's study. Wouldn't you like to see where he's been spending all his time writing?"

Kate had no idea what the appropriate reply was in this case since she was rather certain the hint of jealousy wasn't imaginary. She made a neutral hum, following closely behind Gina. As Gina launched into another short narration regarding the next room, Kate thought, At least Castle can easily track our progress from room to room based on the trail of water I'm leaving behind.

Gina eventually led her into the dining room, and Kate couldn't help but to comment on the lavish dinner still set out on the table.

"Wow, it's quite a feast you have here."

Gina scoffed, muttering something under her breath that Kate couldn't quite catch. She wasn't all too sure she was meant to hear what Gina was saying anyway. Kate tried to stand unobtrusively in a corner, but Gina was having none of that. She gestured for the detective to join her at the table, reaching for the bottle of red wine that was set out to breathe.

"Red wine okay? Rick picked it so I guess it has to be good. We both know how he likes to dote."

Kate didn't really know what Gina was talking about but she nodded along anyway. Gina handed her one of the glasses before picking the other up for herself, adding contemptuously, "Well, until the next shiny thing comes along anyway. Cheers."

They clinked glasses and Kate took a small sip of her wine. Gina was right. It was good. She snuck a look at Gina, surprised to see the blond taking three healthy gulps of the wine.

"So tell me, Kate, just how long have you two been planning this little… rendezvous?" Gina rounded on her suddenly, her question taking Kate by surprise.

She choked, causing the red wine to go down the wrong way. Kate fanned herself as tears sprung to her eyes, gasping helplessly as she quickly set her glass of wine onto the table.

Gina continued nonchalantly, spinning her own tale.

"Did you arrive early? Was that the glitch? Or was it all part of your elaborate plan? Get Rick to put me in a good mood so that I'd be more susceptible to welcome you? Well it's too bad, Kate, dinner was ruined before it even started. You must be proud of yourself, starting trouble even in your absence."

Kate protested, "Gina, I have no idea what you're talking about. I swear. I had no idea you were still up here with him. I wouldn't have-"

But Gina was having none of it.

"Lies! You saw me leaving with him last week! How dare you-"

"Gina that's enough!" Castle interrupted, rushing over with a large towel in hand. Kate immediately reached for the towel, opening it up to wrap around her body.

Turning to Kate, he told her, "Beckett, as you can see, now isn't really a good time. However, you are welcome to go upstairs, there's a row of guest rooms on the right side of the hall. Please make yourself comfortable in any one of them and take a shower if you want. You should be able to find everything you would need in the bathroom cabinet. Gina and I need to have a few words, alone."

A/N: Hope this chapter lived up to your expectations! More to come in the next chapter :)