Chapter Eight

Rick and Kate worked companionably to set out finger sandwiches and crudités, fire up chafing dishes and fill a copper basin with ice and beer. He set up a small bar & showed Kate the T-shirts and key rings he'd ordered for gifts. She showed him how to make a mouse garnish from a lemon or lime. All was set and ready when Rick turned to her and held out his hand. Suspicious, she gave him hers, but he merely smiled and kissed the back of her hand. "I'm glad you're here tonight, Kate. Alexis enjoyed spending time with you, too." He handed her some sake and added, "Here's to our first party as a 'couple'.

She smiled at his sentimentality and raised her drink to his. No sooner had they clinked cups and downed the sake than the door buzzer sounded. "Wait, Mal's coat!" Rick donned the brown deerskin and led her to the door. He put his arm around her as he threw the door wide to see…

Kevin Ryan dressed in a tight yellow t-shirt, cargo pants with a wide belt and army boots. From behind his back he pulled a large, ugly Bowie knife and shoved it into a sheath on his belt.

"Whoa, Jayne?…you look amazingly… intelligent! What's happened to you, man?"

Kate, already aware of his unlikely character choice, merely shook Ryan's hand and welcomed him in. Kevin took umbrage at Castle's apparent compliment however.

"Are you accusing me of gettin' learned? 'Coz it ain't that". Ryan pulled a cunning knit cap over his head to prove the point. "It's just that my character's showin' some growth. Something you might want to consider if you ever expect your character to actually get a woman on a show. I even kiss 'em on the mouth now. Leastways, this one I do." Ryan/Jayne stepped aside to reveal the diminutive figure concealed behind him. Dun, dun, dun.. "Captain, you remember your blushing, psychotic bride."

"Saffron!"

With a sweet, "Hi, Hubby," to Rick, Jenny let Ryan pull her inside the loft. There was no doubt that she looked adorably sexy in a fitted, cotton eyelet lace top and skirt, complete with flat sandals and twirling a wedding wreath. They both grinned to see Castle taken aback, even as he clearly approved of her outfit. Kate's eyes sparkled, admiring the confidence of Jenny's choice and the perfect way she pulled it off. Ryan was obviously proud and thrust his not that Jayne-like chest out to show it. Before Rick could close the door, everyone heard the elevator door in the hallway open again.

"Wow."

Lanie stepped into the hall looking stunning, her hair in curls and make-up glamorous. The silky fabric of her deep blue midriff ensemble was rich and accentuated by a heavy silver necklace, arm cuffs and long silver earrings. Following closely behind was Esposito, clad in a tight fitting flight suit, with the sleeves torn out and vintage Hawaiian shirt showing underneath. His tan muscles were definitely on display and his eyes were on Lanie until he realized they had an audience.

Castle was impressed in spite of himself. Never let it be said that the people of the 12th did any thing by half measures. Including party.

" Shiny. Welcome, Big Damn Heroes. And also", looking from Kate to Jenny to Lanie... "Hottest Women in the 'Verse."

"Excuse me, 'Sir', but you'd better be including us women under the title, Big Damn Heroes." Kate glared at Rick.

"Yes, yes, of course I was. I never meant… Hell, you're Big Damn Heroes in sexy clothes and lip gloss, with guns and um, feminine wiles. That's like BDH squared. I mean, who the heck stands a chance against that?" Castle tried vainly to redeem himself, looking to the guys for support. Esposito just shook his head, "Dude," while Ryan whispered loudly, "Growth."

Jenny attempted to help Rick out by saying, "I think everyone's a hero in their own way." Ryan nodded approvingly, "I like that, sounds like a song title. I mean everyone's got something they can do."

Meanwhile, Kate gave Lanie an admiring look as they hugged; then ushered her and Esposito inside. "Lamby Toes!" Javier/Wash threw his arms wide as though expecting a marital embrace from his Firefly wife.

Whether it was due to the way her friends fell naturally into this strange role playing game, or the amount of sake she had consumed, Kate found she wasn't as self conscious with all this costume/character stuff as she'd anticipated.

"Um, Wash, dear, I'm not sure how to tell you this, but remember all those insecurities you had regarding me and the Captain…?" She felt Rick come up behind her and massage her shoulders. Relaxing into the spirit of the evening, Kate leaned back against him and raised her eyebrows meaningfully.

Looking mournful, Esposito shook his head and said, "So, does that mean I can't smack you on the bottom the way I used to?"

"Not if you want to live."

He looked around to see Castle and Lanie nodding agreement.

"Well, guess I'll get over it. After all, I've still got my dinosaurs, not to mention, a certain registered Companion!" Javier couldn't resist putting his arm around Lanie, nearly blown away with how hot she looked. He didn't see her lofty, 'you just had to brag' eye roll.

Rick laughed, "Touché. I guess this party is kind of like Firefly meets One Life to Live, where everybody's switched love interests. Let's hope no one has an evil twin or multiple characters living inside them. Seems to be plenty of subtext without that. Meanwhile, welcome aboard. And thanks for dressing for the occasion; especially you ladies." He held up his hands to prevent backlash and said "I just mean, it makes me proud, that I am the host of a party, with the hottest women in the 'verse in attendance.. Yes. I said it twice. Esposito, Ryan, this time, back me up."

The guys had to agree; one because it was true, and two, because if they said no, that would not end well either.

"So, we've set up a bar; the finest of beverages that won't make you blind. Might make you blurry though. Help yourselves to whatever you fancy. There's plenty of food when you're peckish, including ample vegetarian fare, Jayne and Saffron. (Now that's a mind blowing concept... our two cold blooded killers here, holding themselves to ethical practices… I conjure that's real character growth!)" They chuckled at this, remembering Jayne's horrible quote, "If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak."

Esposito had a question. "Hey, didn't you ask Captain Montgomery to come?"

Castle nodded. "I did. Two things. He wasn't really into the dressing up part, and also, he had a family obligation. However, the Captain will be with us in spirit." He grinned, turning with a flourish to spin his coat and retrieved something from his study. Holding up a large photo, he taped it to the wall beside the TV screen. "I had my resident computer expert, (Alexis) Photoshop this for me yesterday. Pretty cunning, don't cha think?" Everyone gathered close to see Capt. Montgomery dressed in Shepherd Book's trademark grey collar and coat, complete with a white mustache, and hair pulled back into a tight bun. Smiles erupted all around. "Always figured he knew too much about criminals and their ways."

Kate coughed lightly, covering her smile with a hand, "He will be seeing this. It's only right."

"Absolutely. The guys can bring it to him Monday. While we're um, out of town." Rick ignored the threatening looks Ryan and Esposito were shooting him. " Now, I've come up with a game to determine which episodes we should watch, so…everybody ready?"

Ten minutes later, the 'crew' was waiting to see "Out of Gas", followed by "Our Mrs. Reynolds"; which Kate thought were good choices . Rick was making sure that everyone had a drink and was comfortable, shrugging out of the 'browncoat' because he was too warm. He turned to see Lanie and Esposito looking at him and whispering. They both approached and Esposito glanced at Rick's holster, his empty holster.

"Whoa, Captain, where's your weapon? Zoe's carrying a fine replica; said you provided it. But you got nothing. Something you want to share?" Castle turned to see Kate smirking at him, holding something behind her back.

"I, uh, my pistol was confiscated, briefly, but I'm sanguine that it will be returned to me, directly, seeing as I am the host of this shindig." He looked expectantly at Kate, then tried a captainy glare, finally changing to puppy dog pleading.

Beckett gave him an indulgent look and handed over Mal's pistol. "The captain was getting a mite ahead of himself; I just needed to remind him that 'first mate' didn't translate literally." She couldn't quite keep the smile off her lips, her eyes on Rick's face as they both flashed back to the kiss earlier. There followed a brief bout of eye sex, with him glancing at her necklace, then her mouth before remembering they had an audience. Kate stepped back and Rick cleared his throat theatrically. Taking the large weapon from her, he twirled it expertly several times and shoved it into his holster with perfect timing. "Anyone want lessons on gun twirling? 'Cause I can…"

"No, bro. They kinda frown on that in police training. I do have a question though." Esposito, Ryan and Jenny were at the console table which displayed the Firefly memorabilia, Ryan holding up the catalyzer from "Out of Gas". "Is this what we think this is?"

Castle nodded, "Got it last Halloween. Along with that model of Serenity."

"And the coat?"

"Oh, I've had that for years, since the show was first on, actually." Kate brought Jenny a drink and added, "Yeah. Don't know if you've heard, but he 'knows a guy'."

Lanie was examining the table further, checking out some maquettes of characters, but she picked up a large hammer and gestured. "What's this for? Is Serenity under repair? Or is this for something else?"

Rick's eyes widened as he saw what she was holding..

Ryan took it from her and hefted it a moment. "Sixteen ounce ball peen hammer? What's that for?"

Castle moved quickly to take the tool from him, shaking his head and muttering. "It's not, there's nothing, um, that's just…" He opened a drawer in a side table and dropped it in. "I was….hanging…something." Rick noticed Kate looking at him curiously and turned to Jenny for a change of subject. "So, addressing the itch of curiousness, you marry him, too?"

"Not yet." She smiled demurely and threw a glance to where Ryan was standing with his partner. "We're taking things slowly, too. Maybe not quite as slow as you, but…"

Rick was honestly interested in what Jenny was saying and though he admired the way she could make a potato sack sexy, his eyes just wanted to focus on Beckett standing next to him. He loved seeing her this way; relaxed among her friends, hearing her sexy laugh and watching her face flush slightly when someone teased her. Gazing across the room, he saw that Ryan and Esposito were looking at her, too. If only he could hear what they had to say.

Esposito, "He can hardly take his eyes off her."

Ryan, "Yeah. Or his hands." They were watching Castle's hand curl around Kate's neck, then stroke her arm.

Esposito, "Well, can you blame him? It's been a long time coming. Lanie and I were thinking it might be fun to see them a little bit …drunk." He raised his eyebrows to suggest more fun to come. "After all, next time we see them, they'll have done the deed. No telling what they'll be like by then. My money's on even crazier, but you never know."

"What makes you think they haven't already?" Ryan observed them briefly, then shook his head, never mind.

"Bro, look at him; hell, look at both of 'em. Besides, Lanie says he's waiting till tomorrow night; wants to make it real romantic and all. Anyway, we thought we'd help things along some. You in?"

"I'm in. Makes it kinda like a twofer. There's the show and 'the show'."

Castle had rearranged the furniture in his loft to allow for special seating in front of the giant plasma TV, with short tables in front for food and drink. "I've printed off some copies of a FF drinking game I found on the web. If you want to add anything to it, feel free. Got a powerful itch to see Zoe, here, intoxicated, so any ideas toward that goal would be appreciated." Kate gave him her 'in your dreams' expression and finished her sake.

Rick took that as a challenge and looked to his boys for back-up. "Well, people; turns out this is the rutting town hall. Any contributions to the printed version of the game?"

Lanie gave a pointed look at Kate and said, "Captain and Zoe have to drink whenever she calls him, 'Sir'. Wash has to drink when he flips those 3 switches, or brings the ship in for a save."

Esposito added, "Inara has to drink whenever Mal insults her, or she throws him out of her shuttle; and Mal has to drink whenever she gets the best of him. Jayne (and his woman) have to drink whenever he says or does something that makes everyone cringe."

"And Saffron has to drink whenever she makes up porn as myth or knocks out people with her flipflop. And we have to watch her seduction scene with Mal twice, and they both count." That was Kate, making certain that Jenny felt equally spotlighted.

"Wow, adding to all that, everyone drinks to any Mandarin spoken and the words, 'shiny, conjure, reavers and 'verse.' Of course, this is all strictly voluntary, so no pressure at all…"

"Next question, what shall we drink for the game? Sake or beer? Whatever you guys want, we'll just set it up in front of us, along with some munchies." Rick looked to his guests for input.

"Sake's alright, but we were thinking more, top of the line tequila. After all, you are a big proponent of 'hand margaritas'." Esposito pulled the bowl of limes down from the counter and looked at Rick challengingly. Castle looked surprised, so Ryan chimed in.

"Yeah. Try to butch up, Castle. No one's driving and everyone is off tomorrow. How often does that happen? We'll sip our imported beer and have fun with your high class tequila. Sound good to everyone?" Lanie, Jenny and Esposito nodded, Kate looking suspiciously at them for a minute. Rick smiled to himself, quickly realizing what was afoot. And not averse to it one bit.

So, everything and everyone set up comfortably in a darkened room, Castle settled down between Kate and Jenny, and pressed play. The episode, "Out of Gas" began and within the first two minutes, Zoe called Mal 'sir' five times, plus there were two Chinese words. Esposito was quick to pour the shots for Castle and Beckett, watching as they swallowed and grimaced, sucking the limes after. Everyone ended up taking shots, but the two leads were getting bombarded with rules and prompts. Halfway through the episode, they were both a bit buzzed.

Jenny asked Rick to replay the scene where Mal tells Inara, "Everybody dies alone," and watched affectionately as these tough cops got a little choked up. Such a beautiful scene.

Minutes later, Lanie was asking for a rewind of her own. "Stop. I want to see that again in slow-mo."

"What, nothing's happening here, he's just breathing." It was the scene where Mal first opens the air lock to the captain of the "rescue" ship and takes in that rush of oxygen after being close to suffocation.

Kate smiles over at Lanie, "You caught that, too." She takes the remote from Rick and rewinds it. "It's known as the 'airgasm'." The scene replays in slow motion as the three women lean forward to watch Mal close his eyes in rapture, breathing deeply, his mouth slightly open and a breeze ruffling his hair.

"Damn straight I caught it. Boy looking that fine, making that face? Didn't know it had a name though." Lanie grinned at Kate. "I like it."

Meanwhile, all three men were glancing cluelessly at each other and shooting shocked looks at their ladies. "How can you turn breathing life giving oxygen into something sexual?" Esposito was shaking his head disapprovingly and Ryan was staring wide eyed at Jenny's sudden fascination as Beckett replayed the scene for the third time.

Jenny turned from the screen to stare at Kevin. "Oh, please. This from the man who asked me to eat a strawberry the way Kaylee does in the pilot episode?" At her words, Lanie and Kate both swiveled to look at Jenny, then their men and back to each other. "You, too?" The guys all looked pretty sheepish at this revelation and Rick tried to sound dignified as he asked, "Shall we continue?"

They watched the end of that episode with the women smiling and the men somewhat chagrinned.

Rick stood up between episodes, "You guys want to break for food?"

Everyone had pretty much been munching while watching; the food was so delicious. Ryan held up a plate filled with sandwiches and bao, one on the way to his mouth, "Not necessary, captain. Good job with the protein."

Kate suggested an intermission for other reasons, and most everyone stood while Castle adjusted the lighting. Kate and Jenny cleared away some debris from the table and headed to the kitchen. Seeing an opening, Lanie drew Rick away to his study for a minute. "Castle, I want to give you something…"

"Wow, Lanie, I'm flattered, really, but I'm with Kate now…" grinning his most impudent grin.

"Hush, fool. I'm trying to do you a favor." She softened her words with a smile, taking from her purse a small gift bag. "There are instructions for opening this gift on the outside of the envelope. Promise me you'll follow them." Lanie looked at him seriously. "The first rule is, don't peek. Secondly, keep it a secret until you are actually in your beach house. Thirdly, open it in front of Kate. And last, use that writer boy creativity I've been hearing about. Do you promise? To follow my instructions, (which are for your own good, I might add)?"

Rick nodded solemnly. "I do. But is this present for me, or for Kate?"

Lanie smiled enigmatically as she exited his study. "That, you can tell me later."

When Rick followed Lanie from his office, he saw Kate and Jenny standing in a corner, Jenny's hands at Kate's throat. Looked like she was undoing the bootlaces on her neck. In a second, he was there, "Something wrong?"

Jenny glanced up at him, "We're just trying to get this loose. Kate was uncomfortable. But the laces are pulled so tight, it's hard to get them apart." She moved away, "Your fingers are stronger, you'll probably have more luck." As she turned, she noted, "Might be best not to grasp things such as this too firmly." She walked away with a knowing smile, looking for her Jayne.

Rick took the laces in his hands, pulling at the troublesome knot, while looking at Kate's face. Her eyes were avoiding his, and she looked flushed, whether from drinking or for some other reason. "Everything okay?" His tone was intimate, voice deep and low.

He tilted her head up with a finger under her chin, and when her eyes met his, he nearly groaned. "Can you just get this off of me?" Kate's eyes were dark and her breathing shallow. She was having a tiny panic attack. Having his hands on her neck and the thing he did with his voice, all the while looking soulfully at her. How was she supposed to defend against that?

'I'm sorry, here, it's off." Rick held up the offending necklace. He was about to cast it aside when Kate took it from his hand.

"What are you doing? I want to keep it. Always." She turned to make certain he was looking at her. "It was just…. tickling." Kate shivered slightly and blew a breath through her bangs. "Now, if I 'm not mistaken, it's time to watch a beautiful woman attempt to seduce your character. Over and over."

Not being content to let that end their conversation, Castle announced the end of intermission, darkened the lights again and pulled Kate down next to him. He drew her hand into his and breathed into her ear, "Darlin', in real life, it's you and only you." Time for "Our Mrs. Reynolds"