A/N: So this one is a lot longer, because I just couldn't decide which angst-filled scene I liked the best. I love this episode and I just couldn't choose, so you get two scenes today. First one is when we meet Sorenson, the second is that scene between him and Beckett in the Candelas' kitchen. Please review! Hope you enjoy!
Sir what's going on?" Kate asked Montgomery, wondering why he was even here. It wasn't unheard of for him to walk a scene, but it wasn't a usual occurrence either.
"Two year old girl, Angela Candela, reported missing by parents about eight o'clock this morning."
"Where'd they find the body?" She asked, trying not to remember the last time.
"They haven't found her, she was abducted. Father was in the other room painting." Kate looked at Montgomery, trying to see if her suspicions were correct. She didn't want to do this again.
"Kidnapped from her home?" Castle piped in, but she ignored him.
"I don't understand sir, if this isn't a murder, why am I here?"
"The feds requested you to be on the task force." Damn it.
"The feds?" Again Castle couldn't shut up.
"FBI has jurisdiction over child abduction cases."
"Then why call me?" Castle asked, but Kate wasn't listening. Montgomery turned to him and answered.
"Because I like pissing off the FBI. And because you think outside the box, something the feebs rarely do." Kate couldn't remain quiet any longer. She had to ask, even if it was unprofessional.
"Sir, who's the special agent in charge?" Montgomery looked away and she had her answer. This was not going to be fun.
"Beckett it doesn't matter-"
"Sir. Who?" She had to hear it.
"Sorenson." Her last glimmer of hope died and she took a step back. Just hearing his name brought was painful.
"Who's Sorenson?" Not now Castle, Kate plead, but then decided to just ignore him.
"I thought he was in-"
"In Boston, not anymore; he's here." She tried to fight the irrational wave of anger that swept over her. He was back?
"Who's Sorenson?" Both she and Montgomery ignored Castle yet again.
"This isn't going to be a problem, is it Detective? I mean, we're all professionals right?" Kate nodded, seeing both challenge and comfort in her mentor's eyes. Yes, of course. She had a job to do, and she would do it, no matter her personal situation.
"Actually, I'm not. Who's Sorenson?" She knew Castle wasn't going to stop, but ignoring him was just so much easier.
"No sir, not a problem." But it was going to be one. She knew that.
"For what it's worth, that missing little girl doesn't care about your history, nor do her terrified parents. They just want their baby back alive." She hated herself for even bringing it up. Hated Will more for making her captain giver her this speech. And she hated Castle for his mere presence, because he'd witnessed it.
"Where is he sir?" She asked as his phone rang. Might as well get this over with now.
"He's over there talking to the parents." She looked, not really wanting to see, but part of her desperate for a glimpse. This definitely wasn't going to be fun. She could feel Castle's questioning stare as Will's head turned and she caught his eye. Damn, he looked good.
"Hello Kate." Will said with a little nod she used to find adorable.
"Hello Will." Wow this was awkward. "How long have you been back?" She hadn't really meant to voice the question, but she needed to know.
"Couple months." She nodded like it wasn't a big deal, but a couple months? She pushed down the hurt she was feeling as best she could. Forcing her disinterested cop demeanor to remain intact.
"Something wrong with Boston?" Her voice was perfect, even, detached, but he still knew. He'd always been able to read her, almost as well as Castle.
"Fresh lobster gets old fast." He was smiling, and she had to hold her breath to keep her contempt from showing in her features. He was joking about it. Did he really think it was funny? His face sobered. "You look good." He was staring at her mouth and she couldn't help remember the last time he'd kissed her, his lips tight on hers as they both tried to ignore the inevitable. She couldn't clear her head, as much as she tried.
"Thanks," she was relieved when it came out matter-of-factly. "I feel good." She felt Castle step closer to her. She'd all but forgotten his presence. "Uh, Agent Sorenson this is Richard Castle." She saw Castle smile at Will with a hint of what? Amusement? Disdain? Jealousy?
"The famous novelist." Kate barely suppressed and eye roll; Will had always been a little jealous of what Castle's books had meant to her. She could only imagine what he was thinking now.
"Writer of wrongs," Castle stated, a little smug. Kate didn't miss the way Will dismissed him and turned back to her.
"So, Captain Montgomery filled me in on your little arrangement. And I have no problem with it as long as it doesn't interfere with the investigation." As he looked between her and Castle it sure looked like he had a problem with it, but she ignored that for the moment.
"Oh, don't worry about me," Castle interjected, "quiet as a mouse. She seriously doubted that, and by the look on his face, so did Will, but neither commented.
Kate resolved to finish this one quickly or so help her she'd probably shoot them both.
Will was alone in the Candelas' kitchen. Kate desperately wanted some coffee, but… Oh hell, she thought, walking across the living room. I might as well do this now. At least Castle's not here.
"Hey," she said to his back as he poured himself a cup of coffee at the counter.
"Hey yourself. Want some?" She wanted to ask how he was being so casual about seeing her, working with her, again. But she knew. She knew because it was the same way she was doing it. They both had this facade that they hid behind, whether it be cop or agent. When things like this arose, personal things, they retreated into work mode for as long as the could.
"Yeah, thanks," she replied as she leaned against the counter, not looking at him. "So I just got word from my guys and Ellers is a dead end." She had to look at him, but she immediately regretted it. "The owner over at Paradise Diner on East 62nd vouched that he was having his usual poached eggs this morning."
"Hm," he smiled slightly, looking over at her. "Would've been too easy right?" She raised her eyebrows in agreement and looked away. "Or over easy." Did he really just say that? She looked at him again and saw the grin spread across his face. She couldn't help but laugh.
"That's like something Castle would say." She didn't mean to mention him, honestly hadn't wanted to, but the words just slipped out.
"You like him." It was a statement, not a question. His candor surprised her. He just looked at her knowingly. He wasn't going to let her half-truth her way through this. He knew her too well.
"No I just um," just what? She couldn't decide. "I don't know." She admitted, more to herself than to him. "He's interesting." Not even she knew exactly what that meant. But Will looked relieved.
"So, you're not?" Wow, he wanted to have that conversation.
"Together?" She shook her head and smiled. "No."
He turned his body to her then, his face becoming serious again.
"I meant to call. Must have picked up the phone a dozen times." Kate glanced at his mouth. She had wanted to hear that, but now the words didn't soothe her, they just made her angry.
"Yeah. I know, you meant to do a lot of things. That's why," she took a deep breath as she walked away from him, needing the distance to regain control, "you left, remember?" She knew this probably wasn't fair, her guilting him. But damn it she didn't care. He left, and though she'd never admit it, watching him go tore her up. And seeing him again only served to reopen the wound.
"Boston was a great opportunity."
"I'm not saying that it wasn't. I'm just," what? What was she trying to say? "Saying it was a choice. That didn't include me." She crossed her arms and looked at him as she leaned against the wall. Yes, that was what had hurt the most, not being included in his decision.
"You coulda come." She had put him on the defensive, but it was all out now.
"And then done what? Joined the Boston PD, and then you have to move to Phoenix, then Cleveland, and then you're back here. I mean we both know what that life is all about." She was losing some of her steam, knowing it would never have worked. He stepped closer.
"Didn't stop me from missing you." She was glad to hear him say that, but she wished he wouldn't. That, them, was gone. "Missing us. Sundays in the park. Those ridiculous neon ice skates at Rockefeller Center." He was laughing now at the memory and she couldn't help but join him.
"I'll have you know," she said giving him a sweet smile, "that those ice skates are awesome." He took another few steps forward.
"It wasn't the skates." She almost, almost, melted against the wall as he stepped even closer, his hand coming up to graze her cheek. But this wasn't, no. She swallowed, not sure what it was that she wanted.
"Will, I, I" but then his fingers pushed her hair back as they came into full contact with her face and his lips were on hers. Soft, and more tenderly than she could ever remember, he kissed her. For a moment, just a moment, she let herself forget. Forget all that had happened since the last time he'd kissed her, really kissed her, before everything with Boston had started. Forget that she was in a stranger's kitchen, waiting for news about their abducted daughter. Forget everything but the feel of his lips on hers, his fingers brushing softly behind her ears.
"Oh, I thought cops and feds hated each other." Fantastic. Cue Castle's entrance. Kate tried to pay attention to whatever Castle was saying, but it was difficult when all she could concentrate on was the fact that Will's lips weren't on hers anymore. She didn't know what to think, what she wanted. This was only going to get worse.
A/N 2: Random fun fact. When you pause during the kissing to write, the longer you stare at them, the more awkward it gets. I couldn't get my phrasing right, so it got really awkward. Hopefully I'll be able to update again today, no promises though.
