Disclaimer: Castle and Mass Effect are not mine in any way. This is just a little alternative track that each franchise has taken in my head.
Sick Bay – SSV New York, in orbit, Auzick Asteroid, Terminus Systems
"So he's not so annoying after all?" comes the question that is also a statement from Laine as she finishes putting away her medical equipment. Equipment that she'd just finished using to treat a few of the Auzick miners that had been injured during the Batarian attack on their mining outpost.
Beckett shoots an unimpressed look at her friend as she sit, legs swinging in the air, on an empty examination bed nearby watching her friend work and waiting to go for an off duty drink with her. All of the injured survivors of the attack of the mining outpost have been treated and given that none of their wounds are serious, have been released and are currently being shuttled over to one of the three freighters that have recently arrived in the system.
The freighters have been sent by the company that owns the outpost to evacuate the miners and salvage what they can of the outpost after Beckett and her squad's fight with the Batarians. Apparently the company in question is studying whether or not it is cost effective for them to continue with the operation. Otherwise the sickbay is empty except for Nurse Lee who is at the other end of the room likewise tidying up after their brief influx of patients.
After their battle with the Batarian's, Beckett, with Castle in tow, had returned to the shuttle to report back to the ship. They'd passed by the grisly remains of the Batarians that had tried to flank them from the tunnel leading to the accommodation area and which had been taken out by Esposito's mines and Ryan's drone. Then, when they were almost back at the shuttle, they'd come across two more dead Batarians. These were near the entrance leading to the landing bay and had likewise been taken out by the mines that Esposito had placed there to secure the LZ.
After reporting back to the Captain he'd immediately put the ship at battle stations and launched the half flight of F61 Trident class fighters aboard to escort another shuttle down with Bravo squad to back them up. Once the shuttle landed he'd ordered the fighters to search the surrounding asteroids for a ship that would explain the Batarians presence and which the New York's sensors could obviously not see.
She had then led Bravo squad and Castle in a sweep of the outpost to find the surviving miners locked in a storage room in the accommodation area. Later she'd learned that the fighters found the Batarian ship, powered down, on the surface of a nearby asteroid. Seeing that they'd been discovered the raider had tried to power up and take off from its hiding place. Given the hostile action of those encountered on the outpost that it brought here and the fact that it refused to answer any hails, Captain Montgomery had ordered the fighters to engage. To the flight leader's credit, a Flight Major Velasquez, she and her wing man tried to just disable the ship by taking out its engines but the damage they inflicted just caused the fleeing ship to crash back into the very asteroid that had hidden it, destroying it and killing all aboard.
Laine pauses in her work to give her own pointed look back at Beckett and after a minor staring contest between them Beckett releases a frustrated huff and responds, "Ok, fine! Yes, he's not as annoying as he was when I first met him. Actually, him shadowing me in the field seems to have had the effect of actually making him shut up and listen to me."
"And from what Esposito tells me he handled himself pretty well down on the asteroid. He even saved you from a couple of Batarians that got the jump on you," Lanie says to her with a challenging tone.
Beckett rolls her eyes at that but then she registers something in what Laine just said that might allow her to get he own back on her friend for once. Because the sassy doctor always seems to have an unhealthy fascination on Beckett's private life or lack thereof and she relishes the chance to turn the tables for once. With a knowing tone Beckett shoots back with, "So, Esposito told you, huh? When was this because as far as I know Esposito didn't get a scratch down on the asteroid so he wouldn't have needed medical attention or perhaps you are giving some other form of attention?"
Lanie narrows her eyes at Beckett from across the room and waggles a challenging finger at her, "I see what you're trying to do Kate Beckett. You're trying to avoid talking about the feelings we both know you still have for Castle despite how bad your first impression of the man was. As for what is between me and Javi, let's just say that we're having some fun and leaving it at that."
"Just having fun, really?" responds Beckett crossing her arms across her chest but continues on because she is much more comfortable talking about someone else's relationship and feelings than her own. "Well, make sure you don't wear him out before a mission otherwise I'll have to consider reporting your relationship to the Captain as detrimental to unit cohesion and efficiency."
"I'll remember you said that when you finally get up the guts to jump Castle's bones and see how you are feeling after. Speaking as the doctor that had to give him the physical as part of the agreement for him to shadow you and, in no way breaking doctor patient confidentiality, that man has equipment that will give even you a work out," Lanie challenges back saucily.
"Uggh, Lanie! TMI!" protests Beckett looking away, feeling a slight flush to her cheeks at the image that Lanie's words instantly conjures into her head.
Lanie then steps closer to where Beckett is seated and when she turns back to look at her friend she can see a look of concern behind the playfully teasing glint in her eye as she says in a much more sincere tone, "Sweetie, I just want you to have some fun. From your letters you've not been in any sort of relationship since Will left you to take the XO position on the Boston. I know how hard you push yourself. How much responsibility you take on your shoulders that you don't have to. You need to let your hair down from time to time and I think Castle is the perfect one for you to do that with. I've already seen a change in you since he came aboard and frankly it's a good one."
Slightly shocked by Lanie's words because as far as she's concerned ever since Castle came aboard she's been like a bear with a sore head, she asks, "What do mean, Lanie? I've made it quite clear that I don't want him aboard let alone shadowing me. How does that translate into this good change you've seen?"
Lanie gives her a self-indulgent smile and tells her as if it is the most obvious thing in the world, "Kate, when you came aboard you were wound tighter than a boa constrictor abound it's next meal but ever since Castle came aboard, despite all your protests and outwards signs of displeasure with the man, you've been a bit looser and more relaxed. I've seen the way you look at him sometimes. Like the times when we've see him and Blue having meals together or just hanging out together the sight of which even makes my heart melt a little. Or the little smile you get when he brings you coffee just the way you like it at the start of your shift and don't tell me that isn't the surest way into Kate Beckett's good books. Hell, the cook had to order crates of the stuff when he heard you had been assigned aboard because he was afraid you'd drink the ship dry otherwise. Whenever I give you a check-up I expect to be drawing vanilla latte from your veins and not blood."
Again Beckett looks away from her friend as she protests, "I don't know what you are talking about, Lanie. Ok, I'll admit that he and Blue seem to have a pretty good relationship but as for bringing me coffee. Don't you find it a little creepy that he already knows how I like my coffee and is there with it at the start of my shift, day or night? I'd almost call it being a stalker rather trying to get into my good books."
Beckett looks back at Laine as her friend shakes her head ruefully, "Protest all you want but we both know that it's little things like that you appreciate rather than any big gestures. The man is observant, probably comes from being a writer, so he's bound to have picked up on your preferred coffee order. Anyway frankly, given how often you are seen around the ship with a mug in your hand, I don't think there's a single member of the crew that doesn't know by now how you like your coffee so it's not that much of a stretch for Castle to find out what it is. As for him having it there for you at the start of your shift, besides personally thinking it is sweet, again several of the crew are considering recommending him for a medal because if you don't start your shift with caffeine in your system everyone else pays the price."
Beckett growls in anger and frustration at Lanie's words but her friend just continues to smile indulgently at her before continuing with her disquieting advice, "All I'm saying, Kate, is give the man a chance. Blow off some steam with him or steam it up with him, however you want to put it but have some fun. What could be the harm?"
"The harm is, besides him being an arrogant, egotistical jackass that thinks he can work his way into my life just because he knows people, the man is writing a book with a character based on me. I do not want my private life to be published all across space for everyone to read about. Hell, my Dad could read it and Castle always puts love scenes in his books. There is no way I am being the inspiration for that," Beckett puts her case, she thinks, finally.
Lanie now gives her a sceptical look, "Do you really think he'd do that? From my talks with the man and with Blue he seems to keep his personal life and his writing very separate. I don't think that you have to worry about any 'fun' between the sheets you might have with him ending up between the pages of his book. If you are really worried about it then before you do anything with him why not ask him?"
"I'm not going to ask him because it's not going to happen. Besides he's on my squad now, even if he's technically an observer, and I don't date people I work closely with, you know that," Kate tells her and she hopes that this will put a stop to Lanie's 'advice'.
In this day and age the Systems Alliance does not have the same non-fraternisation rules that the militaries of Earth had in the past. With crews often on extended missions far from home it is acknowledged that their people are only human and are going to find companionship or love no matter how many or in spite of any rules forbidding such liaisons. The only rule is that any relationship does not interfere with the respective personnel's duties or the safety of the ship, if they are on one. The determination of whether or not this is the case is made by the relevant superior officer of the crew members involved or the ship's Captain. Because of this there is an unwritten rule that members that work closely together, members of the same squad or squadron, do not 'hook up' because team members with such split focus could endanger a mission. It is an unwritten rule that Beckett has always followed.
"Oh come on," protests Lanie this time. "It's not like he's a member of the Alliance. You said it yourself, he's an observer. Which means that there's no risk of it looking like favouritism if you get together because as his squad leader, technically, he is under your command. Also, are you saying that you, Kate Beckett, the woman that has a laser focus when in combat, wouldn't be able to keep your feelings for a man from influencing you when you are in the field? That is not the hardass N7 operator that I know and is the fear of pirates, mercenaries and other assorted enemies of the Alliance everywhere."
"Flatter me all you want but there is no way that there is going to be anything between Castle and me and that's that," Beckett says firmly chopping here hand in time with the last couple of words in emphasis.
"Mmm, hmm," responds Lanie sceptically. "You keep telling yourself that, sweetie. I'm just looking forward to telling you 'I told you so' when you finally realise what a good thing you've got staring you in the face and decide to take a chance with him."
"Not going to happen, Laine. So you're going to be waiting a long time," ripostes Beckett back at her. "Anyway, are you done here so that we can get that drink? Though if all you're going to do is spend the night dissecting my private life there's a pile of crew evaluations I'd rather be doing," she teases back at her friend.
Lanie holds up her hands in mock protest, "Ok, ok, Kate. I won't say another word about you and a certain hunky writer tonight. I'm finished here so let's go."
With that Beckett jumps down from the bed and side by side they walk from the sick bay with Lanie wishing a 'goodnight' to Nurse Lee as they pass. As they make their way down the corridor towards the port side crew lounge, on the same deck as the sick bay, Beckett can't help but go over Lanie's words.
In truth she can't deny that her feelings towards Castle have changed from when she first met him. While he has been annoying during his time aboard the ship, following her around everywhere and with some of the things that come out of his mouth being so damn inappropriate sometimes, he has also shown himself to be kind, thoughtful and brave man. Not to mention being, as Laine pointed out, a loving and doting father to their ship's pilot. From what she has observed and from her own conversations with his daughter she is starting to see that the front he puts up as the smarmy playboy is just that, a front.
She knows for a fact that she is not the only one aboard to whom he makes thoughtful gestures, like her morning coffee which started during that week they searched for the attackers of the colony on Makawi. The Chief Petty Officer that is the chief cook aboard was only telling her the other day about the extra supplies that had arrived aboard back at Sentinel base that are for all the crew to enjoy, courtesy of Castle and entirely at his expense. Then there is Petty Officer Imrie whose son was involved in a hover-car accident on Elysium. She had heard that Castle had called a doctor friend of his who works at the best hospital on Elysium to take on Imrie's son's case personally. Apparently, due to no small part thanks to the skill of Castle's doctor friend, Imrie's son is looking at nowhere near the hard recovery time he was looking at after the injuries he sustained during the accident.
While a cynical part of her says that he is only doing these things so that he can ingratiate himself with the crew and her, if she is truly honest with herself she doesn't think that is the case. No, for a man with such obvious wealth and fame Castle seems remarkably down to earth and really seems to care for those around him. The whole smartass womaniser persona that she first saw and graces the tabloid extranet shows just seems to be an act.
Plus after all she's seen here on the ship and during the fight on Auzick Castle has surprised her at how well he can actually look after himself. He's actually pretty handy in a fight. Not that she'd tell that to his face because she's sure the resultant expansion of his ego would rupture a bulkhead. Yet she can't deny that he's not the liability she thought he'd be and that he's actually shown courage, misplaced and misguided though it might be, by following her into such dangerous situations without any formal training. Though Beckett would bet that fancy gun of his that he's had some informal training along the way. Probably as part of more of his research for his books.
Despite all this and the attraction that she can't deny she feels for the man, Beckett still can't believe that such a rich and famous man like Castle, a man that can and has had any number of beautiful, undamaged and uncomplicated women on his arm and in his bed, would be interested in her. An emotionally closed off, boring, soldier like her.
Ok, she acknowledges to herself, she knows she's attractive. She has the good genes of her parents and her continuous exercise regime to thank for that and had to put up with, all though her academy years, as being known as the 'hot recruit'. However she still can't reconcile the fact that an admittedly handsome man like Castle would be truly interested in her for more than a quick roll in her bunk. Not that, despite her protests to Laine, that doesn't hold some appeal for her. It's just that at this stage of her life, if she is going to open up to someone like that, it is going to be for more than a one night stand.
Since the death of her mother and the self-inflicted sickness that overtook her father as a result, Beckett has guarded her heart. Never truly letting the few boyfriends she's had since in. But now, as she gets older, she's starting to long for the companionship and trust in an honestly loving relationship that she's been careful not to have in any of her relationships so far. As distressing as it still is to think about her mother and the relationship she had with her father before she was killed, Beckett is starting to realise that it is that same sort of relationship that her parents had that she is longing for.
Can she honestly say that she is going to have that kind of relationship with Richard Castle? She won't deny to herself that she feels some sort of connection with the man but whether it is just a desire, as Lanie puts it, to jump his bones or whether it is something deeper she can't tell yet. Then again, as Laine has suggested, maybe she should give the man a chance?
Regardless of these thoughts she isn't going to rush into anything. Hell, after spending enough time around her and seeing how damaged and complicated she is he might lose all interest in her. Then his little job shadowing her will come to an end and she will never see him again and all this soul searching will be for nothing.
As she and Lanie step up to the double doors of the lounge she resolves to put these thoughts behind her for the night and just try and relax and enjoy some down time with her friend. All thoughts of a possible relationship with a certain favourite mystery writer of hers can wait for another day.
A/N: So not a lot happens in this chapter because basically I'm trying to wrap up the battle on the asteroid and set up the fact that Castle and Beckett get together in this story a lot sooner than happened in the show. Also this chapter was way longer than this because there was so much more I wanted to cover and I found that as a result the chapter was getting far too long and I can't bear to cut anything I've already written here. My solution is that I've chopped it roughly in half to make two chapters. The next chapter, which continues immediately from where we leave off here, will be up in only a couple of days after I do some final editing. I hope you all continue to enjoy the story and thank you for reading.
