Chapter 9 – We Read Lips

Disclaimer – Characters not mine, story is.

Opening the door to the hotel suite Castle was startled by the noise that was coming from inside. He was searching for his phone to call the front desk when he heard the distinctive cry of, "Yo Bro."

Castle scrunched up his face as he eyed Ryan and Esposito approaching him in bathrobes. It was more than a little uncomfortable to see the two Detectives approaching him in matching fluffy white robes and complimentary hotel slippers. "How did you two get in?"

Esposito puffed out his chest and placed his hands on his hips, "You know Castle you aren't the only one who 'knows people.'"

Castle cocked a questioning brow at the duo, "Not so intimidating in a robe….Bro. And flashing a badge is not equivalent to 'knowing people.'"

A slightly anxious Ryan blurted out, "Um, Beckett said we could have the suite for the night."

"Did she now? Sorry, to disappoint, but I don't think we need your help tonight boys. But you can keep the robes."

Esposito rocked back and forth on the baths of his feet and attempted to goad Castle. "I think your girl has other plans for you."

Deciding to let the 'girl' comment slide, Castle was giddy with anticipation. "Like what? Where?"

"Think she'd tell us?" Esposito snickered, "Bet it's freaky. You two are freaky right?"

Ryan quickly covered his ears. "Stop. I can't handle the thought of freaky Beckett. I am permanently damaged by that first image of flirty Beckett. She can be such a girl at times that it is downright disturbing."

Castle shook his head, he loved freaky, flirty, fan girl Beckett. Crossing to the bar, he extracted a bottle of 18 year old Laphroaig. "Well then…if I am staying elsewhere, I better enjoy this now. Care to join me?"

The boys crowded eagerly around the roll away bar, watching and waiting for Castle to pour the scotch. Taking a leisurely approach to opening the bottle, Castle lovingly held it in his hands and then held it up for the boys to admire. "There is a trace of vanilla and honey with a hint of new mown hay and peat at the finish."

Placing a glass in front of each Detective, Castle finished with, "Please take note of the luscious toffee taste."

Tentatively sipping his scotch, Esposito wrinkled up with nose, "Even the good stuff tastes like lighter fluid to me." And with that he knocked it back in a hurry.

A wide grateful grin formed on Ryan's face as he downed the last of his glass. "Delicious. Did I detect a hint of chocolate?"

"Why yes you did, refill Ryan?" Castle pointedly stating Ryan's name, an obvious effort to snub Esposito for his lack of palate and appreciation.

Ryan waived Castle off. "As fabulous as it is, one is good for me. Jenny will kill me if I get up and make some drunken embarrassing toast at the reception."

Esposito grabbed the back of Ryan's neck. "We are making embarrassing toasts no matter what. Perfect opportunity to mock Beckett, she won't have a gun."

Nodding his head in agreement, Ryan asked, "Castle – any wine?" Ryan was willing to be tipsy for his toast but not slurring his words.

"Wine? Excellent idea, let me see what we have here." Castle knew exactly what they had, he had sent over several of Kate's favorite wines for after the wedding.

Ryan's mouth fell open at the sight of the 2008 Caymus Cab in Castle's hands. It wasn't outrageously expensive, it was simply unavailable. "You know you can't get that anymore?"

Esposito clapped Ryan on the back, "Did you forget the man is famous? Not to mention rich."

Castle carefully removed the cork from the bottle and poured the wine into a decanter. "Actually, Beckett bought this wine."

In unison the boys cried out, "Beckett?"

"Trust me boys. I was as surprised as you are to find out Beckett kept a little wine cellar. Turns out she likes fine wine and pedestrian ice cold Bud Light." Of course he refrained from sharing with the boys that he had recently turned Kate on to Bud Light Platinum, a minor step up from her beer of choice, and that the dichotomy between Kate's selections in drinks was similar in contrast to at home Kate and Detective Beckett.


Ryan and Esposito nervously swilled their wine glasses as Castle opened his groom's present. Really, what do you buy a man who has property on the moon?

Castle's face lit up. He pushed the box to the floor and tried on his new bullet proof vest. "Is this the brand new NYPD issue vest with the built in cooling system?" Reading the writing on the front he yelled out, "Oh, OH – Becket is going to kill us. I love it."

Clinking their glasses together, the Detectives knew they had given the man who has everything or can buy it the perfect gift. It has taken considerable effort to fit "I'm a Writer, but My Wife Will Kick Your Ass" across the vest on only two lines.

Castle motioned for both men to stand and scooped them into a group bear hug. "Best. Gift. Ever."

Ryan clung onto Castle and Esposito maneuvered out of his grasp. "Bro, don't go getting all sappy on us."

"Can't a man hug his friends now and again?"

Synching the belt on his robe a bit tighter, Esposito replied, "Cops kick ass together they don't hug together."

"Speaking of 'kicking ass' Alexis suitor is coming to the wedding."

"Come on Bro, say it. Man up and say it…boyfriend."

The word boyfriend and Alexis in the same sentence made Castle's stomach contort in a most uncomfortable way. His nausea had increased three and a half weeks ago when Alexis moved into the Morningside Heights Columbia University Housing. It was a studio. "I will not. However, if you two could keep an eye on him and make sure he behaves as a gentleman I would be thankful."

Ryan went straight for the prize. "Borrow the Ferrari appreciative or open another bottle of wine kind of gratitude?"

It was tough decision for Castle, but he drew the line. "Wine it is."

Esposito defended Eric. "Castle, he is a good cop…for a rookie." Looking to Ryan and began to laugh as he declared, "Besides, Beckett already scares the hell out of the kid."

Through his partner's laughter Ryan explained, "Naive Rookie thought he would kiss up to Beckett. He figured out she loves coffee, so he brought her a cup from the shop on the corner. Rookie placed it on her desk; she picked it up and tossed it in the trash. Told him 'Only one man brings me my coffee' and glared at him. Poor kid didn't stand a chance."

Furrowing his brow a bit, Castle wondered aloud, "Wonder why Beckett never told me that story?"

Ryan poked an elbow into Esposito's rib, "Um, I'll let you finish the story."

Taking a long deep drink of wine, Esposito muttered, "It was pre-Alexis. It was during your um, well let's just call a spade a spade – it was the day Beckett called you a jackass. It was the day you showed up without her coffee and then headed off to lunch with Blondie. And we all know what you had for lunch that day and it wasn't just lobster."

Castle cringed and took a deep long sip of his wine. "She told you I was a jackass?"

Ryan piped in, "We read lips."

"That was a momentary lapse in judgment and I didn't sleep with her. I tried. Trust me I tried. I even acted like I did. Let you think I did…will you two keep a secret?"

Esposito and Ryan leaned forward in their seats and smiled in agreement.

In a hush conspiratory tone, Castle confessed. "Between us men, calling one woman by another woman's name is a guaranteed flag on the play

Ryan slapped a palm to his thigh, "I knew it!" Holding out his hand to Esposito, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together, Ryan chuckled "Pay up partner."

Esposito contorted his face into a scowl that read defeat. "Does it look like I have place for a wallet?"

Castle put down his glass and waived his arms as if he was calling a runner out at first. "Hold up. You two bet on that?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Esposito replied, "Sure, when it comes to you we bet on EVERYTHING, keeps us entertained."

"Any bets on us today?"

The boys passed a guilty look between them and responded in unison, "Nope."