After a bittersweet car ride and tense trip through two elevators, Castle was almost relieved when they finally stepped out into the 12th precinct for the sake of finally having someone to talk to. He glanced at the detective, resuming the argument that had started on their way up. "But you would tell me if it's something I did? It wasn't last night...?"
She glared at the writer. "NO, and it doesn't matter because I am NOT upset with you, now zip it!"
"BUT you would tell me, right?"
She groaned as her patience levels declined even further, even so, she held back the urge to wrap her hands around his neck, rather superbly.
He sighed in defeat. As much as he dearly loved the Detective, she could be quite cutting when she wanted to. And she had spent the better part of the last thirty minutes growing more and more distant toward him. After their episode in the elevator he had thought it wasn't going to be awkward around her, even after what happened between them. But she was seriously grumpy today, and she insisted that it wasn't him, but he wasn't so sure...
Okay, he got being professional at work, even though it didn't have his full support; he understood that it was important to her. But what he didn't get and what troubled him was that, aside from the occasional flirtation, she seemed to be pretending as though it never happened. An act that played on his fears, big-time!
Kate breathed a sigh of relief as she sped up her pace, hoping she could get a break from him now that they were in the precinct. Her frustration levels hit their peak as he stayed hot on her heels. She HATED that she always had conflicting feelings around him. Angry with him for looking at her mom's case, furious with him for defying her, for not listening to her, and a million other things she couldn't begin to list... But then she felt exhilarated around him and sexy, something she had suppressed for a long time... Why on earth did he do this? But then if he hadn't...They might not even be where they are, he never would have kissed her, and they never would have had that mind blowing night. What was worse? Having it, or not having it...
Her mind returned to the images and sensations of it all, but quickly blocked it from her mind. If she went there, coupled with the fury raging through her right now, she would be likely to lead them into round two, using the closest private place in the station! And that would just top it off, first heard, then actually caught doing the deed?
She shuddered, turning a faint shade of red as she approached the desks of Detective Ryan and Esposito.
They both looked up, taking in her appearance and instantly smirked. Ryan tilted his head, studying her closely. "What's irking you?"
"What? Nobody." Crap... "Nothing!" She snapped. "You guys brief Castle, he's giving me a freakin headache." She spun around and bee-lined for the break room, dropping her keys and jacket off on the way.
Castle threw a dejected pout at her departing form and sat himself into the chair, turning to the grinning detectives. "Think her blood sugar is a little low..."
Esposito laughed. "Yeah, it might have something to do with us..."
"Whaaaat... and I get the witchy Detective?"
Ryan nodded, still grinning. "Yep. Payback's a bitch."
Castle retreated to his head for a split second. The amount of times he probably left a cranky Detective in his wake for the boys to encounter. He quickly came to a conclusion, returning to the detectives with a shrug of his shoulders. "Seems fair."
He paused, grinning wildly with glee. "So, the murder! Tell me it was gruesome!"
After making a coffee and taming her mood, Kate made her way back over to the boys. She couldn't help but grin as she watched Castle spin a tale to the pair of Detectives, who were clearly buying it with their eyes glued to the writer. She approached the desk smiling, and all three men turned to stare at her, causing her to halt a little.
Castle tilted his head. "Well well, the wicked stepmother has left the building!"
She stood in front of the three musketeers, frowning toward the writer amongst the group.
"Right." He held his hands up in a truce, turning to Esposito and Ryan. "My bad, it's a disguise."
Esposito laughed. "Good one, Castle!"
She redirected her glare to the Detective before returning it to Castle. "Well, you better just watch out for the poisoned apple then, huh Castle?"
"Oh, but it's so tempting, Detective!" He smirked, flicking a cursory glance over her body. "And ever so delicious..."
A swell of warmth enveloped her entire body, and she found herself once again battling the forbidden visions, unable to keep the coveting smirk from sliding onto her lips.
"And we finally see a smile!" He chimed, grinning as he noticed a quick flare of laughter in her eyes along with the unmistakable stirring of hunger rapidly burning into a fever of yearning.
Her gaze raked over his shirt, stripping it to leave the temptation of his bare chest firmly within her sights. She swallowed, forcing her eyes to remain above the belt of his pants, a light flush spreading across her cheeks. She stood, eyes locked onto his, suppressing every biological urge known to man until she noticed the two detectives still fixed on them, their grins matching the one plastered across Castle's face. The Detective within her slammed into action, dropping a chilled torrent onto the roaring flames, a swift douse for the ambience building between their longing bodies. She shook off his last comment and straightened, drawing her focus back to her colleagues, along with a sharp breath. "I take it you've filled him in on the situation?"
"Situation?" They both asked in accord, glancing at the other for answers. "We told him about the vic...?" Ryan added.
The Detective rolled her eyes. "What have you been talking about the whole time?"
Castle immediately jumped to their defence. "Now, now, Detective, you don't have to get grumpy!"
She brushed off his remark and remained focused on the two colleagues. "Well?"
"In short, Detective..." Castle started, earning a warning glance. "You."
At the sole word, Kate froze and simply stared at him. Oh god, he wouldn't have said anything about...?
"Castle!"
A sharp voice pierced through the awkward silence, rescuing her from her thoughts. She turned in the direction and discovered the Captain. Turning back toward Castle, she caught his eyes, thoroughly revelling in the moment. "Looks like someone is in trouble."
Castle peeked around her at the boss striding toward them and read him like a substandard book. "Oh, you wish, Detective!"
"We'll see about that..." She retorted playfully.
All three detectives straightened and wiped the smirks from their faces as the Captain reached them.
He stopped beside the 12th's finest and gave a polite nod. "Beckett."
Castle watched as she performed the cursory smile she set aside for her superiors. Though it always felt genuine when Beckett smiled, no matter the circumstances or who it was intended for. It showed in her eyes how much she cared. It was what made her Kate Beckett...The extraordinary Detective Beckett.
She smiled. "Captain."
"How's the case going?"
"It's..." She glanced at the three men at their seats. "Coming along, sir."
"Very good." He turned to Castle and the writer met his focus. "Count me in for those Knicks games. The wife's in Vermont."
"Yess! The Mayors in, too... Awesome." Castle pulled out his phone, rapidly texting a quick message as Beckett's jaw dropped to the floor.
"Ay!" Esposito interrupted. "What about us, Castle? Can you work some of your magic and get us some tickets?" He nudged Ryan.
The other detective shook his head. "Na count me out, Jen and I have a thing this weekend."
His partner grinned. "A thing?"
"Yeah, a thing." Ryan deflected, looking slightly insulted.
Kate stood staring at the men in disbelief; it was like a kick in the teeth. She could already see the smug smile on his face, reflecting the 'I told you so' look. She sighed. "I hate to break up basketball discussion, but excuse me, boys..."
Ryan looked away from the conversation to nod at her retreat while the three other grown men continued talking spiritedly, resembling a group of elementary boys on the playground.
She rolled her eyes and set her mug down onto the desk, whirling around to stroll toward the murder board.
She stood directly in front of the compilation of evidence, running over it in her mind, the facts she couldn't fit. From the newly scrawled writing, she could see the information her colleagues had added. The timeline was almost complete, so they had been able to track down where he was every second of his morning and afternoon... but only part of his evening... Her eyes flicked to a newly posted photo of a building. That must be the club... She scanned the details jotted beneath. Micro chip to get in... Stamp is for access to the V.I.P room, where they... participate in re-enactments of scenes from his books! What the hell kind of place is this! Well, I think we can guess how he got killed. Same way Derek Storm did... Jesus! What are we gonna be stepping into?
She stared into space, phasing out as her thoughts overthrew her focus. Was Castle aware they were going to this insane club that night? And worse, in... She glanced at her watch. Less than seven hours time... She sighed. This place was going to freak her out, she knew it! But Castle? He was going to be like a five year old in a candy store, loving every moment! She wished Montgomery let her take one of the other boys, but no, he had to insist that she take the playboy... She took the chance to glance up, searching for a sign of the writer. Her gaze fell across the now empty desks and skipped across the precinct, tuning in for the sound of his voice. She frowned and set the whiteboard marker down, jumping when a hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder. She spun around. "CASTLE!"
He grinned mischievously. "Looking for me, Beckett?"
She punched his shoulder, willing the adrenalin pumping through her body to slow.
"Uh! Ooww Detective!" He rubbed his shoulder, throwing her his best wounded look.
She smiled a bittersweet smile and stepped back to sit on her desk, refocusing on the array of photos and scrawled writing in front of her, searching aimlessly for the link.
Castle smirked, leaning close to her. "I said you could spank me, Detective, not thump me... Though I must admit you have a good swing... Strong body..." His eyes flicked down before rising to catch hers. Was that...excitement?
Kate smothered the thrill she felt in a mere second and frowned, shifting to face him fully as she raised an eyebrow. "Keep going, Castle, and you won't come within fifty feet of my body." She paused, biting her lip as she leaned in closer. "My naked body, that is."
Castle swallowed. He could feel the arousal her words had induced and suddenly found himself suppressing the powerful impulse to take her against the desk. There it was again. That damn carnal urge with her! He felt himself harden as she stared into his eyes, challenging him. And then he was sure he saw it, the same excitement that was coursing through him. He could swear her eyes were a shade darker than normal...
She pulled out that sexy smirk and he knew he had to get away before he unravelled completely.
He bolted off the desk and rushed toward the precinct bathrooms, keeping his head down the entire way.
Kate laughed and resumed her studying of the board.
She sat brainstorming for a while until she eventually came up against a wall and couldn't quite seem to be able to clear it. She glanced at her watch. Castle had been in there for over ten minutes now, what would he be... She grinned as it suddenly dawned on her. Uh huh.
Her thoughts continually returned to him, though she fought for them to stay on the case. Images of that night sprang back into her mind, the memories so vivid that the sensations brushed across her as though it was happening all over again. Reliving sex after a matter of hours, that was a personal best... She suddenly felt the warning signs of her own arousal building and quickly tried to stifle it, forcing herself back to reality. Okay, forget Castle. Forget that night. Forget it all. Focus, Kate, focus, focus, focus! ... Damnit! He was going to love this, hitting on every female within a twenty mile radius. CRAZY females! She felt a sting of resentment at the thought of Castle flirting mercilessly with other women. Women who would be all over him... That's it! She can't take it anymore!
She leapt off the desk and hurtled toward the bathroom, feeling the rush of anticipation as she slipped through the door unnoticed.