A/N- Jo thank you so much for all your beta help!
Thank you to everyone who is reading, following, favoriting and reviewing. And thanks to Joanna and Janna for the pep talks :)
Disclaimer- Castle is not mine, but all the mistakes are.
The More Things Change…
…the more they stay the same. Kate Beckett is bored with life, but when a serial killer starts dedicating murders to her- someone enters the scene to aid with the investigation and her life may never be the same. Season 2- AU Caskett meeting.
Chapter 10
"Mom," Kate called out as she walked through Johanna's front door. The apartment was dead silent before she heard some rustling from her mom's room. "Mom?" she asked, walking toward the noise and nearly running smack into Johanna as she hurried out of her room.
"God! Katie, you scared me half to death."
"I said your name a couple times. Didn't you hear me?"
"Guess not. I was focused on something else," her mom stuttered in reply. Her gaze shifted as she avoided Kate's eyes.
"Mom? Is everything okay? You told me we needed to talk."
"Did I? Oh. Guess I did." She watched as her mom paused and darted her eyes around the room. Something was definitely odd. She seemed skittish, nothing like how she normally acted. "Oh—um. I got your text and I just wanted to see you. See that you were okay and well."
"Yeah, I'm fine. What is this about? The text told me to be safe and now you're acting strange. Seriously—talk to me."
"I'm actually on my way out for the morning. I have an early meeting."
"You asked for me to come over."
"Oh really? I'm sorry that I bothered you. Let me walk you out. We should have lunch sometime soon."
"You're worrying me. Nothing about this makes sense," she pleaded. Her mom pulled her into a tight hug and turned toward her ear.
"Katie, please be careful. It's getting dangerous. I'll let you know when we can talk," Johanna whispered. Her voice was cracked and panicked. Kate's heart plummeted hearing how desperate her mom sounded.
"I don't understand—"
"I promise. I'll explain. I just can't now," her mom continued. Pulling away from her, Kate met her eyes and she gave her small smile.
"I love you, Mom."
"Love you too, hon. Please take care of yourself. Everything will be okay. I'm making sure of it," Johanna promised, as she escorted her through the door.
Her mom practically slammed the door shut as soon as Kate was through it. Of all the conversations she'd ever had with her, this was the first one where she could remember Johanna being so frantic. She had scooted her out the door, but if her mom really had a meeting, why was she still in the apartment? Nothing about this made any sense.
Kate was still trying to figure out what the conversation with her mom meant the next day. She and Castle had planned their date for tonight, but as she walked through the bullpen, doubt was creeping into her subconscious - until she saw him, standing next to her desk, waiting with her coffee. God, he couldn't be this perfect.
Yesterday her mind had been all over the place; it was the latest she had ever showed up to work when they had an active case. It had been weird though. It could have been her mom's words lurking in her mind, but she felt like someone was watching her as she made her way to the precinct. Kate brushed it off as her mom's erratic behavior making her paranoid. Luckily, when she finally arrived, Ryan and Esposito already had a suspect in the box. They had the case wrapped up by lunch, and all paperwork was filed by the time she went home.
Shaking her worries from yesterday out of her mind, she walked over to where he was standing. Tonight was definitely a good idea, she concluded. Castle was exactly what she needed right now.
"Morning Kate," Castle greeted with a smile, handing her a travel mug of coffee. "One vanilla latte for the detective."
"Oh, Castle. Hi," she said, after a sip of the coffee. "Thank you. This is amazing."
"Anytime. Are we still on for tonight?" His question was filled with hesitation.
"Yeah, I hope so," she replied, meeting his eyes. Her face broke out into a smile when she saw the sheer joy in his expression from her response.
"Good. I'm glad. So—does seven work for you?" he asked, as they walked together into the break room; the middle of the homicide floor was not the best place to discuss their plans.
"Castle, I asked you out. Shouldn't I plan it?" she asked, leaning against the counter.
"No. Detective, it's our first official date. I plan to wow you," Castle replied, propping himself against the counter next to her.
"You don't need to wow me. I've known you long enough. I don't want to go out with Richard Castle, page six playboy author. I want to go out with Castle, my irritating and sometimes helpful shadow," Kate said. A giggle escaped from her lips when Castle scoffed at her description.
"Sometimes helpful?"
"So you're okay with irritating?"
"Well I'm not perfect and I'm sure you meant irritating in an endearing sort of way," he laughed. "So how about I agree to irritating if we can remove sometimes and replace with always?"
"Deal. Now will your always helpful self allow me to plan our date?"
"Nope. I'll pick you up at seven for dinner. Does that work?"
"We could always order in," she said, in a low voice, her words full of hidden meaning as heat rose to her cheeks, moving closer into his personal space and touching his bicep. "Open a bottle of wine. Just relax." His eyes lit up for a second, but he shook his head.
"Kate, let me take you out. If you keep talking like that, I won't be able to think straight."
"Maybe I don't want you thinking much at all." She kept her face straight, looking him up and down.
"Are you trying to kill me before our date? What has gotten into you?" he asked, stumbling over his words. She couldn't hold it together anymore and she broke out into a fit of laughter.
"You are so easy!" she giggled.
"So not funny."
"Oh come on, it was a little funny."
"You're evil."
"Maybe so, but I'll be ready by seven as long as we don't catch a case today."
"First time I'm hoping for a quiet day," he sighed.
"If you were a cop, you'd always being hoping for a quiet day, but that wouldn't give you much inspiration for your books."
"Beckett, I even find it inspirational when you fill out your paperwork."
"Okay, Castle. Now you're laying it on a little thick. I'm already going out with you."
"I just speak the truth," he whispered in her ear.
"Hey guys," Ryan greeted, walking into the room and metaphorically throwing ice water on their conversation. "Montgomery was looking for you, Beckett."
"Thanks, Ryan. I'll be right there," she replied and he nodded before turning to leave the room. Leaning over to Castle, she smiled and gave his arm a quick squeeze. "We can finish this tonight."
As promised, there was a knock on her door at seven p.m. sharp. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach without her permission; it didn't make sense. She had spent all day with him and this was Castle. But once she opened the door, everything would change. Taking a deep breath, Kate straightened her knee length, emerald green, one shoulder dress and opened the door.
"Hey, Castle." The writer stood in the hallway wearing a dark suit, white shirt and dark tie; in his hands was a beautiful bouquet of white calla lilies.
"Wow Kate. You look fabulous," he said, handing the flowers to her.
"Thanks, these are beautiful. And you don't look so bad yourself," she said with a smile, heat warming her cheeks. Motioning him into her apartment, she walked over into her kitchen to put the flowers into some water.
"I haven't been back here since having the pleasure of sleeping on your couch," Castle joked, sitting down on it. "Though the pleasure was slightly ruined with the dead body and Agent Shaw's judgment the next day."
"Aww memories," she said while rolling her eyes. "Have you talked to Jordan recently?" She moved to sit on the cushion next to him, trying to move the conversation to a safe topic. She wanted them to actually make it to their date because the way he was looking at her was intense. Their connection, their spark—tonight on their date, no one would be there to interrupt and she wasn't sure their tentative 'relationship' could handle her running away again.
"Yeah. I still talk to her here and there. Even though it was my publisher's idea to follow her in the first place, we ended up becoming friends. The other day was her daughter's birthday so I sent a gift. I just wanted to make sure she got it in time."
"That's really sweet, Castle. So she didn't have any hard feelings about you following me now?"
"No, of course not. I was right when I told you before, she was a bit relieved. Though I joked that her case closure rate better not drop in my absence," he laughed and she shook her head.
"You would! Some days I wonder how you and your ego fit into the same room!"
"I think you find my ego sexy or we wouldn't be going on a date tonight."
"Don't make me reconsider," Kate said with a laugh. "So where are we going?"
"It's a surprise," he said looking down at his watch. "But we really should be going or we'll be late for our reservation." Castle stood up and reached out a hand for Kate to help her up. However instead of releasing his hand when she was on her feet, she interlaced their fingers and squeezed.
"Lead the way, Castle."
The town car pulled up to the restaurant and Kate let out a small laugh. It was the brand new restaurant that she had been dying to try and it just so happened to be Q3 - Maddie's direct competition.
"Castle, this is too much. Plus, should we really be eating here? Isn't this a bit mean to Madison?"
"First of all, nothing is too much for you. Second of all, all's fair when it comes to food and what she doesn't know won't hurt her," he explained.
They walked into the restaurant and were escorted immediately back to their table.
As she studied the menu, Kate couldn't help but notice the way that Castle was staring at her.
"You really are gorgeous." She could only imagine the blush that painted her cheeks.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Castle," she said with a laugh. "So is this a typical Richard Castle date?"
"Kate, nothing about us will ever be typical," he replied with a wink.
Everything was fantastic, but she couldn't help the paranoid feeling of someone watching her - or them. Her mom had worried her yesterday and she really had tried her best to remove it from her mind, but right now in this moment, the feeling was hard to ignore.
"Castle? Do you feel like people are watching us?"
"No. Not that I can tell, it's usually obvious when a fan is staring. I haven't spotted anyone."
"Oh, my mistake," she stated, trying to dismiss the notion. Of course he wouldn't find it odd to be stared at; he was famous. Maybe that was all it was, maybe the feeling was just a Richard Castle groupie paying attention to their date and Castle was oblivious to it. At this point, he could be slightly jaded toward the attention. Tonight was for fun. Tonight would not be bothered with conspiracies and warnings. She took a sip of her wine and forced herself to block the fears from her mind. Castle took a sip of his glass as well; he appeared to be enjoying himself. Maybe she was holding herself together on the outside a little bit better than on the inside.
"I'm glad we're doing this, Kate," he said, his tone sincere.
"Me too. I really needed a fun night out," she admitted with a small smile.
"Well I hope I don't let you down."
"I hope you don't either," she teased.
"Oh you just wait, Detective. The second part of our date is definitely fun." A huge grin stretched across his face, as his eye brows wiggled in the little dance, earning him a loud laugh from Kate's lips.
"Pressure's on Castle. Don't hype up the rest of the date unless you think it can really deliver."
"Beckett, trust me. The second part is so much better than this." He reached across the table and squeezed her hand gently. The moment his skin met hers, the spark electrified her skin. God, she had it bad for him and she wouldn't let her haunted mind ruin it.
After what she could only imagine was Castle completely exaggerating the rest of their date, she was a little shocked to see where they were going. When they arrived at the next destination Kate started to get curious about what Castle's true intentions of the evening were.
"We're at your loft?"
"Yes, is this a problem?"
''Isn't that a bit presumptuous?" she asked, with mock offense.
"Kate, we're here because my family is out for the night and I wanted the second part of our date to be a movie."
"And why couldn't we just go to a theater?"
"Because I wanted to show you my favorite movie—which doesn't happen to be playing at any theater at the moment."
"Oh really? And what is this movie that we'll be watching?" she teased.
"Well it's not the typical thing I'd watch on a first date, but you said you didn't want to date Richard Castle, author. You wanted to date the real me—"
"Castle, you're rambling. What are we watching?"
"Forbidden Planet," he mumbled as his ego slipped away.
"Forbidden Planet?"
"Oh God. This was a bad idea, you think it's lame. We can do something else."
"Rick—I love Forbidden Planet. It's one of my favorites, as well." She gave him a light touch on his arm to reassure him.
"Really?" he asked in complete shock.
"Really."
"I may find you even hotter, now that I know this," he joked. Grabbing a hold of her hand, he led her into his place before turning to place a quick kiss on the cheek. Her hand flew to her cheek to calm the heat left behind by his lips. "Sorry. I'm just having a good time with you—" Kate smiled in his direction and shook her head.
"Don't apologize, unless you don't have popcorn. That's my movie requirement."
"Oh we will definitely have popcorn!"
"Good." She looked up at him and grinned. Tonight had been perfect. He started to move away toward the kitchen, but she stopped him. Pulling him back to her body, she leaned up and brushed a kiss onto his lips. "Thank you for tonight. I really needed this," she whispered before lightly kissing him again. Castle's face broke out into a huge smile when she broke away.
"This has been the perfect night so far."
"It has. Now go make us some popcorn and I'll pour us some wine so it can continue."
"Definitely like your thinking!"
By the end of the movie, they'd finished one bowl of popcorn, one entire bottle of red wine and they were lying down next to each other on the couch. The credits continued to roll, but she didn't want to move out of his strong arms as he held her close. He was warm and safe. Sighing, she turned to lie on his chest, in no hurry to leave.
"I still love that movie," she stated, talking into the fabric of his shirt.
"Me too. Leslie Nielsen is truly underrated as an actor," Castle declared, pulling his arms tighter around her body. "I wish tonight didn't have to end—" His voice trailed off, almost like he was afraid that he said too much.
"It doesn't have to yet—" The words were out of her mouth, before she could fully think about what she was saying.
"Kate—" It sounded like he started to object, but then his lips were on hers and the time for thinking was over. She could blame it on the wine, but it would be a lie. The only buzz she felt was from the trail of his lips and his hands. Her hands were moving faster than her mind and she loosened his tie. His lips broke from her skin just long enough so that so could remove the silk from his neck. "What do you want Kate?" he asked as his hands travelled lower, skating against the hem of her dress.
"This. I want you," she gasped out, as her lips moved down his jaw onto his neck as her fingers worked the buttons of his shirt.
"Are you sure?" Ever the gentlemen, she could tell his hesitation was caused by her panic from last time, but she needed to calm his fears. She wanted this; hell, she needed this. Popping his last button, she ran her nails down his chest while her lips sucked the flesh of his earlobe into her mouth.
"Take me to bed Castle," she growled in his ear. That was the only confirmation he needed. With both of her legs wrapped around his waist, he carried her off toward his room and slammed the door shut.
The sun peeked through the window, warming her face. She turned away from the light and her body was met with the warmth of a different kind. A smile crept onto her lips as the memories of last night flooded her mind. She didn't want to open her eyes yet so she could stay wrapped up in her memory of them. With her eyes still closed, she pressed her body against his side and cuddled her head onto his chest. Kate Beckett was not usually the type to cuddle in bed, but it felt right with him. She felt safe.
"Morning," Castle said, his voice still filled with a sleep. Her eyes fluttered open as he leaned down to place a kiss onto her forehead. Turning her head into his chest, she brushed an open mouth kiss against his skin and smiled.
"Good Morning, to you too."
"Did you sleep well?" he wondered.
"Better than I've slept in quite awhile actually. You're bed is amazing." She couldn't help herself from gushing. She was nearly giddy.
"I'm glad it met your standards."
"Far surpassed my standards. Off the charts actually." Her hands glided across his bare chest and her mouth kissed his skin in their wake.
"Are we still talking about the bed?"
"Nope," she laughed. Rolling herself up so that she was straddling him, Kate leaned back down to meet his lips. What started as a simple early morning press of the lips, things intensified as she ran her tongue against his bottom lip; seeking entrance to his mouth. A soft moan escaped as she explored and tasted, as he ran his hands through her hair and down her back.
Regretfully, when she saw the time on his alarm clock, she forced herself to break the kiss, much to his dismay. "Why don't you stay in bed with me?" he asked, his hands traveling lower to try and convince her. Placing a quick kiss onto his lips, she shook her head.
"If you move any further, I may not be able to force myself to go—" she admitted, before pulling herself out of his embrace and laying her head on the pillow. "But I don't think Montgomery would find this an acceptable reason for missing work," she giggled. God, she was giggling. He had her under some sort of trance.
"Montgomery likes me."
"He does, but he won't if you keep one of his detectives from going to work. Plus won't your mom and daughter be coming home soon?"
"You're no fun," he pouted.
"I beg to differ—I believe I showed you last night just how fun I could be."
"You're right. You are fun—very—" he said kissing her shoulder. "—very fun," he agreed, as he continued to kiss down the plains of her skin. Another giggle fell from her mouth when his lips found the ticklish spot that he discovered yesterday.
"Castle, I really have to go," she insisted, gently pushing him off of her. "We can continue this another time. I promise."
"So there will be another time?"
"Oh most definitely. Last night was amazing."
"It definitely was. But where does that leave us, Kate?" The question that she knew was lurking in his mind. This was only supposed to be a date, but it escalated to so much more.
"Having fun. No labels—no pressure. But let's agree not to jump into anyone else's bed."
"So we're together and having fun, but you're not my girl—" Castle started to say the word that she was avoiding, so before he could finish, she pushed her lips onto his.
"No labels—no pressure. Not now," she explained, kissing him again before she rolled off of the mattress. Last night was perfect and she knew in the future she could see herself getting serious with him, but right now she didn't want to bring him into her drama. He was her light at the end of the tunnel; she didn't want to mix that with whatever darkness was hidden in her past.
Walking around his room, she gathered the articles of clothing that had been thrown around. She hadn't exactly planned on staying over, but maybe next time she should bring a bag with clean clothes so she didn't have to do the walk of shame. Kate moved into his bathroom to get decent enough to make the trip out to the street to catch a cab home. However, when she walked back out to his room, he was sitting there fully dressed.
"Let me walk you out. I'll have a driver take you home. No need for you to worry about a cab," Castle said, reaching for her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
"Thanks, Castle. Not necessary, but it would make things a bit easier," she said with a smile. He moved his arms from the hug to grab one of her hands, place a light kiss against her palm before entwining their fingers.
"Kate, last night was great. No labels, but just know. I'm here waiting for you until you're completely ready," he admitted and squeezed your hand. "Now let's get you home before you're late for work."
He held onto her hand the entire way down to the lobby and toward the town car. She wasn't one to normally hold onto a boyfriend's hand, but everything about Castle made her feel different. Different was what she needed. They were just them and that was enough for her. She smiled up at him as he opened the door to the back seat and she gave him a very heated goodbye kiss. Suddenly flashes of light were all around, burning her eyes.
What the hell was going on?
"Is this the detective you're following around?" a voice yelled out.
Swarms of paparazzi were surrounding them, screaming and snapping pictures. How had this happened? Castle looked down at her with an expression that was both apologetic and panicked.
"How does it feel to be another notch on Rick Castle's belt?" another shouted at her.
The questions and flashes continued to fly as panic and dread filled her veins.
"I'm so sorry," Castle whispered to her as she jumped into the back seat of the car and before it sped off; leaving him standing there on the street among the mass of reporters.
TBC
Thank you so much for reading!