Kiss Me, Detective – Chapter 10
A couple hours after and only several blocks away from where Castle and Kate had their magical moment, Esposito walked into a bar that was a favorite hangout of cops and law enforcement in the city. Robbery Detective Tom Demming was waiting for him. After beers were ordered and small talk about work was traded, Demming reminded Esposito of the reason they were there.
"This whole thing with you and Castle, man? Count me out. I'm not helping you submarine him anymore." the Homicide Detective began.
"What are you talkin' about, man? You're telling me you seriously don't think Kate should go with me and that she should go with Castle?" Demming demanded.
"Look, Tom, you're my boy and under any other circumstances I've got your back, but not this time," Esposito explained. "Those two are crazy about each other and all this trouble you're going to trying to keep them apart is a waste of time. Even if you did get Kate to go with you, she and Castle would find some way to be together eventually. They were shooting goo-goo eyes at each other all this past week ever since their date in Central Park, and when the operation to take out the low-life who killed Kate's mom went bad, you should have seen the look on Castle's face. He looked just as lost as Kate. Trust me, man. They've got it bad for each other. Give it up."
Demming said nothing in response, just glared into his beer stein. He hated losing. All his life he'd been the object of every girl's affection, until Kate came along. She was the one woman on whom none of his lines and toothy smiles seemed to have any effect. He wanted her badly and it was driving him crazy that he couldn't have her.
Esposito finished his beer and clapped his old friend on the back. "C'mon, dude. There are lots of fish in the sea. You're a good lookin' guy. It's only a matter of time 'til you find someone." He pulled a five dollar bill from his wallet and plunked it down on the bar, and told Demming he was headed home. Demming grumbled a goodbye and look a long swig of his own beer. Then, as if by divine intervention, an idea came to him for how to make sure that Kate ended up at the dance with him. He pulled his cell phone out of his suit coat's inside pocket and dialed Sorenson.
An hour later found Esposito relaxing in his own apartment groaning to himself over the current score of the New York Knick's game. As a commercial interrupted the action, his cell phone rang. He hustled over to his small kitchen and picked it up.
"Detective Esposito, so sorry to call you so late and on a weekend," Tracy Chen smoothly greeted him.
"Not a problem at all, Ms. Prosecutor. It's nice to hear your voice," he said slightly suggestively.
"Ah, you say that now, but just wait until I have you sworn in sitting in a witness chair," Tracy flirted back.
"Hey, you can badger me anytime," Esposito returned.
Tracy laughed heartily, "Duly noted," then got serious. "The reason I'm calling is to ask you for two favors. First, you need to somehow rein in your old friend Demming."
Esposito was concerned. He knew that what he'd told Demming earlier was not what he wanted to hear, but he never thought he'd go off the deep end. "What do you mean?"
"Apparently, he and his little federal friend FBI Agent Sorenson are scheming to keep Castle and Beckett from going to the dance together. Sorenson was just here with me in my office meeting me about a case, when he got a call from Demming. After he hung up, he had a look on his face that told me he was up to no good. But I couldn't get him to divulge any details other than that the call was about the dance."
Esposito's stomach churned as he listened to Tracy's story and he mentally congratulated himself for getting out of their immature plotting when he did. He went on to tell Tracy about their interlude earlier that evening, how he had told Demming that he was on his own with his plans, how thought Castle and Beckett belonged together, and how Demming had reacted.
"I've been telling Sorenson the same thing, but it just seems to bounce off that thick skull of his," Tracy said, exhaling heavily. "Any thoughts on how we can undo their evil plot? The dance is tomorrow, so none of us have a lot of time.
"Well, Castle said a few days ago that he has a lunch meeting with his publisher tomorrow. Maybe Ryan and I should tail him, just in case. Oh," Esposito blurted out, another idea having struck him. "I know someone else who I think would be only too glad to help us out."
"That person would be?"
"Just leave it to me," Esposito said confidently. "So what's the other favor you need?"
Tracy's eyes lit up in a playful glint. "It seems that one of my cases had a change of heart and decided to plead out, leaving my schedule wide open for tomorrow night. Do you by any chance have plans for tomorrow night, Detective?" Tracy inquired coyly.
"I do now. Pick you up at 7?"
The next day Castle's alarm went off, waking him up from one of the most fulfilling sleeps he had experienced in years. After he and Kate had pried themselves apart to finish their laser tag session, they had gone for burgers at Remy's. For four hours they ate, talked, made playful insinuations at each other, played footsie, and fed each other the occasional French fry, before holding hands on the walk home. While he craved her company in his bed all that night, he knew that pushing her would most likely make things uncomfortable for her at the dance. The new dynamic in their relationship was working just fine now that he had learned to just sit back and let things happen, rather than try to force them. And he wanted everything to be perfect for the ball. So he walked Kate to her front door where they agreed that he would pick her up for the dance at 7. Imagining her in a long, form-fitting gown on his arm for the night sent shock waves through his body. To relieve some of the tension, he kissed her a long and ardent kiss before releasing her for the night.
When he arrived at his own place, he immediately headed for his office and wrote all night. His mind bubbled over in a creative frenzy that he hadn't experienced since he wrote his first book. The words poured out of his fingers and onto the keys of his laptop, like they had been padlocked away in a deep chamber of his brain to which he had just discovered the key. He finished his most recent book that featured his new character based on Kate, an NYPD Homicide Detective named Nikki Heat, as the sun began peeking over the tops of the skyscrapers that dotted New York City's skyline. He burned the file to a CD, placed the CD carefully in a jewel case, and the jewel case underneath his wallet, so he wouldn't forget it. He then headed for his bedroom to get at least a few hours of sleep. Remembering the feel of Kate's lips on his and her hands around his waist, he slept soundly until noon when his alarm clock rudely reminded him of his lunch engagement with his publisher.
He rose and quickly showered, shaved, and dressed. As he passed through the kitchen and grabbed his wallet and the CD, he caught sight of Alexis studying at the kitchen table.
"Afternoon, Dad."
Castle kissed his daughter on the top of the head. "Good afternoon and good-bye, honey."
Alexis eyed her father, concerned. "Dad, are you sure you're OK? I mean, I thought you were gonna oversleep and miss your meeting. And were you up all night? I woke up around 4 to go to the bathroom and saw that the light in your office was still on."
Castle smiled broadly. "Yes, I was up all night, but don't worry, I was productive – I finished the next Nikki Heat book. And to answer your final question my daughter, yes. For the first time in a long time, I can honestly say that I feel great."
"Wow. You'll have to fill me in on all the details when you get back. Like would this have anything to do with a certain NYPD Detective you're escorting to the dance tonight?" Alexis probed.
"That would be another yes, it does and I wish I could tell you, but I've gotta go or I'm gonna be late." He made his way towards the front door to his loft.
"Well, just watch out for potholes and don't stay out too late! The dance is tonight!" Alexis called as Castle slipped out the door.
"Will do!" Castle yelled back and pulled the door closed behind him. He paused in the hallway and thought for a second. Did she just say what I think she said? Potholes? He shrugged it off and headed for the elevator.
An hour and a half later, Castle finished his meeting with his publisher, who was pleased beyond belief when he handed over the CD with his latest book saved on it. Sitting in the bar all alone, Castle slumped back in his chair. He felt wonderfully free, like he always did when he finished a book, only this time there was an optimistic dimension to the feeling. Life no longer revolved around looking out for his family and trying to get from one book to the next, but now it also involved making Kate happy. Every day that he awoke knowing he had her in his life felt like Christmas Day – full of new fun and discoveries to be had. And the dance tonight was just the beginning.
As Castle rose from the bar table he had occupied, he noticed Demming and Sorenson entering the bar. Both of them hailed him and, upon hearing that he had just handed in a new book, invited him to have a celebratory beer with them.
"C'mon Castle. What's the harm in having just one?" Sorenson egged him on.
But Castle persisted. "I don't know guys. The last the thing I'd want to do is to show up to the dance half-blitzed. I mean, how embarrassing would be? Show up to the Annual NYPD Charity Ball drunk?"
"Look Castle, I promise just one. C'mon. It's on me," Demming offered.
"Yeah. How often do you think us run-of-the-mill cops get to buy a famous and successful murder mystery writer a drink?" Sorenson put in. He had a feeling that Castle was on the verge of caving and figured that stroking his ego would put him over the edge.
"Well, when you put it that way, gentlemen," Castle conceded, "how can I refuse? "
"Good. Bartender, beers all around," Demming called. "But nothing too stiff for our friend Castle, here. He's got an important engagement tonight that we'd hate to have him miss." Demming slapped Castle on the back and smirked at Sorenson. Easy as pie, they both thought.