Chapter 11

"That's quite the love note from Writer Boy."

Kate whirled around to find Lanie standing in her office doorway, a folder in one hand and a knowing smirk on her face.

"Uh, hey, Lanie," Kate stammered. "I see you read Heat Wave."

Lanie crossed to the chair in front of Kate's desk – Castle's chair – and sat down. "Girl, I think everyone in New York has read it by this point."

Kate sighed in frustration. She was happy for Castle. And she really had enjoyed the book. What she didn't enjoy was that anyone who read the book also likely read the dedication.

She was extremely touched by his words. They still made her heart pound every time she read them, because her favorite author thought she was extraordinary. And as much as she pretended not to like him, as deeply as he'd betrayed her trust, she did like him. She liked him a lot. She'd given up trying to deny it, at least to herself.

"So have you jumped his bones yet?"

"Lanie," Kate hissed.

(Oh, she'd thought about it. She'd been thinking about it for longer than she cared to admit.)

"I'm just sayin'."

"Don't you have a report for me?"

"Don't you dare change the subject, Kate Beckett," Lanie scolded. "Not 'til you explain to me why you suddenly decided to show up at Castle's big party last night."

"How did you…?"

"Word gets around," the ME answered.

Kate sighed. "He apologized," she answered finally. "It was a last minute thing. Sorry, I should've called you."

"Girl, don't worry 'bout it," Lanie placated. "I'm just glad you two are on speaking terms again."

Despite her efforts to hide it, Kate's mouth twitched up into a small smile. There wasn't any point in trying to hide her feelings from her friend. Lanie already knew that Kate liked him. "Yeah, me too."


"It's a hit!"

Kate jerked her head up, startled, to find Castle standing in her office doorway. She hadn't even heard him approach.

She abruptly closed the file she was sifting through, shoved it into her desk drawer. "I'm sorry?"

"Heat Wave," he elaborated, though his gaze was distracted by the suddenness of her movements. "Everyone loves Nikki."

"Ah." Kate pushed her thoughts aside, forced herself to focus on the man standing before her. Nikki was based on her. She should probably at least feign enthusiasm. "That's great," she added, hoping she'd adequately infused her voice with excitement.

The author nodded. "Black Pawn offered me a deal. Three more books. And there's already talk of making Heat Wave into a movie."

Wait. What?

"A movie? Wow!"

Castle nodded, making his way into her office and taking up residence in his chair.

"And three more Nikki Heat books?" Kate asked.

Castle grinned excitedly. Too excitedly.

It dawned on her a split second too late.

"Which means I'll need to keep shadowing you," he said eagerly. "For research, of course."

Yep, that's what she'd assumed was coming next.

"Don't you have enough research by now?" Kate asked. The man had been furiously taking notes for the better part of the last eight months. He had to have enough material at this point to write a hundred books.

"Well, I mean, I've gotten the idea of how things are done around here," Castle answered. "But the book still needs a plot. A case. And there's no predicting when inspiration might strike."

Well, that was a poorly concocted excuse if she'd ever heard one.

"I thought I was your inspiration," Kate stated.

"Oh, you are, Captain, and in so many ways," he smirked with a suggestive raise of one eyebrow.

She rolled her eyes. The man was a never-ending supply of come-ons and innuendos.

But two could play at this game. "Yeah, well, your inspiration might strike you sooner than you think."


"Bro, what the hell are you doing here?"

Castle whirled around as he exited Beckett's office, still reeling from her teasing comment and his inability to think up a suitable comeback. Words were his thing. And yet, the woman had a remarkable ability to render him unable to piece together a single sentence.

"Yeah, didn't the Captain kick you out?" Ryan asked.

"Well I was here to talk to Beckett," Castle began. "But I think Ryan also needs my assistance with his choice of tie."

"Yeah, yeah, go ahead," Ryan muttered. He'd been taking crap for his tie all day, what were a few more teasing comments?

"It's from his girlfriend," Espo said smugly.

Castle perked up in interest. "Girlfriend?"

"So you're saying Beckett's not mad you're here?" Ryan asked, a not-at-all-subtle attempt at changing the subject.

"Nope."

Ryan and Espo shared a glance of disbelief but apparently decided against any type of verbal response.

Castle took advantage of their silence to nod at the book tucked beneath Ryan's arm. "What'd you guys think of your alter egos?"

"Haven't read it," Esposito answered without missing a beat. Figured. Castle knew he was protective of Beckett. And last these two knew, Beckett was still mad at him.

"I dunno, Raley seems a little feminine," Ryan answered, nose wrinkled in confusion. "Some of the things he says…"

Esposito snorted, an unsuccessful attempt to suppress a chuckle. Castle too struggled to keep a straight face.

"What?" the detective asked, clearly affronted.

"Nothing, Honeymilk." And with that, Esposito strode towards the break room, empty coffee cup in hand.

"Wait, Honeymilk?" Castle asked, stopping Ryan before he could follow his partner. "I thought you guys broke up a long time ago?"

"We did," Ryan answered. "But what you said all those months ago…" he trailed off. "Anyway, I called her. Asked her to give me another chance." He grinned, completely smitten, and Castle couldn't help but smile at the man's happiness. "We've been back together eleven months."

Castle clapped Ryan on the shoulder with a grin. "Congrats, man."

"Thanks," Ryan replied happily.

"Just, you know, next time you might wanna pick out your own tie."

The detective turned and stalked away.


"What do you think's going on with them?"

Ryan shrugged, busied himself with pouring a dollop of milk into his coffee.

"You really think she's not still mad?"

Esposito sat down at the table in the center of the break room, set his mug aside and began to absently flip through the copy of the day's newspaper.

"I dunno, bro. She was pretty upset."

Ryan nodded thoughtfully, wandered over to join his partner.

"Not like her to forgive so easily," Espo added as an afterthought.

"You don't think…?"

"Beckett and Castle?" Espo shook his head. "Nah. She's been trying to get rid of him since day one."

"Exactly," Ryan hypothesized. "Because he gets on her nerves. She normally doesn't let people get under her skin like that."

The Hispanic detective took a sip of coffee, glanced out into the bullpen. Beckett was contemplating the murder board, Castle right by her side. Closer than was probably professionally appropriate.

Ryan followed his partner's gaze. "I mean, it's obvious that he likes her. There's no way he's actually here for research."

Esposito nodded in agreement.

"And there's no way Captain doesn't know that," Ryan continued. "But she lets him stay."

"Huh," Esposito replied gruffly, returning to the newspaper.

"Wait, wait, hang on, go back."

"What?"

Ryan gestured to the newspaper. "Flip back a couple pages."

Esposito did as he was told.

Suddenly, his partner pointed at a story on the back side of the page. "There."

Espo flipped the paper around. And there, at the bottom of page 6, was the last thing he ever expected to see.

Kate Beckett in a tight blue dress standing next to a shelf full of books. About fifty copies of Heat Wave, to be more precise. But what was far more interesting was the look in her eyes. Gone was the steely hardness they saw every day at the precinct. In its place was something softer, happier.

And looking back at her, with the same softness in his eyes, was Richard Castle.


Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you all! I'll be back with a new update after Christmas.