It's far too hot, I'm melting ...


Chapter 12:

They woke up to the sound of her cell phone ringing. Neither of them wanting to move, just feeling to comfortable. But she had to. It started to annoy her and it was probably the precinct, so she reached for the nightstand and answered.

"It better be important..."

"Yeah." Esposito didn't expect this kind of response "why are you still sleeping? It's almost 9 o'clock." At that she jumped out of bed to look at the time on her cell phone. He was right. She had forgotten to set the timer, so she would wake up.

"Shit, shit!" Hastily she ran over to her closet pulling out a few clothes to wear. "I'll be there in a few." Then she hung up. "Castle wake up!"

He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes with his fists. "You're up early. Come back to bed."

"Castle, look what time it is. We overslept." She made her way to the bathroom, the change of clothes in her hand and locking the door behind her. Not that she didn't trust Castle, but he seemed to be still half asleep and she didn't wanna risk anything.

"Wow. I think that's a no to eggs and bacon than." He turned his legs to the side, so he was sitting on the edge of the bed and waited for Beckett to exit the bathroom. A few minutes later she did. She was already dressed and now took her gun out of the drawer.

"Well Castle, I'm gonna go first. You can take a shower if you want, since you didn't do last night. And then please go home first to change clothes." She reached for another drawer and took out a key. "Here is a spare key to my apartment. Lock it when you're finished, okay?"

He just took it, nodding. This was a huge step. He had a key to her apartment now. But he wasn't sure if she expected him to give if back to her. But for now he put it aside so he could make himself comfortable under her shower.

Just before she was about to turn around and leave he pulled her back again and gave her a short peck on the lips. "See you later"

"Yeah, see you later." With a small smile and a short nod she was out. He would take his time and enjoy this, but he also would make sure not to take too long so he could bring her breakfast and she wasn't starving by the time he arrived.

(...)

She arrived at the precinct ten minutes later, only to be pulled aside by Gates. "Detective Beckett! May I have a minute?"

'Shit' she thought, but had no other option then to follow. She stepped inside the office and closed the door. "Yes sir, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, I did. Where have you been? It's already past nine?"

"I know and I'm sorry sir. I've overslept. It's the first time this ever happened to me since I started working here and I promise it won't happen again."

"Well don't make any promise you can't be sure to keep, but I spoke with the other detectives and officers and it really is the first time. And I may only know you for half a year but you seem like you take this whole thing serious and you are the best damn detective I've got, so I'll let it go. Besides it really was a long week and the jet leg certainly didn't help. Just make sure it won't become a habit." When she had finished her speech, while looking over the edge of her glasses, she took them of to lay them on the table in front of her and fold her hands. She was looking expectantly at Beckett now. Being the best sure could be a lot of pressure.

"Of course. I can promise you that." Beckett was now smiling

"Okay, fine. Then you can continue with your investigations." She grabbed her glasses again to put them back on and waved her hand to signal for Kate to leave. When Kate turned around she could have sworn she saw Gates shaking her head and smiling.

When she stepped out her phone was ringing again – it was Lanie. "Good morning. You got anything for me?"

"Yup, just come down, 'kay?"

"On my way." She hung up and turned towards the elevator. When the doors opened, Castle got out greeting her with a big goofy grin.

"Good morning Detective." He held out her coffee to her and she took it immediately. She didn't had the time back at home, so she was grateful that he thought of it – like every day. She wanted to reach up to kiss his cheek in thanks but recognized where they where and pulled back. What the hell was she thinking anyway. A week ago this would have never crossed her mind, but now and after all this cuddling and a few kisses her wall was starting to crack and she was starting to give in to those feeling she has had all along, but never wanted to admit to him let alone herself.

A little shy and embarrassed she looked down at the cup in her hands. "I'm back in a few minutes. I'm going to see Lanie." Before he had the chance to respond she was in the elevator pressing a random button, just so the doors would close and she could think about what almost happened in front of the entire precinct.

(...)

"Hey girl, what's up with you? Have you even been listening to a single word I've said?" Lanie pulled her out of her reverie.

"What? I'm sorry Lanie ... I's just ... I've got some stuff going on." She sighed "Could you repeat what you said?"

Lanie shook her head. She could imagine what was going on inside her. "I told you that we found some prints on that money you gave us and also on the plastic bags the drugs where in. Partial prints only and they are not in the system but if you can get me the print of a suspect I can tell you if it's a match."

"Well that's something isn't it? Anything else?"

"That's all I've found so far."

"Okay thanks." Kate was about to turn around and go.

"Wait a second." Lanie held her arm to keep her from going. "You wanna talk to me about it?"

"It's nothing Lanie, really" she tried to play it down, but by the looks on Lanie's face she couldn't fool her.

"Doesn't look like nothing." Lanie said, nodding in the direction of Kate's hand, which god her and immediate response. Kate tried to cover her left hand with her right, but it was stupid. She had put the ring on to make Castle happy, to show him she was really trying and then she had forgotten to take it off and gone to work wearing it just because she was in a hurry. Maybe that was she reason Gates had been smiling.

This was going to be bad. The boys would be making fun of her and Castle for a while, not bothering being punished with paper work. Kate sighed and sad down on one of the clean tables, to start talking to her best friend.


See you next time :)