Erosion
Chapter 13 - Coffee

Rick had checked in with Alexis, called to order a new cell phone, searched the fridge for inspiration for dinner, and started the coffee brewing... and the water in the shower was still running.

As tempting as it was to dwell on images of Kate naked and wet in his bathroom he had more than enough to distract him. Like images of Kate curled against him as she fell asleep in the early hours of this morning and the sensation of her – relaxed and at ease against him – when they woke together. It was so far removed from where they'd been only two days ago that he had to wonder if it were a temporary amnesty or if something more profound had changed.

The truth was she had always amazed him, but lately, she was a constant source of small surprises that caught him unexpectedly and gave him hope and left him wondering in equal measure.

But, as much as he loved everything about the frustratingly stubborn woman, he was dreading the moment Detective Beckett walked out of his bathroom – dressed and with her armour intact – discussing dead bodies and motive. If it were up to him he would have just one day with Kate trading kisses and conversation, instead of theories and innuendo.

He couldn't help his relief when the water finally shut off. Even in a shower as good as his there was only so long she could legitimately stay in there before he'd have to admit she was hiding from him.

He put her bread in the toaster and started on her coffee with his game face plastered on and a few good theories to throw about to ease any discomfort she might be feeling.

The smell of coffee led Kate across the living room. She saw Castle before he noticed her and her stomach flipped at the sight of him buttering her toast. Did she really want that kind of domesticity? Was the idea of a man preparing her breakfast after a night together really that appealing? He looked up at her then, his eyes crinkling in a smile, and she knew that she did want those things – if it were Castle making her breakfast, and Castle with whom she'd spent the night before.

She didn't bother to hide her pleasure from him. She hoped he already knew that he made her happy, and if he didn't then it was time she showed him.

"I'm tempted to say 'good morning'," he said as she came around the counter.

"I know. I'm feeling a little out of sync myself," she admitted.

Rick passed over her coffee, and the familiarity of their routine felt like a lifeline. Kate took a sip and felt her eyes drift closed. She breathed in the scent of the coffee but more than anything it felt like she was trying to breath the essence of the moment into herself – her and Rick.

He couldn't help but watch her. It was always an effort to drag his eyes away but even more so today. She'd changed into her dress pants from yesterday but instead of her turtleneck she was wearing his baggy t-shirt and a pair of his socks, her hair curled about her face and a rough braid ran down her back. It wasn't how he had expected her to look when she came out of his bedroom. In fact it was a heck of a lot closer to how he had hoped she might look... except maybe with her hair loose and wild, and one of his buttoned dress shirts on with the buttons well and truly un-buttoned.

He was ready to ask if she'd had any further thoughts about the case when she spoke instead.

"I could get used to this."

Used to waking up at his loft? Used to someone – him? – making her breakfast?

He went with the safe option for his reply, "I already bring you coffee every morning."

Kate snagged a piece of toast and decided to give him a nudge, "I wasn't talking about the coffee."

Rick studied her eyes, was caught by the sight of the toast disappearing into her mouth, and then struck dumb by the flick of her tongue over her lip. He was utterly mesmerised by the uninhibited smile that lit her face, and by the time he dragged himself back to her eyes he was lost.

"Err... then... what were you talking about?"

She took another mouthful of coffee before she answered him. "You've followed me for almost four years, Castle. Maybe it's time for you to take the lead."

The conversation suddenly required all his attention, "The lead? And go where...?"

"How about forwards."

Castle wasn't sure they were talking about the same thing, but the look in her eyes gave him hope, "How do I know you'll follow?"

"So long as you don't go too fast, I'll follow."

###

Castle called her at the station as she was closing yet another file, having sifted her way through most of the information her team had turned up in her absence.

"You have any luck finding the boat or the smugglers?"

"Coast Guard has the boat. It was a luxury catamaran that did regular journeys from the U.S. to the Middle East. The DEA is looking into it. Ryan and Esposito have been out for the last hour running down Leon Reynolds and Rufus Turner; our boys from the storehouse. They both have felony assault charges and connections to the local chapter of the Horseman, and a gun registered to Turner could be a match to the weapon used in the murders."

"Sounds like you've been busy."

"Yeah, well, they had most of it underway when I got in this afternoon. How about you? How did you spend the rest of your day?" Kate surprised herself by genuinely wanting to know. She'd thought of him all afternoon and wondered what he was doing.

"That's why I called, actually."

"You mean you didn't call to see if justice had been served to Aras, Al-Hassani, Madihi, and their families?" she teased him.

"Well, that too, but mostly to ask if you wanted to go out for dinner tonight?" he sounded nervous.

Kate didn't reply immediately, and despite the fact that no one was watching her she couldn't help but turn her head. The back of her hand came up and covered her mouth to hide her smile.

Castle, quick to fill the silence, spoke again, "Or I can just cook, that's fine too. Carbonara?"

"Castle,"

"Yeah?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" The butterflies in her tummy felt divine. Her cheeks hurt from suppressing her grin and she wished the phone weren't tethered to the desk so she could escape to the relative privacy of the break room.

He was taking the lead.

Castle took the warmth and the humour in her voice as a positive sign and he ploughed forward, "That would be my intention, yes."

"Where would we be going?"

"Nothing too fancy, just... an evening out – you and me."

"Sounds nice."

"Yeah?" his voice was equal parts relief and surprise.

"Yeah, Castle," she reassured him. He'd taken enough risks for her; she didn't want him to think he was taking yet another one, "I said I'd follow."

"Okay, then. Should I pick you up?"

Kate chuckled at the hesitation in his voice, "Let's not get too weird. How about I just head to the loft when I finish and we can go from there."

"I like it. I'll see you tonight."

"I'll see you tonight, Castle."

Beckett hung up and grabbed the printout of Reynolds' phone logs and banking details. She wanted to nail this guy. And soon.

###

By six o'clock Beckett was watching the clock and seriously considering heading out. At any other time she wouldn't have contemplated using the fact that she'd pulled an all-nighter the day before as an excuse to leave early. But she'd slept it off, she wasn't tired, her injuries were all minor – the fact that she had somewhere she'd rather be shouldn't be an issue; but it was.

They'd found the money trail between Reynolds, the Importers, and the Moroccan immigrants; and by all appearances it looked like a failed coup within the organisation. Ryan and Esposito had found the murder weapon during a search of a local biker bar but Turner and Reynolds were in the wind and with fellow gang members keeping an eye out she'd doubted they'd be easy to find.

Beckett had hoped to track down another property or a friend with whom either of them might seek refuge. Despite having several possible leads to follow up on the ticking of the clock continued to draw her attention. She toyed briefly with the idea of justifying her leaving with the fact that Castle was always great at linking the disparate pieces of a case together and coming up with an idea; and he was, but that wasn't why she wanted to see him.

Captain Gates finally decided the matter for her, "Detective Beckett, why are you still here?"

"Sir?" she looked up, startled. She hadn't even heard her approach. "Just looking through our records on Turner and Reynolds; trying to get a fix on where they might be hiding."

"A few hours sleep this morning is hardly enough. Having you on the job when you're not at your best only risks your fellow officers; head on home and get some rest."

"I will, Sir." She assured the captain. She didn't need to be told twice. Beckett had her computer off and her desk tidied in record time.

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A/N- the last two updates were short, and i'm sorta keen to get to the next chapter! *snort* so i'm posting this now.

Castle! My man! You're stepping up! Don't let me down, bro.

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