Author's Note: Muahahahahahahahaha. Jealous Beckett is fun. Don't hate me. This will work out.
For Kate Beckett, the day dragged on and on. Being back at work was a blessing itself, but doing all the paperwork for other cases was not. Beckett wanted to be in the field, cuffing bad guys and reading rights, but for now, this would have to do.
For Rick Castle, the day flew by. The anticipation of his "date" with Juliet Day after work left a miserable feeling in the pit of his stomach. Just when he'd finally gotten somewhere with Kate, this had happen. Things really always had to be complicated for them.
When the regular work day was over and Beckett could take no more, she stood and grabbed her coat. She had arranged for a ride with Lanie and the medical examiner was waiting outside.
"Have fun on your date, Castle." She said. Her voice sounded oddly distant and again Castle could see some hurt in her eyes. Despite how much she tried to hide it, the pain was there.
"Kate…" He murmured, taking a step closer to the detective. "I do not want to do this." He said quietly, reaching for her hand.
Beckett pulled away from the writer's grip. She was all too aware of the fact that Juliet could easily be watching. "I know," She said, shaking her head slightly as if still trying to convince herself of the fact. "I know you don't," She said again, trying to convince herself of the words.
"See you later?" Castle asked with a small smile. He expected that thought to be the only thing that got him through the time with Juliet.
"Later," Kate affirmed, reaching up to squeeze his arm quickly before she turned and walked out of the precinct.
Rick followed her with his eyes until she was gone. He then looked sullenly towards Day's office.
After a quick trip to the bathroom to get 'in character' to convince Juliet that he was single and not at all tied to Beckett, he knocked on the Captain's office door.
Juliet unexpectedly opened it and stood smiling at him. At her appearance, Castle's first thought was that maybe this hadn't all been a ruse at all.
Juliet Day was beautiful already, but she was stunning now. She had tousled her hair in a way that strongly accentuated her features. She had applied a deep red lipstick. It was a striking look that wouldn't suit everyone, but suited Juliet perfectly.
He may not have been at all interested, but Richard Castle could appreciate a beautiful woman. "Captain," He grinned. "You look ravishing."
"As do you, Castle." She returned his smile, though it didn't quite meet her eyes.
"Call me Rick," The man said, turning his charm on. He needed to get on this woman's good side, especially since he planned on being Kate's partner for as long as possible; basically he planned on always being her partner.
"Shall we go, Rick?" Juliet said, holding out an arm for Castle.
He winced inwardly, but made no show of it as he hooked onto her arm and led her to the car.
The drive was uncomfortable and slightly awkward until Juliet finally spoke up.
"I'm actually pretty hungry. Think we could make this a dinner date instead of coffee?" She smiled all too sweetly at the writer.
Castle didn't let her affect him. "I'm hungry too. Dinner it is." He drove to a small pasta place near his loft. Once they arrived, Rick and Juliet were escorted to a private room with a very romantic setting. Castle knew the owners. Unfortunately, the owners didn't know that he definitely did not want a romantic setting. He was going to have to adjust though.
"This is great," Juliet commented, after they'd ordered their meals.
Castle had skated over appetizers, hoping he could make this quick.
"It's one of my favorites." Rick replied dryly. Every time he looked at the woman opposite him his mind strayed to Kate, who was waiting back at her apartment. He was fidgety and Juliet could tell.
"Rick, if you don't want to be here, just say so." She said, shifting in her seat so that she was closer to Castle.
Castle could see she was trying to break him. This would take all of his charm, but it was necessary, and for just a moment, he pushed Beckett to the back of his mind.
"Juliet, if you don't mind me saying, you are a fabulously attractive woman. Based on your job, you are obviously very intelligent and hardworking, and, although I've already said it, you are so beautiful that it needs saying again; you are a very, very gorgeous woman. Why wouldn't I want to be here?" Castle leaned on the table so that their faces were as close as they could get. His eyes twinkled at her.
For a moment Juliet had no words. She had been expecting a short, offhand answer, not this. "I… thank you, Rick." She said, reaching up to pull her hair behind her ear awkwardly.
"It's my pleasure," He said, still wearing that slight smirk that he knew could knock nearly any woman off their feet.
The rest of the dinner wasn't nearly so intimate. Castle asked Juliet about her life; how she'd gotten to her current job; where she'd lived previously; what her hobbies included.
Juliet asked Castle about his books. She was, as she'd said, a fan. Conversation was surprisingly easy and Castle found that he wasn't having as terrible a time as he'd expected. They talked as new friends would, and Castle never did have much problem making friends.
It wasn't until the conversation turned to Kate that Rick remembered why Juliet had really gotten him here.
"So I've heard all about why you started shadowing Detective Beckett, but what I don't understand is why you still do it. You must have enough research by now?" Juliet tried to keep her tone casual, but Castle could tell that she was analyzing him now.
"I don't just follow Beckett because of the books anymore." He said honestly, catching Juliet by surprise. "I follow her because I believe in what she does. Bringing justice, giving the dead a voice, I respect that and I like being a part of it." He wasn't lying exactly, just leaving out that very big fact that he also followed Kate because he was in love with her.
Juliet seemed to tense a bit. She'd expected a more affectionate answer. "Kate Beckett is a wonderful detective." She said, trying again for some true emotion.
"She is," Castle trailed off in thought for a moment before he remembered himself. "She's passionate about what she does." He covered.
"She's very beautiful too." Juliet almost sounded jealous now. "You must have noticed that."
Rick narrowed his eyes. "I can appreciate beautiful women, but if you're looking for a confession of truer feelings for Kate, I have none."
Juliet stared at him for a moment, sizing up his words, but she seemed convinced as she settled further into her chair. "I was only commenting, Rick." She said, dropping the subject.
After dessert, which Castle had forced down as quickly as possible, Juliet directed him to her apartment. When he pulled up outside, Juliet had paused before leaving.
"You wouldn't want to come up, would you? For, um, coffee?"
Castle knew exactly what that meant. He'd been asked up for coffee more times than he could remember and it never actually meant coffee. He expected to see Juliet with a sly look as she tried to trick him, but her face looked nervous and genuine.
For a minute Rick actually considered it, but one glimpse up and he'd remembered that Kate was waiting for him; whether they were having "coffee" or not, she was the better option, the option he would always take.
"Juliet, I'm actually really tired. It's been fun." He smiled as he put the car in drive and prepared to leave.
Unexpectedly Juliet leaned back into the car and pressed her lips to his. Castle fell into the kiss for only a second before Kate's face flashed into his mind and he pulled away instinctively, feeling guilty. "I should go," He said, trying not to feel bad about the shocked expression on Juliet's face.
She closed the door and he was gone before she'd had a chance to enter the apartment building.
When he reached Beckett's apartment, he stopped outside the door for a moment, unsure of what he was going to say.
Honesty was probably the best policy, but Kate did carry a gun, and he wasn't entirely convinced that she wouldn't use it. Then again, they weren't exactly dating, so she wouldn't be too mad, right?
Castle sighed as he pulled the key Beckett had given him over his week-long stay out of his pocket, and opened the door.
Author's Note: Oh, next chapter shall be a fun one. I promise you that.