AN: This chapter's a little shorter than I meant it to be, but I hope you guys like it all the same. Also, can I just say that episode had me freaking out for several reasons, and I cannot wait for the second part this Monday. Hooray for Season 8!
As usual, please review and notify me of any mistakes, and try to have a good time reading!
Disclaimer: Would you look at that? My name still isn't on the list of people who own Castle.
When he walked into the bullpen around eleven, Castle could tell something was off with Beckett. To anyone else, she appeared normal, if a bit restless in her chair, but he knew her. He could see it in the way she uncrossed and crossed her legs again to try to find a comfortable position, and in her posture. She was sitting up almost too straight as if she was forcing it to try to maintain the facade of normalcy.
She swiveled in her chair the moment she heard his footsteps, somehow recognizing his gait before he could even speak a hello. Her lips spread into a soft smile when he handed her one of the coffees he was carrying, but he could see the flash of hurt in her eyes though he didn't know what caused it.
"Everything okay?" he asked as he carefully lowered himself into his chair, pleased to find that he did so without even a twinge in his side.
"Yeah," she said, puzzlement crossing her features. "Why wouldn't it be?"
"I don't know, you just seem…" His sentence remained open as he tried to find a word to adequately describe her. "You seem off," he settled when he failed to find a better phrase.
"It's nothing, really," she mumbled.
"Are you sure?" he pushed.
Her eyes returned from where they had fallen in her lap to meet his gaze, then flicked to the door of the break room as she nodded towards it. Together they rose from their chairs and strode into the break room. Castle closed the door behind them, turning around to find her closing the other door before whipping back around to face him.
"What's going on, Kate?" The seriousness in his voice had her looking at her hands as she gathered what she had to say.
"Did I do something?" she blurted, obviously wanting to say it before she lost her courage. "Last night," she added when his brow furrowed in confusion.
"What? No! It was… It was perfect, Kate. You were perfect," he stammered out quickly to reassure her. "Why? Were you… Did you not-"
"No, no, I had a great time; it was fantastic, Rick. I just…" She huffed, aiming it more at herself than him. "You know what? It doesn't matter; it's stupid. I shouldn't have said anything."
"Kate," he stopped her from rambling any further. He stepped as close as he dared while they were in the precinct. They may have Montgomery's okay, but they were still to remain professional at work. "Whether it's stupid or not, I want to know what's bothering you; I want to help."
After another huff, she spoke her mind. "You didn't kiss me."
Bewilderment spread across his face, and his brow furrowed as his mind played back the night. He looked crestfallen when he couldn't remember even giving her a kiss goodnight, wondering how he could have missed that on their first date.
"Was it something I said? Did I-"
"I already told you everything was phenomenal, I just can't believe I forgot to give you a kiss before I left."
She visibly relaxed at his words, the sincerity in his tone assuring her that she had done nothing wrong. "It's okay, Castle. It's just a kiss."
"Well, you seemed pretty worked up about it," he defended.
"That's because I thought I had screwed up, and I don't want to screw this one up." Her hand moved to take his, only to stop halfway when she remembered where they were. Instead, she diffused the tension. "I seem to recall there being something said about lunch?"
He let out a bark of laughter before answering. "I believe you're right, Detective. I ordered Chinese on the way here, and it should be here," he paused to check his watch, "any minute now."
As if on cue, the couple exited the break room to find a confused delivery boy awkwardly looking around the bullpen, his eyes flicking around in search of the whoever had called for the meals he had tucked under his arm. Castle hurried over to put him out of his misery, handing him the bills he had prepared in his pocket in exchange for the food.
Beckett opened the door to the room they usually used for lunch and motioned for him to enter, rolling her eyes when he declined her offer to help carry the bags. They set out containers by empty seats for when Ryan and Esposito came back from their follow-up interviews, then settled themselves in their chairs and started devouring their food. It was only a few minutes after Beckett had continued doing her paperwork while she ate when the two detectives walked by, catching Castle's motion for them to join, then grabbing the paperwork they needed and taking their seats with the couple.
The three detectives and their writer spent a few minutes chatting before Montgomery passed by and gave them a look that said "get to work". While Beckett, Esposito, and Ryan worked on their paperwork, Castle took out a notebook and started writing, pausing every so often to ask a question about their opinions on wording or to clarify a process. After an hour, all of the takeout containers were stacked in the middle of the table and the stacks of paperwork seemed to be dwindling into much smaller piles. Castle had long since become distracted by the games on his phone.
Eventually, after they had thrown away the remnants of lunch and returned to their desks, Castle's boredom became too much for him to bear. Beckett knew what he was going to say next before he even opened his mouth, recognizing his fidgets that gave away his want to do something.
"I think I'm going to head home," he said hesitantly as if he was worried he might offend someone. "I mean, unless you need me for something, in which case I'll stay as long as-"
"Castle," Beckett interrupted before he could ramble on any further. "It's okay. I'm honestly surprised you lasted this long."
His shoulders relaxed at her words, glad he wasn't hurting her in any way by leaving, somehow more conscious about what he said or did and how it would affect her now more than he had been before. She walked him to the elevator, gave his hand a quick squeeze as a substitute for a peck on the cheek, then promised to call when she got home before he stepped onto the lift.
She sighed as she turned around to return to her desk. As much as she understood why he left the precinct, she couldn't help but think that the day would only move slower without him sitting in his chair next to her.
