Kate headed home after her shift with a renewed sense of hope for her relationship with Castle. She'd savored every drop of the coffee he brought her and it sustained her through the day. Sometime around two, it occurred to her that she had yet to experience the caffeine crash she was so used to. She chalked it up to happiness and carried on checking the forms in front of her. She plucked the green bag off her door knob and hurried to open his cup, hoping to find a note. She wasn't disappointed.
"I hope it was still warm. Until tomorrow."
Kate fell asleep that night buoyed by Castle's words and thinking that, the next morning, she might chance running into him when she dropped off the coffees. Thoughts of what she would say to him carried her into sleep and filled her dreams with possibility.
Kate was abruptly yanked from images of a future with Castle by the shrill ringing of her phone. Groaning at the time, barely 3 in the morning, she answered with a strained, "Beckett." Kate took the details of the scene from dispatch and fired off texts to Espo and Ryan on her way to the closet. She was dressed and out the door within fifteen minutes.
When she arrived, Kate clocked that the scene seemed to be crawling with people. Reporters and onlookers peered over and around one another from beyond the blockade. Uniforms were doing their best to obstruct their view, but weren't having much success. Kate saw her two junior detectives interviewing people she assumed to be possible witnesses. Ducking under the tape, Kate approached Lanie and quickly understood the reason for the crowd. There were two victims, both lying on the ground. A man, about 6'2" with brown hair and dressed in a brown leather jacket and jeans was lying on top of a woman. The female victim was blonde and was dressed to go clubbing. Kate supposed this made sense. They were less than half a block from a strip of frequently busy clubs.
Kate got as much detail as she could from Lanie. Espo and Ryan filled her in on what they learned while canvassing the crowd. The pair were seen leaving a club around the corner about two hours before. A witness said the woman didn't seem to be in distress, that it seemed the two were a couple. Another man saw the male victim pull the woman into the alley. She hadn't seen anyone follow them, but she did hear them scream. She called the police and hid in her car. She didn't see anyone leave the alley, neither victim or suspect. The man and woman had been found minutes later by another witness who heard them screaming as well. Their wallets and jewelry were missing. All signs pointed to a robbery or mugging gone wrong.
It was nearly 7 by the time Kate waived Lanie off and headed to the precinct. She could already tell this case was going to go no where in a hurry. There were several doors leading off the alley and there was no telling which of them the killer might have escaped through. Kate spent the morning calling as many businesses she could to inquire about security cameras and collapsed around into her chair around ten. It briefly occurred to her that she could really use a cup of coffee when she jumped to her feet with a gasp. She hadn't made the Castles their coffee. Without thinking of the case or the consequences, she yelled to the boys that she would be back, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed to the elevator.
In her race to get home, Kate pulled out her phone and, without thinking about it, sent her first text to Castle in almost two months.
Got called out at 3 in the morning. I didn't forget.
Kate arrived back home in record time. She flung open her door and quickly gathered the travel cups. Mercifully, the machine was kind to her and she made Castle's drink perfectly on her first try. She was just on the point of pouring the almond milk for Alexis' latte when her phone beeped. The shock of seeing his name on her screen after so long almost caused Kate to drop her phone.
I was beginning to wonder. Mother and Alexis are gone for the day. So it's just me this morning. Guess that means you can save some money.
Kate's brow furrowed at the last sentence. Had he really not figured out she was the one making his coffee? Why did he think she'd taken the machine home from the break room?
Shaking her head slightly, Kate gathered a coffee sleeve and contemplated what to write. She wanted to give him something that would some how make up for missing that morning's delivery. She eventually decided she would tell him about going to therapy. It was time he knew that she was actively working on trying to be better for him.
"42/100: I had to see a department therapist before I could be cleared for duty. I convinced him, like I'd convinced myself, that I was fine. After my first case back, after we talked on the swings, I went back and I have a standing appointment every Thursday evening at 7."
Kate returned to the bull pen just as the boys were taking down the murder board she'd spent half an hour putting up that very morning.
"What the hell?" Kate asked. "Did you solve the case without me?"
"Yep." Espo replied, proudly.
"The security footage from the club across from the alley came in." Kevin jumped in. "Anna Bommer, the woman who called to report the screaming, she killed them. Footage showed her, plain as day, walking out of the alley with a pipe in her hand and getting into her car. Three minutes later, she called 911. No one searched her car at the scene, but there were traces of blood from both the victims on the passenger's side floor mat."
"We went to pick her up and she confessed before we even got her in the car." said Espo, finishing for his partner.
"Apparently," said Kevin, jumping back in., "the male victim, Stephen, was her ex-finace. They'd broke up six months ago and she was already engaged to Julie, the female victim. Anna said she followed them to the night club to confront them. She didn't mean to kill them. Apparently Julie's ring was bigger than the one Stephen bought for Anna and she snapped."
"Damn." Kate breathed. "Good work you two. I'm sorry I ran out of here like that."
"We get it." said Ryan.
"You had to get the coffee." said Espo.
"No." said Ryan. "She had to make the coffee." Turning to Javi, he continued, "she's been making Castle coffee every morning for like two months. Where have you been, man? Didn't you notice the machine missing?"
Javi opened his mouth to reply, but before he could answer, a voice behind Kate cut him off.
"You're the barista behind my morning coffee?"
Kate whirled round to see Castle, looking slightly stunned, with two travel mugs in his hands. Kate instantly recognized one as his, though it was missing its sleeve, and the other as hers.
At first, Kate couldn't speak. So she simply nodded. Before she could think of anything to say, Castle continued. "I thought you took the machine home so you could get rid of it, or maybe even make yourself coffee. It never occurred to me that you'd be making mine. Alexis and mother, that was you too?"
Kate just nodded again. She still couldn't wrap her brain around the image of him in the bull pen. It had been so long and she wasn't sure she would ever see him there again.
The two partners just stared at each other for what felt like an eternity to them both. Eventually, it was Espo who broke the silence.
"Yo, Beckett. I think, since we closed the case while you were off playing barista, you should handle the paperwork on this one. Sound fair to you Kev?"
"Yep. Sure does." replied his partner.
Kate turned to look at the pair of detectives, still unable to speak. Dumbly, she just nodded for a third time. The two turned to leave and high fived each other on the way to their desks.
"Do you mind if I keep you company?" Castle asked, gesturing toward his chair. "I can't promise I'll be much help, but..."
"Yeah, of course." Kate cut across him. She moved to sit down and Castle sat her cup on her desk in front of her. "Thank you." she murmured. She lifted the cup and took a long drink. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Castle watching her and she smiled to herself. For the first time in far too many days, it felt as if her world was beginning to right itself.
True to form, Castle was no help when it came to the mountain of paperwork she was facing, but his familiar presence next to her made the day seem slightly less daunting.
Several hours later, it was Castle's voice that pulled Kate's attention from her task.
"So," he started, waiting to continue until he was sure he had her attention. "You really made all those coffees?"
Yeah," she replied, turning to face him. "I really did. It wasn't easy a first. I think that espresso machine has some grudge against me, but we seem to have achieved a mutual level of respect in recent weeks. I hardly have to remake your drink more than once now."
"How many tries did it take at first?" he asked, chuckling slightly.
"At least four, every morning for that first week or two. After that, I started getting the hang of it."
"Where did you find the beans? Or the grounds? Or whatever you're using? Cause I swear, I've never had coffee like it." he asked and leaned a little closer.
"Well, Alexis must not completely hate me, because she gave me the name and address of the tasting room she took you to last summer. I went in there the day..." her voice fell, "the day you walked away outside. There was a nice girl working. She helped me find the right blend and roast of whole beans."
Castle smiled and Kate continued. "I swear Castle, it was uncanny. When she brought me the cup, it was like someone had distilled you down into a cup of coffee. Kinda like how you found some that reminded you of me."
"Yeah," Castle started, his voice tinged with awe, "that place is pretty incredible."
"Look, it's late and I am almost done here. You don't have to stick around." Kate said, needing to change the subject.
"Umm, Okay. Yeah, I guess it is almost five and I told Alexis I would make dinner. I should get going." He said, standing to collect his jacket from the back of his chair. "Are you on shift tomorrow?"
"No. I am on call this weekend, but I am off tomorrow and Friday." Kate replied.
"Do you think we could meet for coffee? Maybe talk a little? If you're up for it, I mean..."
"Sure," Kate quickly cut across him. "But instead of meeting for coffee, how about we take a walk?" Kate hoped her unspoken promise that she would still bring him coffee was communicated.
"Sure. Nine? I will meet you at your place and we can walk to the park." Castle said.
She nodded and he turned to go. Halfway to the elevator, he turned and asked, "Will you still write on the sleeve?"
Kate couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.
"See you tomorrow, Castle."
A/N: I know I this would be the last, but apparently this story isn't done with me yet. I know where I am going, but I don't yet know how long it will take to get there. Thanks to everyone for all your continued support and encouragement. Reviews and feedback are always welcome.