All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 1 – Alpha Team's New Member
Rick Castle could not believe how quickly Tom Demming had managed to insert himself into the Homicide squad. He knew that Kate and Tom had taken to sparing in the 12th Precinct Gym. Kate had mentioned to Rick one day that Tom had asked for a match when he first saw her working out. He turned out to be a good sparring partner, so they had regular matches since then. But now, there were even rumors that they had become an item. Still, it surprised Rick when on one of their cases, Beckett had told the team that Tom Demming would be joining them as Alpha's robbery advisor. Tom had been her sparring parter for about a month when he joined the team as an advisor. Shortly after, Rick had observed the looks and touches between the two. They had not fooled him, and now Rick knew that what he had hoped was a growing relationship with Kate was being interrupted by Demming. Rick had hoped that Kate was wanting their professional relationship to morph into a romantic one.
Was it just wishful thinking on Rick's part? Had he misread her actions? She had acted more familiar with him recently and had even responded to his flirting with her by doing her own flirting with Rick. That is to say more than she had done before. It had been like that until his hasty and short hookup with Ellie Monroe. Then Kate had started to become more aloof, not shutting him out altogether, but a little more distant than before the Ellie affair. Still, she did flirt back at him when he initiated it.
He had thought maybe the affair with Ellie Monroe had been brought wout some hidden jealousy in Beckett. Or was she just annoyed that Ellie Mann had used him for a movie part? His hook up with Ellie had been unplanned. He was not looking for female intimacy at the time, but they both went drinking one night and one thing led to another. Except it did not stop with just one night. He broke it off with her when he learned Ellie was indeed using him to get a part in the new Nikki Heat movie.
Still the real shocker in this whole Demming thing was when the man himself had asked to talk to Castle privately. Rick thought that it was strange that Tom wanted a private talk. So when lunch came that day, Rick had volunteered to treat the team to lunch. It was a tough case, so Kate and the boys were working thru lunch. He decided to order Chinese, and Tom had told Rick to order from Hung's. Rick could get a discount as Tom is a special friend to Mr. Hung. Tom said he would even go with Rick to ensure the discount and also to help carry the takeout boxes back to the 12th.
When they left to get the order, Tom said he would drive. On the trip to the restaurant, Tom had asked Rick if there was anything going on between him and Kate.
"Oh no, there is nothing there, so no foul on the play", was Rick's response.
Tom was a good detective and had sensed there was something more about Rick and Kate. So he asked a second question on intuition, "But you want there to be something? Or am I wrong?"
"Ah, well, yeah, you got me there Demming. I have been with Kate three years now and I have developed feelings for her."
"I have know her for only a month and I have a similar situation."
"So you are asking me not to pursue Kate, to back off? Is that the reason for this talk?", Rick asks.
"That wouldn't be fair to Kate. I see how you two act together, finishing each other thoughts when brainstorming a case. Also all the little things you do or react to with each other. In your case, the coffee and bear claw in the mornings. In Kate's case, the way she brightens up when she sees you come in, coffee in hand for her. How when you are not there, she seems a little bit more grumpy. I think Kate doesn't know or perhaps more correctly may not admit to herself, those feelings for you Rick."
"So, what are you saying Demming?"
"Let's both go after her, let her decide. May the best man win!"
"First of all Tom, Kate is not a prize to be won. She is an extraordinary and beautiful woman whose affections you must earn. Secondly, what are the ground rules here?"
"No rules Castle, all is fair in love…."
"…and war. So you want a war Demming?"
"Anything is fair, short of physical retaliation and verbal demonizing", is Tom's response.
"Pretty confident in yourself Demming?"
"It may appear that way, but I know your rep Castle. The fact you haven't made a play for Kate over the years you have known her, shows me there's more to you than that Playboy Novelist image that follows you around."
"So how does this 'romantic' war for Kate's affection end?", using his fingers to put quotation marks around the word 'romantic'.
"Isn't it obvious, but just in case, let me spell it out. When you get Kate in bed and she acknowledges the relationship is serious."
"Does it need to end in carnal knowledge? Could she not just admit that she wants more and the sex will come when the time is right?"
"I can accept that outcome, but Kate must admit to the relationship publicly", says Demming.
"You're on", says Castle and they both shake on it.
Back At The 12th
Once back at the precinct, as they all set up the take out lunch in conference room 1, Beckett heads to the coffee machine to make coffee. Rick's sees this and joins her in the kitchenette on their floor.
"Kate", he begins, "may I bring up something personal?"
"I don't know Castle, how personal is it?"
"Demming asked me if there was anything between us."
"Oh!", she says a little surprised. She knew of Tom's romantic interest in her. He had told her such, early on. But clearing any obstacles in the way of his pursuit of her, by asking Castle about her, that spoke to the seriousness to Tom's intent with her. Tom clearly respected her work relationship with her partner by trying to confirm that her relationship with Castle was just professional and nothing more.
"So I was wondering how it is between you two?"
Now Castle was trying to find the boundaries of his office partnership with her.
"What did you say to Tom?"
"That there was nothing going on."
"What did he say?"
"He asked if I wanted to have something more with you."
"Real!y! And what was your answer?"
"I said yes."
Kate is equally surprised about Rick's reply and excited by what Rick's reveal about his feelings for her.
"Shouldn't you have told me that first before you go telling it to another man?"
"Yes, but I was afraid if I told you first that you would run away."
"Why now? Why when Tom and I are starting to date?"
"If it is serious, I will respect that. I just wanted to let you know that if it doesn't work out with Demming, I am here for you."
"Castle, it is not that serious. Tom and I do like each other and have been on dates. Still I have already said to you that I like you pulling my pigtails, that has not changed. Tom has told me I could see other men. That is on mutual agreement. But if I want to get serious with him and I wanted to be exclusive, Tom would agree to that. He has told me that he is not seeing other women."
"So what did you tell him about you seeing other men?"
"I told him let's just keep it an open friendship for now, no serious commitments yet."
"So if I asked you out on a date, you would not think of me as encroaching?"
"When and where, Castle?"
"Forbidden Planet is showing tomorrow at the Angelique. I thought maybe a quick bite to eat at the Dinner Wagon followed by popcorn, red vines, M&M's, with soda, as we watch the movie."
"Sounds like fun, pick me up at my place?"
"Or, if we work late, straight to the snack truck and then the movie."
The Movie Date
They had worked late that next evening. Around 7PM, Capt Montgomery told all them to go home when 8PM rolled along. The movie was the 9PM show, that allowed Castle and Kate time to catch a light dinner at the Snack Wagon. They both had mac&cheese and a hot roll with lots of butter, washed down with a beer each. Then they headed to the show and Castle bought them the big bucket of pop corn with the gigantic soda and two straws to share, then red vines for himself, M&M's for Kate.
When it was over, they walked to Kate's apartment and there Rick saw Kate to her door.
"I'd ask you in for a nightcap, but we got the case to work tomorrow."
"That's fine Kate. I wasn't expecting it." He then entered Kate's personal space and gave her a sweet but innocent kiss to her lips, then told her, "I had a great evening and want to do this again."
"Ditto for me Castle. Good Night."
"Till Tomorrow."
Kate had one of the best sleeps she had not had in a long time. She woke feeling refreshed and excited to see Castle at the Precinct.