De Finibus

Author's Note: I was inspired yet again by the wonderful Polly Lynn on Tumblr after reading her recent post-5x06 fic. Had to write one of my own. Was even inspired to watch the episode.

The Nebula 9 marathon wasn't as agonizing as he anticipated. Observing her watching a favorite show from her youth was enthralling. This layer of the Beckett onion peeled back even more. He barely had chances to make any snarky or sarcastic comments because she wouldn't shut up. She – his partner whom usually doesn't ramble on and on about everything like he does – had trouble staying quiet. She was so caught up in the action and telling him, "This is when this happens," and "This is when that happens." Seeing her so excited over such a dorky lame sci-fi series tugged at his heartstrings. The times she did shut up – the times she had to be quiet because it was an important monologue or a favorite moment – he didn't have the nerve to interrupt. He listened, but his eyes were on her, gazing at her engrossed form. He hardly recognized the woman beside him.

"What did you think," she asked after showing him half the series.

"You know, not as bad as I thought," he answered with a smile and adoring eyes.

"See? All you had to do was give it a fair chance," she said, kissing his cheek. "I'm surprised you were so quiet," she quipped as she stood to return the DVD to its case. His eyebrows rose. Did she seriously not know how talkative she was?

When she turned back to him, she wore a smirk. "I think you've earned that Nebula 9 cosplay."

He certainly did not expect the hideous Creaver mask. That freaked him out. His first instinct was to run and hide. There was no mention of a Creaver mask, and after all her talk of Lieutenant Chloe being her idol, he never once imagined she owned a Creaver mask. But of course she did. She was a mega-fan. And she used it against him. He may have deserved it after making fun of her beloved show during their murder case.

When he finally cautiously returned, the mask was gone, nowhere to be seen, and he could focus on her long stunning legs again as she posed in front of him using her hands as a blaster. The heels did it for him too.

"It's gone," he questioned to be sure.

"I destroyed the Creaver. It's gone," she replied.

"That was a mean trick, Lieutenant."

She grinned, having enjoyed torturing him, and he couldn't stay angry with her. She looked incredible as Lieutenant Chloe. The costume hugged her body just right. Her legs seemed to travel for miles. The heels gave him the strange yearning for her to walk on him. Her makeup and up-do hair completed the look, and he was right. His dreams did come true.

Now she still wears the costume, but the heels have come off and her up-do is a mess. She lies on his bed sated and recovering from his erotic abilities. He sits beside her naked, legs stretched out and head propped against the pillows. His mouth is worn out from the pleasure he gave her. He's thrilled she allowed him to do that with her costume on. He's surprised she kept it on this long. It seemed she wanted it on for their carnal connection. He wonders if she always had a secret desire to wear it during sex. He can't help but wear a smug grin. He's the one who fucked her while she wore that costume. She bends a knee, and he can't control his eyes roving over her thigh. It's still affecting him.

Her entire Nebula 9 geekdom is still affecting him. Her face as she entered the bridge and the way she sat like a starship captain in the chair. Every time she defended the show and explained what it stood for. He imagined a young version of Kate Beckett venturing out into the world to find herself and idolizing Lieutenant Chloe, who made her believe she could be anything she set her mind to. He always saw her as that extraordinary woman who can do anything. He hadn't given Nebula 9 much credit, but he is grateful for its help in his partner finding her way. And may fortune guide her journey, he thinks to himself.

He glances over to her face and sees her smirking. She catches his gaze and says, "We should get you a costume." Her eyes rake over his body. "You would look good in a Nebula 9 uniform."

"Only if I get to be captain," he retorts.

"Deal." She smiles. It's not about the position. She takes a deep breath and sits up to un-do her mangled hair.

"The hair was a nice touch," he comments.

"Wanted to be authentic," she states.

"Mm, words cannot describe what you were," he murmurs with a hand teasing the skin of her inner thigh. "Besides sexy."

She's grinning as she drawls out his name: "Caaasstlllle."

"Whaaat?" His fingers play with the hem of the costume.

"My body can't handle more…yet."

"That is a shame. Because if we're the last chance for humanity, then we need to do everything we can to re-populate while fighting off the Creavers."

She laughs, secretly loving that he's still playing along. "So we copulate while battling Creavers at the same time?"

"Probably more like one and then the other," he clarifies.

"I see." Her hand drags his off of her, holding it between them with light caresses.

"Speaking of Creavers, where did you put the mask?"

"Under your bed." No big deal to her.

He panics. "Under my…? Beckett! Now I'll have nightmares. What if it tries to eat my face off in the middle of the night?"

"Castle, it's just a mask." She finds it hard to believe she has to tell him that.

"An extremely real looking mask," he points out.

She pats his shoulder. "Lieutenant Chloe here will protect you. Don't worry. You shouldn't have any nightmares after seeing me and doing things to me in this." She gestures to her costume.

"You seemed to really like wearing that while we did those things," he suggests with an eyebrow waggle. "Mmhmm" is all she responds with, not giving him a straight answer. He watches her stand and reach for the zipper of her costume. "Oh, what are you…"

"I'm getting tired of wearing it," she explains.

He rolls to his side to watch her intently as she removes her costume. "You know, seeing you strip does things to me."

"Hmm, maybe I should help you with that." She slides the costume down her body, giving him a nice view of her rear. "Ooh," he remarks, feeling arousal at his groin. "But you said…"

"I said I wasn't ready. Doesn't mean I can't do anything for you," she says, giving him a seductive glance over her shoulder.

He moans and eyes her up while she gingerly sets her costume on a chair and struts back to the bed. Climbing on, she reaches for him, stroking him. "So I hear you have a blaster I need to check out."

De finibus is Latin for 'frontier'.