FIXT No. FIVE

An Au story revisiting that particular conversation that Castle had with Tom Demming late in season two.

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Richard Castle sat at a table in the 12th precinct's break room playing with a cold cup of coffee. He was not it a good mood. They were involved in a murder that seemed more complicated than it should have been. And to top it off, Kate decided that since there was a robbery component to the case, that she'd invite that robbery detective friend of Esposito's to join the team for the case.

Castle couldn't' care less whether or not the guy was a good detective or not. It seemed that he was just here to annoy Castle and contradict any ideas that Rick put forth.

Castle was convinced that the murder should be the primary focus of the investigation and the robbery was just, at best, a cover up, while Detective Robbery felt that the theft was the real goal and the murder was just fallout from the burglary.

The biggest problem was that he and Kate were experiencing a certain amount of uncertainty between them. It began when he let himself be fooled by a desperate actress. She thought that if she slept with the man who wrote the books, that he'd use his influence to get her the part of Nikki Heat in the movie that was being considered.

Turned out, that she got fooled also. The movie was shelved for the time being. Considering how much trouble the head of the studio caused, he'd be surprised if anyone would suggest trying to make the movie anytime soon.

Because he slept with the desperate starlet and hadn't allowed himself to realize the real reason she was coming on to him, to say Kate was disappointed in him would be underselling it. Rick liked to believe that there was a part of Beckett that was hurt by his stupid return to his old ways.

Was it wrong of him to hope that Beckett just might have been a touch jealous?

It seemed that Kate had taken a liking to the tall, beige, and okay looking Tom Demming from Robbery. From what Castle could observe, he certainly seemed interested in her. What should he do?

He couldn't exactly tell the guy to buzz off. It's not like he had any real claim on the lovely detective. Outside of being her partner for two years and her friend. She was an unattached woman who could decide for herself who she wanted to spend time with.

One thing was sure, she didn't appreciate the sniping he and Demming engaged in when discussing the case. But it was just so frustrating how Demming had decided that Castle didn't bring any worthwhile insights into the case, even though he'd been on Beckett's team for nearly two years. Castle was just a writer who was 'playing at being a cop'. He wasn't really one.

Castle was just about to toss his cup away and go back out into the bullpen and see about the latest batch of contradicting information they had received recently when Tom Demming came in and sat down next to him.

He looked a touch uncomfortable which surprised Castle.

"Say, Castle, can I ask you something?"

Rick paused and looked in the anxious man's eyes for several moments. "Sure, what's up?"

"I was wondering if there was anything between you and Kate."

Castle knew exactly what Demming wanted to know but he wasn't going to make it that easy for the obnoxious detective. After all, he really didn't like the puffed up robbery cop.

Castle frowned at the man. "What are you fishing for? We are partners and friends, what else are you asking me?"

Demming ducked his head for a moment. "You know, are you and Kate… dating?"

Castle had to work hard to keep his lips from breaking out in a smile. He wasn't surprised that Demming was asking, no on second thought he was surprised. He had pegged Tom as someone who would just make his move and not even worry if there was someone else.

Castle knew he had to play this just right. He didn't want to be the one to wave the starter's flag in front of the eager fellow, but he knew he certainly couldn't come out and lie about his relationship with Kate. She might shoot him. He had to tread carefully.

"Are Detective Beckett and I dating. That's a difficult question to answer."

Demming shook his head. "How is that a difficult question to answer? It's either yes or no?"

Castle chuckled. "It really isn't that easy." Castle leaned in closer to Demming. "You are aware of the regulations against partners dating aren't you?"

Tom nodded. "Yeah, but I wasn't sure if they would apply to you since you don't actually work here."

Castle held up his finger to stop anything more Demming might say. "Ah, that's where you are mistaken. I absolutely do work here, just like any other member of this team. I just don't get paid for it."

"But that's not what I was saying."

Castle nodded as he leaned back in his chair. "Let's assume, for whatever reason, whether it be now or in the future, that I don't want to test whether my unique situation would be subject to such a regulation. So if I wasn't involved with Detective Beckett and somebody asked me if we were dating I'd say no. But if I was involved with Detective Beckett and somebody asked me that question I'd have to say no also because I wouldn't want to possibly jeopardize our relationship because of regulations."

Demming looked completely frustrated. "So, I gather from your circular response, that you aren't going to answer my question."

Castle spread his hands out. "As to the question of whether or not Detective Beckett and I are together outside of work. I can neither confirm nor deny. Or if you prefer… no comment."

Demming stood up, shaking his head and giving Castle a sour look. "Fine, don't tell me. I'll just ask Kate the next chance I get." He stalked off in a huff. Castle smiled.

Demming hadn't been gone more than two minutes when Kate came in and noticing Castle sitting over at a table came over and sat next to him.

"Hey," she said as she settled into her chair. "Wasn't that Tom who I saw sitting next to you a few minutes ago?" Castle just nodded. Kate chuckled. "That surprises me. I didn't think he'd want to make any small talk with you, or you him."

Castle turned toward Beckett. "He had a question he wanted to ask me?"

Kate's brow furrowed and her eyelids lowered a bit. "What question?"

"It was between us guys, Beckett. I don't think I should share it with you."

She glared at him. "What question."

Castle shrugged. "He just wanted to know if we were together… outside of work."

Kate groaned. "I'm afraid to ask but what did you tell him?"

Castle smiled. "I was honest with him. I told him no comment."

Kate rolled her eyes. "I can just imagine how you told him that too. I'm sure there were no ambiguous statements, or subtle inferences on what you said to him."

Castle spread his hands. "What can I say? If he got the wrong message, is that my fault?"

Beckett shook her head. "Oh, I'm sure he got the message. At least the message you wanted him to get."

Castle was a bit surprised the Kate didn't seem angry that he'd played with Demming's mind and might have intimated something that wasn't the truth. "What can I say?"

Kate chuckled a little. "Oh, I'm sure you said enough."

Rick was suddenly contrite. He knew that Demming had an interest in Kate, but he didn't consider that she might be interested in Tom. They did seem to work well together, and she did smile for him. But, she didn't seem all that upset either.

"If I messed up something that you want to explore, I'm sorry. I'll go and straighten him out right now if you want me to."

Kate shook her head. "No, it's alright. Yesterday I might have been mad at you for what you did, but since then I've found out a little about our Detective from Robbery." She noticed Castle's interested look. "I knew that Tom seemed interested in me, and I wasn't all that against the idea. So I called a friend in Robbery and asked about our borrowed Detective Demming."

Castle grinned. "Oh, any interesting tidbits?"

Kate shifted in her seat and looked Castle in the eyes. "It seems that Tom Demming has a bit of a reputation as a lothario."

Castle gasped sarcastically. "No! Who would have thought?"

Kate gave Rick a smile. "I'm guessing you did. And that's why you gave him the runaround."

"I wish I'd been that noble. The truth was, I simply didn't want him to take our time together away from me."

Kate glared, but not too hard. "Shouldn't that me my decision?"

Castle was properly chastised. "Absolutely it should. But lately it's felt like you were pulling away. Not that we were some kind of item. But even our friendship seemed to be in question. When Demming came in it was like you and the boys were trying to replace me, or just push me out."

She reached over and grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry if you got that vibe. I never meant for you to feel like Tom was replacing you." She rolled her eyes and grinned. "Nobody can replace Richard Castle."

He nodded. "So true."

She patted his hand. "So what can I do to help repair your bruised self-esteem?"

Castle scrunched up his face to show that he was thinking hard. "Let me ask you this? Do you have any plans for this upcoming three day Memorial weekend? Do you even have it off?"

"Yes, believe it or not I do have the whole three day weekend off. But I don't have any real plans. I know that my dad is going up to the cabin. I thought I might break out my bike and go up for a day." She raised a brow. "Why, what do you have in mind?"

"Well, that's always the weekend I go up to the Hampton's to open up the beach house and get everything ready for the coming summer season. It would be just you and me. You'd love the place. There's plenty of room, and a sandy beach, and if it's too cold for the ocean we have a heated pool also."

"What about Alexis and Martha. Wouldn't they object to me being there on their first weekend of the season?"

Castle shook his head. "No, they never come up on the first weekend. They want to wait until I have everything all opened up and ship shape before they come up."

"Ah, I see. You just want me to come up and help you do all the work."

Castle chuckled. "Oh course, I'll take all the help I can get." They both laughed. "But truthfully, there isn't a lot to do. Take a few things out of storage, get some groceries, and make sure all the gas and electric services are turned on."

Kate shook her head slowly. "I don't know Castle. I think you might just want me there so you can see me in a bikini."

"Of course I would, but that would be just be a bonus of your being there." Castle reached over and took her hand this time. "The truth is, it isn't much work to get everything ready for the summer. I wind up doing a lot of reading and moping around. It would be great to have someone else there who could be there and do nothing with me."

"You could always write."

"Shush, one of Gina's spies might hear you."

"I don't know Castle, you paint such an enticing picture…"

He reached out and grabbed her other hand too. "Come on, Kate, please. It's always kind of boring by myself. It would be great so have someone there to talk to, lay in the sun with, swim, eat, and if we want we could even go into town to a nice restaurant or club for an evening." He had a big grin on his face. "Come on, what do you say?"

Kate sat and played at thinking real hard for several moments. She fought back a smile as she saw Castles nervousness grow. Finally she reached over and patted his cheek.

"Okay, I'd actually love to go. I've been anxious to see this mystical Avalon ever since we came across that damn faked photo album."

He just grinned.

Fin.

A/N: This was just one of those thoughts I had to get out because they tend to get lonely. For any who might want to see the trip to the Hampton's I think it would be much like was shown in the "Enough" series.

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