Chapter Four
Rainy
Season Two
Castle looks miserable.
He apparently hadn't seen or heard the weather forecast, so while Kate - and the other officers - had been prepared for rain, he's huddled under a nearby awning as they process the murder scene.
Unis are canvassing the area for witnesses, a task that Castle had almost helped with. She'd seen the temptation flick over his face before he'd declined the invitation, stating that he would be a better asset if he stayed at the scene.
Kate is grateful for that; he does often see things that she and the others miss, or will remember something from the scene later in the investigation. After a few minutes of watching him from the corner of her eye, though, she wishes that she'd insisted he go with the unis. At least he'd be inside.
"I don't think we can do much more here," Ryan tells her, motioning to the crime scene techs. "They aren't sure how much they'll get thanks to the rain, and we're just in the way."
Kate nods, her eyes sweeping over the alley once more. "Yeah, you're right. Let's head back to the precinct and start piecing together her life."
"Right. See you there."
"Oh, hey." She stops Ryan with a hand on his forearm. "I think Castle and I will stop for coffee. I feel bad that he's drenched and freezing." Ryan's lips lift into a wide grin, but she ignores it. "Do you or Espo want anything?"
"Nah, we're good. Thanks."
"You ready to go, Castle?" she calls out to her shadow.
Castle pushes off the wall, and for a moment Kate wonders if he'd fallen asleep. But he just pulls his hands out from his pockets and blows on them, rubs them together. "Yeah, where are we going?"
"Precinct. But first I'm going to buy you a coffee to warm you up."
Castle falls into step with her, something that does not surprise her one bit. "I can think of other ways you can help me warm up, Detective," he teases.
Kate rolls her eyes, but can't hide her smile. They have to walk a couple blocks to her car, and she hesitates for half a block before stepping close to Castle's side. Despite their movement he's still shivering, and she feels bad.
"Here," she says, holding the umbrella towards him. "If you hold it, I'll let you share."
Castle smiles at her. "Thanks, Beckett."
She tells herself it's innocent, just two friends walking under the same cover, but it also feels like a step. A step towards what, she doesn't know. But his solid frame mere inches from her, and their steps in perfect sync, tell her that it may be towards something both terrifying and exciting.
Suddenly she doesn't mind him crowding her space.