A big thankyou to DisneyCastleFriends18 for helping me get back into writing. This story was spawned during a skype session. I shared me screen so we could watch a Castle ep together at the same time and then discuss our thoughts during when the add breaks would have been. A 42 minutes ep took about 2 hours because we kept discussing things we picked up on or question why things happened. It was so much fun and awoke the writing bug. Thanks DCF18
When The Dust Settles
By
Natalie Elizabeth
Beckett sat down on the couch with a sigh. It has been a tough emotional day. When she has answered Castles call and he had spoken to her in a low sexy voice she had been startled and elated.
Tell me you need me.
It caught her off guard. Was he really doing it? Putting her on the spot. Asking her for more. For a brief moment it felt as if she world had stopped. It had stopped again hours later when she heard the explosion.
"Here you go Beckett."
Becket looked at the glass of wine being offered to her.
"I really shouldn't."
She had already consumed two very large non regulation sized glasses that night.
"You're not driving. I know you have tomorrow off."
Beckett looked at the glass then back at Castle. He was right. Not that she would tell him that. Taking the glass, she watched as the man in question came and sat next to her.
"Would you think less of me if I unbuttoned my pants?"
Beckett looked around the room to make sure they were alone, before lifting her shirt and showing her waistband.
"I did it after your mother gave me a second serving of duck l'orange."
"Why Detective," he said with a mischievous grin. "A lady after my own heart."
Castle proceeded to unbutton his pants and let out a sigh.
"That's better. You know you didn't have to say yes to another plate."
Becketts laughed. "Umm, yeah I did. It was amazing."
Castle nodded as he gave another sigh. "It was. I can't believe she left the clean up to us."
"It was a few dishes Castle, and most went into the dishwasher. Besides she had a date to get ready for."
Castle scoffed. "He turned her down for a loan yet."
"He turned me on in other ways," Martha announced with flourish behind them.
Castle and Beckett turned to see the enigma that was Martha Rogers. She had changed from one glamourous outfit for another. Alexis was standing behind her a with a backpack in her hand.
"Well I'm off for my date Kiddo. Alexis is coming with me. I'll drop her at a friend's home on the way."
"Pumpkin?"
"It's okay Dad. I just felt like a girl's night."
"We can do that here,"
"I can leave," Beckett offered starting to get up.
Alexis waved them off. "No, it's fine Beckett. Dad might scream like a little old lady but he's not a girl. I'll see you tomorrow Dad."
"Okay. Call me if you want to come home. No matter what time," he told her.
"Okay. Dad"
"Night kiddo." Martha squeezed her sons' arm. "Good night Katherine. Lovely to see you again. Next time lets do it without an explosion." She then leaned forward and gave the detective another hug.
Beckett smiled. "Sounds good Martha."
The two redheads left leaving Castle and Beckett on their own.
"So. What a day," Castle told her.
"Yeah it was. Don't ever scare me like that Castle." Beckett closed her eyes and tried to erase the day from her mind.
Castle scoffed at her. "Me, scare you. Whose bright idea was it to let you into the bank?"
Beckett opened her eyes. "Umm mine. It was a great idea. I got to be the eyes on the inside. I also got to see that you were okay."
"You also put yourself in the line of fire. What if he had recognized your voice?"
"The phone makes your voice sound different and I didn't say much when I was in there." Okay so he was right about that. Frankly she was surprised they even let her go in.
"Still it wasn't safe. When you walked in, I was both startled and elated."
Becketts eyebrows rose. Those were the exact words she had thought earlier. Was it the result of them spending so much time together?
"You and Martha were in there, Castle. I had to try something."
Castle sighed. "I know. I probably would have done the same thing if I could." Well he wouldn't have been able to, but he sure would have tried.
"If he realized who you were though. You could have become a hostage too. He kept riling you up by threatening me."
"What do you mean?"
"Well after you left and you spoke to him again on the phone, he called me your boyfriend and almost shot me."
"I'm sorry Castle. I don't exactly have hostage negotiation training. I was acting on instinct and fear. When I heard that shot," she placed a hand on his arm.
"I know. I released you would have heard it. I was worried he would tell you I was dead."
"I thought you were for a second."
Castle nodded. "It was a warning shot but it was to close for comfort. He did it to provoke you. When he got off the phone, he told me my girlfriend was a hellcat. I told him you weren't my girlfriend."
Beckett frowned. Of all the things to bring up during a hostage situation. Was the idea of her being his girlfriend so horrible? "Why would you tell him that?"
"Leverage and survival. If he did something to me or threatened me then you would do as he asked. Telling him we weren't couple made it seem like it wouldn't matter if something happened to me. He couldn't use me against you."
"Well that is the stupidest thing I have ever head you say Castle and you have said a lot of stupid things. Of course, you matter. I told him if anything happened to you, I would come in there and put a bullet in his skull."
"That is sweet and oddly disturbing."
Beckett rolled her eyes. "Come on Castle. You know you matter right?"
"Well yeah. I mean I didn't realize I was bullet to the skull worthy but I know you care."
"Care? Castle I … When the bank exploded, I was out of the van so fast. I saw the dust and debris everywhere. Castle I was so scared I thought you had died I…" Beckett took a few deep breaths. Oh shit she wasn't doing this. This wasn't happening.
"Hey it's okay," Castle told her as he leaned forward to take the wine from her hand. He then placed both glasses on the coffee table before turning his body towards her put a reassuring hand on her knee.
"I'm okay," he told her.
Beckett nodded as she controlled her breathing. She just needed to let the fear sit with her while knowing she was safe.
"I know but for about three minutes you weren't. The explosion was deafening but I felt it Castle. I still feel it now right here," she told him as she put a hand to her chest. She rubbed hand over the spot. "I can still feel it."
"Its okay. We are safe now."
Beckett shook her head. "They wouldn't let me into the bank straight away because they said it wasn't safe. I stood there staring at the dust for a few seconds before I sprinted to the barricade. They had to hold me back and I was probably making a scene yelling but I had to get to you. It seemed like forever before they gave the all clear to enter. They told me to hold back but I didn't listen. It wasn't until I heard you call my name that I started to breathe again."
"I thought I had imagined your voice. You called out my name but I didn't believe you were real. You called out again and I realized I was alive. That we were all alive".
Beckett's heart continued to race as the memory of entering the bank and seeing him alive, "I couldn't believe it. You were alive and unhurt. I just kept looking over you as if I were Superman with X ray vision trying to find a hidden injury. For a moment the rest of the world just disappeared."
"Until my mother interrupted."
Beckett laughed. "Well she certainly zapped me back to reality."
"Which is unusual considering my mother doesn't live in the real world."
Beckett nodded. Martha certainly seemed to have a whimsical life. Right now that sounded wonderful.
"Today was to close Castle. I nearly lost you and I... I don't ever want to feel like that again."
"Beckett you're a cop. You're in danger a lot. That means sometimes I am too."
"No Castle that's not what I mean. Today I thought I lost something that I never really had. I don't want to go through my life not knowing."
"I don't understand. Not knowing what?"
Beckett took a deep breath. This was it. She had to do it. Life was too short.
"Knowing what its like for you to hold me and it not be because we were stuck in a freezer. To kiss you and for it not be because we are trying to save Ryan and Esposito. To love you, and for you to know it."
Castle gasped. "Kate."
"I know I said I needed time and I'm not mentally where I wanted to be when I started something with you. But if you will take me as I am then…."
Castle inched forward and grabbed her hand. "Oh Kate. I love you just the way you are. But if you're not ready it's okay. I'll wait,"
"But life wont. I won't. If you still want me," she added nervously.
"Of course, I still want you. I just want to make sure you really want this. Not because you are in shock still."
Beckett nodded. She understood. People did weird things when they were in shock. "I want to be with you Castle, I have for a while. This was just my wake-up call to do something about it."
"Okay. You're sure."
Beckett nodded.
"Really, really sure."
"Yes," she told him exasperated.
Castle got off the couch and started pacing. He hands started moving and his face started twitching as if he was talking but words weren't coming out of his mouth.
"Castle!"
He turned to her and smiled.
"Okay so we are off tomorrow."
"Technically you don't work," she told him.
"You're off tomorrow," he amended. "Let's go on a date."
"A date?" Beckett asked confused. Well it made sense if they were going to date then they needed to go on a date.
"Yes,"
"Okay."
"Yeah? Really?"
Beckett laughed at how shocked he sounded. "Yes Castle. Let's do this. Let's go on a date. Nothing over the top. Just you, me and maybe a meal."
"Me over the top?" he asked a hand to his chest dramatically.
Beckett stood up and walked over to him. She lightly pushed him away. "No never. I'm serious though. Something simple."
"Okay. I can do simple."
"Sure, you can?"
"I promise,"
Beckett nodded. It would probably still be extravagant but she didn't care. She was actually going on a date with Rick.
"It's been a rough day Castle,"
"Is that my cue to call you a cab?"
"No, it's your cue to give me a hug. Or is that only reserved for being stuck in a freezer or deactivating bombs?'
"Oh. No no. Come here."
He took a few steps towards her and opened his arms. She easily folded into them. He held on tight and she felt his lips touch her head in what she hoped was a kiss.
"Can I stay tonight?" she asked.
He pulled back slightly and looked t her. "Why Detective Beckett and we haven't even had our first date."
She rolled her eyes. "To sleep Castle,"
He grinned at her. "Oh, I know exactly what you mean."
"Castle,"
"Of course, my dear. You take my bed when you are ready and I'll sleep on the couch in my office."
Beckett bit her lip. "Castle. I meant with you."
He frowned at her. "I thought you just said."
"I just want to sleep with you close Castle. To know that your safe."
Castle smiled and she felt all her stress just melt away.
"I think we can arrange that," he then proceeded to yawn in her face. "Oh. I am sorry. I guess I am more tired than I thought. Getting blown up really takes a lot out of you."
"Yep. Been there, done that, bought the t shirt."
"Don't remind me. Although I did get to see you naked so it was a bit of a bonus for me."
Beckett gave him a slap. "Remind me why I agreed to go on a date with you again."
"Because you love me."
Sher couldn't help the grin that broke out on her face. Yes. Yes she did. She tiled her face up and placed a very quick gentle kiss on his lips.
"It's still early even though I'm tired. You want to watch a movie on the couch. You're staying so it wont matter if we fall asleep."
Beckett nodded. She could do with something mindless to get her mind off of today's events. "Something light."
"Sure,"
She watched as he fused around getting a movie set up for them as she got herself situated back on the couch.
The day started out very different to how it was ending. A boring day of paperwork to falling asleep on her boyfriend's couch. Life was so unpredictable but she knew if she had Castle by her side, she could handle anything.
The end.