Castle and Beckett hesitantly step off the elevator, and begin walking towards their seemingly reconciled friends. Seeing their looks of confusion, it is Espo who breaks the silence, "Yo, look at these two, bro" he says, nudging Ryan and looking to Castle and Beckett's hands which are nearly touching. Now Ryan finishes his sentence, "Yeah, first they're holding hands in the middle of the precinct and now this?"
Castle and Beckett both get shocked looks on their faces and reply in unison, "What?". Esposito laughs and says, "It really is so cute when you two do that. And what do you think we are, blind? Seriously what's going on with you two?"
This time it is Beckett who composes herself enough to respond, biting her lip to hold back a smile, "Us? What about you two? When I left you guys didn't seem to be on great terms…".
"Yeah," Castle chimes in, "I heard your bromance was on the rocks last night"
Esposito laughs as he responds, "Ryan cornered me in the elevator last night, and we … talked it out"
"Talked it out?" Ryan replied with a grin, "More like hugged it out, Javi" nudging him in the ribs with his elbow.
"Yo, bro, that isn't very manly. Talked it out. Not-," he gets a disgusted look on his face, "hugged it out. After all they're not telling us everything, so why should we?" The boys turn toward them, simultaneously crossing their arms and glaring back and forth between the guilty-looking pair.
Castle decides to change the subject by embracing Ryan, and thanking him for doing the right thing the night before. Beckett moves in to hug Esposito in unison, pleased that her friends seem happy again. "Thank you guys, both of you. You both had my back last night, in your own way. And I couldn't be more grateful to you two".
Castle continues, with a slight look of regret in his eyes, "Yeah, Ryan I'm sorry I missed your call last night. And I'm sorry I wasn't there last night. Thank you guys for having my partner's back -" he flashes Beckett a smile and resists the urge to hold her hand, "If I couldn't be there, I couldn't imagine two better people to save her life."
After a few more hugs and a little small talk, Beckett asks the boys to brief her on what has happened to Maddox. Both are suspicious that it took her so long to ask about him, after how determined she had been the previous day to find him. Even near-death experiences have never really stopped Beckett from chasing down bad guys in the past. Especially if it involved her mom's case. Yet something was different today. She seemed happier. And something told them it had something to do with the ruggedly handsome crime novelist standing in front of them. After all, he had been off the team yesterday, and now they were showing up together merely a half hour after Ryan's call.
Nonetheless, they explain to the pair that Maddox's body had been found in the rental car they had traced the day before. His body had some severe bruising, but the COD was a bullet through the heart. Ironic. Beckett thought to herself as she heard the news. Judging by the lack of blood at the scene, it appeared the body had been dumped. CSU was still checking for any DNA evidence that may identify the killer. They all continued discussing the case, Castle periodically glancing over to make sure Beckett was doing ok. They both couldn't help but notice Ryan and Espo giving them suspicious glances every time they engaged in conversation. Then when Gates called Beckett and Esposito into her office, Castle swore he saw Ryan snap a photo of him watching Beckett as she walked away. Strange.
Esposito came out of the office first, explaining Gates had lifted his suspension because she wanted him back on the case. But she made him promise there would be no more funny business. Castle became suspicious as Ryan and Espo walked into the break room, and closed the blinds. When they returned, they got into the elevator, and just left. What the hell is going on here Castle thought to himself. But he was interrupted as he saw Beckett walking out of the captain's office. After asking what happened, she explained that her resignation was not accepted and that Gates was giving her until tomorrow morning to decide whether or not she could handle being on this case. Beckett had agreed to consider under one condition, that her partner could come back as well. Gates, finally beginning to realize that this unorthodox partnership works well for her, and maybe he may keep her out of trouble, agrees, with little hesitation. Castle and Beckett agree to discuss this when they get home from the precinct tonight.
Just then Ryan and Esposito return, Espo carrying a thick case file. After Beckett explains what has happened and says they are going to head out for the night, Esposito stops her, "Not so fast, Beckett. You two are gonna want to see this…" Esposito lays the case file on the table in front of them, and both Castle and Beckett's jaws drop, in shock….
Sorry it took so long for an update! It's been really crazy because my birthday is coming up tomorrow and I have a lot of stuff going on! I really hope you like where this is going and reviews are appreciated~! Thanks!