Disclaimer: ABC owns Castle and characters and all that good stuff. I just use them :]
Well, I guess I've been nudged into making this multi-chapter. I thank all of you guys for reviewing! Enjoy! ~L
It had been two weeks since the kiss, and Kate was still afraid to face Castle outside the safety of the precinct. She told him she was unavailable for lunch, dinner, coffee, or meeting to discuss case notes day after day. It hurt her incredibly to see his excited face fall when she made up an excuse, but she knew she still needed time before she could admit to herself that she trusted him enough to let him in.
The day had been extremely trying for Kate, and while she drove home she could feel the tightness of her back. She tried rolling her shoulders but to no avail. She kept rolling the case over and over in her mind, trying to see if she had missed something. Their primary suspect had an airtight alibi and it hadn't helped things much when Castle decided to insert his own comments into the interrogation. What is wrong with him? Does he like the threats she gives him? Kate knew it wouldn't be above him to actually enjoy her threats and she chuckled at the thought of actually acting on them, possibly even to Castle's surprise. She decided that tonight would be her time to think, as well as enjoy her prerelease copy if Naked Heat he had given her.
Upon arrival to her apartment, she shed her coat, shoes, and purse by the door and walked to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of wine and drew her bath. Slipping into the water, her eyes shut in bliss as the heat soothed her muscles and her body was enveloped in warmth. Soon, she was immersed in the latest mystery being solved by Rook and Nikki, and she didn't bother to get her phone when it rang- it was all the way by her front door, besides. She knew she wasn't on call so it had to be Castle, calling to ask her out to dinner or to plead with her about the situation they had been put in after the kiss.
It seemed that only seconds passed before her phone rang once more. Why did people have to be so needy? She knew she didn't have anywhere to be. The phone went to voicemail, but soon after it rang a third time and Kate let out an exasperated sigh.
She climbed out of the bath, not bothering to grab a towel, as she was quite sure she'd be back after taking care of the 12 year old with a cell phone. Walking on the balls of her feet, she made it to the front of her apartment and rummaged through her purse. There were three missed calls from Castle. What the hell is wrong with that man? Did he have separation anxiety?
The phone began to ring in her hand and just as she pressed the answer button her door flew open, revealing her buck-naked to her visitor. Kate squealed and tried to cover herself modestly while trying to see whom the intruder was. She gasped. "Castle?"
He stood in her doorway, mouth agape, phone still pressed to his ear. Kate recovered from her shock and yelled for him to turn around.
Complying, he tried to plead his case. "You weren't answering your phone and I assumed the worst so I headed over here to make sure you were alright," He said, finally putting his phone back in his pocket.
"How did you even get a key?"
"Let's just say your super is quite a fan of my books." Kate couldn't see his face, but she could hear the smug smile in his voice as he dangled a key from his right hand.
Kate sighed in response and he heard her walk away to find some clothing and he grinned to himself for having such impeccable timing.
A few moments later he heard Kate return. "You can turn around, Castle." Kate said, having found her bathrobe. She stood with her hands on her hips and her eyebrow raised. "And you can shut the door."
Castle did so and turned to face a perturbed Beckett. "Really, I thought you had been attacked, you know with the current murderer still on the loose and..." He rambled. Seeing that it didn't appease Kate, he pointed behind him at the now closed door. "Would you... like me to leave?"
Kate's eyebrow fell as she thought. "No," She replied. "We need to go through case notes and now that you're here..."
Castle followed Kate as she led her way into the kitchen. "Would you like anything?" She asked. "I mostly only have wine but I'm sure I could scrounge up a beer if you really want one."
"Wine sounds fantastic, thanks." He replied. As Kate reached up into a cabinet, Castle noticed her robe inched up farther revealing toned and tanned legs. He couldn't help but admire the view and made a point to have wine every time he came to Beckett's place.
Kate felt his eyes and her faced flushed as she realized what he would be looking at. How could she be so stupid? She knew how short her robe was. "Castle!" She snapped. "Stop staring. It's not your property."
She could have sworn he muttered the word 'yet' under his breath, but she decided to let it slide. After pouring his glass and leading him to her couch, she made her way to her room to put on something a bit more appropriate.
Kate made her way back to the living room after she changed to find Castle stretched out on her couch, sipping his wine. The case file still lay closed on the coffee table. Hearing her arrive, Castle sat up and turned to face her. "We really need to talk."
She paused, heart thumping in her ears. He wasn't going to tell her it was off, was he? Dangle the bait only two weeks ago and come now to snap her heart to pieces?
Castle saw Kate swallow hard and gestured for her to come sit next to him. She sat at the opposite end of the couch, knees hugged to her chest. She bit her lip, waiting for him to begin.
"Kate..." He began, the look on her face breaking his heart. "I meant what I said two weeks ago. I've waited, and I will continue to, I just need something, anything. What is going through that gorgeous head of yours?"
Kate stared into his pleading eyes and wet her lips to begin. "You know I can't rush into this. I… I told you I needed my time and I'm just...not ready to commit yet."
An awkward silence descended upon the couple as Rick studied her eyes and she did the same to his. "Is there any way I could expedite this?" His eyes changed and Kate noticed they had begun to sparkle mischievously.
She knew what he was up to, and truth be told, it took all of her strength to keep from giving in. Kate shook her head in response and Rick continued. "You need to let me take you out, then. No more excuses. You said you needed wine-and-dine, but I can't give you what you that if you don't let me near you."
Kate released her knees and sighed. She stood, reaching a hand out to Castle. "No more excuses. I promise. But not a word to anyone at the precinct. You obviously don't-"
"…know how hard it is to be a female detective in New York," Rick finished with a smile.
Kate smiled in return and walked him to her door. "Goodnight, Castle."
He pecked her on the cheek and walked out the door she held open for him. Turning toward her, he winked. "Until tomorrow, Detective."
A/N: You would truly make my day if you reviewed! I would be more than glad to accept any ideas for future chapters or as to if you guys want an actual plot instead of strictly Caskett fluff… I have no idea where this story is going yet or when it is going to end, but I hope it will take on a life of its own and show me where to go!
Once more my fluff beast has been quieted and I hope to have another chapter up in a week. Thank you for reading! :] Have a fantastic day!