Takes place immediately post 3X05: Anatomy of a Murder. Lots of spoilers for that episode.
Before writing the third chapter of this fic, I was waiting for the next episode of the show to air so I could build on the Josh thing. Surprisingly to me, there was really no mention of him aside from what was in the preview!
But, also surprisingly, there was a couple of really good scenes, very well played by the actors to let you know what they're thinking merely by the expressions on their faces. In this chapter, I'll try to expand on those 'meaningful looks'. I hope I can do a good job.
Thanks to all of those who have read and reviewed so far...I love reading the reviews and they really make me want to write more, so please review and let me know what you think! (But, please do be gentle!)
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Kate had a few minutes to just sit and catch her breath while she waited for some phone calls to be returned. Castle had taken off with Ryan to look at a long forgotten sandwich in the fourth floor breakroom fridge that reportedly was growing mold in such a way that it looked like Lady GaGa. Esposito was at his desk, but he was engrossed in catching up on his paperwork.
She leaned over her desk and rested her chin on her folded hands. She wondered what kind of strange karma it was that they snagged a case involving lovers separated by unfortunate timing and circumstances. No, she and Castle weren't lovers. Not even close. But she could really relate to the unfortunate timing aspect of it. And who knows what would have happened on the 'lover' front all of those months ago if the timing hadn't been so unfortunate? In a way, it was really strange thinking about that time now, and in those terms, especially with all that's happened since then. But when they started reading those letters, and talking about the relationship between Amy and Greg, she got a little carried away with the obvious love they felt, because it really was touching. They never gave up on each other, and that was really sweet.
But she's dating Josh now, and Castle is involved with Gina again. Still, that didn't seem to factor into her thought process when they started reading the letters aloud to each other. Then came that one line that Castle read, and somehow, for a split second, it stopped being Greg's letter, and it seemed, for that split second, like the words Castle was speaking were going right to her, from him.
"I don't believe in much, but I believe in us. No matter the obstacles, no matter how hard you try, you won't get rid of me. I love you."
He looked at her as he was reading it, and they could both see the point at which the other really, truly realized what was just said. Castle got a deer-in-the-headlights, oh-shit-did-I-just-say-that type of look and quickly turned away. Kate had to admit that even though she was so not ready for any grand declarations, nor would she have even believed them, she felt a twinge of disappointment when he very quickly declared that "You're right. These are...worthless." She was feeling a tinge sentimental after reading the letters, and it stung a bit to hear him dismiss their feelings so abruptly, using the word 'worthless.' She was disappointed. But she recovered quickly, as she always did, and they even went on to find the Burgeropolis angle. And even though they quicky dismissed it, she thought enough of the idea to stake it out, and it paid off nicely. Once again, one of Castle's strange ideas came through to help break the case. She shook her head and smiled to herself.
She had to admit that it felt good to see Amy and Greg together, even though they were handcuffed to opposite ends of the holding room bench. She was glad she'd taken Castle's suggestion and pulled up Amy's case. Anyone could see the inconsistencies, and it was a good be that they'd be able to get the case reopened. The fact that they had survived three years apart, and had gone to this extreme to be together again was a testament to their committment, if she admitted it, actually tugged at her heartstrings a little bit, especially after reading their letters. It felt good to do something positive for this couple, and for some reason, it felt really good to her to be able to collaborate with Castle on that good deed.
Listening to Castle and Esposito talk later was kind of funny. Castle looked so crushed and betrayed when Espo told him that he wouldn't help Castle break out of the hypothetical prison. The look on his face was comical, like a boy who had his favorite Star Wars toy broken by the bully. She even felt kind of sorry for him. What confused her was right afterwards, when she made the flip comment of not to worry, she would get him out. She was walking away, and thought he would follow her, as he usually did, but she had to turn around when she realized he wasn't next to her as he usually was. And the look on his face gave her a moment of pause. It seemed...incredulous, as if he couldn't believe what she said. Almost reverent, as if she had just told him that he'd won the Nobel Prize for mystery fiction or something like that. She really did not know what was up with that look; it was just a flip little comment, but it obviously had some huge effect on him. He seemed really shaken up by it. Of course, as soon as she asked, he trotted after her like he always did.
But she had to admit that she wondered about the look later, after he had gone home, when she was left to tie up a few loose ends. Instead of tying up those loose ends, or calling Josh to see if he had any plans, she took some time to just think about this case. It was weird how they had formed a theory about Greg, about how he was a womanizer, playing the field, befriending all of these highly successful and accomplished women so that he had them eating out of his hand. He was good with the ladies, a lot like a certain mystery writer that she knew. But when it came right down to it, when they had dug a little deeper, they found that good old Greg wasn't the womanizer that they thought he was. Not in the least. He merely portrayed an image of the attentive, suave womanizer, but in reality he cultivated platonic, friendly relationships with those women, but only so they could help him achieve his ultimate goal of helping his one true love: Amy. For just a moment, for a split second, Kate gave a fleeting thought to the idea that maybe Castle was more like Greg; maybe he didn't play the field nearly as much as he bragged about. Maybe it WAS a lot of bluster and talk, and that's all it was. And before she pushed it away into the 'feelings that are too complicated to deal with now' section of her heart, she found that she was a little bit warmed and touched by that idea. Even though she would never admit it to anyone, least of all herself.
She'd seen a new side to Castle on this case, and really, she'd seen a new side to herself. If not for him, she may not have gone the extra mile to check into Amy's old case file. And she was so glad that she did...it was a good feeling. Even though Amy's case actually had nothing to do with the murder, Kate had solved two cases with Castle's help. And the best part was, once again, how they played off each other and complement each other so well to ultimately find the solution. She didn't know why, but she even seemed to work with him better now than she did before he left last summer. You'd think there would be more tension considering how things were left, at least on her part, but strangely, it wasn't the case. He made things fun again. She didn't know what it was, but there was just something about Castle...
Sometimes, she wondered if she'd ever find out what that 'something' was. But until then, she had to admit that she enjoyed having him back and enjoyed having him help her out and inject his unique brand of wit and creative thinking into her work. Because it was work, that's all it was, but work could still be enjoyable, right? No personal stuff. Right. Exactly. And while she was effective at solving cases at work and was having fun, then she wasn't going to mess with it. Don't fix what ain't broken, right?