Chapter six is finally done! There's not as much conversation because there wasn't a whole lot to say. I decided to take a little turn from the banter but I promise it will be back for the next chapter! Ryan and Esposito will be in it, with small parts from Lanie and Montgomery. Enjoy and please review! :)

It might be a few days until chapter seven is done. With the ending of this installment, I want to get the tone and banter just right for the next chapter. It has more characters in it so it's a little more difficult to write. I'm studying for tests (again) and sadly University takes precedence over this. I'll try to finish ASAP, but it might be a while. So I apologize in advance. And while you're waiting for the next chapter, can the hard core Castle fans spot the quote from Nikki Heat?


Kate stood there looking from Castle to the empty seat, to the blanket he was already under, and then back to Castle. She walked towards the couch, lifted the blanket and got comfortable.

"This is my side, and this is your side. Stay on your side!" She glared at him indicating he had better not try any funny business.

"Relax Beckett, I dont bite. Well, unless –"

"Castle!" She hit him.

"Ouch! Fine, I'll be good."

"Good." She said, and that was Castle's cue to hit play.

Twenty-five minutes into the movie, Kate was rather enjoying the movie and pleasantly surprised that Castle had not tried to move over, steal the blanket or try any other tricks. Castle however, was not paying any attention to the movie whatsoever. He was running numerous scenarios though his head as to how to move closer to Kate. He didn't want to do anything rash which would cause her to leave. But he couldn't just sit next to her on a couch, under a blanket and keep to himself. After another ten minutes of having a conversation with himself, trying to predict what Kate would do, he had decided on a plan of action.

He stood up and paused the movie. "I'm going to get a glass of water, do you want anything?"

"No, I'm good thanks."

"Alright. And what about you mother?"

"Wine please."

"Besides that."

"Well then no." She mumbled under her breath and shifted on the couch.

Castle walked to the kitchen and poured himself some water. The whole time he thought that Kate would surely kill him. He was so nervous that when he started heading back towards the couch he almost dropped his glass. As he got closer, he was giving himself a pep talk: Okay mister awesomesauce mystery writer, this is it, it's now or never. You've faced down mobsters and you survived. You've been held at gun point and you survived. She's only a girl – no wait, scratch that, a woman. At times, a very, very scary woman. A woman who saved me from mobsters and being shot at gun point. Who's going to back me up when she points a gun in my face? Mother won't do anything and Alexis is asleep. What if she kills me right then and there? Stop it! Focus Rick, focus! He gained his composure, peeled back the blanket and sat down. Instead of being right against the arm of the couch he was now in the middle of 'his side' – approximately five inches away from Kate.

He thought to himself: Okay, just act natural. He waited for a few seconds for Kate's reaction.

There was nothing. He looked over at her, but her response was not what he expected. "Well, are you going to press play or just sip on your water?"

He relaxed and realized he was in the clear. He picked up the remote and followed her instructions.

They were almost half way through the movie when Martha had starting to lightly snore. Since she was now out for the night and Alexis was asleep long ago, he knew this was his chance. Thinking there was no way she would shoot him in front of his mother and with Alexis upstairs, he slowly lifted his left arm and rested his hand on her thigh.

He thought he would surly be dead. At that moment his life flashed before his eyes. He saw his first day of school, Meredith, Alexis' birth, Gina, his first book signing, his first book release party, Alexis' first day of school, her going to prom, and finally the day when Kate whispered 'you have no idea' in his ear.

He sat frozen. He didn't know if he should look at Kate, or remove his hand in fear of losing it. So he did nothing, except focused on his breathing. A few seconds had past and he didn't feel any throbbing on his body so Kate hadn't injured him. Another thirty seconds had past his limbs were still attached to his body, and he didn't feel a gun shot wound. He felt he was in the clear so he finally focused his attention to the movie.

The moment Castle's hand touched her thigh Kate's first reaction was to rip his whole arm from his body, and hit him with it. She knew everything was a ploy to get him to his apartment and she fell for it. It took her a minute to decide what she should do. If she didn't do anything she would be silently telling him that she wanted to further their relationship, when she didn't want to. She moved her hand beneath the blanket and rested it on his.

Castle thought he was surly going to pass out. He started to have another conversation in his head: Wait, what? She's resting her hand on mine. Does that mean she likes me? Like really likes me? Focus Rick, focus! Just breathe. I'm still not dead; she's actually holding my hand – sort of. Wait, what's she doing now? She's lifting my hand and…oh. Wait! No! Stop! That's not the plan!

He was screaming in his head as she took his hand and placed it on his own lap. He knew he had crossed a line. They both sat in silence for the remainder of the movie, with the exception of Martha's snoring a few feet from them.

When the movie was finished, both Kate and Castle were silent. Kate didn't know the best way to handle the situation and Castle was afraid of making it any worse. So, Castle did what he does best – me made a joke.

"You must hate it that you couldn't win the game, hey?"

"What are you talking about? I beat you!" She was relieved he was the first to speak.

"Yeah, but you didn't win the entire game. You and Alexis called it a tie, remember?"

"We can always have a rematch."

"We can, but since you didn't actually win I can still call you Katie, and make inappropriate jokes."

"But since you never actually won either, I don't have to go on a date with you. I think I win."

"Ouch!" He clutched his chest mimicking being shot in the heart and she laughed. "There's always tomorrow, or the next family night. I'm sure Alexis and mother wouldn't have any objections."

"Thanks, but I think I've had enough fun for one night. It's getting late, I should go."

His heart sank, but she did say she had fun. "So, you had fun? See, I told you you'd enjoy it."

She sighed. "I guess you were right, but it's really late."

"Alright I'll call my driver. He probably just went out for coffee so it shouldn't be too long."

"Okay, thanks."

"In the meantime, I think I've got a lime, salt, and something fun in a bottle. We could do a little Nikki Heat re-enactment."

Kate grabbed her coat and walked towards the door. "I think I'll pass. I'm going down to wait in the lobby. Night"

"Wait, Beckett!" She turned around to see him rake a hand through his hair and rub his forehead. He looked like he wanted to say something.

"I... I'm sorry." He was sincere.

"For what?"

Castle just raised his arm and wiggled his fingers.

"Oh… that."

She looked away, afraid to make eye contact.

"Yeah, that." For once he looked uncomfortable.

"We work together okay. I don't want any distractions."

Hearing Kate say he was a distraction hurt him more then getting shot ever could, and it showed on his face.

"I didn't mean it that way. It's just that…" She trailed off. She was looking for the right words.

"I get it. It's fine." The words implied he was fine, but his facial expression told a different story.

He figured he'd try one more time. "But... why can't we give it a try? I mean, you've already met my family and they love you. We spend a lot of time together. We're yin and yang - we need each other."

Kate was speechless. She didn't want to say anything that would hurt him, but she couldn't agree. "Castle, I'm sorry… I can't… I just –"

Before she knew what was happening she felt Castle's lips against her own. He tried for sweet and tender, but when she put her hands in his hair, he lost control. Pushing himself foreword, Kate was now between Castle and the door behind her.

She couldn't believe she was kissing Richard Castle. She knew it was wrong but it felt so right. Her head told her to stop, but her heart and body said the complete opposite. Kate Beckett was a cop, and she always listened to her brain – so, naturally, she pulled back. At that moment he put his hands around her waist trying to pull her closer. But she pushed him away.

"I have to go."

"But – "

"Sorry Castle, I have to go." She turned, opened the door and left his apartment.

"My driver isn't here, how are you going to get home?"

"I'll get a cab." She hollered making her way down the elevator. He wasn't sure if he sensed anger, hurt or regret in her voice. Castle was left in the doorway trying to think of how we could possibly fix this.

Lanie was almost asleep when she heard her phone ring.

"Hello?"

"Hi Lanie."

"Kate, it's late. What's wrong?"

"We kissed."

"Who kissed?"

Kate was silent, but Lanie put it together. "Writer boy? You kissed Castle!? What? When? Details!"

"When I left his apartment. I'm home now. And I didn't kiss him… we just kissed."

"It takes two, Kate."

Kate was silent.

"And?"

"And what? We kissed that's all." Kate was defensive.

"If that's all then why are you calling me?" Kate didn't answer. "So, how was it?"

"It was..." she paused, "fine." She knew if her best friend had been there, she would be reaching for more than just a glass of water. "I don't know what to do. We work together." Desperation was in her voice.

"Well, how'd you leave it?"

"I left." Kate realized how bad that sounded. "I just left. His mother was asleep on the couch and Alexis was upstairs. I didn't know what to do."

Lanie thought for a moment. It was obvious that her best friend was hurt and confused. "You need to talk to him and sort it out. Maybe he'll back off."

"It's Castle."

"All I know is that you need to sort it out with him. You won't find the answers you need talking to me. Just tell him you don't want a romantic relationship now, or something."

"I know, I just…" She trailed off. "Thanks for the talk."

"No problem. And Kate?"

"Yeah?"

"Just so you know, I am the ME, remember – I have the power to say that he died of natural causes."

Kate laughed. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks again."

"Night."

"Night."

Writers Note: I wasn't sure if I was going to take the traditional route of Kate and Castle kissing, but I decided to after. I'm not sure if in the end they'll be together or not. Opinions please!? There's definitely another chapter and either one or two after that (depending on what I decide to do). Any ideas? Feedback is appreciated! :)