Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or anything related to it.

I just wanna thank u guys for all the alerts popping up, and the fav mails i've been receiving on my mail from this story... I never really expected to get that much written, even less that many pple actually liking it - hope i'm not making your eyes bleed or something, no native speaker, remember?

So if u get the chance, please review the story, uh? Make me know what you think, dunno, ideas? cos im not really sure where i want this to go. But promise i'll bring Castle & Beckett together at some point. Its just I dont want to push too much, and keep them sounding like themselves as much as I can.

Castle - The loft?- He asked in disbelief, his eyes wide open.

Kate Beckett had parked the car a few metres from his building, much to the amazement of the writer. She didnt even thought about passing by at the beginning, but then realized, as she drove to the bar where the vic had worked, that it was too soon for them to show up at the club. They had a couple of hours before it opened.

She nodded at him, not caring the intense gaze he was holding on her. She could even hear him thinking. But this was not the time for teasing. She'll have plenty of it when they got to the pub. She bit back a grin.

Beckett - Go home.- She answered easily - Take a shower, have some rest. I'll come back in a couple of hours to pick you up.

He raised an eyebrow, caught completely off guard. His mind ran through infinite posibilities, all of them thrown away each at a time. Sure, he had enough imagination to make up any kind of reason for her to do what she was actually doing, but none of them were likely to be real. No, she probably wanted him home to keep him away from whatever she was going to do next.

He sighed, and without taking his eyes off her, nodded silently and unlocked his seat belt. At least she had told him she will pick him up later. He wondered why.

Not wanting to try his luck, he opened the passengers door and stepped off the car. Her grassy green eyes were fixed on him, lifted eyebrows, probably waiting for one of his witty comments. But he said nothing. He just smiled as nicely as he could, closed the passenger door and waved her goodbye.

Castle - I'll be waiting for you, Detective.

Beckett sighed when she finally arrived at her building. Her mind was a whirl of thoughts she had been unsuccesfully trying to push away all the drive back home. She just couldnt help herself, even if she repeated it once and again, deep down in her heart she didnt really want to forget.

She entered her apartment with a clear image of his face stuck on her mind, the last sight of him just half an hour before. She didnt want to think about that. And she was trying. Really trying. But it seemed awfully impossible to get rid of that thought.

His eyes were all light when he left, his grin shone in them as he tried to hold back some witty joke she knew he was about to let go. She remembered quite clearly his lips opening to speak, and then he just smiled, looked at her in that way of his that drove her crazy, and left. Without a single comment.

Her flat was cold, and empty. Same as her fridge. No left overs of the last days, not even eggs to cook herself an omelet for dinner. She sighed heavily and took the phone from the kitchen to order in. She HAD to eat something. She couldnt just starve to death.

The guy at the other side of the phone sounded tired. She realized she was exhausted too, maybe it wasnt the best idea to check the club that night? No, she had already told Castle, and she could sleep when she get home after the trip.

She hung up and dialed again, that time Lanies number. She had enough time to have a little chat with her best friend before the delivery guy arrived, and she was pretty sure she would be able to tell her something that would cheer her up. Or at least distract her from her thoughts about Richard Castle.

She lay down on her coach, waiting for Lanie to pick up her phone while a tiny part of her mind wondered about the words choice. She wasnt sad. Then why did she just think her friend would cheer her up?

Lanie - Hey girl! - The MEs cozy voice filled her ears.- Javier told me you two left early today... Wanna tell me whats going on?

Beckett - Hey Lanie.- She chuckled at her friends eagerness.- Nothing's going on, we just found a new lead we wanted to check on.

Lanie - Yeah, sure...- She could actually see Lanie's skeptical gaze haunting her.- So, if its just a lead, honey, why are you calling me?

The detective mouthed at the statement without a clue on how to turn it back. The ME surely had a way to leave her speechless. She took a deep breath and tucked a lock of her wavy hair behind her ear. Not that it could help her anyway, being at the other side of the phone.

Beckett - It IS. A lead, Lanie.- She answered biting back a smile-. I just thought we could have a chat while I'm waiting for dinner?

Lanie - Dinner? - The ME asked with a tint of amusement.- Where the hell are you, girl?

Beckett - Home?.- She said rolling her eyes.- Look, I was driving to the vics workplace, and I then realized it was way too soon for it to be open? So instead I thought we could just stop, grab something to it, have some rest, ya know...

Lanie - We, huh? - Beckett sighed. She could picture the teasing smirk growing in her friends mouth at that exact moment.

Beckett - I left him at his place, Lanie.- She emphasized the last to words, enough to make her complain about her stubbornness with that attitude of hers she adopted every time Kate's private life came out.- I told him I would pick him up in a couple of hours.

Lanie - THAT, doesnt sound like checking a lead to me, hun.- The ME teased her again.

Beckett - Oh, shut up.- The detective's nose wrinkled, and she drowned even deeper in her coach's cushions.- The girl worked on a night club. I needed to wait for it to open, and besides, I'll probably get more information if I don't go inside looking like a cop?

Lanie - Aham...- It was amazing how the woman could imply so many meanings in a single sound.- So you said

Beckett - Vics workplace, Lanie, remember?

Lanie - Sure, baby, a night club. I remember it quite clearly.- She heard her giggle.- So, I presume you called me for advice?

Beckett - Advice? - She blurted out confused.- For what?

Lanie - Girl, Imma smack you. You may fool yourself, but you cant really expect to fool ME...- She came out with that answer, and it was just so like herself. Beckett sighed.- So, what is it you're wearing tonight?

The detective coughed, as she almost choke with her own breath. What was she now, a mind reader? No way could Lanie know what she'd been thinking since she dropped Castle in SoHo. But even if she knew it wasnt possible for Lanie to be aware of her previous mind babbling, it still frightened her how much her friend seemed to glimpse just on some trivial chat.

Beckett - A black dress? - She said finally, hesitantly searching for her approval but not wanting to spin out the converation.

Lanie - Kay.- Came Lanie's easy, sweet response.- But...- The ME raised her voice, and the brunette detective could feel her index finger waving an admonition.- Make it sexy. Enough for him to be unable of getting his eyes off you. - And then paused for a second, as if she was actually considering wether to tell her or not.- And I'm SO. NOT. talking about the dress.- She ended up at last.

Beckett - Lanie! - She scolded her in a whisper, inwardly going back to the last time she had seen him and the way he'd looked at her, the way he always looked at her.- We...We're just working on a case, okay?

Lanie - Whatever...- She heard her sigh.- But dont tell me I didnt warn you...

Beckett - You know.- The brunette cut her, feeling a little awkward talking about Castle with her friend.- I gotta go. My food's here.

Lanie - Sure, sweetie, keep holding back what we both know...

Beckett - Oh shut up, Lanie.- She stood up and started walking to the door.- Really, I gotta go. Promise I'll call you later to fill you in, kay?

Lanie - Fine...! - She was sure the ME was rolling her eyes at that point.- Talk you later, hun.

Beckett - Later, Lanie.- She hung up and breathed deeply before she reached for the doorknob.

The detective ate quickly the thai she had had ordered in, TV on with ever changing channels. It kept her occupied. It filled her mind with trivial nonsense and helped her push away all those thoughts she was trying so hard to avoid. But then she will need to face them. In the shower, in front of her closet after that, having to choose the dress she would wear, and that awfully annoying icy voice in her head saying it was just an undercover road trip that would last lesser than an hour.

Then, why was she so nervous? She wanted to look good for him, wanted to make his jaw drop and his wonderful blue eyes go open wide for her. She wanted him to look at her in the same very way he was when she caught him staring at her in the precinct. It gave her butterflies. And for nor, just for now, that was enough. It had to be.

She finally picked up a tight black dress with a deep V- neck, bare back and arms, the skirt leaving at sight most of her long, well shaped legs. Amazingly high heel sandals and a tiny purse where she placed her keys, badge and handcuffs, both of them the same nightmare black of her dress. She let her curls lay loose, spreaded over her shoulders, caressing her skin.

And then, in a heartbeat, she finds herself in front of his door, knocking softly and biting her lower lip to ease the tension. Her breath was achingly fast. She wouldnt have even believe it could go faster if she hadnt seen Castle in front of her in that exact moment.

Beckett - Hey.- She breathed, her gorgeus green eyes locked up on his.

But he was there, in the middle of the threshold, frozen in place. He wouldnt move, not let go off the doorknob, not even say any kind of witty comment to tease her and make her laugh. His eyes, his deep, bright, sky blue eyes were looking her up and down, slowly pausing in every inch of her body, following the way her outfit hugged her curves. He swallowed hard, she could swear she did hear him swallowing, and it was so damn difficult trying not to blush. She could feel his eyes everywhere.

She forced herself to smile and look over his shoulder to his mother and daughter, both of them trying to keep themselves from laughing out loud. Martha really seeeds to have a hard time doing that. So, she's done with the pantomime, that annoying voice in her head showed up to rush her.

Beckett - So, are you ready or what, Castle?

So sorry guys, this one took me too long...

It was actually pretty hard for me to keep on the line while trying to describe more accurately what I presume should be going on Kate's mind. That AND my lack of vocabulary, its not really helping.

So, please review, opinions are so welcome.