Castle, though seemingly confident when he had left the loft, was now slightly nervous as he stood in front of the door that led into Lanie's apartment. He knew he hadn't really thought things through when he had agreed to show up for this – this meeting – but he was a writer, and his imagination of what he could possibly lead the two detectives and the medical examiner into believing were endless – if he could play it correctly. If he was too dramatic, or they poked a hole through a theory or a statement he made, or if something in his body language or facial expressions suggested something, it would be game over for the secret of his and Beckett's relationship. But, he thought, checking his watch, it was much too late to change his mind and turn back. So, he rang the doorbell.
Esposito answered the door.
"Yo!"Castle! Hey man, come in!" Esposito stepped aside, allowing Castle entrance and a better look at the apartment, Lanie was relaxing on a plush red couch in a corner of the room that was obviously the living room. She was holding a glass of – something. He guessed coffee or tea, something warm. Ryan was on the other side of the room, pouring himself apple juice. Yes, apple juice.
"Hey Castle." Ryan said, waving a hand in Castle's general direction.
"Come on, sit down. You want something?" Esposito asked, pointing to the kitchen. "Ryan makes a mean turkey sandwich."
"Hey! I'm not making a –"
"Honey milk, please. You're drinking apple juice, at 7:00 in the evening. Don't even talk to me right now." Esposito picked up a lone beer bottle sitting on a small table near the door, and walked over to his spot on the couch beside Lanie.
"No worries, I'm good. I already had dinner with K –" Castle stopped himself abruptly. He was just 5 minutes into the evening and he was already in hot water. "Um, with myself." Esposito let out a small, quiet, very un – Esposito – ish giggle. It was the kind you could expect to hear from a teenage girl.
"Esposito?" Are you ok?" Ryan asked, looking up from his apple juice. He sounded annoyed. Castle stared from one detective to the other. Strange, he thought.
"I'm fine." Esposito replied.
"Good."
Relieved no had noticed anything (or so he thought), Castle walked over to an oddly shaped blue swivel chair across from Esposito and Lanie, and sat down.
"Right then." Esposito seemed to have recovered from his giggling fit. "Let's get this meeting started. Come on Ryan!" Ryan hurriedly put the carton of apple juice away and joined the others in the living room. Lanie spoke first.
"Well, now I just want to say that I in no way support the idea of prying into Beckett's personal life. But her behavior lately – I think you guys have seen what I mean, she's secretly texting, giggling, she really just doesn't seem to care about much else but this mysterious guy."
"Face it Lanie, you just want to know who Beckett's secret guy is – Ow!" Lanie had slapped Esposito across the face. She continued speaking.
"I just want to know she's with a good guy, you know? I mean, she's like a sister to me. We've got to figure this out. To be honest, I never thought she'd find someone she would end up loving so much as much as she loves Castle – or at least how I thought she did. Is Beckett acting normal towards you Castle? I know you guys went through quite the rough patch." Castle was so desperately trying to ensure that he didn't look conspicuous to Lanie he didn't notice Ryan's eyes stretching to the size of a teacup saucer.
"Yeah, everything's fine. I haven't noticed anything." Lanie narrowed her eyes at Castle.
"Really? I thought you loved her. You haven't noticed?"
"No." Castle said. Lanie paused, deep in thought.
"Ok then." Lanie glanced up, looking at Esposito. "Esposito? What is wrong with you?" Esposito was just about jamming his fist into his mouth to keep himself from bursting into giggles. Lanie turned and looked at Ryan. "Ryan, has Esposito – um… Ryan?" Ryan was glaring at Esposito, as though he were imagining sticking a knife into his chest. As soon as Ryan realized Lanie was looking at him, his face turned a bright shade of red.
"I'm fine – I just um…" Ryan voice came out as barely a squeak. Lanie stared, from tomato Ryan to giggling Esposito to nervous Castle.
"What is wrong with everybody today?" She said. The three boys answered all at once.
"Nothing." They said. Lanie sighed.
"Well then. I was thinking perhaps Demming –" She began. Esposito and Ryan both attempted to look interested in what Lanie was saying, but Castle was not paying any attention. He was worried. Both Esposito and Ryan couldn't seem to control themselves whenever Lanie brought up the point of Beckett so very obviously dating someone, he thought. It was almost as if –
Oh no.
This could not be happening.
He pushed back his hair.
No, no nononnononono.
Lanie's voice brought him back into the situation before him.
"Castle!"
"Huh?" He glanced up. Lanie was very annoyed.
"What the hell is wrong with you three? I swear, the second I say anything about Beckett's mystery guy, none of you can control yourselves! What the –" Lanie froze. She looked from Esposito, still trying to keep a serious face, to Ryan, who seemed incredibly stressed out, to Castle, who seemed to be having an internal conflict with himself. And then it hit her.
"Lanie? You ok there?" Ryan said. And then Lanie exploded.
"YOU KNOW!" She furiously stood up from her spot in the couch.
"Know – know what?" Said Esposito, trying but failing to feign innocence.
"YOU KNOW WHO BECKETT'S DATING!" She shouted. Ryan began to protest and deny the allegations. Lanie was having none of it. "DON'T YOU DARE TRY AND DENY IT! YOU KNOW! HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN? WHO IS IT? WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? WHY WOULDN'T YOU TELL ME?" Lanie took a deep breath. Castle, Ryan, and Esposito were all rather frightened. She remained quiet. Finally, Lanie calmed down and took her seat once again. Castle tried to speak.
"Lanie, we…" He stopped talking when he saw the death glare Lanie gave him. Then Castle realized something. Esposito and Ryan knew? He thought. Huh. So they weren't complete idiots. He turned to the 2 detectives, and pointing a finger, he said: "Wait YOU know? HOW?" He was terribly confused. Esposito simply began giggling once again. Ryan spoke.
"It's a long story." Castle sighed.
"Well, at least Gates hasn't… I mean… Oh no. Oops." Castle glanced at Lanie. It was too late. She had heard.
"So, Gates can't find out. Thanks Castle." She grinned. "Alright. So it's someone at the precinct. Hmm. I know you three. If you knew whom Beckett was going out with you would tell me. But you didn't. You sat here and made me look like an absolute idiot, because Gates can't find out. I mean really? I'm better at keeping secrets than the three of you combined. Obviously Beckett really cares about this guy, even more then Castle! And I thought her and Castle were meant for each other! Look at her! And you – wait. She – so then - and –" Lanie gasped. She stared at the three boys. No one said a word. "Oh my goodness. No. No way. CASTLE? YOU AND BECKETT FINALLY CROSSED THE LINE?" She yelled. Castle groaned. This was going much, much worse than he had expected. Ryan began giggling, joining Esposito.
"Yes, yes alright it's me! But guys, you absolutely can not let Beckett find out that you know. She'll kill me. She's already on edge with having to make sure Gates doesn't discover this. Please?" Castle said. Lanie looked like she was about to explode wit excitement.
"OF COURSE! But when? HOW? And ESPO! RYAN? When – Who?!" She paused. "Explain. Everything. NOW."