PREGNANT PAUSE
Castle sat staring at the computer screen. Thank you all for being here this evening to honor the memory and contribution of Johanna Beckett. It was through the meeting of her incredible daughter, Kate
As quickly as he fingers extracted her name from his mind, he was lost again. Every version he typed had come out about Kate, not her mother. Everything he wanted to say to Kate since L.A. just kept tumbling out over and over again onto his screen. He kept printing the versions out, erasing the screen, and starting over. He thought picking up his tux early just to get out would help clear his head, but it hadn't worked. He just needed a starting point and then he could ad lib the rest. Keep it light, keep it short, and keep it about Johanna. With another fresh screen, he started again.
Thank you all for coming together tonight and for helping us in honoring an amazing woman I now know through her equally amazing daughter, Detective Katherine Becket of the NYPD. To help ensure the legacy of Johanna's dream and her never ending quest to discover the truth, I am happy to be instrumental in creating this scholarship in coordination with Dean Parker to ensure that such a vision in another bright, beautiful, sexy, kissable, detective that smells like cherries dkei dke jd kleiod
Castle's cell phone went off as he banged on the keys in frustration typing gibberish. He hit the print button to add yet another draft to the pile, and erased his screen again. He grabbed his phone and bit his lip when he saw he had a text message, from Beckett.
Can I hitch a ride with you?
Too nervous to drive myself.
Castle raised an eyebrow. He had to ask. He held his breath as he entered letters and pressed send.
Not coming with Josh?
A whole four minutes passed before she responded.
Josh and I are over.
"Yes!" Castle jumped up and flipped his chair over knocking the speech draft printouts all over the floor. When? How? It didn't matter. Josh was out of the picture and that meant… He was trying to resist the urge to dance so he could text… "Play it cool, Castle," he said to himself outloud.
Should I bring the Ferrari?
Beckett returned his text quickly this time.
Do you have any other car?
Castle furrowed his brow as he texted back recalling the last time she drove his car.
Do I get to drive?
This time, she took several minutes to respond.
Only if you put the top up.
Top up? Then he realized.
Right, hair. Deal. Be there at 5.
Beckett immediately responded.
4:00. Friday traffic. See you then.
Elated, Castle's empty computer screen filled effortlessly, speech complete, saved, and printed. He was showered and dressed in record time. He just needed some help with his tie which he rolled up and tucked into the pocket of his jacket. He grabbed the speech printout reading through it once more.
Thank you all for being here this evening to honor the memory and contribution of Johanna Becket. I came to know of the dedication of Johanna Becket through my friendship with her amazing daughter, Detective Katherine Beckett of the NYPD, who has been recognized time and time again for her own contributions in bringing the guilty to justice. It is their joint contribution that has inspired me to ensure the legacy of Johanna Beckett's dream and her never-ending quest to discover the truth, to defend the innocent, and to pursue justice.
In the memory of Johanna Beckett, I am happy to create this scholarship in coordination with Dean Parker to ensure that another such woman sharing their special vision for justice not go unrealized. I would also like to personally thank Detective Katherine Beckett for the dedication and commitment she has demonstrated for the city of New York by presenting her personally with this check to begin our event this evening.
He folded his speech, grabbed the check ofF his desk, and put them in his jacket pocket with his tie. Grabbing his keys, Castle gleefully headed to Beckett's.
Castle knocked on Beckett's door, holding a bouquet of flowers.
"Be right there!" came her voice from the other side of the door. When she opened it, Castle caught his breath. She was beautiful with her hair swept up leaving tendrils she could twirl and toy with all evening. Her dress was a long form-fitting off the shoulder gown in a stunning green that made her own green eyes seem to glow. "Castle? Are you going to speak?"
"You're beautiful."
"Thank you, you're sweet," she said blushing. Castle remained motionless in the doorway just drinking in his first site of Beckett since he was escorted from the 12th two weeks ago. "Are those for me?" She motioned to the flowers. Castle nodded still dumbstruck. "Are you coming in?" Castle nodded again, handing Kate the flowers and walking into the apartment. She closed the door and went into the kitchen to put the flowers in a vase. She set them on the counter on the very place Josh had left his key the week before. The sudden thought of Josh caught her by surprise and a little sad.
"Are you okay?" He asked catching the change of her expression.
"Yeah, just a little nervous about tonight," she said clearing her throat and shaking off the though of Josh. "No tie?" she said pretending to fuss with the flowers. "I thought tonight was formal?"
"Oh yeah, Alexis and Martha usually help me with my tie, but…" he said extracting his rolled tie from his pocket and pulling out the folded speech and donation check with it. They tumbled to the floor and they both reached for it, their faces only inches away from each other. Castle drank in the scent of her and they both stood up, the folded documents in Beckett's hand.
"What's this?"
"My speech and contribution for tonight."
"May I?"
"Please…" Their eyes lingered for a few minutes, before Beckett broke eye contact, unfolding the speech, and reading it. She didn't look at the check, only tucked it inside the folded paper.
"Thank you, Rick, for what you are doing for my mom tonight." She took a step closer to him, dangerously close, and slipped the folded paper into his jacket pocket.
"Anything." Beckett smiled and slid the tie from his hands. She deliberately slid the tie through her hand and motioned for him to bow down his head.
Castle leaned his head down as she slipped the tie around his neck and under his collar. Castle was uncharacteristically quiet as she tied the tie around his neck. The act was simple and incredibly intimate at the same time. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, standing so close to him, her hands grazing his shirt as she worked. She slid the knot up to his neck, smoothing down his collar neatly with her hands, letting one hand slide down to smooth the tie against his shirted chest and the other to slide down the front of his shirt. He swore he could feel her touch through the fabric of his shirt, audibly catching his breath.
"I think you're more nervous than I am tonight."
"I think you might have something there." The glint in her eye suggested she knew very well the effect she was having on him, and she was enjoying it. But Castle was in no rush this time. They had plenty of time now that Josh was no longer in the picture, standing between them.
"Ready to go?"
"Anywhere."
"Good, I've got the keys," she said laughing and dangling them in her hand as she strutted to the door, snapping him out of his stupor.
"Beckett!" he said following behind her. "You said I could drive!"