He throws cash to the counter, before he makes his way out of the diner.
It takes him some time to get out of this darn establishment. The stools are in his way, then the pair who walk in from the street stop him from exiting the diner. How the hell did she manage to leave so fast?
Finally he is out of the door. He turns his head left and right, trying to see her amongst the pedestrians, but he cannot find her. Where is she? Where the hell is she? He frantically eyes the crowd surrounding him, looking in both directions, but nothing. He takes few steps towards the direction they had come before.
Then he spots her. She is crossing the street in hurried pace, her blue jacket flapping in the soft wind.
He darts towards her, trying to catch up with her. "Kate!" he yells over the crowd.
She isn't reacting. She doesn't hear him or she pretends not to hear him.
He crosses the street without looking anywhere else but her. He is so focused on her, he doesn't see the car closing in on him. The driver stops the car just before it hits him. He places his hands to the car, to pass it quicker, completely ignoring the driver yelling "Fuck you" towards him. He doesn't care about the driver or the car. He doesn't take time to respond, has a singular purpose - to catch up Kate.
"Kate!" he tries again, running towards her. This time he is much closer to her. He sees her jerk in response to his voice and fastening her pace. She's trying to get away from him.
He is almost caught up with her, only a dozen of feet separating them. There are people in the way everywhere. What is going on in this street, why so many people? He lets out a frustrated grunt and tries to zigzag between the pedestrians.
He yells out again, "Kate, wait up!"
She continues to ignore him and walks faster.
He doesn't give up and runs towards her until he's there, right beside her. He grabs her arm and yanks her to a halt.
Beckett sighs out annoyedly and tries to get back her arm by jerking it sharply from his grasp. But he's grip is strong and she doesn't succeed.
"Castle," she presses through her teeth, her voice sounding angry. "Let me go."
"No," he answers sternly, his face serious. She is still facing the direction she was going, not looking at him at all. Her face is hidden behind the brown locks, so he doesn't see her features.
"Castle..." she warns him, voice low.
"No," his voice is still certain. He shifts in his spot, trying to get better grasp at her. "Not until we talk." He tugs her arm so that she faces him now. She doesn't look up.
"I don't want to talk," she spits out, trying to pull her free again.
"I am not letting you go," he punctuates every word, bringing his other hand to her shoulder, to hold in her at place.
She stops struggling and finally raises her glance to him. She is furious as hell, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. She is mad, angry. She can't hold off the tears of frustration. Their eyes meet. Her angry glance crosses paths with his silver blue eyes that are filled with all the worry and concern... and guilt.
Just as she opens her mouth to yell at him again, he decides enough is enough and yanks her arm hard and she falls against his chest. It takes a moment and his hands are around her, locking her in place.
"Castle, wha-"
He drowns her further arguments with his mouth on hers. One of his arms securely holding her head in place, he tugs her even closer with his other arm around her waist. She resists, trying to wiggle free. But he doesn't give her a chance to escape. His lips slide roughly against hers, making her halt her actions and shiver runs down her spine. The friction is enough to make her stop resisting. She opens her mouth slightly to say something, but he takes it as a permission to deepen the kiss and he introduces the tongue in this equation.
She can't do anything else but cling on him, because her senses are going into overdrive. His mouth is warm and strong against hers. Without any conscious thought, she melts within his embrace and answers his actions with the same kind of intensity and passion. Flesh against flesh, tongue against tongue, they move as one. Their tongues fighting for dominance, she feels the anger leave her. Only thing remaining is the feel of him against her, making her shivering and moaning with only his lips and his hands.
Finally, they have to breathe. He slows their actions down gradually and they both surface to breathe. Not letting her go, he rests his forehead on hers. They are both gasping, trying to fill their lungs with sweet air again.
He looks down at her. Her eyes are still closed and mouth slightly open to get her breathing to normal again. He can't resist and he closes the distance between them again, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Tender and reassuring. He pulls back again and observes her again.
She finally opens her eyes. Their glances meet - hazel against deep blue. He smiles reassuringly. .
"Please don't run," he asks softly.
She draws in a deep breath and opens her mouth "I..." She stops. She doesn't know how to continue. She had a reason for running, didn't she?
He pulls her in for a hug, her body resting against his. His cheek touching hers, he presses his mouth against her ear. "I don't have a date with Emily," he whispers.
She stills against him. She doesn't say anything, but neither is she trying to pull herself loose. He takes it as a good sign and he continues.
"I know you care, Kate. You care too much. That's why I don't have a date with Emily," he explains, whispering into her ear.
She is still silent in his embrace. She doesn't know how to answer.
He continues without her response, his hand drawing soft circles in her back. "Emily is nice. But she has no chance when it comes to you. I like you more," he stops there, sighing deeply. "Much, much, much more. You don't need to be jealous."
She chuckles into his shoulder softly, where her mouth is buried. Her hands around him tighten and she shakes her head.
"I am not jealous," she says, trying to lose the softness in her voice, making her voice sharper.
He snorts at her reaction. Of course. She's never jealous. What was the entire scene about then? He doesn't say anything but moves away from her ear and brings his mouth to meet hers again. He kisses her languidly, softly, until she is out of breath again.
"Of course not," he speaks against her lips. "You are never jealous."
He pulls away and looks at her, smiling brightly. She opens her eyes and looks at him, his smile makes the corners of her mouth to rise.
"If you weren't jealous, why did you run out of the diner?" he asks softly.
She smirks now, her eyes mischievous. "I wasn't hungry?"
"Uh- uh," he nods. "That's what I thought."
They just stand there, in the middle of the walkway and looking at each other. Energy coursing between them as they drown in each other's eyes. He leans closer, slowly but surely, opening his mouth slightly. She closes her eyes, unable to resist him anymore.
Suddenly her phone chirps, ruining the crackling flow of emotions. She opens her eyes, searching for his glance. Her hand untangles itself from his back and reaches for the pocket.
He instinctively makes room between them, breaking their embrace. He doesn't step away, he can't. He needs her there in his arms. He needs to be able to touch her.
She finds her phone and pulls it out of the pocket. Sliding her thumb against the screen, she unlocks the phone and reads the message.
Smiling, she looks up at him. "We got the address. Let's go"
He nods and lets her go. She steps away from his embrace and they start walking down the street in unison. As Kate had an head start, she stepping in front of him. He tries to catch up with her. After few steps he is beside her. She turns her face to him and smiles.
A fresh breeze whistles through the trees of Central Park, around the massive oaks scattered on the edges and passes by a unmarked police car parked near a mobile hot dog stand. The two detectives exit the vehicle, one pulling out his wallet, checking the change he has with him. They saunter up to a large Indian man, dressed casually in jeans and a light shirt, a dark colored turban covering his head, and a beaming smile on his face.
"Good day gentlemen. Can I offer you both the finest hot dog in New York?" Both detectives smile and chuckle at the vendor's open enthusiasm.
"Gee Najib, it's just a hot dog. It's not a five star meal," Esposito states, smiling back at the Indian man.
Najib mockingly places his hands across his chest in shock. "Why Detective Esposito, you wound me. This is the finest food you will find anywhere in New York."
"My apologies, Najib. Hand us two of your finest dogs then," the cop chuckles.
"Of course. The usual, Detective Esposito?" Esposito nods to him. "And you, Detective Ryan? The usual as well?"
"Yes my good man, the usual." Ryan smiles at Najib, as he happily prepares a couple of chilli dogs for them both. He looks over to his partner, and asks, "So what is your gut feel, Javi. Think Kaarel is involved?"
Esposito pauses for a moment, looking down at the ground. "Well he isn't telling us the whole story. He is definitely hiding something. He may have arranged the bodyguard to shoot him for all we know."
Ryan nods his head slightly, in agreement. "Let's hope that Beckett has something on him soon."
Najib quickly makes the chilli dogs and cheerfully hands them over. Ryan pays for them, and they both amble back to the car. They lean against the hood of the car and start eating their dogs.
Esposito didn't quite realize how hungry he was. "You know, Najib may be right. This might be the best food in New York."
Ryan looks at his partner and smiles to himself as his partner is absorbed in his lunch. He, though, had other things on his mind.
"So, Javi, think Castle and Beckett will work it out?" Ryan asks aloud.
Esposito glances at his partner, noting that this was a serious question. He is about to make light of the situation and tease his partner once more but decides that maybe this time was past.
"Well, I don't know man. Like I told you, she was pretty upset yesterday. She tries to hide it, but like I said, she seemed pretty down." He brushed a few crumbs off his shirt, waiting to hear from his partner.
Ryan though remains silent, just a looking down at nothing, deep in thought. "I mean look at Emily. Now that girl is hard to pass up. Seriously. She is as lovely as my Jenny."
Esposito rolls his eyes, "Oh please, it is sickening the way you look at each other. Almost embarrassing."
Ryan just smiles, not being in the least bit embarrassed with relationship he has.
Esposito continues, "But I am not sure Beckett will give up that easily."
Ryan looks at Esposito with a little surprise. "You really think so?"
Esposito looks at him like that was the stupidest comment in the world.
A small grin comes across Ryan's face. "Well I don't know, Javi. I mean the double date went well and we both know what Castle's history is with a pretty face. Think Castle could resist that?"
"For Beckett? In a heartbeat," Esposito stops chewing the chilli dog and thinks about what he just said. "I mean if Castle had to choose between Emily and Beckett..." He pauses for a few more seconds, and then shook his head. "No, Castle and Beckett have been playing around the edges for a while. I think Beckett..."
To Ryan, it sounds like Esposito was trying to convince himself. He chuckles silently to himself, sensing he could take advantage of his Esposito's wavering opinion. "Well, I don't know Javi. Think Castle can suppress his urges with Emily?"
The bait had been set.
"Well, personally I don't think Beckett is going to let Castle ride off into the sunset without a fight," Esposito says with a certainty in his voice looking intently at Ryan.
"I smell a bet coming on. Ok, my money's on Castle is with Emily before the week is out," Ryan thinks to himself. Hook, line and sinker.
Esposito's face is beaming now. "Ok, but it is lunches for a week. Deal?"
"You're on." The detectives join their hand and shake on it. Finally they sit back and relax, eating their chilli dogs watching their fellow New Yorkers enjoy the pleasant day in Central Park.
They are interrupted by Ryan's phone ringing in his inside coat pocket. He finishes his mouthful, wipes his hand on a serviette and grabs the phone.
"Ryan," he barks to his phone.
Here it is then, our next chapter. We know, it's a long time coming. We are sorry about that. But … Brett is having fun with his friends in US and Trinxy is slowly preparing herself for her trip to LA, so … we both are busy.
We really hope to update this in next few weeks, but don't be mad at us if we can't. We both have crazy holidays coming, so, we are not sure how much free time we both have. So … Apologies, darlings.
We hope you like this chapter tho. Please let us know if you do. Hungry or reviews! Heee heee.
Thans lv2bnsb and kimmiesjoy for being awesome betas!