Hi guys,

I know it's been a long time since you read anything from me. But I'm currently in the middle of a writer block. I'm often not in the mood to write, have no ideas and I'm not satisfied with the words I'm writing down. I just have no motivation at the moment.

A few ideas are coming now and then, but only little snippets I have no idea how to link together. But I'm working on it.

Anyway, I managed to finish a new chapter for you guys. I feel like it's not as good as the previous chapters, but I hope you like it anyway.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.

Chapter 9

"What are you doing here?" Kate asked, her surprise hearable in her voice. After their phone call earlier the day, she hadn't really thought that she'd see him today.

Rick pointed behind him. "I brought lunch."

Puzzled, Kate looked over his shoulders towards her two partners before glancing back at Rick, trying to keep her amusement out of her voice. "For Ryan and Esposito?"

"Well you weren't here, so I thought that instead of letting the food get cold and waste it, I could give some of it to those two really hard working detectives." Rick stated, looking back at the two men as he mentioned the words hard working.

"That's really nice of you."

Rick nodded content. "It was a lot after all, and I've been sure there's enough in there so that you also could get some of it. However, after seeing at which rate they're gulping down the food I started to doubt you'll get any of it in the end."

"Hey, it's like you said, we didn't want to let it go to waste. Would be a shame!" Esposito acknowledged.

Kate looked back to their visitor, not knowing what to say to him. She was caught off-guard by his appearance at the precinct. "You didn't have to bring us food, you know. I'm sure you have other things to do than this."

Rick shrugged. "It's my day off, and when you called to tell me that you couldn't make it to lunch because of a new case I thought I could stop by and bring you something."

"Thank you." Kate said sincerely. Looking again at her two partners, she couldn't keep back another Jab. "Just don't make it a habit, otherwise we don't get them through the door anymore."

Rick chuckled. "Don't worry about it. The windows seem a little broader than the doors. When it comes down to that we can still get them out with the help of the aerial ladder."

Ryan scoffed. "You do know that Espo and I are still here, don't you?"

"I'm pretty sure that would be something anyone could read up in the newspaper the next day. And a complete embarrassment for the police force." Kate replied, ignoring Ryan's comment.

"Right. So why don't we help them with the food to avoid this possible future to come true."

Kate and Rick approached the desk with the Chinese food to get themselves some of it before the boys devoured all of it on their own. Sitting down at her desk, Kate watched Rick pushing a chair next to her desk before sitting down himself, silently starting to eat.

"So you're working with the aerial ladder?" asked Ryan curious.

Rick nodded. "I'm officer-in-charge of Engine 55."

"You're a little higher on the pay level?"

"I'm a lieutenant." Rick answered, but before he could add anything else he was cut off by his cell. Putting away the carton containing his food, he excused himself and walked towards the hall.

"Yo Beckett, you two hitting it off or what is there going on with Lieutenant Rodgers?" Espo smirked.

Kate rolled her eyes at the boys' nosiness. "Even if there would be something going on with him, I wouldn't tell you guys for a very good reason."

"What's that for a reason?"

Rising a brow, Kate stared daringly at them. "That it's none of your business."

"Oh come on, Beckett! We're like a family. We're telling each other such things." Ryan exclaimed.

"Since when?" Kate laughed.

Ryan's response was interrupted by Rick who came back to them, putting his cell back into his pocket and reaching for his coat. "Sorry guys, but I've got to go."

Esposito frowned. "Thought it was your day off?"

"Yeah, it is. That was Detective Pierce down at the Seventh Precinct. We're having problems with an arsonist and Pierce is working the case. I've got to answer some questions."

"Damn these crazy people whom have nothing better to do than set things on fire." Esposito muttered.

"True. Until now the buildings had always been abandoned. But we still have to go in and look for people."

"Then let's hope the police will get the arsonist as soon as possible." Kate replied while she put away her own take-out carton. "I'll walk you out."

"Sure." Rick said and glanced back to the two male detectives. "Detectives, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope you liked the food, and if I should ever bring lunch again – or anything else for that matter – I'll remember the coffee."

Both boys gave him their dumps up and Rick just chuckled and turned around, making his way towards the elevator. Kate threw the boys a confused glance before she also turned around and followed Rick to the elevator. "What was that about?"

"Oh, nothing. Just an inside joke."

"Okay," Kate replied slowly. "I want to thank you again for bringing lunch."

"My pleasure, Detective.

Kate cleared her throat, thinking of something to say. Suddenly the situation was becoming awkward, like on a first date when nobody knew what to say. "Well then, take care out there."

"Always." Rick smiled.

They stood there for a few seconds, staring awkwardly at each other before the elevator chimed, indicating its arrival. Rick waited until everyone got off and entered it, smiling at Kate and waving her goodbye as the elevator doors closed.

Kate remained in front of the elevator, thinking about Rick and their meetings. As surprising as Rick's presence at the precinct had been, Kate had to admit that she had enjoyed their lunch, even if it was just a brief moment before he had to leave again.

Having seen him with Ryan and Esposito as she arrived at the bullpen, her heart had leapt in her chest and her mood had considerably improved at the prospect of spending time with Rick. Kate had been very disappointed when it had become clear that she wouldn't be able to meet him for lunch.

Maybe Lanie was right. Maybe she had a crush.

Just a little bit.

"Hey Lanie, I got your text. What've you got?" Kate asked breathlessly her friend as she entered the morgue. She had just come back from interviewing some colleagues of their victim and rushed straight to Lanie as she had gotten the text. This case was already too close to her, but she couldn't help herself. There was a girl whom lost her father and the mother had been gone for years.

She was alone, on her own.

Scared.

Distraught.

Grieving.

Just like she had been when her mother had died all those years ago.

Sure Kate had still her dad, but while she searched for answers in the police files and other sources, her dad had searched them at the bottom of any alcoholic bottle that came near him. At that time she still had half her family, but in some ways she had been all on her own. No support from her grieving dad.

At least now he was sober again, but their relationship was still not as great as it had been before her mother had died.

"I've analyzed the wound. The killer had to be bigger than our victim. At least 6'3. Based on the position of the murder weapon and the used force during the stabbing, I'm guessing your searching for a male suspect." Lanie stated.

Kate nodded. "Okay. Anything else?"

"There were some particle on his shirt I'm analyzing as we speak, but I haven't any results yet."

"Okay. Keep me informed." The detective replied and turned around to leave for the bullpen, but the voice of her friend stopped her from leaving the morgue just yet.

"So I heard Mr. Hunk was at the precinct earlier, spending lunch with you guys." Lanie glanced up and saw her friend staring strangely at her. "What?"

Kate pursed her lips and shook her lips. "Nothing. I'm just trying to determine when exactly the boys had told you about that. The moment Rick stepped off the elevator or after lunch."

"It was after lunch. Could have invited me, too."

"It's not like I knew he'd come over."

"So when are you seeing him again?" Lanie asked.

"I don't know. We haven't made plans for another…." Kate trailed off, not ready to say it out loud. Had it been a date? No, definitely not. At least it wasn't one in her opinion. Their meeting at the bar had been a coincidence. His appearance at the precinct a surprise visit. Just a nice gesture. But not a date.

"….Date?" Lanie finished for her friend, a smirk forming on her lips.

"We're not dating. We're hardly friends."

This time it was Lanie whom shrugged matter-of-factly. "Well, it seems like there's something out there that keeps pulling you two together, with all the non-dates and all. Maybe it was fate that you two met."

Kate huffed, leaving the morgue while leaving Lanie's statement pass without commenting it.

Yeah, sure. Fate.

As if she'd believe in something like this.

Later that day, Rick opened the door to the loft. The interview with Detective Pierce went swimmingly. He hoped that the arsonist will get caught soon. Until now nothing had happened. But he still had to lead his men into the danger zone, searching the burning buildings for people and extinguishing the fire.

He found his mother in the kitchen, nursing a drink. "Is there something to celebrate or why are you already enjoying the early evening with a drink?"

"I just got a call from an old friend of mine. He's currently finishing writing a new play and he wants me to be a part of it."

"Really? That's great Mother, I'm happy for you." Rick stated, smiling at his mother. She had searched long enough for a new play to work on, but something seemed always to keep her from it. Either the script wasn't good enough, people she didn't look forward to work with ever again after having bad experience with them, or not getting the part she had wished to play. He was genuinely happy for her. His mother was one of the many people out there whom needed to do something.

Martha hummed. "Yeah, it all fits. The character I'll be playing is great. The story is very interesting."

"I'm proud of you. Does Alexis already know about it?"

"No, she's still at Paige's studying for some test." His mother replied. "But enough about me. How was your lunch date with this Detective Beckett you've told me about?" Martha asked.

"It was good. Brief, but good. I got a call and had to leave. Otherwise it was very interesting to see where she worked at."

Martha took a sip of her drink. "When will you see her again?"

"I don't know. We haven't made any plans."

"Why? I thought you liked her?"

Rick sighed, kneading his neck. "Well, I do. She's nice, smart and very beautiful. Until now, I enjoyed it every time I met her, as short as the moments may have been."

"I sense a but." Martha concluded.

"I don't know. Anyway, the ball is on her court. I made the last move by bringing lunch even after she cancelled. Now she has to initiate the next meeting."

The red-head shook her head unbelieving. "Really? You're just gonna sit back and wait for her to make a move?"

"Look, I just don't want to pursue something with her, knowing all the advances came from my side. It would make me think that she isn't really interested and is just humoring me. Being nice to the man who got her out of her burning apartment, you know. Maybe I just need to see that she's as interested as I am." Rick reasoned his hesitation about dating Kate. "I don't have time to play the boy who's running after a girl. Especially if said girl isn't interested."

With that Martha watched her son walking towards his office, no doubt trying to get a little writing done before dinner. Over the years her son had gotten very cautious of dating a woman, being fully satisfied with the role of a single father and firefighter. Sure, he occasionally had some flings, but nothing he wanted to pursue further. And it wasn't about having a lack of women whom were interested in her son either. Quite the opposite, being a firefighter made her son quite desired by the female gender.

But maybe his caution was normal. After all he hadn't really that much luck in the matter of relationships. However it was obvious that her son wanted someone at his side, taking a place at his side neither she nor Alexis could fill in. Maybe he even craved it so much that he was afraid to back the wrong horse, explaining his strange wariness.

Martha sighed. She just knew one thing, any woman would be a fool if she wasn't interested in her son.

Please leave a review. Maybe it'll help hearing your thoughts about the story and its chapters.

Have a nice week.