Disclaimer: Yeah, I still don't own Castle.

Reason: Chapter 4

With that exchange done, we drove back to the precinct. Little did we know that today would cause change. Good change.

Today was a big step in our relationship. It may seem small to you, but for us, it was huge. You'll see what I mean.

Oo..oO

"But what would the jewel be doing down there?" Beckett leaned on her desk, staring at the murder board. She pulled one of her chestnut curls and bit her lip, her eyes narrowed in thought. It was adorable.

Since we'd returned to the precinct, Lanie had I.D'd our vic. Colten Albeni, 26. He was a native New Yorker, one brother, dead father. Mother moved to Jersey a few years back. We were trying to get a hold of the brother, Tristen Albeni, 29.

Ryan had found that Colten Albeni had a rap sheet. What was that rap sheet for, you ask? Guess.

Jewel thievery. The second I heard that, I dropped all theories of C.I.A and mole people and embraced those of descendents of pirates and backstabbing. Or shooting as the case may be.

"Maybe the grandsons of pirates dropped it while they removed the treasure from the cavern." It was a cavern now, no longer a chasm. Everyone knows that pirates bury their treasure in caverns. Well, I'm pretty sure they do.

"I can understand they treasure theory." Beckett said, not looking away from the board. I froze. She agreed with my theory? Whaaaa?

"It's your obsession with the descendents of pirates I don't understand!" She turned to look at me, obviously quite annoyed. Who could blame her? I'd been going on about pirates for hours now.

"It makes a better story. Think about it." I put on my story teller face.

"Oh, here we go." said Beckett, raising her eyebrows at me.

"Colten hears a whisper of a group of young gentlemen who have come in possession of a map. It belongs to their fathers' fathers' fathers who were pirates together. Colten is interested. He contacts these men in the hopes of getting in. They could use the extra hand so...Sure, they say. We'd love help. So the treasure recovery commences. The hole is dug over a period of days and, finally, they hit the chest. It sits on a layer of rocks, pristine. They open it and find the treasure. Colten pockets a diamond. When the chest is free, the group of pirates turns on Colten, shooting him in the back. They let his body fall. They must fill the hole but, someone is coming. They grab the chest and run, leaving Colten in a pit, forever more." Beckett was still staring at me, only her arms were crossed.

"They dug the hole over a period of days?" She looked disbelieving. "Castle, that hole is twelve feet deep and perfectly straight!" I sigh.

"Okay, so maybe it's not perfect but it's something!"

"Um, yeah, if that something is ridiculous!" I looked away from her and at the murder board. That was strange.

"Hey Beckett, do you see that?" I pointed at an overhead picture of the park. She came in closer.

"What? Where," she asked.

I pointed at the spot.

"Sonofa..."

Oo..oO

Ten minutes later, we were heading to city hall. While looking for an explanation for the hole, Beckett had marked all the construction in that area that involved digging on the map. Close to our murder scene, a spot was marked off. Construction of a fountain. 7x2.5 ft and 12 feet deep. It was either marked in the wrong place or someone had dug it in the wrong place. We had to talk to the head of construction. If there was such a person. Beckett told me otherwise.

I have no idea why it took us so long to notice the connection.

Okay, yes I do. The whole time, Beckett had been focusing on the victim and the diamond. I was supposed to be looking at the scene. I chose to look at her instead. I regret nothing.

"This kind of blows your pirate theory outta the water." Beckett didn't look at me. Her and her straight faced teasing...

"Not really." I said, keeping my face as neutral as hers.

"Yeah, it does. What? Are the pirates in charge of the construction company now?"

"That is completely-"

"Ridiculous?"

"I was going to say brilliant." I looked over at her, smiling. That theory was so much better than my nonexistent one!

"How about this, Castle," She was still focused on her driving. "If it really is pirates, I go out to dinner with you." I immediately prayed to everything that it be pirates.

"However," Now she looked at me. "If you lose-"

"You take me to dinner?" She rolled her eyes.

"In your dreams. If you lose, you buy dinner for the whole homicide department."

Alright, I thought. Not so bad.

"Oh. And you have to wear a dress while serving everyone." She looked away.

Damn, she's bad. An idea struck me.

"Only if you promise to wear a dress if you lose." She turned her head quickly to look at me. I waggled my eyebrows. She raised one of hers. I smiled evilly. She rolled her eyes. And I knew she would say yes.

"Deal," she sighed as she turned her attention back to the road.

I did a small celebratory fist pump. I would find a pirate connection, even if it killed me.

Oo..oO

Mr. Carlson was the man in charge of the fountain project. The folks at city hall directed us to his office. Across town. All this driving had put Beckett in a bad mood. Mr. Carlson had better be co-operative, I thought. It would get real ugly, real fast if he wasn't.

Carlson's office was spacious. There were no personal pictures in it, only paintings. I didn't think he'd picked them out himself. He was a slim man, taller than Beckett, shorter than me. I put him at about 5,11. Our research told us he was 45. With his dyed brown hair, he looked more like 42. At best.

"Mr. Carlson-" Beckett began.

"Call me Gary, Detective." he said as he flashed what he considered to be a charming smile as he looked her up and down.

"Yeah," said Beckett, "Are you aware that a body was found in the hole dug for your fountain?"

"Oh, yes...I heard about that," He nodded a sympathetic manner, "A woman jogging saw it, correct?"

"We can't discuss-"I started but Beckett shot me a look and I fell silent.

"Yes," she continued. The poor woman had been out jogging when she's seen the blood on the ground near the hole. She looked in and saw the body. Called it in and promptly went into shock.

"Terrible, terrible," Carlson said, looking away. "Do you know who the victim is?"

"We can't discuss an ongoing investigation," she said coolly. Hypocrite.

"Of course," he looked back at Beckett and smiled slightly. "Now, this may sound cold..." Then I realized he wasn't looking at Beckett's face. He was looking at her chest. What a slimy...

"What may sound cold, Gary?" I asked with a cool smile. He looked at me sharply, as did Beckett. I didn't even blink.

"Well," he began, "When can construction resume? I have a deadline."

"Your deadline will have to be pushed back," Beckett said, unsympathetically.

"But the mayor..."

"I'm sure the mayor will understand," I said with a smile, albeit a cold one. I did not like this man.

Beckett stood and I followed. Gary stood last. Hah. Slow poke.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Carlson."Beckett said courteously. She nodded her head slightly and turned to leave.

"Detective?" Carlson asked. Beckett turned back.

"Yes, Mr. Carlson?" He held out a card.

"Call me." I glared at him. He noticed and started to sputter. "I mean, if you need anything. For the case."

"We have your number on file, Mr. Carlson," she said, ignoring the card. "But thank you."

"You," he said, putting emphasis on the word, "Can call me Gary." He smiled. My glare deepened. Gary ignored it.

"Good bye, Mr. Carlson." Beckett said before walking away. I glared at him a little more before following her. Before I left completely, I shouted over my shoulder.

"See ya, Gary!"

Oh, I was going to get hell for that, I could tell.

A couple minutes later in the car, my theory came true.

"What the hell was that?"Beckett asked, angrily.

"A taxi. They're often seen here."

"Gary? GARY?"

"Oh, Gary! Nice guy, don't you think?"

"No, I do not think."

"That's not fair, yes you do." The look she gave me was lethal.

"Why did you have to be so...so..."

"Charming?"

"Abrasive! It won't help us if he refuses to talk because you were an ass!"

"He was flirting with you!" Now I was getting a little upset.

"I can take care of myself, Castle."

"It was bothering me! He was treating you like an idiot! Disrespecting you!"

"How so, Castle? Where did you get that from? I sure as hell didn't see it."

"He was treating you like an object. Like women detectives are just for flirting with! He wasn't taking you seriously!"

"No one takes me seriously. Occupational hazard of being a female detective."

"Well, it bothered me. You're so much more than what he acted like you were."

She was silent. Then she let out a breath.

"Thank you, Castle. But next time, could you maybe not say anything?"

"Yeah." I looked down. I knew that what I had done was stupid but there was just something about him.

Beckett stopped the car and I realized we were back at the precinct. She didn't get out. As I was about to open the door, she put a hand on mine. I looked at it for a moment and then at her. She was smiling slightly at me.

"Thank you." She said quietly. I smiled back and put my other hand on top of hers and squeezed.

"Always." I held eye contact with her. I tried to show her how I felt, how I would always be there for her. I thought I saw a spark of something in her eyes but then... she looked away. I opened the door and stepped out.

She sent me home soon after that.

Oo..oO

That is why I can't leave her. I've promised always. I've made bets. She makes me happy. She makes me better. She makes me...me.

Today was great and I expect tomorrow will be even better.

A/N: So the fight may have been a bit weird. As may have Gary. We'll meet more of the vic's family and friends soon, start developing a theory. And who will win the bet? Thank you for reading! Please review, it's really helpful.