Chapter 2:

Getting Roy Involved

Richard Castle was famous in the 12th Precinct of New York for pulling off various stupid ideas. However, none of them paled in comparison to his latest, which was to essentially force Kate Beckett to go on vacation with him to the Hamptons. He knew that she might be a little mad when she found out about it, but also knew she would enjoy a week of constant pampering and detoxing herself from the day to day murder and gore she referred to in their last conversation. He never knew she felt that way about her job. She had always kept herself very professional in the workplace and never let anyone too close to seeing any emotions. He doubted that even Lanie knew what was going on in her head. When he got back to his loft and went to bed (not before checking on Alexis and kissing her lightly on the temple) all he could think about was his conversation with Beckett and the painful look on her face. He realized he hadn't stopped thinking about her during the whole case, but now he realized he was in deep trouble.

He cared for her, that much was certain. However, he wasn't completely sure about Beckett's feelings about him. He had tried not to make things blatantly obvious, to which he felt like he was doing a pretty good job. Everyone else, however, seemed to notice that there might be something between them. Esposito and Ryan often commented on their little spats they would have, or comment on the way he shadowed her. His answer was always the same: "It's for research". He knew he was only kidding himself. One look at her when she walked up to him on the first day of their very first case together, and Richard Castle, award winning author and bachelor, was hooked. He might have had a few distractions along the way that deterred him for a while, but he wasn't the only one. Jealousy drove him nuts every time she decided to go out on a date with another man.

Her relationship with Demming made his blood boil. Even though he told himself he only wanted to see her happy, what he really wanted to do, deep down, was mark her for his own so that every eligible man in the state of New York (and even in the world) could see that she was spoken for. At his going away party, he thought he might have seen a glimmer of what she felt, but then Gina showed up and Beckett seemed to close herself off again. This plan he had in store for her was a good way (he thought to himself) to express the way he felt about her. So he called the one person that he knew could help him out.

Roy Montgomery.

"Castle? What's the matter? Do you realize what time it is?"

Oops. He looked at the clock on his bedside table to find that it was a little after midnight. Roy had been most assuredly asleep. The old man sounded gruff and annoyed, so Castle knew that he had best get to the point as quickly as possible so that the Captain could get some sleep.

"Nothing's wrong, sir. Well, I take that back. Something's wrong with Beckett," he paused, hoping that Roy would take the bait and be willing to help.

"What's wrong with Kate? She seemed fine when I left this evening for home. What did you do? Did you do something to hurt her? Do I have to come and personally kick your ass?" Roy retorted, concerned.

"No, sir. I didn't hurt her, I swear. So no ass kicking. I was actually calling because I'm concerned about her mental and emotional health. As her friend, I've been noticing that she's been throwing herself into countless cases without taking a break for herself. I'm starting to get a little worried…"

Roy cut him off. "She's been doing that for as long as I can remember. She's one of my best detectives. I'm sure she's fine. She would have said something by now."

"With all due respect, sir….you didn't witness her crying in the bullpen when no one else was around," Castle replied.

"She did what now? Does she know you're calling? She'd kick your ass if she ever found out. After she was done with you, she'd chew me out. What do you want? What do you suggest I do about this?"

"Make her go on vacation with me," Castle replied simply, "for a whole week. I just want to be able to show her that not all the world is murder, blood and gore. Things could be beautiful as well."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before any sort of reply was heard. Roy let out a sigh. "She's going to be mad at you, you know. I'm not responsible for what she's going to do with you. However, I have two questions to ask before I even think about helping you. What exactly is driving you to suddenly pull this very extravagant scheme? You're not just doing this in order to make her into another notch on your bedpost, are you? If that's true, then I'll kick your ass for her."

"I'm not completely sure about how I feel about her. I was kind of hoping that this trip would help me find out. I don't really want to make that jump without knowing how she feels first. She's been such a good friend that I don't really want to mess things up with her. That's really all I was hoping to gain. To be honest, I have thought about what sleeping with her would be like, but then I realized that I didn't want just sex with her. I'm getting kind of old for that stuff to be happening, and I also need to start being a better role model for Alexis. I realize that I should have done that long ago. With all that being said, will you help me?" Rick finished hopefully.

"Fine. I'll help. She can have next week off to "relax" or whatever with you. However, if this gets out that I helped you, your ass is mine. Now, if you don't mind, I'd love to go back to sleep now. Some of us have actual jobs, remember?"

"Thank you, sir! You won't regret it!" Castle said excitedly, his brain already working on the next stage of his plan…..

A/N: Sorry I haven't written as quickly as I know some of you would like. I'm writing out chapters right now as fast as I can. Also, I've been frustrated because as I finished this chapter and tried to post it, the site refused to let me log in...prompting anger and swearing out of me. I love all of the reviews, story alerts and Favorite Story emails I've been getting lately. They have really been brightening my day and have motivated me into thinking of ideas a lot faster. Please keep the reviews coming!