Chapter 5

Kate was the one to call him again the next morning. She went easy on him – didn't call him at the abnormally early hours that she was used to. A homicide call had gotten her up in the wee hours. There wasn't any need to subject him to that just for the fun of it. Maybe if he was in the city, then yeah, she'd wake him up. She'd want him with her. She does want him with her. That's why, unlike their usual protocol, she called him in the morning when she got back to precinct.

After making sure the boys were busy (Ryan was going through surveillance videos, and Esposito was running financials on three possible leads), she slipped into the break room, closed the blinds and dialed his number. Castle picked up after two rings. The phone must've been on the bed.

"Castle," he rasped out.

"Mm. I know," she replied.

"Shh, Kate, not so loud!" he groaned.

She closed her eyes, and smiled, imagining that he must've been squishing his face into the pillow from the way his voice was muffled. Muffled, and freshly awoken. Raspy, raw and deep.

Unintentionally, her voice was low too.

"You put on quite the performance last night, baby."

"I should be offended, but I am so turned on."

She barked out a single ha.

"No, really. I have dreamt about you saying just that so many times. Maybe with less laughter in your voice, but eh – I'll take what I get," he said, causing her to chuckle. "I didn't think you would call."

"And pass up the opportunity to rib you? I don't think so."

"No. That I was expecting. Jess very kindly stuck a post-it to my forehead – and another one I don't know where she placed, but it ended up on my butt – with a short, yet succinct summary of last night's events – your call being the highlight."

Kate smiled, thinking about how the call was the highlight of her day too, not that she'd be telling him that.

"I'm sure," she said instead.

"I should've told you I'd be out."

"You don't have to report in to me, Castle," she said uncomfortably.

He sensed the discomfort in her voice. "Well, you are my work wife."

"We're not at work."

"Notice how you're not denying you're my work-wife."

"Only because I know you won't listen to me anyway."

"You know me so well," he said fondly, and then coughed something that sounded suspiciously like "wife". "Anyway, I should have told you. I mean, what if I went missing in my state of drunkenness? You'd be worried sick!"

"You're right, I would," she said.

"Aww, Beckett. That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"Because they'd probably find you naked – riding a horse, or drifting around on a boat, or in someone's pool; and I'd have to deal with the press."

"Hmpf. Nothing says I care like 'I don't want to deal with you'."

"And yet, I deal with you every day, Castle. What does that say?" she said, feeling bold.

"I meant it, Kate," he said softly in return.

"Hmm?"

"You should come down here, just for a couple of days."

"Castle – "

"Even you need a break, Beckett. I don't think Montgomery would be against it. Hell, he might even pay me to get you out of there for a bit."

"I think you're mistaking me for – huh, I don't know – you."

"Oh yeah? Ask him for the weekend off. See what he thinks about it."

"Hah! You really think I'd fall for that, Castle?"

"It was worth a shot."

"You're incorrigible."

"I try."

"Why do I have the feeling that you were less drunk yesterday than you were letting on?"

"You're a suspicious person. Good thing, given your job."

"You remember most of our conversation."

"I always do."

"Even though you were drunk?"

"Doesn't change how seriously I take what you say."

"I am torn between laughing at you and being touched."

"Be touched. It'll save us both the trouble, and" he said.

"And?"

"And I like the idea of you being touched by me," he said, and she could hear the grin in his voice. She knew by now that he wasn't as crass as he made it seem. This is what he did. He sensed when she needed a diversion, and he provided it to her – nicely packed and parceled.

"I'm sure you do, Castle."

"Tell me what's going on at your end? I miss the precinct too, you know."

"Here I thought you just missed me."

"I miss you most," he said being all sincere again. She was asking for it, wasn't she? It wasn't that she regretted getting him to say such things. Not when it made her feel this way. But she didn't understand why she was doing it. Couldn't understand why she needed to hear him being so – just so darn Castle about it."

"The guys miss you too. They were talking about you the other day."

"Really?" he asked, sounding happy.

His eyes were probably crinkling at the corners like they often did when he was pleased. She liked that about his smile; the fact that it reached his eyes. Liked it even more when she put it there; felt proud about it – about returning some of the joy he brought her. It wasn't conventional. They didn't crack inane, overdone jokes. No. He would most often say something smart. A reference that she would get and he'd be inordinately pleased with her; sometimes it was just a well placed pun; a lot of times, it was innuendo. She loved it all, matching him wit for wit – something she knew he loved about their relationship (their relationship?) because the corners of his mouth would twitch, and his eyes would twinkle – genuinely, honest to God, twinkle.

"Yeah," she said, "They were arguing about which one of them would ask you about borrowing your new controller."

"Oh," he said flatly, and she laughed.

"Break's over, Castle. I've got to get back to work."

"Okay," he said, and sighed, sounding like a dejected puppy.

"We'll talk later. Go have a bath."

"How do you know I haven't already?"

"You're the one who said it. I know you well."

"Hmm. You do. Hey, Kate?"

The way he said her name just then – it sent tingles down her spine, all the way to her toes."

"Yeah?" she whispered.

"You and Jess didn't exchange numbers, did you?"

Kate laughed evilly.

"Aww. Come on. Did you?"

"There's video evidence of last night, isn't there?"

"Not as turned on, oddly. Did you?" he repeated.

"Nope."

"Good."

"But I'm a detective, Castle. I'll find a way to get that video."

"You wouldn't go that far," he said confidently.

"Try me."

"I'd love to," he parried.

"Watch it, , or you'll find some interesting stuff about you on the internet."

"You'd know exactly where to find it, wouldn't you?"

"Easily enough on any search engine, I'm sure."

"Uhuh. Not on the message boards, as CastleGroupie17?"

"Nope," she said, popping the P.

"RCsNumber1Fan?"

"Try again."

"Does that mean you are on there?"

"You'll never know, one way or the other."

"I'll figure it out."

"I'm gonna go now, Castle. Some of us have real work to do."

"Ouch. So feisty in the morning."

"You have no idea."

"Tease."

"Bye, Rick!" she said, intentionally rolling the R.

"Until next time, Kate."

A/N: There ya go. Bantery innuendous fluff. Fluffy innuendous banter? (I know innuendous isn't a word. I think it ought to be.) You know the drill.

To the guest reviewers, and the people who've turned off private messaging – I can't reply to you individually, but know that I appreciate all the reviews. Thank you, all.