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Kate didn't even glance at the clock when she'd finally stopped talking to him. "…until tomorrow Kate. Those three words resonated into her soul. He'd more than comforted her. He brought joy into her heart again. It made her giddy. His voice was a lifeline a voice across the miles. He knew he always knew the words she needed, the ones that would lift her up.
She felt so much lighter when she'd pulled the covers up and snuggled down in to her bed to sleep. She'd promised.
She promised him she would, sleep and tomorrow she would eat at least one "real" meal. He promised he would call her again tomorrow. She drifted off into a deep restful sleep.
She dreamed of him.
His large hands were caressing her skin, just as his words did earlier. His fingers stroking lightly, everywhere he touched instantly on fire. Her body arched involuntary to meet his touch. Wanting more. Desire burned through her veins. Please, Rick I need you. As he pulled away, she heard the word soon.
Kate woke up refreshed, she slept. A good night's sleep did wonders for her. She'd no memory of last nights dream.
She was sitting at her desk working her stack of file folders. The completed pile was larger than the un-completed one. The boys got off the elevator at the same time. Ryan was carrying a bottle of green sludge.
Jenny must have him on another 'cleanse'
Espo nudged Ryan and showed him his phone. They both looked at Kate.
Castle: Pastries are on their way, thank you for letting me know. How is Kate this morning?
"So it's Kate, instead of Beckett, Interesting." Ryan bumped the back of his hand to Espo's.
The elevator dinged. They both looked up. "Man I hope he remembered I like the sprinkle ones." Espo handed his phone to Ryan. "Text him back 'Bro. I'm getting a donut."
Espo: Castle, its Ryan. Espo is getting a donut. 'Kate' looks better.
Oh Shit! Castle grimaced. They noticed he'd typed Kate instead of his usual Beckett. They would notice they were detectives after all. Wait, they'd called him. They knew he would do anything for her, anything.
Castle: There are sprinkles for Espo, and cream filled for you; and a bear claw for Beckett.
Ryan looked up cream filled man oh man, and then he looked at his bottle of cleanse. Screw it, I'm eating donuts. He got up and headed into the break room. Espo was mid chew sprinkles were resting on his chin. Ryan wiped them off with a napkin. He retrieved the bear claw and found his cream filled one. Before he headed out he made him a cup of coffee.
Ryan laid the bear claw on Beckett's desk. Her face reflected the minor confusion. "It's from Castle."
Kate bit her lip. She was trying not to smile. "Dammit" Ryan noticed her reaction anyway.
He smiled, he saw.
Kate picked up her phone and sent a text
Kate: Thanks, the boys are on a sugar high.
Castle: You're welcome. Until tonight, Kate.
The smile spread across Kate's face as she laid her phone on the desk. She couldn't help it Ryan nudged Espo. He pointed to Beckett Mom and Dad are communicating.
Espo nodded and watched. He realized in that moment how much she needed him. The writer won her heart. It was about time. He'd witnessed the no-where boyfriends. Kate needed someone who would be there for her. Espo believed the writer fit the bill. If he hurt her he would kill him and his girlfriend could dispose of the body.
Kate felt so much better today, and the stack of folders was shrinking. She stood up and stretched. It was lunch time. She was trying to decide when she heard the ding of the elevator. She turned around to see who was coming in.
Jenny walked into the bullpen. She was bringing Kevin's lunch. Another bottle of cleanse, and something slimy looking in a plastic container.
"Busted" Espo pointed at the elevator.
Ryan's shoulders slumped. His 'breakfast' sat on his desk untouched. "Honey, I can explain. Castle sent donuts this morning. The cream filled ones." His voice was pleading.
Espo gave his partner the where are you balls? Look.
Jenny laughed. "Well it would have been rude not to accept cream filled donuts."
"That's what I thought; hey we just did the Mom and Dad mind meld thing." Ryan was pointing at himself and Jenny.
Espo was trying to keep a straight face. Kate burst out laughing, Espo followed suit, and soon they were all laughing.
"How about we all go to Remy's? Kate was thinking she could find something healthy there, she probably wouldn't, at least she was going to eat something. She picked up her phone." Lanie, hey it's me. We are going to eat at Remy's are you in? Great, okay see you there." Kate looked at the group. "She is wrapping up in the morgue. She said she would meet us there, she said Espo could place her order…..Zing, take that Espo. Their 'secret' was out. She'd known for a while. They weren't very good at hiding their feelings.
Kate really enjoyed lunch. She couldn't resist the burger and fries combo. So, she didn't mind one bit adding a strawberry shake to the mix. Jenny shared cheese fries and split a burger with Kevin. Lanie stole the pickles from Javi's burger. The banter back and forth was teasing and loving. She cared about each and every person at this table. They were family. Kate fought back tears; she wished her partner was here. She didn't feel complete unless he was by her side. She missed him, even when he annoyed the living daylights out of her.
"….so is Dad calling tonight?" Jenny poked Ryan in the ribs.
"Yes," Kate cleared her throat. He is in San Antonio, he should finish the book signing at four; and then he has a reading at five….At a little theater on the river walk."
Everyone at the table froze.
"He had Paula's office send me the schedule." Kate added sheepishly.
Lanie reached over and hugged her. "He wants you to know where he is." She whispered into her friend's ear.
Kate nodded. He knew she needed to know where he was. When he'd discovered she'd tracked him thru the website. He had Paula messenger his itinerary to her doorstep. It was there this morning when she'd retrieved her paper.
No wonder he was exhausted when he came back from a tour. Paula had him running from daylight to dark. The only time he had to himself was late at night. Meet and Greets, Cocktails with executives the list was endless. She knew he enjoyed meeting the fans, she also knew he would hate the rubbing elbows with the executives. He was a people person, but he wanted real. He'd commented to her before about how he missed seeing the places he'd been. His views were mostly of airports, hotels and the backs of limos. He wasn't complaining he loved his life. Sometimes he just wanted to escape and discover the wonders each city possessed. Castle been a lot of places; he hadn't seen most of them.
Kate attention returned to her friends. She looked at her Dad's watch. "We need to get back."
The group gathered their belongings. Ryan and Jenny headed off together. Ryan said he would meet them outside. Kate saw the desperate glances between Espo and Lanie. She announced she was going to use the restroom, leaving the two of them alone to say goodbye.
She could use a few minutes to herself. She was tempted to send a text, but she didn't want to interrupt his lunch. He was dining with Rep's from one of the book chains.
She heard a ding on her phone.
Castle: texting under table, soooo bored.
Kate rolled her eyes.
She was really looking forward to talking with him tonight. Espo and Lanie were getting up from the table when she returned.
"You might want to wipe off Lanie's lipstick Espo; it's not your shade." Kate walked past them and found Ryan waiting by the door. They fell in step and walked to the precinct.
Kate closed the folder, it was the last one in her to do pile, and it felt great to finish the task. The paper work was hated by all.
This day was over Kate was looking forward to having the week-end off. She wasn't on call for a change. She looked over, his chair was empty, he was going to call. She went home.
Kate slid her key into the lock, dropping her keys in the bowl by the front door. She removed her badge and gun from the holster. She took off her Dad's watch and her Mothers necklace and placed them on her dresser. Her gun she stored in the nightstand by her bed. She toed off her shoes and headed into the bathroom to shower, stripping as she walked.
She was drying her hair with a towel when her phone rang.
"Hey Dad."
"Katie, you sound out of breath, are you okay?
"I just got out of the shower."
"Do you want to call me back?"
"No, no I'm dressed I was drying my hair."
"I haven't heard from you, I was wondering if you'd like to like to go to dinner tomorrow night."
Kate checked the itinerary: Castle would be at a party until late. (She felt bad for checking, but she didn't want to miss a chance to talk to him)" I'd like that Dad."
"I'll make reservations for 7:30 so we can avoid the crowd."
"Okay tomorrow 7:30 it's a date." Kate was using her fingers to comb thru her wet locks.
"I'll see you tomorrow"
"Bye Dad." Her Dad didn't like to chit-chat especially by phone.
Kate headed to the kitchen. She opened the fridge, and grabbed water.
She was going to read awhile. She grabbed a book, Patterson, no not tonight. Heat Wave; it was the one that started it all. She loved the references to the precinct. The detective remembered him catching her reading in the bathroom. He'd told her the sex was on page 106. Okay, she'd read it more than once. She rolled her eyes. He knew that she'd read his books, his knowing things unnerved her at times.
She was lying on the couch with heat wave sprawled across her chest. She was sound asleep. there was something making noise in the distance. She didn't want to wake up. She was kissing him. His lips were so soft. He knew how to kiss. She heard it again. It was her phone, oh no. She knocked the ringing phone from the coffee table; she dove over the table to reach the phone.
"Beck….Hello?"
"Kate are you okay?"
"Fine, I'm fine. I dropped the phone. (She didn't tell him about diving over the table) how are you?"
"Better now."
She smiled, she was too.
"Today was incredibly boring, except the three hours I spent with the fans. I enjoyed that." Castle was running his hands through his hair. He wanted to know if she was going to be open and honest and like she was last night.
"The gang went to lunch at Remy's today, Ryan was busted by Jenny; he ate donuts instead of cleansing. Espo was busted by me. He had lipstick on his face. It was Lanie's shade."
"I'm sorry I missed it"
"Yea, me too. I missed having you there. It didn't seem right. Not having my partner there."
He wanted to know what 'partners' meant to her. To him it meant everything.
"Kate what does partners mean to you?" She was quiet he was afraid he'd pushed to hard. He waited she finally responded.
"I count on you, to…to work with me side by side. I rely on you to have my back, I trust you with my life."
"Is that all you want a working relationship? Don't get me wrong, I love working with you Kate, but I'd like more. I care about you, Kate."
"More?"
"Yes"
"What is your idea of more?"
"A personal relationship. I need to demonstrate my feeling for you. Touching, kissing. Kate I've waited for you because you're important to me."
She couldn't stop the words. "…Oh, like you waited when you showed up with your ex-wife on your arm. When you took her instead of me to the Hampton's?" She closed her eyes and bit her hand. She couldn't believe she just said that.
"You were with Demming." He replied calmly
"I broke up with him; I wanted to go with you. I took you out in the hall to tell you." Kate couldn't believe how much pain she still felt.
Castle held his hand to his forehead. This can't be happening. He needed aspirin or a fifth of scotch. "Kate, she went to make me write. She left after the first week. I was in danger of losing my contract. I'd been upset over seeing you with another guy. I couldn't write."
"So you didn't sleep with her?"
"No, I did not sleep with her, she wasn't you. It wouldn't be fair to her."
"I admit I was jealous."
"Kate, you know I want you. We have an undeniable chemistry, or do you want to deny it."
"No"
His voice was husky "What are we waiting for Kate?"
"I'm scared, okay. I…I don't want to just be number three."
"Kate, if I just wanted to get laid. I could accomplish that easily, but you already know that don't you?"
"Yes"
"Because?"
"Okay, I admit I….I want you too i've thought about it, but what happens next? You've married twice and it didn't work out, why do you think we will."
"Oh, Kate, they weren't you. I know now that I married for the wrong reasons. I wasn't in love with either one. Meredith was pregnant. I felt obligated. I tried to make it work, until I came home and found her in our bed with her director. Alexis was upstairs crying while she was … he sighed. I couldn't forgive her for neglecting our child while she was screwing her director. She was never cut out for motherhood. I should have taken Alexis and never married her. . I married Gina because I was lonely. I wanted Alexis to have two parents, it turns out I was lonelier in the relationship. I never loved her. We made sense on paper, but we don't live our lives on paper. She was as miserable as I was."
Neither of them said anything for a while Castle broke the silence
"Do you think I'm damaged goods Kate?"
"What! no. Why would you say that?"
"I'm trying to understand. You want to make love to me but you're scared that I can't have a real relationship? Is that why you're holding back. Or is this more real more than you can handle?"
"That's unfair"
"Is it? Kate, I've had a front row seat to your relationships with men you didn't love. What do you want Kate." He waited for her response.
"You I just want you."
"You know where I am, you have the week-end off. There is a red-eye flight in two hours say the words and I'll have your ticket waiting, I'll be here, waiting for you. He was praying she would choose him he needed her to choose him. His whole life he'd waited to be enough."
Kate wanted to say yes. Her heart was screaming yes. "Book it"
Tears welded in his eyes. "You need to leave in fifteen minutes. I'll have my car downstairs.
"Okay, see you soon." Kate hung up the phone.
She couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu.