By the time the afternoon comes to a close, Stacy Ravel and David Harper have both confessed to having a hand in the murder of Christopher Ravel. With both of them in custody, the thought of getting everything out in the open with Castle becomes a very real possibility.
"Hey, anyone else up for a beer at the Old Haunt?" Ryan asks as they all filter back into the bullpen from the interrogation and observation rooms.
"What, are you lonely since Jenny went to go visit her grandparents for the weekend?" Esposito laughs. "That's sad, bro. But I could go for a cold one. We could give Castle a send-off before he leaves us in the lurch for a month."
Kate's mouth drops open at the suggestion, her plans with Castle falling apart before she even recognizes what's happening. Her eyes lock with his, and he apologetically shrugs his shoulders, doing his best to salvage the situation.
"While I appreciate the sentiment, I don't know if I should." Castle appears to do his best to sound disappointed, even adding the family aspect to really sell his excuse. "This is the first time I've taken a trip this long since before Alexis, so I need to spend some time with her before I leave on Sunday."
"Yeah, and I have plans, too," Kate says, though it doesn't look like the boys believe her for a second.
"Bullshit, Beckett," Espo bites back, calling her bluff. "If I know you, you're going to open a bottle of wine and read for the rest of the night."
"And anyway, it's just a beer or two. We're not asking you guys to go out on a bender with us, for God's sake." Ryan joins in, doing his best to make them feel guilty about not going. "Except for Castle, I believe we all have to work tomorrow."
Kate looks to Castle when the boys go back to their desks to retrieve their jackets, and he answers with a shoulder shrug. It was only just after 5 in the evening, after all, and truth be told, she could probably use a little liquid courage tonight.
"Well?" Ryan asks when they return to Kate's desk.
"I wouldn't want you to be lonely, Ryan," Kate tells him.
"And since you're going to my bar," Castle agrees, taking Kate's jacket before she can reach it and holding it open for her. "I should probably go and supervise, which is really code for buying all the alcohol."
They agree to meet at the bar in thirty minutes, the boys deciding to take a cab while Beckett suggests that Castle ride with her.
Once Castle and Beckett are safely in the car and making their way toward the Old Haunt, she decides it's time to start talking.
"I'm sorry, Castle."
"For what?"
"More than you know. But for starters, let's go with the boring case and the boys hijacking our evening."
"You didn't have any control over the case. If you did, I'd start suspecting you for murder. Which, if you think about it, would erase the boring aspect altogether."
"Castle," she laughs, loving how he can take her serious moment and make her grin from ear to ear. "We had plans tonight." The words sound odd coming out of her mouth for various reasons, the most obvious being that she has a smile on her face though she is obviously disappointed by the way the evening has progressed.
"Let's just play it by ear. If nothing else, we'll already be in the right bar."
"Sure, so all your customers can watch us walk down the stairs to your office together."
"Why Detective, are you worried about what a bunch of people who don't know you might think?"
"I…" she starts, though she doesn't know how to put into words what she's thinking. Truth be told, she couldn't care less about what the people in the bar think about her. And those there who do know her also know that she's friends with Castle.
But she's careful with her words. She doesn't know what Castle expects from their talk. Hell, she doesn't even know what she expects. All she knows is that they can't possibly continue in this holding pattern they've found themselves in, not when the idea of him going away for a month is almost enough to give her a panic attack.
"I'm just messing with you, Kate," Castle finally says, saving her from having to find the right words to explain her apprehension. "If it makes you feel any better, Brian is working tonight. He knows you."
Kate nods, not knowing what else to say and fearful that any words she does say could be the wrong ones. They ride the remaining blocks to the Old Haunt in silence, the uncertainty of the evening hanging thick between them.
Ryan and Esposito have already taken possession of their usual booth when they arrive. Ryan waves them over, and they walk toward the back corner, Kate's breaths coming harder as they get closer.
"You okay?" Castle's asks, not even waiting for an answer before he takes her hand and slides his fingers between her own.
"Just...not what I expected to be doing tonight, that's all," she explains.
"Hey," he says, drawing in close to her and giving her hand a squeeze as he speaks into her ear, "It's just drinks with the boys, something we've done many times before. No reason to be nervous." He turns his head and smiles at her. And despite her nerves, she returns the smile as they approach the booth.
"Care to share with the class?" Ryan asks as they arrive, and Kate realizes that Castle has once again taken her uncertainty and replaced it with a grin.
"Castle's just disappointed that the case wasn't more exciting," she lies, but the boys seem to accept her answer.
"I'm going to go set up a tab for us," Castle explains to them all, though his words are more directly aimed at Kate. He starts to walk toward the bar and she realizes their hands are still joined. "You want the usual?"
She nods, only releasing his hand when it becomes absolutely necessary. Ryan mutters something about helping him carry back drinks and hurries after Castle, leaving her alone with Esposito. He gives her a meaningful look, but she shakes it off, choosing instead to scoot her way into the far side of the booth.
"That's new," he remarks, sitting across from her as his brow rising in suspicion.
"Don't know what you're talking about, Espo." She denies his accusation, but can't look him in the eye. And, considering how long she's known Javier, she can tell when he doesn't believe her.
He hums, nodding his head slightly and leaning over the table, he takes his time, glances at the bar. "I get it, you know. Just don't think that you and Castle can spend four years dancing around each other and have no one notice."
"There's nothing to notice."
"If you tell Castle I said this, I'll deny it," he warns as he lowers his voice, "but 'methinks the lady doth protest too much.'"
"Hamlet? Really, Javi, I'm impressed."
"You get the point. And stop trying to change the subject." Javi glances toward the bar again, and Kate's eyes follow, watching Castle and Ryan as they start to make their way back over to their booth. "He's good for you. And he isn't the same guy who walked into the precinct for the first time four years ago. I mean that in a good way."
Almost two hours later, Kate is finishing her second beer and starting to wonder if her plans with Castle will have to wait for another night. They've had a good time, talking mostly about Castle's book tour since their most recent case was such a bore, but Ryan doesn't seem like he's in any hurry to go home to an empty apartment.
The combination of the last couple of emotionally draining days and the alcohol have warmed her, bringing a slight flush to her cheeks. She leans back in the booth, doing her best to stretch in the confined space. She's been holding Castle's hand most of the evening, but her attempt to stretch has disconnected their hands, and his arm is was now over her shoulders atop the booth.
She cuddles into his side, the heat of his body so alluring that she briefly forgets that the boys are sitting across from her. Castle's arm comes down off the booth and cradles her shoulder, his hand brushing against her right arm and it heightens her senses. As much as she wants to admonish him for his move, she can't bring herself to shift except to give it right back to him by resting her hand on his knee under the table.
When she finally regains herself enough to bring her attention back to Ryan and Esposito, she's just in time to catch Espo elbowing Ryan in the arm. Ryan gets the hint quickly, jumping up from the booth, Espo following closely behind, making excuses about work tomorrow and needing a good night's sleep.
Castle stands, taking her hand and helping her out of the booth, and they follow the boys out onto the street while they catch a cab. Kate starts to think they really aren't going to do this tonight, that she will have to suffer another night of sleeplessness brought on by the warm feel of his fingers on her arm and the way he held her hand like he'd been doing it for years.
Once they're alone-or at least minus Ryan and Esposito-Castle turns to her. "You looked about ready to fall asleep in the booth. You still want to do this tonight? I don't leave for another couple days."
She nods, hoping it is enough to convince him of her desire to continue their evening. "Do I have to walk back in there with you and have the whole bar watch us go down to your office?"
Castle laughs, drawing her in close and pointing her around the corner. "There's a stairwell about fifty yards down on the right once you turn the corner. After I bought the bar, I had the same thought. No need for everyone to always know I'm here all the time. Pass key is your badge number."
"You're not coming too?" she asks, making the decision to forget his choice of passwords.
"I'll go back in, let Brian know that I'm going down to the office to write and not to disturb me. Light switch is on the left once you get in the door. See you in five minutes?"
"Yeah, five minutes." She smiles and their hands separate as he walks back down the stairs into the bar. Only after he's gone does she start walking down the street and around the corner, wondering why it felt so wrong not to kiss him goodbye.
Thank you to everyone who is reading, reviewing, following, favoriting, etc. I really appreciate all your kind words. And a BIG thanks to K for all her help and support along the way.