Chapter 4

What does Castle want for his IOU? Hmmmmm

After a long day of chasing down leads and suspects with little success, Kate entered her apartment, dropped her purse on the couch and put her handheld in a drawer in the living room. The first thing she did after that was take a shower.

Peeling off clothes that were caked with sweat and city grime she stepped under the steaming water. She closed her eyes and stood there for a minute letting it wash away the remnants of her hangover.

After getting all clean and relaxed she stepped out and wrapped a towel around herself. She was drying off her hair when her phone rang. Looking at the caller ID she was that it was Castle. "didn't we agree that you're only allowed to bug me at work?"

"Careful detective, you owe me one remember?"

She sighed. "Yeah, I do. So what's it going to be?"

"I'm going to take you to dinner tomorrow night."

She almost dropped the phone "excuse me, what?"

"there is this little place, just a hole in the wall. A little grungy but they make the best burger you'll ever eat."

"Castle, I am not going on a date with you."

"See, now you're putting words in my mouth. It doesn't have to be a date. Just one friend buying the other a meal. Nothing funny, I promise."

Beckett quickly weighed the pros and cons of arguing and settled on it wasn't worth it. "What time?"

"I'll pick you up at 6:30"

He sounded so excited that she couldn't help but wonder where they were going. "Alright. See you then."

She hung up and slipped into a par of worn sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. She stared at her phone for a minute before dialing a number she knew well.

"Hey girl, what's going on?"

"Hey Lanie" Kate said. "Are you busy? I could use some help."

"What's up? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I just need a little girl time."

"Give me half an hour and I'll be over."

"Thanks Lanie" Kate settled down on the couch and flipped on the TV. The only things playing on her basic cable were the news and some documentary about bugs. She picked the news. While she waited for Lanie she should back to that morning.

The breakfast Castle has sent had been amazing. She couldn't remember the last time she had treated herself to anything but the occasional pastry with her morning coffee. Then there was the conversation she had had with Ryan and Esposito.

She had only been at her desk for a minute when she felt someone staring and looked up to see her two partners standing next to her. "Can I help you?"

"We just want you to know that whatever happens with this offer" Ryan started.

"We're behind you a hundred percent." Esposito finished.

"I haven't made a decision yet."

"Well, we're with you no matter what" Ryan said.

"You know you'd be great at it." Esposito said with a smile.

Kate blushed "Thanks guys, I appreciate it. And you will be among the first to know what happens."

Then the captain had called her into his office, again. "I want you to take tomorrow off detective."

"Sir, I'm fine, I don't need-"

"You haven't had a day off in almost a year."

"We're in the middle of a case."

"Detective Beckett, you haven't taken a day off in almost a year. And even then it was because you house had gotten blown up. Now I put a lot on your plate the other day and I don't want you making a decision when you're overworked or overtired."

"I understand sir but-"

"Ryan and Esposito are perfectly capable of handling this case. One day, that's all I'm asking."

"Yes sir."

"Thank you detective."

A knock on the door brought her back to reality.

"Hey sweetie" Lanie said when Kate opened the door.

"Hey Lanie, thanks for coming." Beckett offered her friend a drink before they sat down on the couch.

"So what's going on that you need some girl time? It doesn't happen very often you know."

"I know" Kate said, pulling her legs in and resting her chin on her knees. "I may have gotten myself into a situation with Castle"

Lanie raised an eyebrow. "A situation? This is going to be good."

The detective shot her friend a silencing look before beginning to explain herself. She started with Captain Montgomery's offer, to which her friends' eyes got huge. She then told the ME about the vodka and showing up at Castle's door.

"That man not only didn't mind that you got drunk at his house but he brought you home and got you breakfast? Honey this one's a keeper."

"That's not exactly the situation" Beckett said wincing.

"You mean this story gets better? Go on." Lanie said with a big grin.

Kate roller her eyes. "Well when I thanked him for everything I told him that I owed him one. And he just called to say that he was going to take the IOU in the form of me going to dinner with him tomorrow night."

"Girl it's about time the two of you went on a date."

"It's not a date Lanie. Just dinner."

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that."

Kate hit her with a pillow.

Lanie laughed but her tone was serious. "Katie you gotta stop lying to yourself."

"Don't call me Katie."

"Girl, I'm serious. Either you need to stop lying to yourself or you need a pair of glasses." Kate looked up at her friend with a blank expression

Lanie continued "everyone in the precinct knows how writer boy feels about you. I've seen the way he acts around you and looks at you."

Kate stayed silent for a minute then nodded. "I've noticed." She rested her head back on her knees.

"I've also seen the way you look back at him."

Beckett focused on a spot on the wall and could feel herself blushing. She looked at her friend and nodded almost imperceptibly.

"He's different Kate. And you've already let him inside your head more than you've let anyone in in a long time."

"All of his marriages have failed. What if-"

"Did I ask you to marry him?"

Kate opened her mouth to say something but though better of it "no."

"Do you trust him?"

Kate nodded

"Do you like him?"

Kate hesitated and bit her lip before nodding again

"So give the poor guy a chance. In case you haven't noticed he doesn't hang around just for the story anymore."

"I know."

"Good. Montgomery gave you the day off tomorrow for a reason. You need to relax. That means sleep in, make yourself a big breakfast, don't call the precinct to check up on us and take a long bath with candles, and pretty music."

"Thanks Lanie, I will."

"Yeah, well I'll believe it when I see it." The both laughed and Lanie got up and headed for the door.

"Thanks again Lanie. I really needed this."

"Don't mention it, I'm glad I got to talk some sense into you."

They hugged goodbye and Beckett decided it was time for bed. She snuggled deep into her plush comforter and turned out the light. She reached out to set the alarm on her phone like she always did, but this time she stopped herself. She was going to sleep in like Lanie had suggested.

She drifted off to sleep wondering what tomorrow would bring.

Ok, so next chapter will be her day off and the dinner with Castle.

Reviews please? :D