Night Into Dawn and Beyond: Chapter 5

It had been a week since the case had been solved. A week since Kate had been able to concentrate. A week since Richard Castle had been in to sit in the chair by her desk. A whole week that Kate had been going over the fight, step by step in her mind. 'First I said, then he said, then I…' She was not allowed to concentrate on work. Slowly she had been falling behind on paperwork, making her work extra hours and getting behind on her sleep.

Ryan and Esposito had both been asking about "writer boy", as they called him. Wanting to know where he was, when he would come back, if he would come back. To all of these questions, Beckett had no answer. Never in her wildest dreams did she think that Rick would stop working with her, but she had completely walked out on him. Maybe it was possible…

Kate suddenly got up from her desk and began to walk towards the elevator. Ryan and Esposito began follow, thinking that she had perhaps gotten a call about a case.

"Lanie…" was all Kate had to say and they understood. Kate needed some privacy and some girl talk with her best friend.

Kate took the elevator down to the basement where Lainie's lab was kept. There were many, many things that Kate had to get off her chest and what better way than to tell her best friend? They had shared almost everything together. She knew that Lainie would probably kill her once Kate told her that she and Rick had sex, but at least she would be able to talk to someone about it. About what it meant, what she wanted, what she thought he wanted.

After arriving on the bottom floor, Kate took the hallways she knew from memory, leading her straight into Lanie's office area.

"I was wondering when you were gonna come see me." Lanie said not bothering to look up from the body she was examining.

Kate smiled, had to love Lanie. "What do you mean?" Kate asked acting oblivious. She knew that Lanie had probably realized what had been going on with her and Castle.

"Don't play dumb with me, girl. I know about you and writer boy. Mhmm…" Lanie looked up at Kate, waiting for her reply. Truth is, she suspected something was up, but what, she wasn't exactly sure.

"Where do you want me to start?" Kate asked giving in.

"From the beginning, where else?"

"Alright." Kate began with the long explanation of Castle staying over at her apartment when the serial killer had been trying to kill her. She told her about how she woke up in the middle of the night; how they watched a movie together. Then she began to tell her how things got heated and they started making out.

"You did what!" Lanie all but shouted.

"Shhh…you never know who's listening outside." Kate told her friend.

"Please girl. No one ever comes down here." Lanie told her and then motioned for her friend to continue.

The lab was a place that hardly anyone went down to; Lainie was right about that part. It was a morgue for heaven's sake. It smelt like dead people. Normally the only visitors Lanie ever had were other detectives and with it being so quiet down there, you could nearly always hear them coming. Besides that, it was nearly lunch time, which meant that most of the detectives had taken their break. However, this time was different. This time, there was someone waiting right outside the door, able to hear every word both of the ladies spoke. Someone who was extremely interested in what was being said and heard; who had decided to stay out, holding two coffee cups, waiting patiently until the conversation was over.

Ryan and Esposito had told Castle where Kate would be, saying that she went to have a "talk" with Lanie. They had asked if he wanted to go eat with them to which he simply replied no, stating that he would come back later. That "later" happened to lead him down to Lanie's lab.

A smiled formed on Castle's lips as Kate began explaining the night they had shared together.

"So let me get this straight, you had sex with Castle, and you didn't tell me? Girl, what the hell?" Lanie said.

Kate began to laugh. "I know, I'm sorry. I've been busy over the last couple of weeks."

"Weeks? Oh no, girl! You did not just say that! You waited weeks to tell me? Exactly how many?"

"Around…3?" Kate said. Exactly how many weeks had it been? Hell, if Kate knew.

"3 weeks!" Lanie blew out an exasperated breath. "Well…how was he? I mean he looks like-"

"It was amazing!" Kate cut her off. "He was amazing! I knew he'd be good, or thought he would, but wow…let's just say I haven't been able to sleep without first thinking about what went on that night."

"Damn girl! He must've been good I mean look at you! You're ecstatic! I don't think I've ever seen you this wound up over any other guy you've dated before." Kate began to lightly blush.

"He just makes me feel like…well, like myself. And every time I see him…I can't concentrate on anything else but him. I must admit, it makes working a bit hard at times."

"So where is he now anyways? I mean, you guys are dating now, it seems like he'd be right here with you."

Kate looked down. "We had a fight."

"A fight? Oh no, I know what this is, I can see it on your face. Girl, don't tell me you're having doubts."

"It's not doubts, it precautions. I mean, look at me Lanie. I'm just a cop for god's sake. I'm not supposed to be dating rich and famous authors. We are two completely opposite people. Plus, look at his track record. Two ex-wives, both gorgeous I might add. I just don't want to end up being another conquest, another fling for him to cast away once he gets tired of me."

"Are you blind? Girl, that man is in love with you. Every time he's with you, he can't stop looking at you or bumping up against you. Yeah, I've noticed. Don't just give up on him because you have "precautions". Give him a chance. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But trust me, it'll work. I see the way you guys look at each other. There's something there, something you definitely shouldn't give up on before trying it out. And about the opposites. Girl, don't you know your chemistry? Two opposites attract, it's the same way with people. You balance each other out. He shows you a different side to things, something that's not just good for solving cases, but also good when it comes to developing your own self."

"Did I miss the part when you signed up to be a psychiatrist?" Kate laughed.

"No. But you did miss the part where I took two years of psych. What you're dealing with is science-cold, hard, unchanging facts."

"That's what Alexis said-about the two opposites attract."

"Wait, you talked to the daughter about this? Before me?" Lanie's voice started to rise again.

"No, no, no. Ok, story time. At work, Ryan and Esposito asked if Castle and I were dating because I had left my car here the night before."

"Oh yeah. I heard something about that, thought it was just gossip. I see I was wrong…"

Kate waved Lainie off, smiling. "Right as they ask me, Castle appears at the door. So I don't know what to say and Castle just waits there, as if I'm the genius of coming up with stories. So, of course, I tell them no."

"Of course."

"Castle gets mad, sad, hurt, whatever and he left. Well, I decided to go see him that night, to work everything out. I finally get the guts to knock on his door and low and behold, Alexis answers. She said how Rick had been cooped up in his office all day and just told her a little bit about what happened. Then she said I'm good for him…"

"How did that girl get to be so mature? I mean just look at her father." Lanie sent Kate a grin and they both laughed. "Well if you're asking for my opinion I say the daughter's right. Now go on, get to the fight."

"Right the fight…Basically, I just told him that I don't trust him. I'm afraid that he just likes me because of Nikki Heat. I'm not gonna change who I am and I'm afraid he'll be disappointed with just me."

"Did that man ever ask you to be anyone or anything else? Do you think that he would still stick around if all he thought of you as was a muse?"

"That's what he said...and I overreacted, got mad, and left."

"And now you came to tell me this because you realize you were wrong?"

"I admit that I did over react. But wrong? Lanie, I can't help but think that it wouldn't work out. What's the point of trying it if I'm almost one hundred percent sure that I'm going to get hurt in the end?"

"There's always the chance of that happening. In every relationship you get in to, there's always that chance. But don't just turn down a great guy who obviously cares about you because you don't know that it will work out. You have to learn to trust people eventually. Just tell me the truth, do you want to date him?"

"Is that even a question to consider, of course I do."

"So…?"

"I know, I know. I should just be honest with him, tell him how I feel?"

"Honesty always seems the best way to go to me."

"Yeah, thanks Lanie."

"No prob girl. You know how much I love girl talks. Especially the juicy gossip that comes along with them. So now go, go find your writer boy before it's too late."

"Alright. By the way-"

There was a crash outside the door followed by a few shouts of pain. Lanie and Beckett looked at each other questioningly. Kate walked toward the door cautiously, hand over her hip where her gun was located. She opened the door.

Castle was hopping around in pain waving his hand around.

"Castle?" Kate looked at him, eyebrows raised.

"Ouch! Hot! Hot!"

"What are you doing here? In fact, how long have you been here?" Lanie walked over to where Kate was. They both crossed their arms across their chest, waiting for his reply.

"I have coffee. Well I had coffee, but then it slipped and spilt all over my hand... and clothes for that matter." Castle looked down at his wet button up shirt. He tried smiling at her, knowing from the look in her eyes that he was in trouble.

"Lanie, I'll catch up with you later. Castle." Kate walked past him, motioning for him to follow her. Lanie just simply smiled and shook her head at Castle, Castle merely shrugged and went to catch up with Kate.

She walked to the elevator, him following behind her. They got on the elevator, still in silence. Then Kate turned around to face him.

"Hmm?" He asked when she said nothing.

"Exactly how long were you outside the door eavesdropping?"

"I wouldn't consider it eavesdropping. I accidently overheard your conversation."

"Accidently, huh?"

"It's not like I purposely meant to walk down here at the exact time you were describing how great having sex with me was."

Kate suddenly turned an instant dark pink color.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, detective. Just pure fact. By the way, I loved the details, have you ever thought of writing?" Castle asked, smiling.

"You have some nerve. What I said to Lanie was supposed to be heard by her ears only. You had no right to listen in."

"Maybe I didn't. But at least I was able to learn things that you would have never told me." Kate was quiet. "Like how you're afraid, how you don't trust me…" he moved closer to her trapping her between his body and the side of the elevator. She looked up at him, wondering what he was planning to do. "How you…" he said slowly lowering his mouth to hers. "…want to date and be in a relationship…" His mouth tortuously lingered over hers. She let out a soft moan. "Hmm?" he backed up, just enough to look into her eyes, smiling that cocky smile at her.

"Damnit Castle, just kiss me already." Kate said.

"Oh I'll do more than kiss you." He replied bringing his mouth down to meet hers.

His kiss was soft at first, barely grazing over her lips. She leaned into him, moving her hands up to roam freely through his hair. She began to pull him towards her wanting to have closer contact with him. He moved his hands down to her hips, gripping them firmly and pressed her body against his. She began to let out a moan as his hands found their way under her shirt to the smooth skin beneath. They began stroking her up and down the length of her body. Her mouth opened and he began to explore with his tongue, nipping and teasing along the way. She moved her hands to his chest and began to struggle with the buttons. She let out another soft moan as his hands ventured up to her breasts, tormenting her. She leaned her head to the side allowing him better access to her neck where he took the opportunity gladly. His mouth ravished her, playfully biting the exposed skin. His mouth eventually found its way up to her earlobe sucking it in his mouth and returned back to her lips.

The elevator dinged, bringing them back to reality. Castle quickly stopped what he was doing just as the doors had opened. Everyone was back from lunch and busily working away. They straightened themselves up; Castle buttoned back the top buttons on his shirt. Hoping that no one would notice how jumbled they both looked, they walked into the bullpen. They thought they had gotten away with it until they saw Ryan and Esposito looking over, both of them having the exact same smiles they had a week ago. Castle ran his hand through his hair trying to fix it back to the way it had looked before Kate had ran her hands through it.

"Hey guys." Castle simply said as he passed them.

"Hi…" they both said in unison.

They went to Kate's desk both sitting down and began to act like they were reading case files. They could both feel Ryan and Esposito's stares but chose to ignore them. They would find out soon enough, as if they didn't already know.

"So just to get everything straight, we're dating right?" Castle asked after a few moments, speaking loudly enough for only Kate's ears.

"We're dating." She said not looking up at him, but couldn't stop the smile that began to form on her lips.


*ATTENTION* I have decided to write a Castle series, it's called "The Night Series". The next story continuing this series is called, "Night Falls" where chapter 6 and 7 will be moved to, so check it out! :D and please leave me reviews, letting me know what you think about it! thanks!

Yay! Some Casket smut! About time, right? haha

Well, trust me, there's alot more of that to come!

Also, I had alot of fun with Lanie. Wanted to get Kate's perspective on how she felt with what happened in the 'The Night Over', so that's why I recapped some of that story. I have no idea where the next chapter's gonna take me, honestly I never have a clue where my chapters take me, I kinda sit back and let the characters do their own thing (hopefully that'll make sense to some of you other FF writers).

I'm graduating on Friday the 28th! Yipee! that being said, I doubt I will be able to post another chapter up until after graduation is over... sorry =(

Thanks for keeping up with this story! Now that they are finally in a "confirmed" relationship, I'm ready to have some real fun with them :) Please Review-it means the world to me!