This chapter is short, yes. For that I am sorry.
But I HAD to stop where I did, and when you get to the end, you will understand why.

Thanks to Emily and Andy for being awesome and tolerating me.

I got a very positive response on the 'floors' style I tried out, so you may recognize that bit. Hope this one pleases.
So let's get started, yeah?

Chapter 14: Floors, Revisited.


Eight Floors.

Castle snuck a sideways glace at the detective beside him. She was on her side of the small elevator, and he on his.

She looked at him, feeling his gaze. He quickly averted his gaze, pretending to admire a spot on the steel wall behind her. She wasn't fooled for a second, but dropped her eyes to the floor.

He knew it was bait.
He bit.
He resumed admiring her.

Seven Floors.

She raised her eyes, catching him in the act. He didn't even try to play it off.

She smiled.
He smiled.
She bit her lip, suppressing it as well as the new feeling arising in her. It was much easier to hold her professional resolve when he wasn't giving her that look. It wasn't a look that was particularly dirty or suggestive- it was a different one. One she saw on this man about three times-

That night, on her doorstep, after the reunion.
In the stairwell.
And that morning, when she made the 'Alexis Monster' piece of toast art.

That look that shot right through her and all her doubts and defenses.
It said she was the only one- in the room, in the world, in his life.
She liked that look a whole lot more than she should.

Six Floors.

Before she knew it, the boundary that was 'sides' was no more and she was pulling him down by the neck to her lips. His body was flush against hers in way to many ways and far too many places. He was taken by surprise but fell seamlessly into her path of action, pinning her against the far wall with a hand on either side of her. Her hands were everywhere while she moved against him, never breaking the kiss.

Five Floors.

Had the elevator gained speed since the last ride? Kate swore it never moved this fast before.

Four Floors

Their mouths were fused together and their bodies touching at every checkpoint, her fingers were in his hair, tugging, pulling, nails utilized all the while. He continued to hold his weight with hands planted on either side of her small frame, resting only enough pressure on her to hold her body in place.

Three Floors.

Shit.

The realization dawns on both of them- Castle first. He stopped dead- dropping his head in a sort of defeat. Hell, he was still trying to catch his breath. Kate took a minute longer. She still pressed her mouth to his fiercely, not realizing his pause. Until she did.

"What's wrong?" she asked him, pulling away but still content to drape her arms around his neck, his arms still trapping her against the wall.

For one thing, we are making out on the elevator. Not only am I ready to take you right here, but I think you're ready to let me. This is what he wants to say but doesn't.

I love you.
He doesn't say that, either.

Two Floors.

He dropped his arms to his side, standing up straighter. She helps him fix his jacket and tousles his hair into place, while he re-buttons the top buttons of her blouse and smoothed down her pants, taking extra time over her backside. She swats his arm., and then both of them step into the 'sides' bubble that encased them a moment before.

One Floor.

"Please don't break my fingers."

She almost missed him say it. She didn't turn, she didn't look, she just waited for the doors to open, smiling a wicked, wicked smile.

Ding.

She stepped off first, smoothing down her blouse almost self-consciously as she made her way to her desk. She felt the room's gaze and Castle follow her.

"Detective Beckett," Ryan walked up to her desk. He said it in a way that made uneasy. Like he knew something was up.

Don't look at Castle, don't look at Castle. She couldn't look at him, it would be a dead giveaway.
So she didn't.

"The tail set up?" she asked Ryan, ignoring is ominous greeting. Ryan cleared his throat.

"Yes, plan 'trap-the-bastard' is set in motion. I'm waiting for Esposito's call now."

"Lanie says the knife is a match, there is a damn good change Matthew Gregory is our man, and I like him for it. She is working on getting a blood type off the knife- its circumstantial, but it's enough to get a warrant for something solid, like a DNA match." She rattled off. She could feel Castle beside her.

He was sitting in his seat beside her desk, emitting an energy the people across the street could probably feel. He wasn't very good at subtle, she decided. Then again, she knew that long before she made out with him in the elevator.

"The jury will love that."

"The second you hear from Espo-" her order was cut off by the shrill scream of a ringtone. Ryan unclipped his cell phone from its holder, flipped it open and held it to his ear.

"Ryan." There was talking on the other end. It was muffled, but Beckett never forgot a voice. "Speak of the devil," Ryan said, more to her, confirming it was indeed, Esposito on the other end. "We will be there in ten." And with those last words, he hung up, turning to Beckett and Castle. "Pike Street." He told her.

That was all she needed to hear.

In a flash she was up, barking orders and holstering her service piece as they made to leave. They made it outside, collecting detectives as they went, and at the car she grabbed a vest and began strapping it on, tossing Castle his without a second thought. She had managed to do so without looking at him, too.

Don't look at Castle, don't look at Castle. "Ryan, call in the cavalries, and make sure Esposito knows to standby until I get there." She continued busying herself inside the trunk of the Crown Vic, mostly just shuffling things around, occasionally pocketing something, but Ryan didn't move. "Ryan?" she asked.

"Yeah?" he seemed spaced out of it.

"What are you waiting for?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He was smiling again.

She didn't like that smile.
Not what it meant.
Not what it entailed.

Don't look at Castle, don't look at Castle.

"Right. On it boss." He started off. "Oh and by the way Castle-" she had to turn full around to see him stop by Castle himself, who was strapping on his 'writer' vest.

"You have some lipstick right-" he indicated on his own face what he meant, touching right about his lip, before smiling, wickedly, and walking away, leaving Castle and Beckett to stare at each other, wearing faces of both shock and embarrassment, nothing but awkward dead air between them.


So you see why I ended it there?
I hope the ending suited you.
And I hope you weren't expecting it.

And I hope most especially that you review for me.

softer