A/n: I know I haven't updated in awhile, but if you didn't know- I do have a life. Ha ha, not exactly, partly I'm just lazy. But enjoy anyway.

Hope it was worth the wait, and don't forget to rate, review and give me suggestions.

-K.H.

Date Night?

Chapter 2: Clocking Out

Tick.

Ticcckk.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

The clock's monotonous, tedious tone seemed to slow and become rapid as his heartbeat did. The mechanical clock hung above the white board like a mockery in its spot. It was there to tell you the time, to help; at this time all it did was tell you how much of a failure you had been. Not only did it broadcast to the group how badly they had done, but also how much time was wasted. With every little second that clicked away, Richard Castle etched a little mark in the back of his mind. He'd used it as a helpful method to keep alert, which was beginning to fail. He had counted away seconds at first, which they grew swiftly to minutes, and with time they'd evolved to hours. Five hours had been counted off so far, and a sixth was beginning to round the corner. In this battle of clues, they had toiled over a board of pictures for quite some time. No breaks, is what was agreed upon but even the most ruthless battle have 'cease fires'.

He needed a break.

After putting a long and hard fight versus the sleep hanging over his eyes, he surrendered; Richard Castle's head hit the desk with a jolt.

Smack.

It was the first new sound that had filled the room in the last few hours. Any talking had died away ages ago, and the room's members had just sat or stood in striving silence. When Rick's face had decided to make out with the desk, every one turned as if they smelled smoke. His face was rested across a small stack of files and wooded desk, but he didn't mind. It was flat, it was welcoming, and most of all there wasn't really anything in close vicinity to cuddle up to. Coffee cups and computer keyboards don't make very good pillows.

It was 1:00 in the morning. It was late.

Richard Castle's observers glared, and then regarded him enviously, admiring his childish ways. Falling asleep in a situation like this, seemed to affect Castle the same as a long car ride does an infant; he dozed off. Of the team of investigators committed to tonight's attempt at an all-nighter, the who could claim the most jealousy at this point was Kate Beckett. She envied him- his ability to sleep now, even if the situation was so agitating. It was also one of the things about Castle she found so loveable.

She'd accepted his bet, and was determined, even if it meant keeping them all there for the entire night. Usually, she wasn't this ruthless but when it came to something like this. She was set on what she wanted. A prize she could name the price of; she could have anything. All Kate had to do was win, which she intended to- tonight.

But this accolade had not been reached yet in fact not Castle, nor Esposito, Ryan or herself had come even close. At this moment, sleep clouded her judgment… she would forfeit the bet if it meant some of her beauty sleep would be salvaged tonight. Lucky Castle, he can just plop down anywhere and sleep through anything… like a baby. Why couldn't she do that? Oh... yeah because she had a working conscience that didn't just consist of witty puns, flirty glances and references to Sci Fi shows. She thought about things, worried tirelessly about the world while she slept. Why couldn't she just do what Castle does, and dream of happy things like unicorns, or Jedi Knights- whatever do Writer Boys dream about?

He had a smug little smile that spread across his face. The way Castle snuggled his face into the desk, it seemed he was experienced with sleeping on hard surfaces. Well then again he is a lazy writer, spending countless nights, waking with his face to the keyboard. Kate knew this because of the many times he'd have little indentations of keys on his forehead when arriving to work; these occurred not unusually close to Gina's deadline dates.

Wonder what he's dreaming about now…

Oh… wait she knew. Kate bit her lip, and smiled; a Writer Boy dreams about his muse, what else? As she paced passed her desk, she watched him catch some zs all over her stack of files. "He'd better not droll all over it; if he does I'll kill him." She thought as she observed Castle, it was like watching a panda napping at the zoo- highly cute, and momentarily entertaining. A small circle stood to watch, all three detectives observed the Writer Boy's slumber. But Ryan and Esposito's faces weren't as mesmerized as Beckett; she was in full-fledged fan girl heaven. It was kind of adorable, but sad at the same time. Watching him sleep… that is.

"How can he sleep like that? It's almost inhuman…" Ryan wondered, poking him with a teasing finger; Castle just twitched to the side and kept on snoozing.

"Well- I think this as a cue to call it a night. You in?" Esposito sighed, pulling himself tiredly across the floor and motioning for the others to follow.

"Yeah. I'm tired. Might as well, it's not like we'll find some kind newfound gem before morning."

The other two detectives nodded in agreement. It was time to finally go home.

"What about Castle? He's still asleep; " Ryan raised an eyebrow and looked at her for a second. "We just gonna leave him here?"

"No I'll drive him home I guess. Alexis'll probably want him home, it's after his curfew." She joked, knowing the strange relationship of daughter and father. The intended child did more of the parenting then father, but it all worked out some how. Besides it was getting late, he'd want to be in his bed tonight.

Should I wake him?

She hesitated. It was worth a try, besides if he didn't wake up, she'd just leave there for the morning janitors to find.

"Hey. Wake up-"

She whispered into his ear softly. He awoke drowsily, mumbling away and forgetting he'd only been asleep for a few minutes.

"Hmm… where am I? Is… is it morning?"

"Nope."

"How-how long was I out."

"It's still late."

"You're telling me."

He cracked a sleepy smile.

"Castle. We're gonna get on home."

"What? -"

"You need a ride?"

"Mmmph. Yeah, I guess so."

"Come on."

Beckett attempted to drag him from the seat, which didn't go so well; he stumbled across the floor like an elephant on roller skates.

-In the car-

"So… you decided what you want if you win."

"Haven't decided yet. But it'll be good."

"You really think you can win our little bet…?"

"You think I can't?"

"Yes… No… I mean-"

A deathly, murder filled glare was shot in his direction. Castle stopped, he had already dug a deep hole- no use making it worse.

But he was so deep in his own grave it was too late.

A/n: I know this chapter is shorter than the other one, but hey I have writer's block.

Any ideas? Please submit them. I still don't know what prize she will get if she wins… ugggh.

Tiredly and Tediously,

K.H.

PS: Reviewers get invisible hugs and invisible gift baskets filled with rainbows, unicorns and complimentary top hats. Enjoy!