All – thanks for the great reviews. Some of you have made puppy recommendations and requests…I'll do my best! Also, thanks for offering info on puppy adoptions!

This chapter took a while to crank out because I was having a hard time deciding how I wanted to present it. Tried out a non-linear approach...still up in the air as to what I think about it overall, but I do like how it allowed me to switch POVs so easily.

Anyway, this chapter became so long I decided to cut it in half. The good news is, this means the next chapter is more than half-way done…but if I try to fit everything I planned to in the next one, that one will be really long, as well.

Chapter 39 – (Re)call

Detective Kate Beckett was determined to have a better day today than she'd had yesterday. Her two-day work week hadn't started out well, and she was looking forward to leaving as soon as possible today.

The day before, she'd come in early, only to find a newspaper folded in quarters on her desk. She'd stood over her desk staring at a large photo of a grinning Richard Castle who was waving to on-lookers and looking suave in his tux. She could see a limo in the background. In front of his shoulder, there was a young woman with a stylish, short bob framing her heart-shaped face. She looked thrilled to be there.

Kate's eyes flitted to the headline: Richard Castle Ignites Heat Wave Across NYC. Then her eyes went to the three photos below the larger one. Two showed Castle posed and ready for the pictures to be snapped. She recognized the woman in the first photo as Jenna and, in the other photo, his co-host from the day before.

The picture on the bottom right, though? That was a candid shot of Castle and her taken at the Village Pourhouse. The photographer had captured the moment she'd pulled back to look at him, after he told her how he'd learned to dance…and sew. It was a nice picture of a private moment.

It bothered Kate—to think that someone had been watching them. Not only that, but she hadn't noticed, hadn't known. If she'd seen a flash, she could have prepared, but she hadn't. She didn't want to share what was between them with the world. She loved him. Would other people see that? Would Castle? She wasn't ready for that—or the questions or comments or teasing that would come with this circulation.

Kate had looked at the photo more closely. It was professional quality, and Castle looked as handsome in it as the one above. More so, she knew, if the picture had shown his smile full-on. It was the only photo in which he wore a genuine smile. God, she loved that luminous smile of his! She loved all of his smiles. Not the fake ones. The real ones. The ones that lit up his eyes. The ones when Alexis called. The ones that made her feel like they were reserved for her alone.

They must have been standing closer than she remembered because she was leaned back quite far to look at him, yet she still couldn't make out their joined hands that she knew were held to his chest. As it was, the photo only showed them in profile, and only half their smiles. She could see the crinkles around Castle's right eye and his jawline, which she absentmindedly traced with her finger. She didn't need a picture to picture his face.

She'd heard footsteps behind her and dropped the paper to her desk. It was early, and the first day after a three-day weekend, so she didn't expect many of her fellow detectives to be there yet. She was prepared to scowl at whoever may have left the paper on her desk, but she found the captain instead. She'd quickly reconfigured her features.

"Morning, Sir. Good weekend?"

He grimaced. "In-laws." It was the same answer he'd given when he came in on Sunday to find her there. She's been running a few names related to her mother's case—until she became distracted by puppies.

"They decide to stay?" Kate had asked.

"For the rest of the week."

"Sorry, Sir."

Montgomery shrugged. "Girls are happy."

Kate had gone, then, down to records. She'd spent part of Sunday reviewing the city-wide homicide summaries archived over the last month and one of them had similarities to a case they'd worked, almost a year ago. They hadn't gotten far on it, but she wanted to pull it to be sure. She'd decided to glance over it, and, if it warranted attention, she'd have the boys work on it while she was camping. Oh, God! She was going camping with Castle! Giddy panic, again.

She felt like she'd been on an emotional rollercoaster for the last month. Losing Royce. The letter he'd left her. Being in LA with Rick. Losing her mother's ring. Crying her heart out for so many reasons on Castle's chest. Mother's day. Oh…and then there was that biggee—realizing she loves Castle. Not just that she had feelings for him or might be falling for him, but that she was truly, desperately in love with him. Then there's her inability to address it, and trying and failing to break up with Josh. She was still upset at having missed Josh's call the night before. Calls, she amended. Three missed calls and one message.

"Hey, Babe. Happy Memorial Day. I was really hoping to talk to you. Got a calling card. Just got back to our base. We've been traveling out to some of the most desolate areas you can imagine. I actually did surgery on a goat. A first for me, believe me—but its, I don't know what you call it—milk sack?—got ripped. Family's only source of milk, so I sewed it back together. They gifted me with a bowl—which is, I guess, pretty significant among their tribe. Kept calling me "mhare"—which I'm told means 'hero' in Shona So, that's cool, huh? Anyway, I miss you. Wish you were here. Wish I could have seen you before I left, too, but, I'm sure something came up. A case or something. Probably the same thing right now. You're off saving New York, right? New York's 'mhare.' It's always that. Anyway, hope when I get back, you can take a break for a night. Let me take you to dinner. I know you've got Castle's thing, but, you know? Maybe I can take you to dinner before we have to get on the boat? Anyway, I love ya. Miss you. I'll, uh, try again next time we're in a town with a phone. Night. Love you."

Why did she have to miss those calls? This could all be over, and she could talk to Castle. Tell him—tell him, what? She didn't know what she'd say to him. Words were his deal. Still, it would be nice to go camping with him and Alexis without that little speck of guilt. Kate shook her head. She had nothing to feel guilty about. They were friends. Friends. And partners. She could help a friend out, without feeling awkward about it. Right? Friends.

She'd had to force her attention back to the evidence box. She'd sat in the records room to review the file. She didn't mind the dust or the musty smell, the dark or the quiet. People rarely went down there. Most often, they called the clerk who arranged delivery of the files. Kate didn't like that, though. The idea that all these unsolveds sat down there, without any thought or attention given to them bothered her. So, she made a habit of going down there on occasion, pulling out a random file, thinking about the victim and his or her family, and sending up a silent prayer.

She'd need more details in order to make a solid connection—if one existed. Kate checked out evidence box and carried it back upstairs. She plopped it on the chair next to Ryan's desk. Their computers were on, but neither was around. Figuring Castle wouldn't be in for a while, she decided on coffee, but when she heard Castle's voice, she stopped short of the break room.

"Paula, you can't keep setting me up with these girls. She was barely older than Alexis!"

She'd wanted to stay and hear the rest of that conversation, but she refrained and went back to her desk, happy to see that Castle had left her coffee there. She was filling out an evidence request form when Castle came back out and sat in his chair.

"So, you've seen, then?"

"You're very photogenic." Kate never looked up.

"As are you." He wasn't sure if Kate was upset about this or not. He couldn't tell. "Mad?"

He watched as Beckett barely shook her head. Yup. Mad.

He picked up the paper and looked at it. He had Paula calling to get him a copy of the picture of him and Kate, but he'd given her hell about Brittani—"spelled with an 'i'."

Kate hadn't been mad. She'd been irritated with herself because she wanted to know about his date, but there was no way she was going to ask. She'd sensed it was bad, and she was glad for it. Being glad for it only made her feel worse. Why couldn't she pretend like he did for her? How bad is it, she wondered, that the best part of my day yesterday was learning that Castle had a bad date? She almost snorted at the memory of it all.

"Fucking vanilla," he mumbled, tossing the paper back on Beckett's desk.

"Problem, Castle?"

"Smelled like someone dipped her in a vat of vanilla-scented lotion."

"And vanilla's bad?"

"Smells fake. All those vanilla scented things: candles, lotion, body spray, room fresheners. Gross. And that's all she smelled like. Vanilla's meant for tasting…baked goods, ice cream…your coffee."

She made a mental note to throw out her vanilla scented candles. They weren't her favorites anyway. Housewarming gift—from Castle's doorman, of all things.

"You drink my coffee?"

Castle looked up at her, eyes dropping to her lips. He'd tasted her coffee, yes. Kate felt heat rising in her chest.

"Couldn't dance either. You know, next time, I should make you go with me. You are my partner, after all. Be my backup?"

Next time? Backup? Was he asking her to be the backup in case Paula set him up with another 14-year old? She felt her stomach clench. Or was he asking her? No, she shook her head. Of course, he wasn't asking her. He still thought she was with Josh, and he wouldn't do anything to step on his toes. Kate's eyes went to the paper. But next time, maybe he'd know the truth. And maybe he'd ask and maybe she'd say 'Yes.' Was she ready for that?

"I don't think my 'partner' duties extend to protection from the point-n-shoot paparazzi." She watched Castle's smile falter. Always with the wrong words, Beckett, she thought to herself.

She tried to recover his smile. "Really, what would my vest say? Muse?"

They'd turned then, hearing the boys come up behind them.

"Fucking assholes. I'm gonna see if Lanie can get fingerprints off these." They were still on the other side of the glass partition by the elevators.

"Whoa!" Castle said, as they both stood. The boys were obviously rattled.

"Detectives," Beckett said as the boys rounded the corner. "Whatchya got? New case I don't know about?"

"Oh, uh, no." Ryan said, quickly shifting the papers in his hand behind his back.

Beckett and Castle shared a look. Ryan started talking faster. "How are things? Castle, thanks, man. Your place is fabulous. We had a great time."

Castle stepped forward, while she stepped to the side. "Glad you had fun. Can't wait 'til we're all there for the Fourth."

Esposito stepped up beside his partner, blocking the papers behind Ryan's back.

"So, what are we fingerprinting?" Beckett asked.

"It's nothing." Esposito said.

"Nothing, eh?" Castle asked.

"Then why would Lanie be doing fingerprints? She's not the tech."

"It's nothing. Bad joke, Boss. You know, I would never ask Lanie to utilize NYPD resources, except in an official capacity."

"Really?" Castle asked. "'Cause I do all the time."

"Castle." She warned and turned back on Ryan. "So, what are you hiding behind your back?"

"Oh, nothing. You know. Wedding plans."

"Bachelor party," Esposito said. "Private. Girls. You know."

"Private," Ryan reiterated.

"The wedding plans aren't private and Jenny banned girls," Beckett said.

"And as fellow-planner, I already know the bachelor party plans. And I know it's a surprise for the groom."

"So, Detective Ryan, I ask again. What's behind your back?" Beckett tried to hold Ryan's gaze, but he dropped eye contact.

"Different bachelor party," Esposito gave it one final attempt. He'd looked at Castle who'd stepped back to lean against the wall. "You weren't invited."

Beckett raised her eyebrows at them.

Ryan and Esposito looked at each other, deciding whether to dash or dish. They didn't notice Castle's long arm surge behind Ryan's back to snatch the papers. Before he had a chance to turn them over and look at them, Beckett had them in her hands.

"What the hell is this?" she said wrinkling the papers in her fisted hand. "Why would you—?" she looked pained.

"Wait. No! We came in—I came in," Ryan said, "and saw it on the bulletin board." Kate looked at the papers more closely and noticed the pin holes. She'd believed them instantly; she knew they'd never do anything to hurt her.

Her first thought had been that this was somehow related to another bet about Castle and her, and she was ashamed to admit—even just to herself—that she'd thought they were involved. But they were her brothers, and they might tease her, but they'd never invade her privacy or seek to humiliate her. They were trying to protect her.

"They were posted all over, Beckett," Esposito said. "We've been in every break room and the locker rooms to make sure they're gone."

Kate nodded, but didn't speak. She couldn't. Castle had no idea what she was looking at until he looked over her shoulder. It was a blown-up, photocopied, black and white image of him and Kate. It was another from when they'd been dancing. Their arms crisscrossed her body, in what looked like an intimate hug from behind.

She'd fit there so nicely, Castle thought. In the photo, you could barely see his face at all. It looked like he was nuzzling her neck, but it was when he'd whispered "Our story" in her ear. Kate's chin was tucked, so you couldn't see her eyes, but the smile on her face was obvious. And sweet. She looked happy and relaxed and serene. He was so calling Paula.

"Do you want us to talk to the Captain? I mean, your private life shouldn't be on display. That was low."

Kate was still staring at the papers in her hand.

"Yeah, you know," Ryan said, "Whatever is between you two…it's nobody's business."

Kate shook her head. "There's nothing—and I mean nothing—going on between Castle and me." She said it loud enough for everyone to hear. "Got it?" she asked turning to the few onlookers.

She hadn't been able to look at Castle. She'd gone back to her desk and shoved the papers in the wastebasket. Castle had followed her, sat down and played with his phone until he figured out where the photos had been posted. Blogs and twitter they didn't have much control over, but if it was from some other outlet, they might have some sway. Either way, he could have Paula run interference.

Once he figured it out, he'd texted Paula. Within fifteen minutes, he was on his way out and Beckett was glad to see him go.

By the time Castle had called later that night, though, to apologize again and to explain what he and Paula spent the afternoon doing, she was relieved to hear his voice. He had her laughing and relaxed in no time. Since time had kind of gotten away from them, she'd even ended up agreeing to leave early today to prepare for their camping trip.

Sitting at her desk, Kate wondered how it had been possible to miss him? After dinner on Saturday, she'd seen him briefly on Monday, but hadn't really had a chance to talk to him. She'd enjoyed talking to him last night—even if it was the reason she'd missed Josh's calls. It had been nice to catch up with him. He told her about the book signings and some of the sailors he'd met. He also disparaged the gala at the Intrepid—except the food from Q3—which, according to Castle, was the only highlight. He also mentioned that Madison had been there with someone other than Todd—so she knew she'd probably be calling to check in with her friend soon. Maybe they each had relationship status updates?

Kate was glad to finally be able to tell Castle about dinner with her dad and Sheryl, though she'd maybe have preferred to tell him about it in person. At least that way she'd be able to tell if Castle thought she was being ridiculous. He didn't make her feel ridiculous though, and she didn't feel better about how it had gone until after she'd told him about it. It had been awkward, and she'd found herself wishing she'd waited until Rick was available—for the 'double date,' as her dad called it.

"Hey, Beckett," Ryan called from his desk, pulling Kate back to the present. "What do I have to do to get that kind of service?"

Kate looked down at Castle who was on his hands and knees, polishing her desk. He'd dusted and polished everything on top and allowed her to return to her desk only after replacing everything in the exact position it had been in. He was accepting the penance for his bacon indulgence with surprisingly little pushback. It might be because she'd agreed to cut out even earlier for lunch with him and Alexis before their shopping excursion—if he got it done before they left for their camping trip.

He'd finally made it around her desk and was back at her side. She was sure from where Ryan sat, it looked like Castle's head was bobbing in her lap—which would explain the look the boys were giving her. Beckett rolled her chair back away from her desk so Castle could reach the sides. He was being very thorough.

"I don't know what kind of service you're hoping to receive, Ryan," Beckett said, "'But if you've got a knob that needs a spit shine, I suggest you take it up with your partner."

Kate heard Esposito protest and Karpowski laugh behind her, but it was the loud thump that caught her attention. She looked down to see Castle, sitting leaned up against her desk, rubbing the back of his head and staring at her open mouthed.

Castle raised his eyebrows at her. "Spit shine, huh? Does that mean—?"

Beckett leaned forward, until her chest was just inches off her knees. She watched his eyes twitching. He was fighting it. "Sorry Castle," His eyes dropped to her chest. Mission accomplished. She smirked. "I don't deal with knobs."

Castle brought his eyes back to hers, enjoying the amusement he saw there. She wants to play, huh?

He smirked back at her, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Lucky for you, I'm really quite good with knobs…and nubs." Castle leaned forward. "Lucky for me, no knobs. Now, if we're talking handles, rods, wood, sticks or shafts, I'm your guy."

And there it was. That flush. It endeared her to him in ways he couldn't describe. He loved that he could make the unflappable detective blush. He stood and walked behind her. Pushing her and her chair back under her desk, he leaned down and asked, "Coffee?"

It wasn't to tease her. It was because he couldn't resist. She smelled divine. Always floral and fresh and feminine. He couldn't peg it exactly. There was jasmine, rose, magnolia and sometimes a hint of citrus—most of the time he thought it was grapefruit, but he wasn't sure. Of course, sometimes he smelled cherries, but most of the time he could narrow that to her shiny pink lip gloss. Sometimes there was baby powder—a smell that always reminded him of a sweet baby Alexis—and today, behind the floral, that's what she smelled like. Flowers and babies.

Not safe thoughts, Castle thought to himself. Thank God the boys couldn't read his mind. They'd never let him live it down. He could already hear the biological clock jokes. And Beckett! God, if she knew a thought like that had crossed his mind…she'd kill him! Yelling "Apples!" wouldn't bring him anywhere close to safety if she could read his mind. But that was true most of the time.

Although…she had been letting him get away with more lately. Little touches…and dancing with her. He was surprised he'd slept at all Saturday night. Castle returned to Beckett's side, handing her an espresso.

He was sitting there thinking about how different things were here versus outside the precinct. Here, they sat pretty much across from one another, whether at her desk or in the break room. Only in the interrogation room and occasionally in the conference when they were going through stacks and stacks of paper with the boys did they sit side by side. Unless, you counted sitting on her desk going over the murder board. Okay, Castle thought to himself, so maybe we spend more time side by side here than I initially thought—but, it is different outside the precinct.

Here, they sat positioned in a way where they could keep an eye on one another—Castle for observation; Kate to be sure he wasn't causing trouble. Eye contact was just a matter of looking up. When they weren't here, though, they had a habit of sitting right next to one another. At Remy's, The Old Haunt, his place, her place—it didn't matter. That's why he'd been disappointed when he arrived to dinner on Saturday.

He'd been about fifteen minutes behind Kate, Lanie and Esposito. When he finally arrived, they'd already been seated, but they were at one of those square tables designed for one occupant at each edge. There was a side left open for him, next to Beckett, thankfully, and he'd taken it, but not before he ran his hand along the back of Kate's chair. He'd lightly scratched his fingers between her shoulder blades and almost tripped over his feet when she looked up at him and smiled.

When he sat down, he'd scooted his chair in, positioning himself a bit closer to her. He'd adjusted his legs until he found her knee with his own, and that's where he would have stayed. But he'd been sure she was pressing her knee into his, too, so much so, that he let his knee fall back to see if hers would follow. When it did, he could have somersaulted his way to the moon and back. He felt the same way he had the first time he'd successfully flirted with a girl and walked away with her number.

They'd played that game—footsie, but with knees—back and forth, no one the wiser, until Kate leaned forward and wrapped her lower leg around his. He wasn't willing to move and risk causing her to unlock her foot from where it was tucked around his ankle. So, they stayed like that throughout the rest of dinner. Each wore a self-satisfied smirk proclaiming victory. It was childish, he knew, but he loved this side of Kate…the side that caved to his thumb war challenges, monkeyshines and movie marathons.

Toward the end of dinner, Lanie had invited them all back to her place for cards or a movie. Castle hated to see the night end, and Kate seemed willing, but he knew he wouldn't be great company, so he declined. He'd been up since 3:30 to make the early morning taping at the studio.

"Come on, Castle, the night is young!" Lanie teased.

"Sorry, Dr. Parish. I was up way too early. Have to be up early tomorrow, too."

Kate raised her eyebrows at him, wondering.

Castle leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Soup kitchen. Traded weekends since we'll be camping next weekend."

Kate nodded, and smiled. "It's okay, Castle. They know I'm going camping with you and Alexis."

"Oh."

She'd asked Alexis and Castle not to say anything about it to the people she worked with. The captain knew only that she'd be out of town, and though she was sure he knew she would be with the Castles, he hadn't asked, and she hadn't said. Lanie, Esposito and Ryan knew, but they were friends.

Kate looked pointedly at the other two. "I just don't want everyone else to know."

Castle was fine with that, though—expected it even; both he and Alexis promised not to tell. He'd even expected Kate to have a story in place when everyone asked what her plans were, and she did. Castle smiled to himself thinking about earlier this morning when he'd kicked her off her desk so he could clean it. She was sitting in his chair, when Detective Koenig ask her what her plans were for her days off were.

"Painting my apartment," Kate answered from the chair beside her desk.

"Painting?" Koenig sounded suspicious.

Koenig was a bit of a jerk; jealous of Detective Beckett's track record and team lead status, Castle thought. Probably didn't help that he knew Kate had turned him down soon after he started at the 12th.

"Yes. Painting."

"And that takes two days?"

"I'm not sure. I've never hired a painter before, so I want to have time to make sure everything's down and covered before they get there on Friday."

"What color are you painting?" Koenig stood over her, arms folded.

"Why do you care?"

"Just curious."

"Blue."

"What color of blue?"

"Smokey blue—I think it's called Rivermist. It's Valspar paint. Do you want to see my receipt, too? Or maybe I should call and check in with you?"

Detective Koenig shook his head. "Bit odd that your days off just happen to coincide with Castle's camping trip, don't you think?"

"One, even if I were going with Castle, it wouldn't be any business of yours. Two, did it ever occur to you, Detective, that Castle here planned his camping trip around my days off?"

No response. He knew he hadn't won.

"Then will that be all, Detective?" Beckett stared him down, intimidating him even from where she sat.

"Wonder how much he has in the pool?" Castle mused. "Nice cover, by the way."

Kate pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and slid it across her desk toward Castle. "I think you'll find my alibi checks out."

Castle looked at the receipt for paint. Part of him wanted to laugh, but he was too busy wondering how camping, or rather, camping with him, rated so low on the scale that it required an alibi. Not so good for the ego.

Kate watched his expression alter from happy to guarded while he returned stuff to its proper position on her desk.

"It's nothing to do with you, you know? It was just convenient. I've been meaning to take the upstairs walls from eggshell white to something softer and warmer for a while. Dad promised to help me, but we never got around to it. So, he's going to do it while we're away."

Castle smiled. "Blue, huh? Can't get enough of these orbs, can you Detective?"

Finally! Kate thought. The right words! And no, she wasn't going to tell him she'd been thinking of his eyes while looking at paint chips.

Kate looked up at Castle, wondering it was that had him so happy. Maybe he was just excited to be getting away for the weekend, like she was? But, he could do that easily, anytime he wanted to, so, maybe he was just as happy to have her join them as she was to be going along? She knew both he and Alexis were stoked about her joining them. In fact, Alexis had seemed more excited to have Kate along than her friends.

Kate was jolted a little then, when Castle's phone rang. Alexis.

Kate wondered briefly if her "witchy powers" extended to conjuring up calls from Alexis? Way too much time with Castle if she was starting to believe in magic…but she was, wasn't she?

Kate listened to Castle's side of the conversation.

"What? No way!" He paused. "No, no! Give me the number." Castle leaned across her desk for a pen and a slip of paper. "I'll call him back right away."

Castle leapt into the observation room of Interrogation 2. Kate stared at the closed door, watching Castle nod and fist pump. How could a full-grown man run around like a little kid, but be focused enough to write twenty-some bestsellers?

"Yo, Beckett," Esposito called from across the room. "Got a body. St. John's Uni."

Beckett rose from her chair, telling the boys to grab Castle, but before Ryan could knock on the door, Castle came out, grabbed her wrist and starting pulling her toward the elevator.

"Come on," he said tugging harder, when she resisted. "We gotta go!" His eyes were wide and eager.

"I know. We've got a body."

"Body?"

"Yeah. You know? That thing we do here?"

"Oh," he stalled. "Can it wait?"

"'Can it wait?' he asks," Beckett said turning to Detectives Ryan and Esposito. "What do you think? Should we sit around here, wait for leads to go cold and evidence to come find us?"

"Oh, yeah, I think that would make our lives much easier," Ryan said.

"Maybe kick back, watch a little ESPN? Wait for our murderer to come confess? Dreamy." Esposito batted his eyelashes at the sky.

"We'll be like the Maytag repair man," Ryan quipped.

Kate stalked past Castle toward the elevator. ""'Can it wait?'" she huffed. When the elevators doors opened, the three stepped in. Seeing he wasn't right there with them, Kate blocked the doors from closing.

"You comin', Castle?"

Castle shifted on his heels. His brow furrowed. "Oh, uh, no."

Kate's hand dropped from the door. She was stunned. He'd never said "no" before.

So, not my favorite chapter in this story, but some fun spots, I think. And it sets up the next chapter—which flew off my fingertips. (The first half, anyway—fingers crossed for the rest!)

Would love to read your thoughts on this latest chapter, so please review!