Authors note: Lanie and Esposito are still together, so are Alexis and Ashley. (I accidentally found out they broke up, if the information was correct) It's possible that some of the things which happened in season 4 didn't happen in my story. I don't exactly know what happened and I don't want to know until I see it.

So, here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long.

Chapter 5

"No."

"Come on, Beckett, let me come with you."

"No, absolutely not."

"Then at least tell me why not."

"Because I don't want anything to happen to you," Kate yelled. "I don't want to lose you, Rick. I can't lose you." She was now whispering.

Castle looked around if someone could see them. Then he put his finger under her chin so she was looking at him. "Hey, I'm not going anywhere. But I'll stay here, okay?"

She smiled grateful at him. "See you soon."

Kate met Ryan and Esposito outside the building where King lived. "Ready, guys?" She asked. They both nodded.

They took the stairs. When they were at the right door, Kate knocked on the door.

"Philip King? NYPD, open the door!"

They heard a noise and Kate kicked open the door. They drew their guns and they split up, looking for King. Kate spotted him first, and saw he was aiming for Esposito.

"Esposito!" She yelled, and she pushed him aside. The sound of a shot rang through the apartment and Ryan, who had come closer, responded immediately and shot King.

"Beckett, you okay?" Esposito asked, sounding worried.

"Yeah, he hit me in the vest. I'm fine, thanks."

"I think I should be thanking you, boss."

Kate stood up and looked at the dead body of Philip King. "I wonder where he got that gun from… Whatever, come on, let's go back."

When they got back, Castle sprung up from his chair. "Did you get him?"

Ryan answered. "Well, sort of."

"What do you mean, sort of? What happened?"

It was now Esposito who answered. "He tried to shoot me, Beckett jumped in front of me and then Ryan shot him."

"She got hit? Is she okay?"

"Yeah, he shot at her vest, she's fine," Esposito said.

Then Kate walked in. She didn't see Castle's worried look. "Guys, I think I'm calling it a day. Paperwork can wait 'til tomorrow."

"Sure boss, see ya tomorrow." Ryan and Esposito said in unison.

"I think I'm calling it a day too. See you, guys." Castle said. He hurried to the elevator, just in time to step inside with Kate before it shut.

He turned to her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Kate, you got shot. I know it hit your vest, but still…" He trailed off.

"Castle. Rick, look at me. I'm fine, you see, now stop worrying."

They were silent for the rest of the ride down. They were about to part ways.

"Until 7 tonight, detective."

"I'll be ready."

When Kate came home, it was 5 p.m. She decided she would take a bath. She dropped her bag on the kitchen counter and filled a glass of wine. On her way to her bathroom she grabbed 'Naked Heat'. She opened the tab and took off her clothes. When the tub was filled, she carefully stepped in.

About an hour later she got out of the bathtub. She dried herself off and went looking for a dress. She pulled some dresses out of her closet and laid them on her bed.

The first one was a black strapless dress which came mid-thigh. The second was a red one with one strap which was a bit longer. The last dress she had pulled out of her closet was still in a bag. She opened it and decided that would be the one she was going to wear. It was a sequin dress with long sleeves. She also took a silver pair of 4 inch heels and she put her outfit on.

Next problem, she thought, what am I going to do with my hair? She didn't exactly know how Castle would like it. Damn, since when do I fix my hair the way a guy likes it? Oh, who am I kidding? She knew very well since when. Since Castle came around. She decided to do not too much about it. She applied some make-up, but not too much.

It neared 7. She didn't know why, but she felt quite nervous. It's just a date. I've been on dates before. Nothing to be nervous about. She kept repeating that in her mind.

The doorbell rang. She went to the door to open it.

Castle had planned what to say, but his jaw dropped. She hadn't overdone anything, but she looked amazing.

"Wow, Kate, you look beautiful."

She smiled. "You don't look so bad yourself, Castle. Just let me grab my purse, and then I'm ready to go."

She went back to the kitchen, put some more stuff in her purse, grabbed her keys and returned to Castle. She locked the door and together they rode the elevator. The cab was still waiting, like Castle had asked him.

"Ladies first," he said, and he opened the door. He stepped in after her.

They stopped at an Italian restaurant, with a beautiful view of the city.

When they walked in, a guy came over to them.

"Richard Castle!" he said. "And who is this nice young woman?"

"Tony, this is Kate Beckett. Kate, this is my friend, Tony."

"Nice to meet you, Tony."

"C'mon, let me lead you to your table." He led them to a table near the window.

Kate sat down and looked outside in awe. "Wow, Castle, this is absolutely beautiful."

They ordered their food and they just talked about some random stuff.

Their food arrived and when Kate took a bite, she couldn't hold back a small moan. "This is delicious! Do you come here more often?"

"Yeah, I've been here before. But I eh… I want to ask you something, and you don't have to answer it, if it's too personal, but I've been thinking about it lately."

When he didn't go on, she pressed a little bit. "What is it, Castle? Just ask."

"When we were standing in the hallway, just before I left to the Hamptons with… you know, you were going to say something and then Gina interrupted and I don't think it was just 'Have a nice time', was it?"

She looked down, remembering that moment all too clear. "I, eh…"

"You don't have to answer it, you know? Just curious."

"No, you have a right to know. I was going to say that I broke up with Demming and that I had changed my mind." She looked up at him, waiting for a reaction.

"Really? You broke up before I left?"

She shrugged. "Yeah."

"Oh. Well, let's continue eating, it's getting cold."

After a while they had both finished their dinner.

"Do you want the tiramisu as dessert? Well, of course you should decide by yourself, but it's amazing!" Castle said.

"Yeah, sure. But I bet everything here is amazing."

Castle ordered the tiramisu. And when it arrived, and Kate tried it, she almost couldn't keep back a moan again. "Wow, this is great!"

"I know; it's my standard dessert when I come here."

They were both silent for a while. He was the one to break it.

"So, phase 1 starting tomorrow?" He smiled mischievously.

She smiled back. "Of course."

After they finished their tiramisu, Castle paid and they left. He hailed a cab and let her step inside first.

"You wanna come over to my apartment?" He asked.

"Well, actually, would you mind if I don't?" She said, not really wanting to reject him.

"It's okay, I was just asking. But… can I walk you to your apartment?"

She pretended to think really hard of that. Then she smiled. "Of course you can."

So, they both got out at her address. They went up and she opened her door. Then she turned around and they shared a look. Probably one of those Lanie found adorable.

They both leaned in until their lips met. It was a great kiss, not abnormally heated, but absolutely perfect. He put his arms around her waist and she put hers around his neck. They only broke apart when they desperately needed some oxygen.

He rested his forehead against hers.

"So…" he began.

"So… what?"

"Can I call you my girlfriend now?"

She pulled back a bit. "Not yet."

He got a sad expression. Quickly she placed another kiss on his lips.

"Now you can."

I hope you liked this one.

To see what her dress looks like, copy this, but leave out the spaces:

http: / . com/ albums/ y107/ geekilicious/ stana/ amas/

To see what her hair looks like, copyt his, but again, leave out the spaces:

http: / www. flickr. com / photos/ fanbaseshop/ 5777318642/

Please review!

-xxx-