Disclaimer: The wording is mine but the characters aren't

Here's a song by Hugo which reminded me a little of Castle: The Hurt makes it beautiful.

Check it out if you're interested.

OOOOOOOOO

"I can't believe it made it to the lobby by morning."

"The boys probably put up a notice in the locker room."

"Didn't need to. Do you remember how many people were watching yesterday? Over half the division was there."

He rolled his head over and off the back wall to look over at her. She mirrored his position and gave him a smile.

"Five hours," he checked his watch, "twelve minutes."

"Bring it on."

OOOOOOOOO

Esposito and Ryan must have been bored already because they were waiting at the side of the elevator doors. As Beckett and Castle stepped out they didn't see them so were understandably annoyed when they looked on either side and realised they were being flanked as they made their way through the bullpen.

"So," Ryan said, waiting eagerly when they stopped at her desk.

"So what, Ryan?" Beckett sounded bored.

"How was last night?" Esposito perched himself on the edge of her desk and gave her a suggestive look.

She kept her eyes on him steadily as Castle pulled out her seat. He continued to grin at her. She was putting on her stern, Go away look, but he didn't seem fazed. Damn Castle and his influence.

She felt Ryan's knowing look as well. So that's why Espo hadn't caved yet. He thought that the double attention would get her to crack. Usually he wouldn't make eye contact so long, knowing she would probably just add to the pile of files on his desk.

Well it wasn't two against one. She wasn't alone either. Castle was solid and silent, trusting her to take the lead despite the fact she was sure he had a few choice retorts up his sleeves.

And she only just realised she was still holding his hand. No wonder they were having a field day.

She didn't look away from Esposito as she sat down on Castle's lap.

Surprisingly enough, the sight of her settling there made her partners drop their eyes. All the teasing and this was all it took to embarrass them? It was a nice surprise. Apparently Esposito wasn't as scary and manly as he thought. She could have fun with this. She might even be able to use it on Lanie for a bit. Kate knew Lanie was proud of her man. It would be fun teasing her that she liked a pansy.

She could definitely stand to make them both a little uncomfortable after the last 19 hours she had just spent.

She fought to keep her smirk off her face as she turned to Castle, holding her face close to his and handed him a hair tie.

"Would you?"

His face was just as even and relaxed as hers as he took it wordlessly and began playing with her hair, pulling it back into a loose braid.

His fingers were lingering on her neck and she fought off a sigh. To distract from the sensation and the warmth leaking into her bones again, she looked over at her two colleagues.

She might have been better off just pulling her piece on them.

Esposito was muttering something in Spanish. He might have been waiting for her to break Castle's fingers, but she figured it was probably more like disgust at the sweetness of the scene. Ryan was blushing.

So they could watch them yesterday, but seeing Mum and Dad being all touchy-feely was too much?

Castle finished and dropped a gentle kiss to the nape of her neck.

Note to self: breathe. Kick Castle later for doing this here in front of them where she couldn't reciprocate. Wait. There would be no reciprocation. Head in the game, Beckett, she scolded herself.

"Hi guys." He greeted them.

"Bye, guys," she leaned forward to turn her computer screen on.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Aren't you two just too cute?"

They looked up from their reports to see Lanie, arms crossed over her chest. Kate's head swiveled until her gaze stopped at the break room window. He followed her head just in time to see Esposito scoot out of view, leaving Ryan to deal with Beckett's glare. Man, Esposito really needed to find better hiding places. He was going to need one after Kate got sufficient evidence that he had sicced Lanie on them. He looked to Kate in his lap and she craned her neck a little to meet him. She just quirked an eyebrow.

He shrugged back.

She was the one that officially worked here. The ball was in her court.

He was more than content to just stay here and enjoy her slight weight and her scent. He had always thought it was her shampoo that made her smell so good, but she smelled just as good today she did yesterday.

She leaned back, lounging back against him, just as he had seen her do in this chair countless times. He wasn't sure if she was doing it unconsciously or if she was doing it to annoy Lanie.

He was good for either option.

There was no tensing of her muscles as she remembered exactly where she was sitting. She stayed relaxed and comfortable so he was inclined to think it was the latter of the two. He brought his head to rest next to her, his chin pillowed on her surprisingly tough shoulder. The scent coming from her neck distracted him for a second. What he wouldn't give to be able to place a kiss there right now. To glide his nose up the graceful curve of her neck and place another kiss behind her ear.

She nudged her head to his, asking for a little space he assumed.

Holding hands was one thing. A big thing for them.

Maybe he was moving a little too fast.

He got it.

"Hey, Lanie," he grinned.

"Castle." The reply was curt. He suppressed a grin.

"Did you need something, Lanie?" Kate asked, making to go back to her reports.

"Oh, I get it."

"Get what?" She really did start back at the thick piles of paper. He reached and went back to his too. He knew Lanie well enough to know this would probably drive her nuts. He wanted so badly to look at her face; she would be glaring like a champion. But that just wouldn't do. Nope. Not cool. He wasn't going to look until Kate did.

"You're trying to get back at me for cuffing you two fuddy-duddies together. Well, it won't work," Lanie huffed.

Fuddy-duddies? Really?

"Okay," Kate agreed not looking up. "Hey, Rick take a look at this," she slid him a page.

It was completely mundane. Nothing at all interesting but Lanie bristled further as they both ignored her. He didn't look but he felt her glare get hotter. And Kate called him Rick. At work. It didn't feel normal but he could almost hear Lanie's teeth grind at the details she was being denied.

He grinned "Nice find partner."

"Anytime partner."

"Oh no you don't" Lanie protested.

"What Lanie?" Kate actually managed to choke her laughter down and sound exasperated. "Do you have something for us or not?"

"I've got something for you two alright," she muttered and stalked away.