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

OOOOOOOOO

"We'll see if we can get a name of the place they use, see if they were there that night. Send his photo out to all the motels in the vicinity of the ATM he used."

OOOOOOOOO

33.

"Castle, I'm going to need a ride."

She didn't even look up from her search of her pockets, making a last-minute check. He looked up from his phone and frowned. The way she was patting various spots made it clear she had already secreted away several items for tonight. How had he missed that? He had been looking forward to finding out where she put that badge- not to mention her gun. Well, he could safely take a few liberties tonight. He'd just have to find her secret spots on his own.

"Castle?"

"Huh?" he blinked.

"A ride," she repeated.

"Oh, right. We need to pick up your bike."

Ryan looked up from his carton of take-out. "You mean you didn't bring it in?"

"You may remember, but we weren't up for driving this morning."

Ryan's mouth formed a little 'o'. Right.

"That's cool." Esposito piped up. "We can meet you at the location."

"You boys aren't getting within two blocks of the bar in that van. The way these guys watch traffic they'll spot you a mile out. Especially after the number of times you've been in there in the last week."

"Beckett, you can't be serious! What happens when you need back up and we're five minutes away?"

"We'll just have to look after ourselves until you get there," she stole a spring roll from Castle.

"Hey! I was saving that."

She ignored him. "You guys know I'm right. I would tell you guys to park in a garage closer to the bar but it's residential; you'd have to use a civilian's garage to stay hidden and we both know being shut in like that would interfere with the signal."

"I don't like it."

"Neither do I, but you know as well as I do they will make our van."

"You guys better watch yourselves," he grumbled.

"Don't worry man," Castle reassured him. "Paula would hospitalize me if anything happened to this," he gestured vaguely to his face. "And Gina would kill me if I damaged these," he wiggled his fingers. "Spirit fingers."

Beckett groaned. "You didn't."

"Hey I have a teenage daughter. I can't not know about spirit fingers."

"Not true. Alexis would have been six at most when that movie came out. You can't pin that one on her."

"I love that movie," Ryan smiled. "Watched it with Jenny."

All three heads swiveled to stare at him.

"What? It's good. Join me under the bus, traitor," he frowned at his partner. "I know you watched it after you got hooked on Tru Calling."

"Dude," Esposito spluttered.

"It's okay," Castle consoled him. "Eliza Dushku in a short skirt? It's worth it. Stand strong." He frowned and added as an afterthought, "Though the whole thing gets a little bit weird when you consider they're high schoolers. Alexis' age." He shuddered.

"When you're finished Castle," she had a small sardonic smile on her face.

"I'm done. I think that movie just lost any appeal it ever had."

"I'll be sure to let Alexis know any cheerleading friends she might have are now safe," Kate quirked an eyebrow. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to go and get my bike so we can get this over and done with."

OOO

"Nice."

It was. A vintage road bike still in excellent condition. It was probably a little too clean if it were to be inspected.

"Thanks."
"When the boys told me you bought it with your first paycheck, I thought you would have gone for a Harley."

"They told you that, did they?"

"Uh huh," she smirked. They knew where their loyalties lay.

"I looked into getting one," he admitted. "But with those high handlebars?"

"They don't all have handlebars like that, you know."

"I know. Then I saw this guy and I was sold."

"Honda CBX," she noted.

"1979," Castle confirmed.

"Do you still remember how to ride it?"

"You know what they say about riding a bike."

"I hope they're right."
"I'm more worried about taking a passenger. "

"You're not installing any confidence here, Castle."

"Nah, we'll be fine," he dismissed her with a wave of his hand and pulled on his full helmet. "Probably," he added in an undertone

"What was that?"

Damn, in her half-shell helmet her ears weren't covered.

"Ladies first," he swept an arm towards his bike.

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "It's easier if I get on after."

He nodded. "Right."
"Just how long has it been since you rode Castle?"

"A while," he replied shortly, swinging his leg over the bike and taking the weight off the stand.

"Great." She watched him get settled, glancing around to get used to the space and re-orientate himself. She noted absently that the padding of the helmet pushed his cheeks up, making them seem fuller and making him looks even more boyish than usual. "Ready?" she asked when he finally settled.

He nodded.

She stepped onto the footrest, braced her hands on his shoulders and swung her leg around until she was snug against his back. Her nose was filled with the scent of leather but somehow it wasn't the same smell that Josh's leather jacket had. After spending so long in Castle's closet, the leather had absorbed a little of the same unique scent which identified all of his clothes. Maybe it was something he hung in his closet rather than his laundry detergent that was responsible.

She wrapped her fingers around the hold on the back of the bike.

He turned and his grin, though hidden by the helmet was wide enough that his cheeks, distorted as they were, still managed to rise further. She thought he would pout if she didn't anchor herself to him.

"Can I pop a wheelie?" even muffled his voice was sparking with excitement.

"I don't know," she chuckled. "Can you pop a wheelie?"

"Don't doubt the mad skills, Beckett."

She grinned. She wanted to tell him to start the damn bike already- his enthusiasm had her itching to be moving, propelling herself forward with him.

"You better hold on," he warned as he kicked he bike to life and slapped his visor down.

"You're not serious," she actually laughed but tightened her grip anyway.

"Maybe not, but I know where most of the traffic cameras are between here and your apartment and I'm going to get a commemorative photo from all of them."

…