Hi guys! :)

I'm keeping this AN short. I just wanted to say thank you for all of your support! You guys rock! And I am so happy that the email alerts are working again! :) haha

Disclaimer: Castle is not mine :/

[Chapter 15]

Ryan and Esposito gave one another a look when Rick sat down with them. It was time for the writer to spill. Rolling their chairs over to the writer, the two detectives glared at him, studying him.

"Uh, guys. A little breathing room would be awesome. Thanks." Rick scooted his chair back, but they just followed him.

"We have a few questions for you, Castle," Esposito explained, his forearms resting on his knees.

Ryan continued on, flanking Rick's other side and trapping him. "Nothing too hard or difficult. We're just curious."

Rick shifted in his seat, sensing the determination that the men had. This is not good, he gulped, hands shaking. He looked longingly at Kate's empty desk, missing her terribly. Where's Kate when I need her?

Esposito raised a hand and set it on Rick's shoulder. "First of all, what happened to your eye, bro? You run into a door or something?"

Rick laughed. "Oh no. It was an accident."

"Uh-huh..." Ryan hummed, not believing the writer.

They moved on to the next question. "What we really want to know is: what the deal is with you and Beckett. You two seem...different," Esposito stated.

Ryan moved closer, getting in his personal space. His face was right up in Rick's grill. "Really different. What's going on? Come on, we're you're friends. Tell us."

Rick shifted from Ryan and Esposito several times before giving them a faint smile and attempting to get up. "I'm just gonna go get some coffee."

"Whoa, there!" Esposito said, pushing Rick roughly back down into the chair. "Where do you think you're going?"

"T- to get some...coffee?" Rick was terrified. He'd never seen the boys so demanding, except when they were tag teaming a suspect.

They shook their heads. "Nope. You're gonna stay right there," Ryan growled, pointing to the seat Rick was currently in.

The writer didn't know what to do. Kate had told him that she wanted their new relationship to be kept a secret for the time being. What was he going to do?

"Dude, just tell us what's going on with you and Beckett, then we'll leave you alone," Esposito reasoned, giving Rick a small smile.

Ryan smirked. "Come on, Castle. Just tell us. All we want to know is-"

"Fine! Yes, we're together! Happy now?" Rick yelped, unable to take their questioning any more. He had to get them off his back.

The detectives fist bumped, getting the exact answer they were looking for. "Now was that so hard?" Ryan asked.

"No..." Rick mumbled, looking at his shaking hands. What did he just do?

"Good," Esposito grinned like the Cheshire cat. "Because it's about to get a lot harder."

Rick shot his head right up. "What? But y- you said-"

"We lied." Ryan nodded at his partner and they moved even closer, their noses in Rick's face. "What are your intentions towards Beckett?" Ryan questioned his voice low.

"W- what?" He croaked out, leaning his head back, away from them.

"What are your intentions towards Beckett? Are you completely in this or is it just a one-night stand for you?" Esposito asked, a growl escaping his lips.

Rick let out a long sigh, seeing no escape. "I'm in this. All the way. She isn't a one time thing, guys. She's it, okay?"

"Are you sure about that?" Ryan mused, his eyes narrowed.

"Absolutely. I- I love her. And I couldn't bear having to live my life without her in it."

"Because she's our girl," Esposito began. He raised a finger and pointed it in Rick's direction. "And you ever hurt her; we will find you and kill you."

Rick looked them square in the eye. "I would never hurt her on purpose. But I can't promise that she won't ever get hurt. I'm certainly not perfect, but I'll do anything to make sure that she's happy. I just want what's best for her."

It was Ryan's turn. "And you think that you're the best thing for her?"

"I believe so. Yes. I know that she's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Ryan and Esposito both smiled, hearing enough from Rick. They each clapped him on the shoulder in a brotherly way that silently said congratulations. They moved back to their desks, getting those piles of paperwork finished. Rick hesitantly stood from the chair, casting a weary look at the two men unsure if his interrogation was in fact over.

He slowly made his way to the break room, Esposito's voice stopping him half way. "She's crazy about you, Castle. I hope you know that. And you'd be an idiot to screw it up," the Hispanic detective declared before turning back to his work.

Rick gave a curt nod before retreating to the break room. Closing the door, he watched Ryan and Esposito through the blinds. That was unexpected, he thought. A gasp left his lips as a sudden realization jumped him. Kate wanted to keep us a secret...I'm in big trouble.

He whipped out his phone, his eyes on the boys. He was just about to text Kate when he received a message from her. Talk about perfect timing.

Hope the boys are being gentle. I told Lanie about us, I hope that's ok. You can tell Tweedle-Dee & Tweedle-Dum if you'd like. I'll be back soon. -KB

He let out a small sigh of relief. She told Lanie about them. Its okay, he's okay. Rick took another glance at the boys who were busy chatting with one another while they did their paperwork. Every so often they'd steal glances at him, smirking and laughing.

He sent Kate a reply, his fingers zooming over the keyboard.

They know about us. Boys hounded me for questions & it kinda slipped. I'm hiding out in the break room, please come back ASAP. -RC

He got an immediate reply. Be back soon. Sorry about them :( I'll come save you

Rick sent her one last text, one word saying enough. Hurry!

Raking a hand through his hair, he closed the blinds and began to prepare himself some coffee. He knew that the boys meant well but they sure scared the crap out of him. He needed the coffee to calm himself down while he waited for the beautiful detective to return. Sitting down on the bench, he waited and wondered how Kate's lunch went. It had to have been better than his with his mini interrogation by the boys. He missed her and he needed her.

Kate, where are you?

Whoo! :)

Please let me know what you guys think! Your reviews are my drugs, I crave them! So keep 'em coming! I'm sorry this was a short chapter by the way. Thanks for reading! :) Until next time!

Follow me on Twitter at KB_RC23 and Follow me on Tumblr at KB-RC23