Chapter 31 – Honesty is a Bitch

Disclaimer – not mine, not mine, never ever going to be mine.

Kate was barely buckled up when she blurted out "When did you and Martha become so chummy? And don't say at poker or I'm driving."

Esposito unclicked his belt, turned off the motor and turned towards not to his boss, but his friend "You get to know the character of a person pretty quickly when you hold hands hoping your friend doesn't die."

A renewed grief washed over Kate, she realized she had never acknowledged what Epso and Ryan had gone through on the day she was shot.

Esposito decided the door was open and he was going to keep walking through it. "I always thought of Ms. R as a ditzy theater actress, a life-long party girl, I totally under-estimated her. That day, that time sitting in the hospital together, waiting to hear if you were going to live or die. Ms. R. showed what she was made of."

Esposito noticed Kate visibly flinch at the word 'die', he didn't let it deter him. She needed to hear this next part and doubted anyone else told her "When Josh came out verbally swinging and shoving Castle around Ms. R. and Alexis came out fighting. I was sincerely scared for Josh. I would be honored to have either one of Castle's ladies have my back."

By now Kate had unbuckled her belt and turned to face Espo. "Can you expand on 'verbally swinging'? 'Shoving' I can figure out all on my own."

"Josh straight up blamed Castle for you getting shot. You want more details than that maybe you should kick your buddy Bruce to the curb and call Castle."

The self-imposed honesty pack was killing Kate. Even if she swallowed a little ego she owed it to both to be honest.

"Ahh Javi, there's no Bruce. It's Castle. It's always been Castle – but I know you know that more than anyone." Kate blinked her eyes several times to make sure she wouldn't drop a tear. Honesty was a bitch.

Esposito's face softened. He didn't know what to do or say other than buckle up, start the car and head to the crime scene.

Castle arrived on set and ushered directly to hair and make-up. He always thought the hair part was a bit ridiculous after all he used enough hair product to keep his hair from moving even if a hurricane hit. Otherwise it spiked up in all kinds of ridicoulos directions. He was okay with the pancake powder to make sure he didn't come across as pasty white, but the lip gloss was weird. Although he sure enjoyed tasting Kate's.

Castle started kicking himself for agreeing to no contact. He needs to speak up and let her know, he doesn't do relationships were people don't talk to each other, where he gets cut off when it's too tough to talk. Maybe he should just call her, no text her, no he'll wait to see if the dress gets returned. That settles it if the dress doesn't get returned he is calling her, well maybe texting her. Damn her.

The PA interrupted Castle self-loathing, "Mr. Castle we are ready for you."

Castle sauntered over to stage right and prepared to take his seat as 'Mid-day Live's' guest. He gave the obligatory hand shake and kiss on the cheek to the anchor woman. Couldn't even remember her name. He politely went through the motions of answering the standard question. "When is the movie coming out?" "Are you working on a 4th Nikki Heat?" "Where will Nikki and Rook end up?" "Are you still with the 12th?" "Isn't it dangerous following around cops?" "Have you ever been shot at?" "Do they let you carry a gun?"

The last question almost tripped him up, "What do you look for in a woman?"

He pondered his answer for a moment…does he give his patented answer or does he send Kate a message. Castle answered "The number one quality I look for in a woman is someone who enjoys my coffee."

The anchor woman tried to hold back her puzzled look, instead she held up her cup of coffee and took a long sip and said "I like coffee, I might like yours."

Castle headed towards the exit with a plan. In every interview he was going to drop a line about Kate. Like it or not. Noticeable or not, he needed to do something to make himself feel better.

His phone began to buzz. He rolled his eyes when he saw who was calling – it was either an emergency or a headache in the making. "Hello Mother."

"How are you doing kiddo? Getting ready to go to you next interview?"

"Yes Mother."

"I talked to your Detective Beckett."

"I told you I had it under control." He felt the veins in his forehead begin to pulse, "That we talked."

"Richard, you have had it 'under control' for far too long."

He growled down the phone "If you ruined this!"

"Ruined what Richard? Exactly what do you have?"

"Mother, I have…." Castle was to exasperated to finish he thought.

"Richard, I did exactly what you would have done for Alexis."