Disclaimer: Castle Belongs to Andrew Marlowe and ABC America.

So, I know I already did a version of #49 in a different fic - and it was probably better written. This is not from the Captain's point of view. I tried to make that work and couldn't. Maybe later. We'll see.

Upload Date: 24.02.13

Chapter Rating: T

Chapter Summary:

#48: Madison

Castle and Beckett figure out away to support Madison and her restaurant without being outed as a couple - much to Madison's amusement.

#49: Gates

When Douglas Stevens presses charges for Castle's behaviour, Gates comes to a decision.

#48

As she was being escorted to her table, she noticed him right away. He'd really gone all out tonight. Well, so had she. How did he know she had a thing for suspenders?

It didn't take long for him to notice her right back. He sat up a little straighter and reached for a napkin, looking a little flustered, wiping his brow.

She smirked.
She hadn't bothered putting make-up over her scar tonight, but she wasn't sure if he could tell.

"Can I get you something to drink?" the waiter asked.

"Can I have a few moments?"

"Of course."

A short while later, she received a text message. Surprise, surprise, it was from Castle.

I know I'm supposed to be the words guy, but all I can come up with is... wow.

This was a stupid idea, she replied.

Why did you agree to it, then?

I was in a very agreeable mood at the time you suggested it, if you recall.

Oh, I recall. I definitely recall.

Why don't we just get out of here?

You can leave if you want to. I just ordered my drink.

"Becks! "

Beckett looked up. It was Madison.

"When I saw the reservation for 'Beckett' I just knew. How've you been?

"Uh, good, actually. Really good. What about you? I see you're doing pretty well. The place is packed."

"We're not struggling, I'll tell you that. So, are you waiting on someone?"

"Uh, no, I'm dining alone tonight."

"Really? That's interesting because there's someone else dining alone, too. Richard Castle."

"Really? What a coincidence." Beckett felt sloppy for even attempting to keep up the pretence.

"Seriously? Come on, Becks. Give me some credit."

"Ok. I'm dating Castle, but I came here to support you since I haven't been here in a while and we haven't really talked much lately. I wanted him to come with me but...this place is pretty high-profile and - "

"It's ok, Becks. Rick already filled me in before you got here."

"Oh, he did, did he? So, you were just messing with me?"

"To be fair, you made it so easy. For the record, I think it's sweet."

"Well, it was Castle's idea and I think it's stupid."

"Either way, it's going to be interesting. You lovebirds have a good night."

She tried. She really tried to go along with this covert dating thing of his, but she got a pang in her stomach that had nothing to do with the food every time she looked up to see him gazing at her, every time he sent her a text. She wanted to be able to eat out somewhere that wasn't a burger joint with two-dollar coffee with her boyfriend, actually sit next to or across for him and enjoy a meal with him.

"Miss?"

Beckett looked up to find Madison smiling, a cup of coffee in her hands.

"This is compliments of the gentleman at table fourteen."

She put it down in front of her. It was latte art in the form of a heart. Beckett rolled her eyes as she tasted it.

"Castle made this himself, didn't he?"

"How can you tell?"

"No one makes it quite like him."

She met his self-satisfied smile across the room with a look that quite plainly said, "I'm going to have my way with you when we get home."

She didn't disappoint.

"How is it possible that we spent the whole night in the same room, looking at each other texting each other, effectively having dinner, and I still missed you like crazy?" she breathed against his ear.

"Maybe it's because you love me."

Beckett slowed her explorations of his body, but didn't stop.
" What?"

Castle lifted her chin to meet his gaze.
"Madison said you were shooting love eye-balls at me all night. Admit it, 'Becks'. You love me," he teased. "You totally love me - "

"Ok, fine. I love you! Now, shut up."

Castle's face and voice softened.

"'Bam', said the lady," he said quietly.

"Castle, are you crying?"

"What - no!" he calmly replied, wiping something that was definitely not a tear out of his eye.

"Hold on, I think I have a napkin stashed in my purse somewhere," she offered, somewhere between deep affection and amusement.

"Damn you woman," he grumbled, "giving me all these... feelings."

#49

"Mr. Castle, my office."

That was never good, especially when it was accompanied by what could only be described as a "death-glare".

"Do you know what this is about?" he asked Beckett.

"No idea. Have you done anything to piss her off lately?"

"None more than usual."

"Well, I'm sure it'll be ok. Don't panic."

"Yeah, that doesn't help."

"Take a seat, Mr. Castle."

He obeyed.

"Do you remember a man called Doug Stevens?"

Castle's eyes darkened. How could he forget?

"The driver of the van that was used to take Alexis," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Yes, well, he was given a suspended sentence."

Castle didn't care. He had Alexis back, safely that was all that mattered.

"Ok,"

"He wants to sue the department."

"Why?"

She quirked a brow.

"You really don't know."

Oh. Right. The whole... torture thing.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'll pay whatever he's asking."

"I thought you'd say that. You'll be hearing from our attorney later today. We all want to get this sorted out as quickly and discretely as possible."

"I understand. Is that all?"

"Well, not quite. I'm interested in how Detective Beckett fits into all of this."

"She doesn't. I take complete responsibility."

"Well, I'm afraid that when you're shadowing the NYPD, you're her responsibility. If she had intervened, Stevens wouldn't have even had a case. Which raises the question, why didn't she?"

"I guess you could ask her."

"I could. I could launch a full enquiry; with her record I don't see that boding well for her. I'm hoping to avoid that. You see, Mr. Castle, I have a theory as to why.
"Do you remember when we first met?"

"How can I forget? You kicked me out in your first day."

"Do you know why?"

"If I recall, you didn't want a dilatants writer playing cop."

"That was certainly part of it. When I walked in, I thought you were a cop. Your determination to find Detective Beckett's killer was... admirable. I could also tell that you were torn up. The way a man is when his partner's been shot. But when I found out she wasn't your partner, I saw warning bells. A writer, a shadow, who was allowed to assist on cases? Not just menial tasks, but real detective work? Someone treated like a member of the team. It was obvious even then that where was more to your little partnership than met the eye - and on-top of everything else I had to deal with, taking over from a recently deceased and well-liked Captain, I just didn't feel I had the time or patience to baby-sit you.
"I don't know how far you two have gone, and I don't care. But even if you're still in denial, that doesn't change the why Detective Beckett feels about you. I believe it's compromised her job, on more than one occasion - why else would she allow you to engage in such inappropriate behaviour with a suspect - leave you alone with a suspect in the first place, for that matter?"

"The way she feels about me?"

"I may not be in the loop when it comes to my employee's love lives but I'm not blind. I know love when I see it. And now I have proof that her feelings for you are interfering with her work, which was my concern from the beginning. Now, I could bring this to the mayor - for all his faults, he's not corrupt and would be forced to agree with me. But I didn't want to have to do it that way. I'd prefer you bowed out gracefully. It's up to you, Mr. Castle."

It was bad. She knew that the second he stepped out of her office, could see it all over his face.

"Castle - "

"Can I have a word with you in private?"

He walked past her to the break-room without waiting for a reply. She followed.

"Doug Stevens filed a complaint," he said, trying and failing to rid his voice of all emotion.

"Doug Sevens? The guy you - ?"

"Yeah. I offered to pay the settlement, but... Gates knows why you let me into that room alone, why you didn't stop me when you should have. She... suggested the best thing for everyone would be if I left without making a fuss."

"And... will you?"

"Beckett - Kate... I want to fight it, but if I do, you could face disciplinary action. So..."

"You agreed."

"Yes."

"So... this is it?"

He avoided eye contact.

"Yeah."

"I'm so sorry, Castle."

"Well, you should be."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Castle, how would you have felt if I had stopped you?"

"That's not what I mean. Did you have to make it so damn obvious how you feel about me?"

"It's not something I can help. Believe me, I wish I could hold it back - sometimes I wish I hadn't fallen in love with you in the first place, lord knows I tried not to!"

"Kate," he said softly, reaching up to caress her face.

She pushed him away.

"Not here, Castle."

"Who are we hiding from now, Beckett?"

Becket took a deep breath, fighting back tears.
"I don't know," she said, allowing him to hold her. "I don't want this to be over."

"It's not all over. Just this part."

"This is the most important part! This is what we do. This is how we relate."

"It's not the only way," he pointed out, his hand going up and down her arm.

"Castle," she breathed against his ear. "Promise me we're going to be ok," she whispered against his ear.

"I can't. I don't know. I can promise that I will never stop loving you and hearing you say you feel the same way... helps."

She took a deep breath, looked up at him, and kissed him, a real, proper, French, PDA kiss, loaded with all the passion, love and desperation they could muster as she tried to convince herself this was not goodbye.