Disclaimer: I don't own Castle. But I do own Det. Miranda Reynolds, my OC.

Prompt #7: Greetings - He always had something witty to say when she called him.

Words: 824

Normal people say "Hello," when they answer their phones. But then again, Richard Castle wasn't anything close to a normal person.

He always had some sort of charming, witty remark to say when Kate Beckett called him. A fact that somehow brought her a measure of amusement in her case-heavy days.

When she called, Beckett always had to take a steadying breath to calm her heart rate. For some reason, hearing his voice over the phone was almost as bad as hearing him speak face-to-face. Maybe because now, she could imagine that boyish smirk in the lilt of his voice.

"Why good morning, Detective. Do we have an appointment with Dr. Parish and a dead man today?"

His voice is starting to damage my calm, she thought. "Dead woman, Castle. Sixth and Lexington. Get your butt down here."

"So surly, Beckett? No coffee yet, huh?"

"It's a media circus down here. I barely had time to run a brush through my hair."

"Bed head Beckett?" His voice took on a gleeful tone that had the homicide detective considering possible ways to dispose of his corpse. "Well that's a charming image to have. I'll be right down. With coffee, so stop scowling."

"I'm not," she snapped, putting on a neutral look.

"I'll bet."

True to his word, he arrived within twenty minutes bearing coffee for her.

Normal people aren't chipper as chipmunks when their cell phone goes off at the butt-crack of dawn. Even when said phone is displaying the face and number of a certain female homicide detective. But Richard Castle prided himself on being as far from normal as possible.

So when he answered the phone, he did it with a smile and a quip. "Why Detective Beckett, you're up early. What's the occassion?"

"Castle?"

Something in her voice made him sit up straight in bed, all humor forgotten. She sounded like she'd been crying. "Kate, what's wrong?" he asked, concern making him use her given name without thinking.

"I, uh, just...it's nothing, nevermind." And before he could ask again, she hung up on him.

Castle hit her speed-dial button, then waited. When she picked up, he glibly said, "Can you hear me now?"

"Castle, I told you it was nothing," she insisted.

"Forgive me if I don't believe you." Trying to be gentle but firm, Castle said, "Look, you want to grab breakfast before heading into the precinct? My treat."

She hesitated - a sure sign that her resolve was weakening. "I - you don't have to..."

"I want to. Come on over, okay?"

He'd never dressed faster than he did that morning. Twenty minutes later, Beckett was at his front door and he had a chipper smile ready for her.

It was a hot, muggy July morning when another body dropped uptown. Beckett was too busy trying to wrangle an answer from the uncooperative witness on scene, so she took out her phone and shoved it at Detective Miranda Reynolds. "Here. Call Castle and tell him to get his ass down here, and if he doesn't bring me iced coffee, I'll shoot him in the face."

By now Miranda was all-too-familiar with the moody shifts of Detective Kate Beckett, so she didn't question the older woman's words. Instead she scrolled through Beckett's contacts and searched for Castle's number.

Imagine her surprise when she saw that the writer was listed as number one on the detective's speed dial. Grinning, Miranda depressed the 1 and held the phone to her ear.

Castle answered on the third ring. "Why Detective Beckett, are you calling me to join you for a romantic rendez-vous at Chez Crime Scene?"

Miranda chuckled. "Hi Castle, it's Reynolds."

A spewing sound was heard, like he'd spat out a mouthful of liquid in shock. "Miranda?" he choked. "Wha - Why - Where's Beckett?"

"Wringing info from a witness. She says you better bring iced coffee or she'll shoot you in the face upon arrival," she replied blithely.

He swallowed audibly. "Thanks for the heads up."

"Want another? Bring a large iced coffee. She's especially annoyed."

Ten minutes later, he arrived bearing just that. As he took his position next to Beckett, Miranda smiled to herself. No wonder she always looks so much happier after she calls him to a crime scene. With a greeting like that, who wouldn't crack a smile?

Just something I thought of after hearing so many Castle phone greetings. Came out kind of cute!

Review please!