Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.

Prompt #19: Poker - With pride and gummy bears on the line, they squared off to settle the stalemate.

Words: 608

He'd thrown one for her.

She'd thrown one for him.

Now they'd decided to figure out who really was the best. Pride demanded it.

Well, at least that's how it was supposed to happen. Castle wasn't really sure how they'd managed to find themselves in this position, but here they were.

A somewhat serious game of poker with gummy bears had rapidly devolved with the addition of a bottle of liquor found in Esposito's bottom desk drawer. Surprisingly, Beckett had let herself get more than a little sloshed. Giggling like a little girl, she held her cards close and kept shooting gleeful looks at Castle, humming a song that sounded very much like, "I know something you don't know."

That was not the Beckett he'd come to know. She was brusque, direct, and took none of his crap. If he had to be truthful, she was the mother he never had. But that was just wrong, because Detective Kate Beckett was most definitely not his mother.

He'd only known Beckett for a little while, and he had the notion that she might have more-than-platonic feelings for him, however fleeting. He was, after all, a ruggedly handsome bestselling author. Women fawned over him like subjects for a beloved king.

But Beckett was very different from them. She didn't fawn, or adore, or even smile like a crushing schoolgirl at him. She treated him - like a person. A normal person. That was more than anyone had done in a long time, and it threw him somewhat.

"Beat that, Castle!" she crowed now, laying down her full house, Jacks over nines. "I win!"

He grinned back at her. "Oh, hold on there. I believe I can beat that." He revealed his own hand. "Full house as well. Kings over tens."

"Awwwww!" she whined, drawing out the word with a tipsy slur. "Well, I guess that settles it. You win the whole pot." She reached over and grabbed a gummy bear, popping it in her mouth. "But I'm still better than you. You only won 'cause I had a sucky hand."

Castle shook his head. "You must be really gone if you're calling a full house a sucky hand." Getting his coat, he took the half-depleted bottle of booze and returned it to Esposito's drawer. "Come on, Detective. Let me give you a ride home."

"You tryin' something with me, Castle?"

Another head shake. "Nope. I'm not quite that juvenile. Your virtue's safe, Detective." Offering his hand, he pulled Beckett up from her seat and helped her into her coat. "Shall we go? What's your address?"

She shook her head deliberately. "Not gonna tell." There was a spark of knowledge in her booze-buzzed eyes, like she still had enough of her wits to keep her home secret from him.

"Then how am I supposed to get you home?" Castle asked logically.

"Cab," was her quick reply.

He smiled. "Very well then. Let's get you out there."

That late in New York City, getting a cab was somewhat a challenge. But soon Castle was loading Beckett into the back and making sure she was awake enough to give her address. Once he shut the door and watched the cab take off, Castle headed back to his loft.

Detective Kate Beckett, he thought as he walked. You are an interesting woman. I can't wait to learn more about you.

A little tag from 1x08 "Ghosts" that I just whipped up.

Review please!