Disclaimer: All these characters belong to ABC and Mr. Marlowe
Anyone remember this? Yes, I know I pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth and yes, I do realize that even grass grows quicker than my updates, but I finally, finally can bring you a new chapter. To everyone who sent me a PM asking about an update, I was planning on replying to all of you when I had a better idea of a time frame on when this would be ready, but somehow all the messages mysteriously disappeared before I could send a response, so sorry to all for my non-replies.
"So."
Whipping his head around at the sound of her voice, Castle was met with an arched eyebrow, a pair of slightly twisted lips.
"How did you learn to dance?" Kate continued.
With his left hand securely intertwined with hers, his other pressed lightly at her back against the soft fabric of her dress, Castle released a smile, his eyes now on hers. From the moment they had stepped onto the dance floor he had tried to keep it cool. Keep his composure and casually gaze around the room, maintain his focus on the couples around them. Actually maintain his focus on anything, really. Anything but her. Not that it helped exactly, not when the heat of her skin was shooting warmth through his body and settling deep inside his chest.
But when she looked at him like that? Yeah, it was almost impossible.
"Ah, so you have noticed my unmistakable talents," he replied, a slight grin shaping his lips.
Kate glanced up at him, her spare hand resting on his shoulder as she offered him a thoughtful frown. "I wouldn't go as far as to say talents."
"You sure, because I'm pretty certain you just complimented me."
"What?" she shot back, a smile slightly breaking from her lips despite the tension he could feel in her muscles. "I was simply starting a conversation."
Catching the playful glint in her eyes, Castle definitively shook his head. "Nope, that definitely had the trademarks of a compliment. And since you asked so nicely, allow me to set the scene," he began, pausing in true dramatic fashion before he cleared his throat. "So it was a cold night, a Wednesday in fact, and there I was, lying in my bed with the glow of the moon painting shadows along my walls, when suddenly a mystical being appeared before me, saying that he had a mission for me. A mission to defy no other. And that, was a mission to dance," he finished with added theatrical flair laced through his tone, simultaneously gazing off into the distance in mock reflection. "Really nice guy," he casually nodded.
Turning back to meet her eyes, he tried to keep his face neutral, not give anything away as she frowned, her reaction all too adorable. "Are you actually being serious right now?"
Unable to contain it any longer, he allowed the grin to spill from his lips as they continued to sway in time to the music. "Which part gave it away? Was it that a mystical being giving me a mission to dance or the fact that I thought someone who came into my house uninvited was actually nice?"
Kate simply rolled her eyes. "Castle, as highly probable and extremely realistic as that totally engrossing narrative was, what's the real answer?"
He quickly rotated them to the left, barely avoiding a younger, less coordinated couple, before he answered. "I grew up as an only child to a single mother. More specifically a single mother who performed on Broadway."
"Ah, I see," Kate nodded.
"Yes, the great Martha Rodgers was adamant that there was absolutely no way that she could bring up a son who didn't know how to handle a dance floor. Labeled it a 'disservice to her craft,' so every so often she would come back from a show, push the furniture aside in our small apartment, play a bit of Dean Martin and provide me with her own private tutorials. I wasn't exactly the best student to begin with, but eventually I actually started to enjoy it. Not bad for a writer-monkey, hey?"
"Well the song hasn't finished yet. There's still plenty of time," she playfully retorted.
Castle smiled to himself, enjoying their teasing banter as he noticed her muscles slightly loosen under his palms, her shoulders begin to relax.
"You know if this isn't doing anything to convince you, I could always break out my Mr. Roboto," he offered.
Providing him with an amused look, Kate simply raised her eyebrow in silent question.
"Electric slide? Funky Charleston?" he continued.
Kate quirked her lips. "You know, as enticing as that sounds, I think this will do," she nodded.
"You sure? They're all very impressive. If you're lucky I might even remember a few of those old boy band moves."
Kate pulled away slightly and met his stare, a skeptical curve shaping her lips. "What are you, a member of 'N Sync now?"
"Ooh, which one do you think I would be?" Castle admonished, his eyes wide and their movements suddenly paused.
Taking her time, Kate briefly pondered her response before she teasingly twisted her lips. "You know the one with the brooding good looks, absolutely charming personality and completely irresistible?" she hummed, slowly rising onto her tiptoes and ever so slightly leaning into his space, bringing their faces level.
Castle could do nothing but stand there as- oh dear God- she lowered her eyelids and slowly flickered her gaze down to his lips.
He was going to die. He had absolutely no doubt about it, but- whoa what a way to die.
"Yeah?" he managed to swallow, almost forcing the words through his rapidly constricting throat, his legs suddenly feeling unbalanced.
Kate wrinkled her nose. "Well not him," she quipped, before falling back onto the balls of her feet.
Oh.
That was- that was cruel. Sexy, yes. But so unbelievably cruel.
"God, Castle, you're so easy!" she exclaimed, letting out a wide grin.
Castle narrowed his eyes. Right, so that's how they were going to play, was it?
"You know, just for that I'm extending you're owing duties," he confidently huffed in response, taking a small step closer to her.
"What?"
"Yeah. You heard me. We dance for an extra song. Tough life being mean isn't it?" he retorted with a raise of his eyebrows.
Kate let out a scoff as he ever so slightly drew her closer, her rebuttal completely nonexistent as he once again continued their movements across the dance floor.
"Don't pout. You'll kill the romantic mood."
"Castle, I'm not- wait. Romantic mood?"
Castle briefly paused, his eyes suddenly wide. And oh- there was that filter he was missing. "Greg and Julia," he was quick to respond. "I mean you'll kill the romantic mood for Greg and Julia," he fumbled as Kate eyed him suspiciously, before he swiftly turned his focus onto the newlyweds.
Kate seemed to let it go as he watched the couple, standing off to the side of the room, their focus only on each other as Julia let out a laugh, her hands interlaced with Greg's. "Look at them," Castle eventually sighed, Kate following his eye line to the pair. "Greg married the love of his life today and I've got to admit," he began, completely in awe of the sight, "I can't help but feel a little jealous."
Kate turned to him, her surprise evident. "You'd get married again? I thought you said it was petrifying."
"Oh, it is. Believe me. But it's also one of the most amazing, magical things you can do," he affirmed, his face soft and inviting, before noticing her features. "Oh, don't tell me you're going to go all 'Skeptics 'R' Us' on me again," he sarcastically questioned as the band gradually began to ease their tempo.
The mood in the room suddenly shifting, Castle casually steadied their movements and matched the slower rhythm of the other couples around them.
Distracted by their conversation, Kate moved to shake her head. "No, it's just-" she began, somewhat hesitantly. "When you think about marriage, relationships, don't you consider other factors? Things like security, compatibility, longevity or practicality. I mean, without any of those aspects, odds are it probably wouldn't work out."
"Seriously? That's really what you believe?" Castle responded, slightly leaning his head back to take in her features. "Relationships aren't math problems. You can't solve them by considering odds or being practical."
"Castle, fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, so you've got to be at least a bit realistic or how else is it expected to last?"
Castle took a moment as Kate remained silent, not at all convinced. "Okay, so maybe that's true," he continued, a sudden urge to alter her views. "But what about the flip side, the other fifty percent that actually make it and spend their whole lives together?"
Feeling brave, he ever so casually swayed his body closer to hers, seeking her warmth. "Love, it shouldn't be about picking the safe option and simply choosing someone you can live with. It should be about taking a risk and choosing someone you can't live without," he rationalized. "We all just have to believe and trust our hearts."
With that, Kate looked at him, a new softness in her eyes, almost a new sense of hope, a new sense of belief, before she let out a breathy sigh. "Castle, you can't possibly base forever on a quickening pulse or a magical fluttering in your chest," she casually replied.
"Of course you can. That's what love is, and if not, then how can you explain the one hundred and ten year old couples who have spent their whole lives together and still to this day are there for each other?" he confidently responded. "Although, now instead of chasing after kids and worrying about a mortgage, it's to help find missing false teeth and finish bottles of prune juice," he comically added, receiving a slight grin from Kate.
"I mean, just the idea that there are over seven billion people in the world and amongst all of that we can be lucky enough to find one, one special person in that sea of people that we're willing to commit to for the rest of our lives? Forever? Always? That, that in itself is magic," he finished, fully determined to persuade her, help her believe as he suddenly noticed a slight grin spread across her features. "What?"
Kate pursed her lips and shook her head in disbelief at his enthusiasm. "Nothing, it's just even after divorces, ex wives, alimonies, when you talk about love you're so-" she shrugged, looking off to the other couples intertwined around them, attempting to finish her sentence.
"So what?"
"I don't know," she breathed, "so hopeful and vivacious about it all."
Hearing the words roll off her tongue, Castle's eyes lit up. "Ooh, say that again."
As Kate looked at him curiously, Castle carefully allowed his palm to lower. Descending his fingers lightly along the strong outline of her spine, the material of her dress soft under his touch, he continued down the slope of her back, not failing to notice the way her muscles quivered and jumped under his touch, her breath slightly hitching.
"Hopeful?" she swallowed, seemingly determined to outwardly ignore his travelling hand, her voice however not as confident as it once was.
Castle shook his head, bringing his hand to rest at the base of her spine where he lightly added more pressure, nonchalantly encouraging her to bring her body closer. He was cautious, half expecting her to hold her ground and keep the distance between them or even simply leave the dance floor all together, but he had to hold back the smile that threatened when he felt her body subtly sway, linger closer towards his.
"No, the other one," he clarified, their conversation maintaining.
Kate lifted her head to him, eyebrow raised. "Vivacious?" she questioned with a coy smile, receiving a heavy, enthusiastic nod from Castle. "You liked that?"
"Yeah, very much so."
Castle beamed as Kate glanced up at him, shaking her head and emitting a soft smile, before she let out a faint exhale, her breath dancing across his throat and her hold on his shoulder tightening.
"Castle, just because you believe in something doesn't mean it's going to happen," she quietly spoke after a beat. "What if it's all just an unrealistic expectation?"
Castle took a moment, her honesty catching him off guard as he could practically feel the uncertainty she held, and the sudden recognition of just how much he wanted her to believe, wanted to be the one to help her believe, almost knocked him off his feet.
"Well, at least there's still a chance. You know, just because my marriages didn't work out doesn't mean I give up. After all, if you don't even believe in the possibility of it, of soul mates and fate and happily ever after, then I guess you won't ever find it," he sighed, trying to share even a little of his hope with her. "Magic could be right there in front of you and you could simply miss out without even realizing it."
He felt her slightly shift at his statement as she held his gaze, his words suspended between them.
He could do nothing but watch, a certain vulnerability yet clear resolve in her eyes, almost as if she was actually absorbing, being persuaded by his words. She wanted to believe. Was a true romantic at heart, but couldn't get through the pain that was holding her back.
He could feel his movements slow, his feet almost coming to a standstill as his multitasking skills completely abandoned him, unable to coordinate his steps and concentrate on the woman standing in his arms at the same time. He didn't know what he was doing. Had no words for it, but almost as soon as they had begun, he noticed the music fade, a voice echoing close by, mentioning something about a bouquets toss and everyone being required to leave the dance floor.
Kate let out a deep exhale. "Well Castle, I guess that's my debt paid in full," she spoke, her hand sliding from his shoulder and lightly brushing over his chest, lingering, before suddenly disappearing.
"Yeah, I guess it is."
Releasing her, he returned his arms to his side and took a casual step back, trying to suppress the ache in his body that already missed her touch.
She had left the dance floor, literally forced herself to leave the dance floor- and him- but it was too intense, too real, and her need to get back in control, stop herself from falling was completely overwhelming.
She had rambled something to him about bouquet tosses not really being her thing and encouraged him to go catch up with the group of old college friends that were calling his name from across the room. He did, eventually, his hesitation clear but he nodded, his understanding almost clear as he left, providing her with the opportunity to attempt to retain at least some composure, scrape her thoughts back together from the mess that was created the moment she placed her hand in his and stepped into his arms.
But now, alone with her thoughts, standing off to the side and looking on to the large room, Kate let out a sigh, tried to remember the moment in time when she thought that dancing with him was actually a good idea. Not that she didn't enjoy it. No, that part was never in doubt, but- it was more along the lines of when she had managed to convince herself that it was no big deal. That she would be able to remain in control and not feel anything.
Remain impartial to the way he smelt ridiculously good that close to her, how his palm practically burned her skin through the thin material of her dress as he spoke about love and soul mates, how his solid chest occasionally brushed up against hers causing something to develop deep inside her stomach, or even the way her heart completely refused to comply as the whole of freakin Africa seemed to host their own drum party in her chest as he looked at her, entirely to soft and endearing to be considered legal-
Shit.
She needed to pull herself together and stop sounding like a hormonal teenager. Keep herself focused on the point of all of this. Paula. Montgomery. The press. And the fact that in a week she was going to have to walk away from it all.
Walk away from him.
Taking a glass of champagne from a passing tray, she brought it to her lips and swallowed deeply, allowed the alcohol to run down the column of her throat, the liquid spreading a soothing and calming warmth through her body before she felt a presence at her side.
"So, I admit it's been a while since I last saw Alexis, but I'm guessing you're not her."
Lifting her head, Kate was met with the smiling face of Greg as he casually stood beside her, hands deep in his pockets.
"Oh no," Kate laughed, catching on to the humor in his smile. "I'm Kate, Rick Castle's-"
"Girlfriend," he completed.
Ah, and there was that word...
Kate took a moment, slightly drew her brows together before she let out an uneasy breath. "Yeah," she nodded, tucking a loose curl behind her ear as she attempted to plaster a smile on her face. "Congratulations by the way. The ceremony was really beautiful and you and Julia seem like you make a great couple," she quickly recovered, hoping he didn't notice her hesitation.
"Yes, thank you," he gleamed. "Although I guess I could say the same to you. I've seen a few papers here and there, well I think almost everyone has actually, and you and Rick seem to have quite a romance of your own," he added.
Kate swallowed. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
Greg eyed her inquisitively, before he shifted his attention to the surrounding reception party, focusing on the small group Castle was engrossed with as they sat around a table, apparently reminiscing about something humorous.
"You know, when Rick called to tell me that Alexis couldn't make it, I honestly thought he wasn't going to come," he spoke after a moment. "We don't really get to catch up much anymore so it's good to see him."
Turning to him, Kate displayed a curious frown. "You guys aren't close?"
"We were," Greg reflected with an exhale, focusing back on her. "In college we were pretty much best friends, but once we graduated and weren't in classes with each other every day it was kind of difficult to make the time. Adding to that, he was on the verge of publishing his first novel and heading into that whole scene, whilst I was just trying to get a nine to five job with my diploma. We both led such different lives, literally lived in different worlds. You know how it can be," he shrugged. "Although it doesn't seem like a problem for you and Rick," he quickly added, turning to her with a warm smile.
Kate's eyes flicked to Castle as Greg's words sent a twinge through her veins.
Led such different lives, lived in different worlds.
It was her and Castle. It is her and Castle. She knew that, but what did it matter anyway? It wasn't like she was hoping for anything else, anything more with him.
She was just reminding herself a few minutes ago that this- whatever it was- had an end point, an expiration date...
"Anyway, it was nice meeting you Kate and thank you for coming, but I've got a new bride I better go find," he said with a thoughtful smile, regaining her attention and offering a handshake.
Kate released his hand and remained still as she watched him leave and make his way to his bride.
Oh boy. She needed air. She needed to clear her head. Reset everything back in some kind of order.
Spotting a passing waiter, Kate walked towards him and placed her hand on his forearm. "Excuse me. Do you have anywhere I could step outside?"
"Yeah, just straight through that door on your left."
"Thank you."
Gripping the handle and pushing on the heavy door, Castle stepped out into the crisp air of the small courtyard. He hadn't seen Kate in over an hour, but as he took a brief glance around he spotted her almost immediately, sitting on the first few steps of a staircase that scaled the side of the building, her eyes fixated on the dark sky above.
She looked beautiful, content, and with soft fairy lights spiraled around the metal railing beside her, there was a certain ambience to the scene.
Noticing a broom leaning against the old brick to his right, he collected it, twisting the dry wood in his hand as he made his way toward her. "Did you hear that a new type of broom came out?" he spoke, catching her attention as her eyes narrowed at him curiously. "Yeah, apparently it's sweeping the nation."
He watched as her face broke into a soft smile, shaking her head at his terrible pun. "Is that what you came all the way over here to tell me?"
"That and to bare you with a gift like no other."
Kate twisted her lips, her eyes questioning as he brought his other hand around to his front, holding a plate and two spoons for her to see. "Wedding cake."
Eying the dessert he held in front of him, Kate scooted over, silently inviting him to join her.
Holding his smile, Castle balanced the broom against the solid brick before positioning himself beside her on the cool metal, their thighs slightly brushing.
"It's nice out here," he nodded, assessing the area as he rested the plate on the edge of his knee and offered her a spoon. "A little chilly."
Kate smiled, wrapping her fingers around the cutlery. "Toughen up, Castle," she smiled. "One of the waiters led me out here. How'd you find me?"
"I think we both spoke to the same waiter," he replied.
Sitting side by side, he turned his head to consider her. She seemed quiet, somewhat hesitant about something. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Everything's fine," she reassured with a conclusive smile, collecting some cake he held between them. "My feet were just a bit sore and I thought some fresh air would do me good," she added after a short pause, almost as if she knew he wasn't completely persuaded.
Castle frowned. "Don't you wear shoes like that to work every day?"
She shrugged. "Yeah, but I'm not exactly used to dancing in them."
"But chasing after criminals, you're fine?"
"Hmm, must be some of that magic you're so passionate about," she ribbed with a quirk of her eyebrows, grinning as she lifted the filled spoon to her mouth.
Castle smiled as her playfulness returned, whatever was occupying her mind seeming to temporarily disappear.
"You know, mock me all you want, but I've decided that there must be at least some formidable force you believe in," he said, collecting his own piece of dessert. "Come on, what about ghosts?"
"No."
"Big foot?"
"No."
"Five-thousand year old fairies?"
"Nope."
"Justin Bieber's hair?
"Ooh, you've definitely got me there," she teased, scraping some of the buttermilk frosting off the edge of the plate and shaping her smiling lips around the metal of the spoon.
Okay, she really had to stop doing that.
Forcefully peeling his gaze from her mouth, Castle focused his attention on the dessert. "You know it's going to be very hard to meet your Yang if you keep this attitude up," he nonchalantly noted, gathering more cake before turning to her and noticing her slight frown. "Your yang. Your opposing force. Your prune juice sharing soul mate," he began, suddenly remembering the half eaten dessert in his mouth.
He swallowed. "Come on, don't tell me you've never heard of yin-yang? It's Chinese philosophy one-oh-one. Completely fool proof," he comically described. "You see, you're a yin so in order to-"
"Since when was this about me?" Kate cut him off, her skepticism evident.
"Well I'm just saying," he casually shrugged.
Kate continued to eye him doubtfully. "So your great words of wisdom, are to go and find a yang?"
"Yes. Although when you say it like that I guess it doesn't sound quite as romantic," he reflected quietly, angling his head to the side. "Maybe if we refer to him as Mr. Yang instead- eh, no, still not any better…"
"Right, any other advice you want to share while you're going, Obi-Wan?"
"Nope, I'm done for the night. If you want any more wisdom I'm going to have to start charging."
Castle noted the slight curve of her lips as a beat passed before she spoke again. "So, fool proof, huh?" she repeated, going for more dessert.
"Yep. Guaranteed by the thousand year-old Chinese philosophers themselves."
"Right."
"What?"
Kate looked at him, her lips twisted. He could practically see her mind ticking over, her indecision clear and it was only a moment before she seemed to come to some kind of resolve and continued. "Well how do you know? And what does 'opposing force' even mean anyway?"
Castle's eyebrows raised and his eyes slightly widened, his curiosity peaked.
"Okay, hypothetically for the sake of the argument, how would I know if I've met him?" she hesitantly persisted. "He could be anyone. The guy I buy coffee from, the bus driver, how do I know it's not my neighbor who listens to Lady Gaga at three in the morning? I mean, how would I even know to strike up conversation with the guy?" she argued.
Castle looked at her for a minute. Okay, so maybe she had a point. Although amongst all of this he could sense a challenge and never one to back down and resist, he slightly shifted and nodded his head in agreement. "Alright, I can see where you're going with this. Okay, well firstly, your yang, he's not a cop. No way. They are banned. Completely in the red zone."
Kate offered him an unbelieving frown, apparently not agreeing with him for a second. "What?"
"Please, with all of their square-jawedness and seriousness? This is about discovering your other half, not the male version of you. It's basically incest," he nodded. "No, he needs to be something less restricted, less confined," he continued with a thoughtful sigh, their shared dessert all but forgotten. "Something like a mime artist, or a Russian acrobat, or I would even allow a nudist if that's what you'd prefer," he shrugged, trying to contain his grin.
"Whoa, Castle. You're making this sound more appealing by the second."
"Oh, since we're getting all the no's out of the way, let me just include the general rules that he can't have any weird fetishes, live in a basement of any kind or have any more than two cats."
Kate narrowed her eyes. "Why two?"
"One says he is lonely. Two says his cat is lonely. But three, all that tells me is that the guy's got issues," he confidently replied.
Humored, Kate shook her head before turning back to him expectantly. "Okay, what else?" she questioned, a hint of exposure evident in her eyes.
"Alright," Castle sighed, sensing the subtle shift in the air. "Well he needs to be intelligent. I'm not talking genius level or anything, just enough to keep up with your brains and wit, keep you on your toes and challenge you every now and then."
Kate slowly nodded beside him. "Okay, that doesn't sound too bad."
Castle shifted. "He should be someone who's there for you. Know when to give you your space when you need it, but also willing to put in the extra effort and push when you put your defenses up," he said attentively, noticing the way she averted her vision to the courtyard.
"But most importantly," he continued, trying to keep his tone light, "he should remind you that it's okay to laugh, have fun. Remind you every now and then that life doesn't have to be so focused and serious all the time, and it's okay to just let go and enjoy yourself."
"Honestly, that's all that should matter," he added after a moment.
"Well, with all these qualities, did you have anyone specific in mind exactly?" she eventully replied, her forehead shaped into a slight frown.
Castle focused, the sudden urge to blurt out the 'well I'm a possibility' line almost crushing, but instead he attempted to maintain at least a little bit of casualness to the deepening conversation and settled with the less consequential, "well, I know a few guys."
The question of whether this was something more, all of this was something more however, refused to disappear.
He cleared his throat. "Not too many Russian acrobats floating around in my area, but I'm sure I could find someone equally as eligible to fit the criteria."
Kate pursed her lips, holding her smile and slightly tilted her head to the side. "Really?"
"Yeah. I could flick through my address book, my contact list, hand out some application forms. Find a yang worthy candidate or two," he added after a moment.
Kate sat there with a slight cringe on her face, before she mirrored Castle's chuckle. It was only then when he decided to turn his head and chance a look at her features. He almost regretted it immediately however, and really, he should have known it was a terrible idea, because as soon as she reflected his movement and her smiling, hazel eyes met his, he was a goner.
He swallowed heavily and- whoa.
Their gazes lingered and his heart clenched. He was completely mesmerized by her, the way the golden glow of the soft lights ascending beside her, her loose curls hanging by her smiling face, so close. He needed to look away while he was ahead and still held the capability to control his actions, or else he was going to do something stupid.
Like kiss her.
Although stupid seemed like a pretty damn good option. But he couldn't-
As soon as he noticed her breath suddenly shallow however, her eyes darken, he could do nothing but surrender as the sudden need to feel her mouth, hot and pressed up against his again, the need for her, completely overwhelmed him. This was different though, as unlike their first kiss there was no escape route, no doubting or denial as to whether it was real or not, and with that in mind, Castle swallowed, his heart pounding out of his chest.
He cautiously raised his hand, bringing it up to the astray curl that shielded her face, provided a barrier between them, before delicately tucking it behind her ear. He waited for the fierce grip around his hand to come, the sound of breaking bones, but receiving nothing but a soft exhale, Castle slowly began to lean his head towards hers, his fingers lightly dancing at the angle of her jaw.
He parted his lips, Kate reflecting his movements as she joined him in closing the distance, their breaths mingling, when the sudden ringing of her phone hacked through the silence, causing Castle to halt his advance.
"Rick."
It was barely a whisper, a soft sound emmitted from her lips that were so close, easily could have been mistaken for a plea to continue, but deep down he knew and Castle slightly dropped his head in frustration. Cursing all inventors of phones and interrupting devices alike, he pulled away and leaned back to his side of the step, his eyes meeting hers as he forced smile, masking his disappointment. "You should get that."
Kate however remained still, almost in a daze, and she couldn't have- she couldn't have actually wanted him to continue?
Could she?
Almost as soon as the thoughts crossed his mind however, Kate was nodding in agreement and searching through her clutch. "It's probably the precinct. I told the boys to call if they needed anything," she mumbled, a slight quiver in her voice before she finally grasped the loud culprit and placed it to her ear.
Castle watched as she listened to the other end, tucking that damn loose curl back behind her ear. "No, no, its fine. I'll, ah, I'll be right there," she said, before ending the call and tentatively turning to him. "You don't mind do you?"
He should have told her how he felt. Insisted that she let Ryan and Esposito handle whatever it was and she stayed with him, even if it was for just a little bit longer. Although dropping his eyes slightly, he shook his head. "No. They need you. You should go."
"You sure?"
Castle released a deep breath. "Yeah, I'll be fine."
And with that, Kate stood, making her way across the courtyard before she opened the door and gave him once last glance over her shoulder and walked back into the reception.
So, I take half a millennium to update and then turn up the angst and tension, but before you all get ready to throw things at me, let me try to put your mind at ease with a few guarantees. 1. This will be completed, no chance of an abandonment here. 2. Next chapter is well on its way.
A sincere thank you to everyone for your unbelievable levels of patience, I know it can't be easy, and thanks for sticking with me!
BareWriter