A/N: I am so incredibly terrible at updating this, and for that you have my sincerest of apologies. I've just gotten so distracted lately (mostly by reading everyone else's stories). I'm going to stop making promises, because I just keep breaking them, so what I'll say is that I'm hoping to get more consistent.
Here's my take on 2x03. I loved this scene, because we kind of got to see Beckett being a bit of a fangirl over Heat Wave. Hope you enjoy.
"So what would Nikki Heat do after a bad day?" Kate knew this would do nothing but stroke his ego, but he had been right before, she was upset about the article. Not to mention the fact that she'd always been desperate to read his books the minute they were release, not that he'd ever know that, and well, this one was about her, so she was prepared to do a little ego-stroking and prompting if it meant she'd finally get her hands on Heat Wave. Luckily he took the bait.
"She'd go home, pour a stiff drink," Kate nodded; that sounded pretty good. "Run a hot bath; read a good book." There it is, Kate thought triumphantly, her perfect in. She did her best to hold her air of nonchalance.
"Too bad I don't have a good book to read."
"Mm," Castle agreed. " I'd let you have Heat Wave, but my publisher doesn't want any copies leaking out." Oh, that stung a bit. Did he really think she'd let the book leak?
"Why'd you let that Cosmo reporter read it then?" She would never admit it, but there was more than a hint of jealousy coloring her question. She hadn't realized it at the time, but she'd always assumed he'd let her read it first.
"Well, that was for publicity purposes. You know, you want the press to have a little taste." Kate nodded, waiting for him to catch on, hoping she wouldn't have to be blunt and admit she wanted to read it. "Wait, whoa- is, is that why you've been so upset? Because I let her read it before you?" Duh! Honestly you call yourself observant.
"I'm the inspiration. I should be reading it before a reporter does." She couldn't believe she actually had to spell this out for him. Then again, he didn't know why this was so important to her.
"Why didn't you just say so?" Because I didn't think I had to; I didn't think you were that clueless.
"Why didn't you just give it to me?"
"Why didn't you ask?" Really? Do you know me at all? Like I'd ever just come out and ask!
"Why didn't it occur to you?" Oh, that was an interesting question that she hadn't meant to think, much less voice. One that she wasn't sure she wanted the answer to, because it held deeper implications than she was ready to confront at the moment. Fortunately, Castle was floundering with the stated question so much that he seemed to have missed the implicit ones. She gave him a look as if to say 'Well?' and he finally found words again.
"You'll have it by tomorrow." A thrill of anticipation ran down her spine. She was excited to see what he'd written, her interpretation of her; but she was also terrified to find out exactly how he saw her. Letting him follow her around for research was one thing, actually seeing the finished product would be quite another entirely.
"Good," was all she could think to say.
"Good." He stood up and walked away visibly rattled. Kate smiled as she watched him go. Sometimes he was so easy.
A/N 2: Yes, it's another short one, but I'm a little frustrated with working my way through season 2, there's not as much angst as I'd like to write about. Please review if you feel compelled (and even if you don't, it'd still be pretty cool if you would review).