Chapter 7 Lobster

Two hours and several toe-curling sessions later, Kate entered the precinct in anticipation of a huge stack of paperwork dealing with the serial killer case they had just closed. She was happy to be back at work, but the time off she had spent with Rick had, admittedly, been a nice break.

Even though it was late morning, Kate helped herself to a latte to start her day off. She couldn't help but smile at the brewing beverage which served as a reminder of a certain writer she had spent the morning with. Kate was feeling unusually happy today.

Snap out of it, she castigated herself. You scold Rick for using his I-just-got-laid voice and now you're none the better.

Kate headed back to her desk and sat down just as Ryan and Esposito walked by.

"Morning guys," she greeted them in an overly cheery voice.

"Look who decided to join us," Esposito observed.

"Yeah, where've you been all morning?" Ryan inquired. It was very unlike Beckett to show up this late to work.

"Oh, I uh… got caught up with... something" Kate explained ambiguously, a hint of a smile curling at the corner of her lips.

It wasn't a complete lie. Like she was going to tell them that she was too busy going at it, for multiple rounds, with Rick in his shared bed this morning.

The two men pondered briefly on her vague response as they continued onward to their desks, observing her suspiciously out of the corner of their eyes.

Once out of earshot Ryan commented to Esposito, "Beckett seems kind of off today. Almost giddy? What's that all about?"

"Yeah, she's never this happy," Esposito whispered back.

"Do you think she…? You know." He gave a slight nod to the empty seat next to her desk, which had been de facto deemed Castle's chair.

"What?"

"Come on, man. You know they're living together because her apartment got blown up."

Turning his attention back to Beckett, Esposito asked, "This 'something' wouldn't have to do with Castle, now would it?"

"No," she retorted. "Of course not. What makes you say that?" Kate insisted a little too defensively.

"Oh, just the fact that you're all smile-y and happy, which never happens unless there's a guy involved. And it just so happens that you are currently residing in Castle's castle. Isn't that right?" Esposito stated.

"Ahh." Ryan caught on. "Doing the nasty with writer boy?" he chuckled.

"What? You guys are… ugh! Get back to work!" She ended the conversation abruptly to avoid further embarrassment. Was she really that readable to those two?

"Trained detectives, Beckett." Esposito taunted as they turned to leave. "We learned from the best."

"Yeah, yeah" she said, throwing a pen at their retreating figures. Kate's phone rang and she picked it up instinctively.

"Beckett."

"Kate, I heard about the serial killer and your apartment and I've been trying forever to reach you. You haven't called me back all week. Are you okay?" Lanie worriedly questioned her friend.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry about that Lanie. We got tied up with working the case and catching the killer." Amidst all the chaos, Kate had forgotten to fill her friend in beyond a cursory text letting her know she was okay.

"You're not hurt at all?" Lanie was relieved to hear the news.

"Not really, just a few bumps and bruises here and there. My wrist was a little banged up, but I took a few days off to rest so I'm better."

"How did you survive the explosion?"

"Castle actually figured out that the killer was still alive and that he was targeting me. He called me just as the bomb was about to blow up to warn me about it. I dove into my tub before the bomb blew, and it protected me from the fire. Castle kicked down the door and helped me out of my burning apartment."

"Oh, thank god," Lanie sighed with relief. "Castle saved your life for a change."

"Yeah, he did," Kate acknowledged.

"So where are you staying now that your apartment is in shambles?" Lanie inquired about her living situation.

"Actually, I'm staying with Castle," Kate admitted.

Lanie was probably going to find out eventually. No sense in hiding it from her best friend.

"He was kind enough to let me stay with him until I'm back on my feet."

They were also doing a few strenuous things together while not on their feet, Kate thought to herself. She wondered if she should share that particular news with Lanie.

"Oh." Lanie replied, surprised. "You're living with Castle."

"It's only temporary. I'm going to look for a new place soon."

"Uh-huh," she said skeptically. "So nothing has happened between you two?" Lanie asked suggestively.

In her mind's eye, Kate could perfectly imagine Lanie's highly trained gaze squinting at her and probing for more details.

Beckett ducked into the break room to get more privacy as their conversation took a scandalous turn.

"Why does everyone assume that because I'm staying with him, something has happened?" Kate expressed in a loud whisper.

"We've seen you two working together for the past year. Don't you think Castle has gotten more than enough research by now?" Lanie pointed out the suspicious nature of their partnership that Beckett had so long tried to ignore.

Their close co-workers had all conjectured that there was something more to Castle and Beckett's partnership.

"Maybe, but I keep him around because he's helpful on cases," Kate tried to convince the both of them. There were several other reasons why she kept him around but she didn't want to admit them aloud.

"Okay, okay," Lanie sounded unconvinced.

"You, Ryan, and Esposito need to mind your own business." Kate defended herself insistently.

"Sorry, honey. You know how it is. When two people like each other, everyone else gossips about it and tries to get them together."

Kate sighed. "Yeah I know." So that was the prevailing rumor about her and Castle.

There was a pause for a few seconds. Kate chewed on her bottom lip. Lanie was her best friend and she knew that she could keep a secret. Plus, Kate really needed to tell someone. She needed help to figure out what she should do. Kate looked around discreetly to see if anyone was listening to her conversation.

Lowering her voice she asked, "Okay, you want the truth?"

"Truth about what?" Lanie asked, her interest piqued.

"We slept together."

"I knew it!" she exclaimed.

"Twice," Kate qualified.

"When?"

"Last night and this morning."

"Oh my god. How did it happen?" Lanie had so many questions.

Kate sighed. "We just closed the case and I had too much wine to drink…" she recounted vaguely.

"So are you two…?"

Kate frowned. That was exactly what Castle had asked. Everyone was trying to put a label on them so quickly but Kate didn't have an answer.

"I don't know what we are!"

"I knew you two were going to get together eventually… but not like this." Lanie declared.

Kate needed her friend's advice. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Have you guys talked about it?" Lanie asked the obvious.

"Um… not really," Kate admitted. "I've been kind of avoiding it. I'm not ready to talk to him about it yet."

"Then why did you tell me?"

"I needed to tell someone. I know I can trust you. Please don't tell anyone else, okay? Especially not Ryan or Esposito. They'll tease me to no end."

"You have my word," Lanie promised.

"Sorry sweetie, I gotta go. My lunch break ended and I have bodies to examine. This conversation is so not over. Want to talk over drinks later?"

She wasn't letting her friend off the hook on hoarding those juicy details. If they'd done it twice it must be more than just a one-night stand.

"Sure. Thanks Lanie. I'll see you later."

"Bye."

Lanie hung up the phone and shook her head. Why couldn't Kate see that she and Rick made an adorable couple? Everyone but those two saw sparks fly between them the moment they first met. Still Kate and Rick continued to avoid acknowledging any romantic interests in the other.

After two years of denying such feelings, they finally consummated the relationship in a night of drunken sex. Nevertheless, it was a start. No more avoiding. No more denial. They have to confront one another about the feelings they have for each other, head on.

As Lanie scrubbed back in, she couldn't help but smile. Not only was she genuinely happy for her friend, but she just earned a lot of money that she would be able to cash in on eventually. Good thing neither Kate nor Rick found out about the betting pool that had been circulating around. People were betting on which coworkers were hooking up and Lanie had easy money on Castle and Beckett. Since Kate didn't want to make their relationship public yet, her winnings would have to wait.

"Kate, just you wait. You've found your lobster," she said out loud to no one in particular.

She mentally plotted a plan to get Kate to talk to Rick about their one night and one morning stand. Lanie had been waiting forever to see those two get together. If all went well, maybe one day there would be wedding bells and little Castle babies in the future.

Some things we don't talk about
Rather do without
Just hold the smile

A/N: FYI, lobsters mate for life. Haha, sorry for the randomness. (: Kind of a filler chappy. I'll try to write more! Expect some fluff in future chapters. Review please!