So I kind of desperately needed this chapter, because apparently right now EVERYONE IS WRITING ANGSTY FIC and I cannot DEAL. UGH. So let's turn off the Adele for a few minutes.

Dearest Cartographical: LOVE.

Also, I keep giggling over the word "shaft." Heeeeeeeeeeee.

This fic is set toward the end, where Castle's leaving for the night and mentions to Beckett that he has "a big date."

Chapter 30: 2x20, The Late Shaft

Is this some kind of a weird come-on?

Oh, come on, seriously. Ellie Monroe? The woman whores around to get a movie role and he's still falling into bed with her like some pervy sugar daddy? That is disgusting. "You're kidding, right? You're going out with Ellie Monroe even though you know the only reason that she was interested in you was for a part? Have you lost all sense of human decency and self res-" What is wrong with him and why the hell is he smiling – "What?"

His eyes are wide and innocent and way too blue and she has the distinct feeling maybe she's missing the joke here –

"My 'big date?' – is with Alexis. She's getting back from her trip."

…oh.

That's –

He walks off with a smug look on his face and Kate gapes. Damn it, damn it, that sounded –

"Castle. Wait. You know I wasn't – I didn't mean – "

Castle pauses and turns around, and he twitches an eyebrow up in amusement. Kate curses her sudden stupid inability to speak. Great. Now he thinks –

She tries again. "I just meant I thought it was – irresponsible."

"Oh, really." He starts walking back towards her. No, no no no, Castle. Go away. She has the sinking feeling that she might not win this. "You know, that's funny, because for a second there, that sounded a little jealous, Beckett."

"I am not jealous. You can sleep with whoever you want," she forces out.

"It's 'whomever,' actually." He grins at her glare. "And you know, you don't have to deny it. You can just give in to your deep-seated owwwwwww, Beckett, ouch."

She lets go of his nose and he whimpers faintly, rubbing it with puppydog eyes (she does not love those, she does not, they are not adorable). "There is no deep-seated anything. Stop being childish."

"You angling for a date of your own here, Detective? Because you could just ask if you – "

"Shut up." She scowls. No. She does not want a date with this arrogant, smug son of a –

(The thought flickers through her mind that he looks really, really good today. She ruthlessly quashes it.)

"No, no, don't be shy. There's plenty of Big Rick to go around," he leers.

"You should go. Alexis will be waiting."

"Not till later. Plenty of time to show you what you're missing out on, Beckett."

"Castle, I am not – mmmph."

By the time she figures out why she can't finish her sentence, he's finished kissing her, pulling away, his mouth leaving hers with an audible smack.

Oh God he just kissed me what do I even do–

Kate stares, her cheeks burning, and his face melts into a wicked grin.

Should have slapped him. Damn it. Now he thinks –

She finally finds her voice. "What – the hell – "

"I mean. Since you don't care and all."

He saunters off with a self-satisfied grin she just wants to wipe right off his face.

- no, no no no, not like that –

Damn it.