Edited by the gracious AnnieXMuller and Polly Lynn.
Chapter 51: 2x5, When The Bough Breaks
Oh, come on. What man has ever turned you away?
The warmth of seeing a broken little family start healing is buzzing through her veins as Kate silently descends the staircase, her faithful partner at her side.
That thought is suddenly crossed with the words our last case together.
And it's - complicated. The man beside her has been a presence in her life for so many years - more than he knows - and now she's trying to wrap her mind around the fact that he's learned all he wants from her. He's found a shiny new British toy.
The memory springs up, unbidden - Castle with those little nesting dolls, delighted, exclaiming how many can possibly be in here? while she pretended she didn't think it was adorable.
He may be irritating sometimes, but -
Well.
She likes having him around. And she's going to miss him.
"Thank you, Castle." He looks at her quizzically, and she decides - well, it's the last time they're working together; she may as well tell the truth. "I, uh - I never would've been able to solve this case without your help."
His whole face lights up, and she can't help the rush of warmth that spills through her veins. It's like he's been waiting, all this time, just for her to say that he's helpful.
The silence goes on too long and she panics a little. "Well, uh. Good luck on your new book. I know that you'll do it proud."
"Thanks." He still looks stunned. He's not used to her telling him things like thank you and I respect you, she realizes, and that hurts a little.
He keeps looking into her eyes, mesmerizing, and for a moment she thinks he's going to hug her. And she - oh, she wants -
He shakes her hand, but it's more than a handshake. His hand is warm, clasping hers firmly, and she can't remember a simple handshake that's said so much.
"You take care of yourself." His eyes are so full she can't look away, and he's still holding her hand. He hesitates, but keeps going. "And -"
But he stops. She catches her breath. "What?"
"I almost kissed you."
She freezes.
Her mouth falls open, and he's staring at her, looking as shocked as she feels.
"What?"
His mouth opens and shuts, his face covered in confusion, before he finally squares his shoulders and fixes his gaze on her, that brave little boy look in his eyes that she tells herself she doesn't love.
"At the party." His mouth turns up in a soft smile. "You looked - just - stunning. And for a second there, I really - thought - "
She manages to get her voice working. "Thought what?"
"That you wanted me." She blinks, and he fumbles. "To kiss you, I mean." He stuffs his hands in his pockets, and it's as though he's lost all that bravado. It's just him. "I was going to ask if you wanted to skip out that night, go get drinks. I almost did. But I - got cold feet. So I talked about the case."
"And we argued."
"As usual."
He grins at her, his eyes crinkling, and she can't stop smiling back at him.
"I was - wondering what you were going to say."
"So, Beckett." He pauses. "Kate. You want to go out for drinks? After we're done for the day?"
His eyes are warm. She can hear what he means. I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet. She she's not ready for that, either.
"Yeah."
It's just after ten when he walks her back to her apartment. Kate's still laughing at some ridiculous, convoluted story about a book-signing he attended while not wearing pants.
"I probably don't want to know this, but is it at all related to the time you stole the police horse?"
"Nope. Completely separate occasion."
He watches as she pulls out her key, still rolling her eyes as she does. "I'll try to forget that."
"So - you want to do this again?"
She worries her lower lip between her teeth, watching, amused, as his eyes fixate on her mouth. "Yeah."
She hesitates, then leans forward, kissing him very lightly on the lips. When she pulls away, he's staring at her, slack-jawed.
"Good night, Castle."
a week later
It's far, far too early when she wakes up to the sound of a phone ringing. No. She's not on call. Kate groans, rolls over.
But Castle's voice rumbles under the edges of her consciousness, dragging her awake without her permission.
"Are you kidding? For that kind of money, I'll write a dozen Nikki Heats."
She buries her face in the pillow and reaches towards him blindly, poking him in the side. He snags her hand, twining his fingers through hers, murmuring a little softer.
He hangs up quickly and she sighs, rubbing her eyes and stifling a yawn. "What's going on?"
He shakes his head, incredulous. "That was Black Pawn. They made a huge counteroffer. A seriously huge counteroffer. I'm not taking the Bond offer."
"You - what?"
"I'm staying. Kate." He runs his thumb over the back of her hand. "You're going to be getting a phone call later today. I think Montgomery's going to tell you you're still stuck with me."
"Mmmmm." She scrapes her nails lightly over his bare stomach, heat flaring in her veins as he catches his breath, his abs tightening under her touch. "Am I, now?"
He grins at her, dropping a brief, light kiss on her mouth.
"You're like my own personal Bond girl. You - mmmph"
She smothers that with a long, hard kiss, rolling him onto his back.
"Do not ever call me that."