Chapter 46
One LONG FINAL note on The Name Game to my special guest reviewer. (Last one, I promise lol)(Again, feel free to skip ahead to the bold face! ;D):
I chose the name Tabrett because a friend of mine is head over heels in love with the Australian actress Tabrett Bethell, who was named after a street near the hospital where she was born: Tabrett St in Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Also, the name is Hebrew, not Scottish. It means Celebration.
So I think the REAL lesson here is that there are multiple possibilities and reasons for everything that happens. In this case, since the character was named after an actress who was named after a street over there, I would have to say that is good reason for Tab to think her name WAS Australian. Not everyone looks into their name. I know I've never had the urge.
Does that make you any less correct about the true origin of the name? I have no idea. But it does mean that you might be digging a bit too deeply into this particular issue. It certainly wasn't meant as an affront and considering the stereotypes every race has to put up with (including the ones you just threw at me... I can honestly say I never thought anyone in Australia rode Kangaroos anywhere and I don't even know what a drop bear is.) (Okay, I just looked it up and that is friggin' ridiculous. A vampire-toothed Koala? Koala's aren't even bears! They're marsupials.), I think we should all just smile and worry about something bigger... like ending world hunger or getting the Kardashians off TV. I mean really, would you know the true origin of any name someone threw at you from America? Or any country other than your own? And as far as 'creating a funny Castle scenario', I'm partial to the ones I've already written. ;)
Please know I am not being defensive or argumentative. Just realistic.
Fanfiction is meant to be fun. It is certainly free. Which is why, when I do occasionally read it, I keep in mind that novice authors don't always know everything about everything (And they certainly don't have editors or researchers). So when I find something peculiar, I smile and read on, or if it is too disturbing, I close my browser and move on.
I invite you, without malice, to do either.
In other words... Don't sweat the small stuff. There is too much big shit waiting out there to blindside you.
Now, while this has been a lot of fun to debate with you, if you want to continue you will need to create an account, log in and PM me because these responses are throwing off my word count! (And probably boring the tits off the regular readers.) :D Be well!
A/N: To Arianne - Honest reviews never offend me. I appreciate you taking the time to send me your feedback. I do understand what you are saying, and on many levels I agree with you... I could write 1,000 or more pages of this story. But if you saw the backlog of stories I owe... You would understand why a sequel to Come & Find Me would be a long way off. So I will continue trying to meld them together and hope you continue to read and offer your honest opinions. ;)(And don't worry... it'll shift back. :D)
A/N #2: TIME RIPPLE! (And a small rough seas warning.)
Oh and this is really M. ;)
TWO WEEKS LATER
Beckett looked at the man across from her like he was the lowest thing that had ever dragged itself out of a sewer. She silently wished that Castle was with her. He always centered her, keeping her grounded when her anger wanted to spin out of control. But he had a deadline... one he had pushed to the breaking point and now... now he was chained to his desk at the loft, trying to save them both from the wrath of Gina.
"Why did you do it? Your wife? Your eleven year old daughter? Why?"
She knew the answer wouldn't take away the pain... But it would at least be something.
At least that's what she thought.
Until he smiled at her, leaning forward slightly as he motioned for her to do the same. When she was close enough to feel the heat of his breath on her face, he smiled.
"Because I can."
Kate walked in the door of the loft; not bothering with her usual reticence about using her key for once. She ignored the glass of wine and the smile Castle tried to offer her.
The day was beyond that.
"Where's Alexis?" She asked blandly.
"Out until late tonight..." He sighed, setting down the wine glasses as he went back to stir the sauce he was slowly cooking on the stovetop. "With Tab-"
"And Martha?"
He looked at her curiously. "At an opening downtown. And if I know my mother, we won't see her for days-"
Grabbing him by his shirt she roughly pulled him to her; spinning him around and shoving him up against the refrigerator... hard.
"Kate...?" He managed to grunt out that one word with the small amount of air she had left him in his lungs before her lips smashed into his. Hard, demanding and bruising, the writer wasn't sure if he was being kissed or assaulted. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he forcibly pushed her away to look down into her eyes. "Kate?"
Beckett shook her head violently. "No." She grabbed his hands and dragged them to her breasts, the desperation in her voice palpable. "Don't be you... Please... Rick. Please... Not right now. Not this time..."
Castle blinked as she rubbed up against him, her hand stroking him through his pants and making his head slam back against the fridge door.
"What do you... what do you want?"
"I want... I NEED... hard... fast..." She licked her way through the stubble on his chin.
She loved it when he forgot to shave.
"...And dirty." She ground her hips into him, a feral grin curling her lips as she grabbed the front of his shirt and ripped it open, sending buttons flying all over the kitchen.
Then the detective blinked as their positions shifted so rapidly she barely had time to restrain her mechanical, and lethal, response. Now she found herself with her face pressed up against the smooth metal of the refrigerator door.
With Castle pressed up tightly behind her.
She grinned when she felt his hand snake around her middle to her waist; his fingers quickly unfastening her belt and pulling it free of her jeans.
Rick unsnapped the buttons on her Levis and slid his hand roughly inside her panties, pressing hard against her core. "Is this what you want?" He growled.
"Yes..." Kate hissed, her hips pressing back into him, unable to control the need running through her body. "More..." She whispered. "Castle... Please..."
Rick didn't hesitate, now that he understood what she was asking. He gripped the waistband of her jeans and stripped them down her legs; taking a moment to grumble about the boots that held up his progress. When he had one leg free, he shifted, using his feet to push hers apart as he quickly undid his own pants and let them puddle on the floor. He shoved his boxers down his legs, and then slid one large hand across her belly as the other reached down and pulled the soaked crotch of her panties aside.
"Jesus, Beckett..." He ran his fingers through the wetness, bringing it up to his lips to taste her as he slid inside her in one long, powerful stroke.
Beckett bucked back wildly; the feel of him inside of her almost more than she could bear as she gripped the handles on the refrigerator; using the purchase to add more force to her backward thrusts.
She smiled, her first honest smile of that day, when she heard Castle grunt "Love you... Love you... Always..." Into her ear.
Even at her very worst, at her neediest... he still loved her.
Unable to stop them, Kate let go and felt tears stream down her face. Even as the heat inside her increased maddeningly and set her to whimpering as the writer's thrusts came harder and wilder.
"Rick..." She felt her ears start to ring; her fingers and toes start to curl. Reaching back she wound her fingers in his hair and pulled hard, gasping when he bit into her neck.
With one, final thrust, Rick buried himself so deeply inside her, he actually picked her up off the floor for a moment.
The feeling of weightlessness, along with the feeling of HIM inside her... was more than she could control. She tightened the muscles that held him inside. Beckett closed her eyes tightly, every muscle taut as the backs of her eyelids flashed with colors, then she groaned... her body shuddering wildly as Castle emptied himself inside of her.
They stayed that way for a few moments, until Rick realized Kate was still trembling. He turned her head and saw the tears running down her cheeks; his mouth opening in an 'O' of horror. "Kate?" He swallowed. "Did I...?"
The detective shook her head. "No. No." He turned her gently, wrapped her up in his arms and carried her to the couch; both of them still half clothed. He laid down against the back and pulled her against his chest; holding her as she cried herself out.
After an hour or so, Kate finally quieted; her body stilling and her breathing evening out. Rick was convinced she had fallen asleep until there was a long intake of breath... and the soft, almost reverent exhalation of a sigh.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Kate shook her head slightly. "We just did."
"Ahh." Rick nodded, finally beginning to understand. He wondered idly if she had ever had anyone else she could be like this with. The amount of desperation in her body told him the answer was no.
And he couldn't bring himself to feel badly about that, no matter how much he would never want her to suffer.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Castle softly kissed her forehead. "For what?"
"For being what I needed." She turned slightly, running a finger along his jaw.
He smiled. "Always..."
The writer scratched his head, sighing happily. "So that's up against the fridge."
Kate snorted. "Wouldn't that be considered 'the kitchen'?"
He shrugged. "I've decided to create sub-categories. I mean," He looked into her eyes. "We have our whole lives. You gotta have a goal..."
She pursed her lips. "And if I need something else right now?"
Castle looked at her, his interest clear. "What might that be?"
She slid off the couch, standing and holding her hand out to him. "Now?" She smiled when he took her hand but pushed himself off the couch with no assistance from her. "Now... I need you to be you."
Rick didn't hesitate. Turning, he led her through the living room and study, then on to his bedroom. When he had closed the door, he joined her at the foot of the bed; gently unbuttoning her blouse and sliding it off, shamelessly running his fingers along her skin every step of the way. He slipped the straps of her bra over her shoulders before unfastening it and tossing it aside.
Castle stared down at her small, perfect breasts and felt himself lose focus slightly. Cupping them, he dropped his head, taking a nipple between his lips and rolling it gently.
"Mmmm." Kate smiled happily. "I love you're tongue." She felt Castle grin and smacked him on the shoulder.
The writer put a hand against her belly, his eyes glossing over for a moment before he carefully pushed her back on the bed. He removed the boot she was still wearing and peeled her jeans the rest of the way off. Then he hooked his thumbs in her panties and pulled them away, closing his eyes at the scent that came with them.
"You're amazing." He breathed, going to straddle her and finding himself blocked by a strong hand against his chest. He looked down into Beckett's smiling face.
"And you're still dressed."
Castle looked down, realizing she was right. He pulled his destroyed shirt off quickly, tossing it next to her on the bed as he kicked off his shoes and socks and finally his pants. When his boxers hit the floor, he looked up, blinking as he watched Kate pull his shirt on.
"I just got you naked!" He whined.
The detective grinned. "Shut up and get on the bed."
Rick quickly complied; happy with his choice when Kate straddled his hips. The heat of her... and the wetness... very close to where he needed it.
Threading her fingers behind her head, Beckett pulled her hair out from under her collar. She grabbed the ruined lapels and pulled them up to her nose, inhaling deeply.
"Do you know how much I love how you smell?"
Castle's mouth dropped open slightly. "Uhm... no?"
Kate leaned forward slightly, looking him in the eyes. "You have this... woodsy, musky... Castle scent... I have never been able to figure out which part is cologne and which part is you. It's... all you."
"And that's... good?" He asked slowly.
The detective's grin made his heart thud painfully in his chest.
Shifting her hips, Kate pressed down; running the length of him through the wetness between her legs.
She dropped lower, her mouth so close he could taste her breath.
"What do you think?" She whispered.
He swallowed, but had no time to respond as she rose, sliding the length of him into her slowly.
She took a deep breath; closing her eyes and letting the feel of him so deep inside wash through her.
Would it ever lessen?
Because so far it had only ever increased...
...exponentially.
"Kate..."
The detective put her fingers against his lips as she increased the pressure and speed of her movements. "Later..." She whispered. "I promise... later."
Castle had no willpower to argue with her, not when he was buried inside of her and she dragged his hands to her chest.
"Later." He nodded.
The next morning Katherine Beckett slowly opened her eyes.
She waited for a moment for the anger and disgust she had felt the day before to resurface, but those emotions were gone.
Replaced by a warmth she couldn't contain. She let it spill out her eyes and curve her lips into a smile as she turned her head to study then man next to her.
Castle was on his stomach, is head turned away; but one arm was still wrapped possessively around her. His hand was splayed out across her stomach.
Even in his sleep.
She had noticed his increasing propensity to touch her belly and wondered how bad it would eventually get. As of yet, she hadn't had the heart to say anything; not with the big goofy grin he flashed at her every time he did it.
Honestly, she didn't know if she even could.
Slipping out from under his arm and out of bed, she glanced back at him as she tied her robe and headed for the kitchen.
Only to squeak in surprise when she found out she wasn't alone.
"Oh Kate! Oh Darling!" The Castle matriarch strode over to her, sweeping her up in her arms tightly. "You can join me, oh, you great beautiful creature!"
"Oh, wow... Martha." Kate tried to breathe normally as the older woman hugged her... hard. "You... you really... outdid yourself!" She tried not to panic as she took in the top of the dining room table, which was completely covered; one half with what had to be every wedding magazine ever published. The other half with new mom publications. "Did the newsstand survive?"
"What's going on?"
Both women turned to watch Castle stumble out of his study, dressed in a matching robe and scratching his head. "I thought I heard someone scream."
Beckett frowned. "I did not scream."
"Okay..." he stepped closer, finally noticing the state of his dining room table. He picked up one of the magazines and read the title before dropping it quickly. "I would have screamed too."
"I did NOT scream!"
"Okay... Good morning, Mother." He kissed the older woman on the cheek. "What torturous devices are you up to today?"
"Really, Richard" Martha frowned at him in mock hurt. "You know I always just want to help. Considering we have a wedding and a baby to plan for... Someone has to."
"Speaking of which," He turned to look at her; one eyebrow raised in amusement. "You know we're going to need a nursery."
"Of course!" The actress waved her hand dramatically. "I have people coming today to take measurements in Alexis' room."
He paled slightly. "Alexis' room?"
"Well, of course. She volunteered it. She'll be off to college soon and she did say you would need some live in help. Who better than me?"
Rick turned and walked past Kate, heading into the kitchen as he whispered, "Almost anyone else?"
Kate bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing.
Castle got them both coffee and returned, picking up one of the bridal magazines and flipping through it. "Oooo!" He held it open to a specific page. "What about this one?"
Beckett stopped flipping through her own magazine to look over at his, rolling her eyes as she took in the almost obscene white miniskirt with no back and a lace encrusted boustier. "Only if there's a stripper pole at the altar, Castle." She stilled for a moment, staring at a picture in her magazine. She slowly lowered it back to the tabled, running her finger down the page before closing it quickly. "Honestly, Martha..." She smiled at the older woman a little sadly. "I appreciate all the effort you've gone to but..." She ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it away from her face. "By the time we're ready to walk down the aisle..." She waved her hand at the wedding magazines. "None of these dresses are going to fit." She smiled, picking up her cup of coffee and heading back into the bedroom
"Richard..." His mother began.
"Don't worry..." He gripped her shoulders gently. "I got this."
Martha nodded, turning away before snapping her fingers and facing him again. "Oh, by the way," She reached into her pocket and held out her hand, trying not to smirk at the flush in his cheeks as she dropped 5 buttons into his palm. "Keep this up and you're going to need a new wardrobe."
A/N #3: Homage to Cops & Robbers. One of my top three all time favorite episodes. When Beckett threatens to put a bullet in the bank robbers skull if he hurts Castle... ((Swoon)) They shoulda consummated the relationship right there in the bank vault.
Dammit Martha!
Fixed Contortionist Beckett! Thanks to the Guest that pointed it out!