CH3

It is now one day later: (March 9, 1999)

(KB POV)

The day started out like any other, clean herself, clean the house, pack her bag and take the subway to the library. Kate took her now signed "In a Hail of Bullets" book with her so she could read it.

As usual Kate got there first, except this time she knew where Castle was. Okay not exactly where he was, since he didn't mention which gym he went to each morning, She just knew what he was doing before he got to the library.

Kate wondered what he looked like while he was working out. It had Kate shaking her head, thinking such things weren't possible. She was talking about Richard Castle-she was a 19 year old girl with no mother and no father and no job. NO JOB!

Kate knew the time was coming where she needed to think about that, she just didn't have any clue what she could do.

Movement caught her attention as Kate lowered her book and caught a smiling Rick setting up his laptop, except this time he brought something with him. Rick placed a small bag and a coffee cup down on the table in front of her. "Breakfast and coffee," Rick explained and went back to his laptop.

What was different about today was that when Kate and Rick looked at each other of the top of their book and laptop they didn't shy away quickly and hide behind those same items. It had both of them smiling.

Rick was up and instead of packing his stuff up to go get lunch. "You know what you want for lunch today, your choice," Rick offered.

From the look on Castle's face, the look Kate must be giving him must have caught him by surprise. To be honest, Kate was thinking dinner was going to be her only meal for the day yet again. It hadn't occurred to her that Rick was going to come back with lunch.

"Chinese, with noodles this time?" Kate said. "Chinese with noodles it is, be right back, don't go anywhere." Did Castle really think she would run away? Chickening out and saying no to dinner had occurred to her, however Kate was in this far.

Castle returned and started setting it all up on his table, getting Kate up out of her chair to join him at the table. "How do you get food into the library Castle? They stop me at the door when I try." Kate wanted to understand.

"Oh, no Kate Beckett, you've asked your 3 questions. You don't get another until you answer my 3 questions." Castle countered.

"Fine, but you only get two questions Castle. You haven't answered my third question yet, and you cheated on my second question," Kate pointed out.

"A question is a question Just Kate. Trust me I should know, I'm the writer." Castle replied.

Kate however just glared at him, hoping that it would work. Kate watched Castle sigh heavily, victory was hers! "Fine, just don't laugh and go telling everyone," Castle asked of her, getting Kate to raise her hand.

"They didn't like me bringing in my big orange extension cord to plug in my laptop, so I made a phone call, wrote a check, and offered it to the library in exchange for a few privileges." Castle explained.

Kate wasn't sure what she was expecting, but listening to Castle tell her that he bought his way in came as a surprise. "Castle…"

Castle raiseed his hand this time. "I like the library, it's my favorite building in the city. I was happy to donate the money and I don't expect it to buy what I want for all that long," Castle interrupted her.

"Who did you call Castle?" Kate was dying to know just who he knew.

"A fourth question Kate Beckett?" Castle was grinning at her, which only aggravated her.

Kate groaned. "Fine ask your two questions Castle." Praying that he didn't get too personal, she wasn't sure she was ready to talk about her mother and father just yet.

"You spend your days in the library. You're here before I get here and still here after I leave. Shouldn't you be at school or are you not in college," Castle queried?

OH BOY! How to answer his question without telling him too much?

"I was actually. I was attending classes in Stanford out in California. My parents are both lawyers and I decided to be a lawyer like my mother. I was going to be the first female Supreme Court Justice. I was going to make my parents proud of me, exceed even what they wanted for me, it was…it was going…" Kate was up on her feet and found herself running for the ladies restroom, found an empty stall and sat on the toilet and cried as softly as she could, broken.

(RC POV)

Rick was up early and working the weights like he had been taught before switching to his upper body regime. He may not be a Ranger anymore, but it was hard to take the military out of you once it is drilled into you. The exercises also helped burn off the occasional nightmares.

People's faces before they died, too many faces. Far too many that he had killed face to face.

Rick hustled to get to the library and found Kate Beckett sitting in her chair. If he was honest with himself it was her face, Kate's soft and innocent looking face, that appealed to him. Plus she looked like she had a mystery surrounding why she was in the library all day long.

Kate gave him a smile as he set up his laptop and placed breakfast in front of her for the first time.

He was happy to see her move to the table to sit across from him again to eat lunch after she requested Chinese for today.

Kate even flirted with him when she gave him an opening. Rick had only asked one of his three, make that two questions when she ran from him, crying. Now he sat on the floor outside of the women's restroom waiting for her to come out.

Rick didn't want his questions anymore, he just wanted Kate to come out and come with him while they walked and talked. Rick hoped being outside of the confines of the library would help, plus he really wanted that date.

Rick was starting to rub his knee as he sat on the floor doing some exercises to help with the pain, before Kate came out looking better than when she went in. She had been in the ladies room for close to an hour.

Rick groaned getting up off the floor, "Hi. I'm sorry. I should have asked a less personal question." Rick thought he should have known better.

"It's not your fault Castle." Kate walked towards her chair to go back to reading. Rick, however, intercepted her. "Please grab your bag and walk with me. …Please Just Kate, I have no intention of hurting you, and the fresh air will be good for you."

Rick packed up his stuff while Kate put on her coat, picked up her bag, and followed Rick outside. "Where are we going Castle?"

"Don't worry Kate Beckett, its public." Rick got Kate to chuckle a little.

Rick flagged down a taxi. "American Museum of Natural History." Rick told the driver.

"A museum Castle?" Why leave the library to go to a museum?

"It's public, it's quiet and there is something I want to show you." Rick explained.

They were quite the pair as they entered the museum. Rick directed Kate to a certain section. Rick had a 50 foot orange extension cord hanging from his shoulder and was carrying his laptop carryall, while Kate was carrying her bag that had some personal items, a change of clothes, and one of Castle's books.

Rick paid and they were forced to wait for the next showing. "Planetarium Space Show," Kate read the poster advertising what was inside.

"Trust me, you'll love it." Rick smiled. However, he wasn't sure what Kate was thinking.

Finally getting inside they chose seats; Kate found that they leaned way back allowing them to watch the ceiling.

Rick watched Kate during the entire show, only occasionally looking up to see what was being shown at the time. Rick was happy watching her face. The show ended and she was just lying there in her chair still looking up at the ceiling.

Rick offered his hand to help Kate up out of her chair. "That was amazing Castle."

"You've never been here before?" Rick asked, watching Kate shake her head.

"How long have you lived in New York?" Rick was starting to wonder just how much of the city she didn't know about.

"All my life. I was just never a museum person. I always thought it was pictures and sculptures and other stuff. Not really me." Kate had to admit.

"Stick around Kate, I'll have you seeing new places that you'll love in no time." Rick told her, hoping she would let him. "We should get ready for that date tonight. Can I drop you off at home?"

Kate looked nervous. "I was just going to use the restroom at the library." Kate looked really uncomfortable for some reason.

Rick didn't want to press. "How about a compromise," Rick said and offered his hand to Kate. He was surprised that she took it and walked out with him.

Rick flagged down another cab and gave him an address that Kate didn't recognize. "Castle?"

"It's my apartment." Rick told her, instantly seeing the fear on her face. "Relax Kate I'm not asking you into my apartment. There is a common space that you can reserve for parties. It has restrooms and they have lockers that you can put your stuff into. It even has a single shower that I can give you some toiletries to use if you want to take one. I can give you a combination lock for your clothes, it'll be all yours." Rick watched Kate relax a little.

Rick held the door open for her and entered the code to get into the common space. "It has a living room, a tiny kitchen and the restrooms with central shower are that way." Rick pointed to a short hallway. "I'll get you some soap, shampoo, and some other stuff as well as that lock. I'm on the third floor in 302; I'll be right back." Rick left Kate to look around.

Rick found her searching the kitchen when he came back down with everything including a towel and wash cloth. "Come up to 302 when you are ready and we can go." Rick handed over what he brought. "Don't run away." Rick did his best to sound sincere in not wanting Kate to leave.

"Oh and the combination is on a piece of paper that you can take with you." Rick went back upstairs and hopped in the shower.

(KB POV)

"He's going to hate me, I just know it. He's really nice mom and I think I just blew it. I really wish you were here to tell me what to do. I really don't know what to do mom." Kate cried.

Kate decided she had hidden out for long enough and emerged from her stall and washed her face and stared at herself in the mirror. Kate was sure Castle would be gone when she emerged from the restroom.

Kate found Castle sitting on the floor just outside the restroom she had flown into to get away from his question. "Castle?" Kate couldn't keep the shock off her face.

Kate let him escort her out of the library and listened to the destination he gave the taxi driver. She really didn't understand why they were going there.

Kate found herself lying back in a big chair, if that was the word for it, looking up at the ceiling and never noticed that she watched the entire show with her mouth hanging open. It made her feel very small and realize just how big space really was.

Then he offered to take her to his place. He couldn't really be thinking what she thought he was thinking, was he? "Castle?" Kate questioned him. She found herself in a shower in his building with her clothes locked up in a locker, using his soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

Kate had to admit that she felt a lot better after taking a shower. She felt safe enough here, behind a coded locked door. Kate had changed and applied what little make-up she had in her bag, stuffed all of it into the little locker, and locked it with the padlock Castle had given her. She stuffed the paper with the code on it into her pocket.

Kate went up to the 3rd floor, found 302, and knocked. Castle opened the door dressed similarly to her. They both had on faded Jeans with tennis shoes. Rick had a light purple button down shirt while Kate had a light green button down top. "Damn he's handsome, and built," she thought.

Kate could see that his arms were large to go along with his broad chest. It had Kate wondering just what it would feel like to be held in those arms, pressed up against that big chest. Kate saw the look on Castle's face that matched the single word he said. "WOW! …You didn't tell me you were gorgeous Kate Beckett."

His remark had Kate blushing. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. Her skinny jeans accentuated her long legs and even in tennis shoes Kate felt tall.

"Ready to go," Rick asked? He stepped out and closed his door before Kate could peak inside.

Rick flagged down a taxi. "48 E 23rd Street between Madison and Park Avenue." Kate heard him tell the driver.

Kate knew that was near Central Park on the west side somewhere, not that it helped her know where they were going. "Where are we going Castle?" Kate hoped for a hint.

"We're going to have a little fun Kate and test your coordination skills. Think you're up to the challenge? Not afraid I'll mop the floor with you, are you?" Kate could tell Castle was teasing her and throwing down the gauntlet.

"Prepare to be humiliated Castle." Kate decided she was up to the challenge, whatever it was.

"Oh really. Care to put your money where your mouth is? Loser has to buy ice cream?" Castle offers. "Deal!" Kate thought it was a win win, not matter who actually won, whatever IT was.

"SPiN?" Kate was confused, what was SPiN?

"We have a table under Rodgers." Castle told the guy up front and listened to him tell them what table number they had.

"Reservations?" Kate whispered. If this was a restaurant, Kate was starting to wish she had brought a dress maybe. Still it must not be too formal if Castle was wearing jeans.

Castle opened the door and Kate saw a large space that actually did have tables all over along with a number of chairs on the side allowing people to watch the tables.

"PING PONG!?" Kate felt Castle's hand take hers and escort her towards the table he had reserved. "Not afraid of a little friendly competition are we Beckett?" Kate could tell he was teasing her.

"You are so going down Castle." Kate wasn't sure she could take him, but she was going to have fun trying.

It took a game for Kate to get the hang of it. Needless to say, she lost that game. Kate tried really hard to win the second game. However watching Castle's muscles in his tight shirt was doing something to her and she started missing balls.

"Two to nothing Beckett." Rick grinned while he circled the table and ran his hand across her shoulder, leaving behind goosebumps. Kate did her best not to shudder at how his hand affected her.

"Care to raise the stakes Castle?" Kate challenged across the table once Castle was back on his side. "Name them?" Castle called across accepting her challenge.

Now Kate had to think of what she wanted that was still a win win, even if she did lose. Not that she was going to. "Loser takes the other swimming." Kate wanted to see Castle with his shirt off.

"Deal!" Castle answered quickly, getting Kate to grin. "Wait, this means I have to wear a swim suit! Oh well, I can tease Castle in a bikini this way," she thought.

Kate was on her way to losing game number 3 when she decided to change the game. She popped the top three buttons on her shirt that gave Castle a glimpse of her light blue bra. It just happened to match the thong that she was also wearing, not that Castle was going to see that!

Kate came back and won round 3 as well as round 4. Kate had caught Castle staring at her chest just like she had wanted him to. "Two games to two Castle." Kate informed him and started service for the tie breaker game.

Kate was doing great up until she watched Castle pop the top three buttons of his shirt displaying part of his chest that went with those arms of his.

Kate soon found herself starting to lose again. "Damn him and his muscles." God, Kate wanted her hands on his chest and those arms. "Focus Kate, one more button is too much. Maybe a little hip action." So Kate started swaying her hips back and forth even more than she had been.

This had Kate back on top relatively quickly, right up until Castle started wiping the sweat on his hands off by rubbing them across his ass, getting Kate to swallow hard.

Kate decided to play dirty, or more dirty than she or they already were and placed her hands under her breasts, adjusted her bra just a little, and quickly won the final three services. She found herself jumping up and down with her hands raised in the air, while watching a defeated Castle collapse onto the table.

It was only now that Kate heard the clapping. They had attracted an audience, forgetting about all the chairs on the side of all the tables. Kate was too busy celebrating however Rick noticed that half the place had been watching them. Rick had never even noticed. "Wicked woman and her buttons." Rick cursed under his breath softly. Rick was just beginning to fear that Kate Beckett already had him wrapped around her little finger. "I am so screwed."

Kate was soon grinning over the top of her soda that Castle had gotten for each of them. Kate was underage in New York and even though Kate had assured him she had, had a few beers along with more stronger drinks, Castle refused to buy her a drink that had alcohol. It was sweet.

Kate flirted with her eyes over the top of her drink, while they now sat on the sidelines watching others playing ping pong.

"I need to use the head and get us another soda." Castle placed a hand on hers and left her behind while she watched him walk to the restrooms.

Kate was paying attention to the two women who were playing each other, who looked like they had never played ping pong ever before and appeared to have two left hands. It had her laughing at their antics like the others around her.

"Hi, I'm Tom." A new voice suddenly sounded as Kate found a guy sitting in Castle's chair. "And you are?" Tom asks.

"Not alone." Kate responded hoping he would take the hint. "No you obviously are not, at least not now. Can I get you a drink? What's in your soda?"

Kate couldn't smell the alcohol on his breath, since the place was filled with alcohol. "Ice." Kate answers truthfully and was suddenly thankful that Castle had insisted on no alcohol.

"Our table is opening soon, do you want to play?" Tom tried again.

Kate heard the "our" part, meaning he had come here with a friend, likely both of them looking to get lucky tonight.

"I've already played 5 games and…" Kate is interrupted.

"Excellent you can be my ringer so we can take down my friends. What do you say? Drinks are on me." Tom offered. Suddenly a pair of sodas appear on the table.

"Having trouble?" Castle asked, while giving Tom the evil eye.

"I was here first dude, find your own player." Tom advised Castle.

"We've been here for two hours already so I'm pretty sure I was here first. Perhaps you should go find somewhere else to be." Castle replied.

"The lady was just saying yes dude, but thanks for the drinks." Tom reached for the drinks, however Castle was faster and Tom only managed to spill the other drink all over himself.

"DAMN IT, LOOK WHAT YOU DID DUDE!" Tom stood up and stumbled out of his chair flailing his arms at Castle to try and prevent himself from falling.

Next thing Kate knows the guys' hands are moving fast, however all of Castle's movements are landing on Tom's face. Castle had him on the floor with his face hitting it hard.

"You shouldn't drink and start a fight friend, and I'm not your dude." Castle informed him.

Kate was too busy watching Tom on the floor to notice his friends suddenly show up and a three on one fight erupted. However it was short lived as Castle had all three of them on the floor moaning in pain, when a pair of bouncers showed up.

Thirty minutes later the four of them were being taken away by the police. The owner asked them to leave. Castle and Kate stopped on their way home and gave their statements to the police.

Kate kept her eyes on Castle all the way to his place, however she never said a word.