13. Close Friends

(11 Weeks)

"Yo," Esposito said to Ryan later on Wednesday afternoon. "What's the deal with Beckett?"

"What makes you think I know," asked Ryan.

"You gotta know something."

"Javi, I know nothing. I'm just as in the dark as you are."

"Then as her partners who are concerned about her well being, we should maybe look into what's going on."

"And what kind of partners would we be if we didn't check up on her to make sure if she's okay?"

Esposito nodded, "Exactly."

Before the boys could discuss it further, LT, their beat cop, came in with a handcuffed suspect.

"Yo man, let me go. I didn't do nothin'!" the perp complained.

Ryan and Espo stood up, "Our evidence says otherwise Jansen."

"Yo get the name right, it's KJ. Not that damn Kristopher Jansen name the whore gave me."

"Get him out of here," Espo said to LT.

Ryan looked at his partner, "You go wake up Beckett. I'll get our boy there situated in the box."

Esposito nodded and made his way to the break room.

When he arrived he found Beckett asleep on the couch. He felt wrong disturbing her but she'd been asleep for the past hour and they still had a job to do.

Esposito knelt down in front of her.

"Yo, Kate," he said to her.

"Espo," she said groggily as she began to wake up and then sit up.

"Hey, sorry to wake you," said Espo, "Our suspect just got here. Figured you'd want to take point."

"Where's Castle?"

"Just getting off the elevator."

Beckett closed her eyes as she ran her hands over her face trying to get herself to wake up.

"Beckett, what's going on with you?"

"It's nothing," Beckett replied, "Just tired."

"It's more than that isn't it?"

Before Beckett could give him a response, Castle stood at the door with two cups in hand and a brown bag.

"Hey," he said to her as he handed her a cup, "I brought you a bear claw and an apple strudel, wasn't sure what you wanted and also figured you could use a pick me up."

Beckett took a drink of her tea which she was allowed to drink.

"Doesn't count as a pick me up if it doesn't have caffeine," she replied.

She took the bag and went for the bear claw, tearing off a piece and popping it into her mouth.

"You backing out of our bet?"

Beckett shook her head after she had swallowed, "Not a chance," she said as she stood.

"What bet," Esposito asked as he stood up too.

Castle smiled, "We made a bet to see who could go longer without caffeine which means no cokes and definitely no coffee."

Esposito laughed, "Beckett without her coffee? That's like denying a vampire blood."

Castle laughed too, "Exactly."

Beckett shot him a look like she wasn't amused.

"So what are the stakes?"

"If I win," said Beckett, "Castle has to sit through more than a month's worth of police lectures

"Which is nothing," said Castle, "But if I win, Beckett has to come with me to Comic Con next year dressed up as Princess Leia in the gold bikini from Return of the Jedi or Inara, that very sexy companion from that Joss Weaton show. Making me either the dashing Han Solo or the very ruggedly handsome Captain Malcolm Reynolds."

"Ouch," said Esposito, "harsh terms."

"Which is why I won't lose," said Beckett.

"Oh we'll see about that," said Castle, "So you ready to go interview our dirtbag?"

"Give me five minutes?"

"You got it," Castle replied.

"So what have you got for us Lanie," Ryan asked as he and Esposito entered the morgue.

"It's what I don't have," said Lanie, "No finger prints since they were burnt to a crisp, no teeth because he has none. Most likely the person who did all this took them as souvenirs since it looks like the teeth were all yanked out and not by a dentist and there is no chance at facial recognition since that was burned badly too."

"So why'd you call us down here," asked Espo.

"To show you this," Lanie said as she lifted the shroud over the body.

Ryan and Espo took a look but only briefly.

"Is that a tattoo," Ryan asked the obvious but unable to finish his sentence.

"Directly on the center of his right buttock," Lanie said for him, "An arrow through an apple with a hello kitty tattoo next to it. Takes a real man to stoop that low. I figured you guys could track it. I'm betting not many men get hello kitty tattoos let alone in that particular spot."

"Don't you normally call Beckett for this kind of stuff," asked Esposito.

"Yeah," replied Ryan, "Since Castle's the one who likes the weird stuff."

"Normally yes," Lanie answered, "but she hasn't been herself lately."

"So you noticed that too," said Esposito.

"What's going on with her," asked Ryan.

"I'm not sure," said Lanie.

"You're her best friend," said Ryan, "You've got to know something."

"It has something to do with Josh doesn't it," asked Esposito.

"It has nothing to do with him," said Lanie.

"How do you know, you just said you weren't sure what's going on with her."

Lanie shot Esposito a look, "I may not know what's going on with her but I know about Josh because a friend of mine at the hospital told me. Apparently they broke up months ago and as a result Josh left the country to go help some poor sick kids down in Africa or some place."

"But there is a guy isn't there," asked Esposito.

"Oh there's definitely a guy, that much I know. I just don't know who."

"So as her partners," added Espo, "It's our job to check this new guy out, protect her."

"Javier Santiago Esposito, so help me you will do no such thing," Lanie reprimanded. "Kate is allowed some privacy. Give it to her. The last thing she probably wants is you two knuckle-heads getting up in her business. Whatever is going on with her, if there's something going on, she'll tell us. In the mean time, focus on your jobs and stay out of it."

(Thursday)

"Well this works out perfectly, doesn't it," Castle asked as he sat at his chair near Beckett's desk. "The boys are handling the crispy critter case this evening and if there's no murder by five you'll be able to have your dinner date with Addison."

Beckett smiled, "And in one minute that will become a reality."

"For you maybe. Why can't I come?"

"Because the last thing I need is for my best friend and my boyfriend to be swapping stories about KBecks and Detective Becks right in front of me."

"So you do have a boyfriend," Ryan said with a smile as he came over with Esposito.

"So who is it," asked Esposito, "We know you and Josh split up so who's this new guy?"

"Yeah Beckett," Castle said joining in on the little tease, "Who's this new guy?"

"It's called a private life for a reason," Beckett answered.

"Come on Beckett," Ryan complained, "We're practically like family."

Castle raised a finger, "Well I'm not."

"No," said Espo, "You're just the annoying little puppy that won't stop following her around all the time. Come on Beckett, who is he?"

Beckett stood and Castle smiled as her blouse tightened around her belly, revealing the growth. Beckett loosened her blouse, hope the boys hadn't noticed the way Castle had and put on her coat to hide it more.

"Fine," she said, "You really want to know?"

"Yes," Ryan and Espo said.

"Please," Castle said at the same time as the boys.

Beckett bit her lip as she smiled at Castle. "Okay if it'll get you three school girls to shut up about it, his name is Derrick Reynolds and that's all you're getting from me," she said as she took her leave.

"You know we're gonna look into him right," Ryan called after her.

"Ha," said Beckett, "Good luck with that!"

And with that she was gone.

Castle tapped his legs and then stood, "All right I guess I'm gone too. I'm meeting Alexis for dinner."

"What," Espo said raising his hands, "You're not gonna help?"

"Beckett may not kill you but if I help she'll definitely kill me. Do not want to be on the end of that one."

Ryan looked at Espo, "Castle's got a point."

"You suck Castle, you know that."

"I might suck," said Castle, "but at least I'll be on Beckett's good side and that's definitely where I want to be. See you guys later," he said as he made his way to the elevator.

"Sorry," Beckett said as she came to her seat at Style Edge restaurant, coming back from the restroom for a second time.

Addison smiled, "Please don't be. I'd be more than happy to be in your position."

"Really which part, the moodiness, the constant peeing, nausea, heartburn…"

"Despite all that, I do this for a living, you've created the greatest gift this world has to offer so if I have to take the bad with the good then I gladly would take it all."

"You've still got time," said Beckett.

"Doesn't feel that way," said Addison, "but enough about me and my empty uterus: talk to me about you. I feel like the only thing I know is from what's been printed in the tabloids."

Beckett smiled, "Yeah well don't believe everything you read."

"Okay so which things are true? I mean you are after all having Richard Castle's baby, that's huge!"

Beckett playfully hit Addison, "Any louder, I don't think the whole state of New York heard you."

"Now it's my turn to say 'sorry' but seriously Becks, how'd it happen? I know the party line: Famed author Richard Castle follows New York homicide Detective Kate Beckett. Gets inspiration for his next set of novels. But I want the rest for you. I want the details no one else gets."

Beckett picked at her food, unsure of whether to eat it or not.

She looked at Addison. She had missed her. Though she'd been back in New York for a year, their jobs really hadn't allowed for much time together. Now though given that Beckett's GP had recommended Addison as her new OBGYN, the two had made the time to be the friends they always were before life got in the way, becoming something other than merely doctor and patient.

Beckett smiled, "The first time we kissed we were working under cover. The guard wasn't buying our act so Castle jerked me to a stop, forcing me to look at him and that was when he just went for it. I pulled back after about a moment, completely stunned. I semi-looked at the guard, nearly forgetting he was even there and then something came over me. It's like that kiss Castle had planted on me first was all it took and suddenly it didn't feel like enough so I just went for it full force. Not long after, with the guard distracted I knocked him out."

Addison laughed, "Now that's a first kiss story. So what did you two do about it after?"

"We never talked about it, that's what we did. Okay you're turn. How was your year in Seattle?"

"Ugh do we have to go there?"

"I shared my first kiss with Castle and you practically know everything else so spill."

"Wait, not everything, I don't know how you and Castle ended up…" Addison switched her voice to a whisper, "having a baby together."

"Later," said Beckett, "What's happened with you?"

"Fine but only because after all these years you're still my best friend," Addison confided, "Seattle downright sucked. It was my worst year ever and that includes John Polenski's party in the seventh grade when I got my period for the first time and everyone saw my pants all red."

"Oh yeah I remember. Everyone started calling you Bloody Mary."

"Definitely not the best year but it wasn't as bad as me thinking it was the best idea to fly across the country to chase after Derek. God what was I thinking?"

"You were following your heart. I can understand that."

"Following my heart to what? I thought I wanted to make things work with Derek but it wasn't so much the idea of him as it was more the idea of being married and everything that entailed. I mean what kind of a person cheats on her husband if she doesn't really love him?"

"You want an honest answer?"

"Honest would be good," replied Addison.

"The reason I think people cheat is if they're not satisfied in their relationship or their marriage. I mean just look at Castle. His first marriage failed because his wife cheated on him not long after their daughter was born. Castle got married a second time because it felt like the right thing to do."

"And now?"

"And now he's having a baby with me, what does that tell you?"

"It tells me that there's no one else he'd rather share his life with. You're not just signing up for eighteen years worth of co-parenting, you're signing up for the next sixty or seventy or even eighty. Once you become a parent you never stop, no matter how old you get.

So answer me this Becks, why the hell did I fly out there when all I brought back with me was misery in seeing him basically with another woman, an intern no less?"

"Same reason Castle married Gina, you thought it was the right thing to do at the time. And then it cleared and you realized what a mistake it was so you decided to do something about your life and start over."

Addison laughed and shook her head, "Who would have guessed that the biggest scoff-lad would become a cop and a wise one at that."

Beckett laughed too, "Mattie said the exact same thing. I saw her last year on a case I was working on. I will give her this one, she was certainly right about two things she said to me."

"Which were what?"

"That I was hot for Castle and I wanted to make little Castle babies. Obviously not in this order but still."

"It's so strange that you call him Castle. It's different but in a good way, like it just fits somehow. Okay now you have to tell me how it happened, how you and Rick ended up with this bun in the oven."

Beckett smiled. She hadn't told the story to anyone so she was more than happy to dish the details.

"So," Ryan said as he came to his shared desk with Esposito late into the evening, "I looked into Beckett's mystery guy Derrick Reynolds. Guy doesn't exist."

"What, why would she lie?"

"Maybe because it's her business. I don't know, Javi, maybe we should drop it and let Beckett's private life stay private."

"You're hiding something, what is it?"

Ryan remained silent but something inside Esposito clicked, the same realization that Ryan had come to after looking into it. "She said his name was Derrick Reynolds right," Espo didn't wait for answer, "Of course, two people but it's the same person: Derrick as in Derrick Storm and Reynolds as in Malcolm Reynolds." Espo turned and looked at Beckett's empty desk, "Beckett and Castle? When did they start?"

"I'm not sure," Ryan replied glad he didn't have to be the one to say anything.

"So should we bring it up or what?"

Ryan thought for a quick moment and then told Esposito, "Maybe it's best not to, let her keep her secret…their secret for as long as they need."

"You know this is gonna suck right?"

"Or it could be fun," Ryan said with a smile, "They don't know that we know."

Esposito smiled too, "Oh yeah it could definitely be fun. Okay we'll keep our mouths shut then."