I'm going on the assumption here that most of you know the episodes reasonably well, because I am trying to cut out the scripts more so I can write around them without including them as much. Enjoy …. And thank you so much for those who make the effort to send a review. They make my day.

Chapter 20

The crime scene was inside an apartment building in a reasonable suburb. They weren't in a seedy motel, stepping over druggies or sending nosy residents back inside their rooms. The building wasn't bad at all, Rick thought as he followed Kate along the hallway to an open doorway where a uniform cop smiled at Beckett but pointed towards Castle.

"This the guy?" The uniformed policeman asked Beckett.

"You heard, huh?" She asked back.

The cop replied, "Oh, everyone's heard." He looked at Castle with a good deal of excitement. "You really basing your next character on Detective Beckett?"

"Every artist needs a muse." Castle replied with a smile and continued behind Beckett, wondering how she was going to react. He barely had time to think about it when Beckett did a sudden one eighty turn, and road blocked him shoving a hand to his chest. He stopped, gazing down at her large hazel eyes, and fingers scorching his chest. She looked up at him very sweetly. She was so much smaller than he always imagined but still as terrifying when she was to the point. He personally thought this part of her was adorable, but it was preferable her strong mindedness be directed to a third party.

Through a tight jaw she quietly threatened, "Call me your muse again and I will break both your legs, 'kay?" She raised an eyebrow.

Castle held the gaze, pretending to be unaffected by her verbal onslaught, "Okay."

With that, the cute brunette road block removed her hand, turned on her heels and continued with a purposeful stride into the living room where the murder scene was located. Rick smirked, totally in love with that defiant and strong willed side of his muse. What she had just done, had unintentionally provided him with additional stuffing to the character he was working on.

The next road block was the partnership of Esposito and Ryan who were bumping shoulders, Ryan holding his usual pen and pocket sized note book.

Esposito greeted, "Detective Beckett."

Kate gave him a nod and, then indicated for him to brief them on what information they had with the dead guy. They stared down at the deceased who was laid out on a rug.

Esposito pointed in the general direction of a young couple, "Jack Lifford and Hall Mars. While moving in to this place, they see a rolled-up rug sticking out of a dumpster. They figure it's their lucky day. They bring it home, only to find there's a prize inside."

Ryan commented, "Dead guy in a rug, naturally we thought of you." He smirked.

"Yeah." Espo agreed with a smile.

Everyone crouched down circling the body as Dr Lanie Parish took over the update and said mostly to Beckett, "Thirty-eight calibre at close range, killed him instantly."

Rick looked up at the doctor in time to catch her glancing over the detective and himself, the detectives tag along writer as most of the team referred to him. There was a split second when Rick read her expression, that the doctor was of the opinion there something going on between him and Beckett. The chemistry was obvious and Rick knew that Kate frequently whined to Lanie about him hanging around. In fact they laughed about the conversations Kate created to keep those orbiting them from catching on. They had to make a joke of it, because they both found it hard to lie to their friends, especially Kate who believed they had too much to lose by being honest.

"You got an ID, Espo?" Kate asked.

"No. Pockets were empty, no wallet, no apartment keys, no jewelry."

"We figure a robbery gone wrong." Ryan said.

Simultaneously Castle and Beckett replied, "This wasn't a robbery." They glanced at each other, both amused by their own ability to synchronize. Then everyone rose to a stand. It was time to move on.

Castle continued, "I rob someone, I'm not going to stick around to wrap them up and throw them away."

Beckett said "Blood spatter indicates he was standing near the rug when he got shot. Where did they find this?"

"East third about two blocks away." Ryan answered.

Quietly, Rick pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of the rug. He knew someone who might be able to help them identify where it came from.

"All right, let's get CSU on the rug, fibers, blood, identifying marks. And let's get a team down to the dumpster to see if they can dig anything else out. Lanie, you do what you can about an ID."

"Got it." Lanie replied.

"Don't bother. I know who he is." Rick said staring down upon the deed man's face.

"How?" Lanie asked.

"He's a politician. His mugshot is all over the place."

"Do you notice everything?" Kate asked.

"Most things, yes." He answered then added, "Like Lanie wants to talk with you privately." He waved a hand at the doctor, "I'll wait at the car. Seen enough here. "

He started out of the living room, noticing Lanie and Kate staring dumbfounded at each other.

It was Lanie who moved first grabbing Kate by her forearm. She urged her to a quiet corner and they huddled together.

"What is it Lanie?" Kate asked curious as to why the doctor would want to speak privately at a murder scene. They hadn't seen each other in quite a few days and were due for a catch up.

"Is there something going on with you two?" The doctor asked.

Kate's brow furrowed and she pointed towards the entrance where Rick had exited, "Me and Castle?"

"No. You and Espo." Lanie gave Kate a look that would freeze hot water instantly.

Kate glared at Lanie, a knot building in her gut because she was out rightly lying to her best friend. It also bothered Kate that she was using this moment to corner her about Castle. To ensure the secrecy of their relationship, she internally took ownership of it, and replied so no one else would hear, "Nothing has changed between us." She looked Lanie directly in her large brown eyes. Right now, Kate didn't want her work situation threatened because colleagues knew Rick and she were fucking like rabbits. It was too much of a good thing to lose. Kate wanted to keep what she had with Rick to herself for sometime to come. It'd been forever since she'd felt as she did about a man.

"Nothing?" Lanie pressed.

Kate sighed, "I don't have time for this, Lanie. Can we catch up for drinks later in the week? Even tonight?"

"Sure. It's time we did. I'll get back to our friend over here. I'll call you about it." Lanie said.

Kate nodded as she stepped back and waved her friend good bye. She was certain Lanie was pissed off with her but there was nothing Kate could do to ease her friend's concerns. She found Rick waiting by the foyer as the elevator arrived. Perfect timing. He held the door open but stepped in ahead of her while she hurried to catch up.

Once the doors were closed, Rick calmly asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes." She glanced to him but avoided his gaze.

"Kate?"

"I'm okay Rick. Just Lanie."

"Babe?"

"I hate the lying. I'll will catch up with Lanie for dinner, perhaps tonight."

"Maybe we should let people know we're having a crack at being together." He suggested.

"Castle." She said and stepped in closed to him, so close he grew a little jittery. "I don't want it out in public yet that we are fucking crazy about each other." With large sexy eyes she peered up to his blue eyes, and bit her bottom lip.

He cleared his throat, "I agree."

Eyes to his mouth, she continued, "It was very new, and call me selfish, but I want it for me." She leaned in and gave a press to his lips, gave a moan, "Yeah. I really like this." She stepped back, but maintained eye contact, almost giggled because he was almost a blubbering mess. She understood she was falling rapidly in love with this man but in the back of her mind she also knew he'd been married twice and had a string of ex-girlfriends, most of whom he still got along with. She'd noticed he didn't really have enemies. He also didn't have a best friend, well said his best mate was Alexis.

"You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah. Do you reckon we could find a room for lunch? I really would like to make love with you right now." He checked his clothing to ensure his partial erection wasn't obvious. "Kate, you really have to stop seducing me in public."

As the elevator doors opened at ground level, Kate wrapped her coat back up and stepped out. "What Ricky, can't handle it?"

"It's you I can't handle."

She laughed and walked ahead of him to the car.

On their way back to the Precinct, when Kate had braked the car at a red light Rick said, "The guy in the rug, Beckett."

"What about him?"

"His name is Jeff Horn."

"How do you know?"

He pointed at the bus stop bench seat across the road. On the back of the seat was a smiling photo of the man who had been wrapped in a rug. He looked like a real estate agent, but in this case a politician.

She focused on the park bench between cars passing in front of it. As the lights changed and the traffic cleared she got a good look. "My God. You were right." She laughed.

"Told you." He humbly replied. "He's running for re-election."

"We need to suppress his identity until we talk to his family. We'll head back to the Precinct to find his family before the press finds out. Wait till we tell the Captain." She said as she pressed on the accelerator now she had a green light.

"He'll love hearing we have a public figure at the morgue." Rick replied, "He enjoys addressing the media like a hole in the head."

Castle and Beckett said farewell to the widow, Mrs Horn, then let themselves out of the impressive home.

After he closed the front door, Rick followed Kate down the path to the front gate, about a dozen steps all up. "They hardly saw each other, Beckett. He was fundraising and working back late at the office."

"I don't believe he always worked that late, do you?"

"Well, during election periods yeah maybe. If he really did have that obligation to get the people's work done. Even while running for office."

"Okay, accepted, because my Dad works late a lot, but the nights when Jeff Horn didn't come home? Do you really believe he crashed on the office couch instead of going home?"

"No, I don't. But his wife said he seemed happy. And we've left her inside the house a widow who now has to figure out how she is going to tell their daughters of the death, before the media snags it and runs with the news."

Kate got in the car, closed the door. Once Rick was in she started the engine and drove off towards the Precinct.

"You okay?" Castle inquired a few blocks on.

"Yeah, why?" She glanced from the road to him. "You keep asking me that today."

"Well, it can't be easy breaking that kind of news." He said sincerely.

"Yeah well, thanks for not making it a joke."

"Hey. I'm a wiseass, not a jackass."

"I didn't know there was a difference."

Rick decided to ignore her response, "So. What's your next move? Last person to see him alive? Establish a timeline? Grab a donut? More really bad coffee?"

"Rick, this, um, female detective of yours you've started writing-" She gave him a concerned look.

"Mm?"

"Exactly how much will she be based on me?" She cautiously asked.

"Well, she's not too bright... and kind of slutty." He replied like a smart ass.

"Right, so was that wiseass or jackass?"

"Actually, that was jackass."

"Hmm."

"No, honestly, you are not going to have anything to be embarrassed about. She's gonna be… She's gonna be really smart, very savvy, haunting good looks, really good at her job… and kinda slutty."

"Castle." She warned.

His cell phone began to ring, "I should really get that." He took the call. "Hello?"

"Oh sweetheart." His mother said urgently.

"Mother, slow down, what's wrong?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

"Why wouldn't I be all right?"

"No one is buying your book."

"What are you talking about?" He stared ahead wondering whether it was time to have his mother assessed.

"I am standing in the middle of the book store and no one is buying your book."

"Oh okay, what are you doing in a bookstore?" She didn't read anything beyond tabloid magazines so surely her entry into a bookstore was an error on her part.

"I was hungry, I came in for a pastry. And there they were, all your books, just sitting there."

"Well, they only just went on sale two hours ago, what did you expect-a line out the door?"

"There was one for the last Harry Potter."

Rick rolled his eyes, cleared his throat, "Yes well ah… Derrick Storm is not Harry Potter." He said glancing at Kate who was inquisitive as to her who he was talking with.

"Clearly."

"No one's bought one?" He asked, feel a little insecure.

"Hang on kiddo, hang on."

Rick waited, hearing nothing other than his mother's breathing.

"Ahhh… no."

"Okay mother I gotta go." He hung up and lowered his hand to his lap, frowning with disappointment.

"You Okay?" Kate asked.

"Yeah." He glumly said. "My mother likes to be the cloudy day."

"Don't worry Ricky, your novel will sell. I might even buy a copy." She teased and patted his thigh. "So long as you read to me in bed."

He chuckled, "I'll read to you in bed anytime and there's no need to buy a copy. I have a special one for you. The last manuscript and the first copy of the press."

"Really?"

"Of course. I know you die hard fans love the special stuff."

"I will review it for you so long as its read by you to me in bed, with you naked." She cooed.

"Hope so. We writers really like feedback. I might get immediate feedback."

She laughed, "I'll provide immediate feedback."

"When I post stuff on Fanfiction, should see how obsessive I get on waiting for reviews."

Kate's mouth fell open. "You write fanfiction?"

"Of course. We all do. Can't help ourselves."

"What about?"

He smirked, "It wouldn't be anonymous if I told you." He sighed. "Forget I mentioned it. I've never told anyone I write on fanfiction."

"No. No way. Not forgetting that, Castle."

"Forget it, Beckett."

"I want to know what you write about, Rick."

"Nope." He said, "Lips are sealed."

"I will get it out of you." She threatened.

"No. You won't."

"Will. I confess. I read fanfiction."

"Yeah sure. There's no way the Kate Beckett I know, reads fanfiction."

She laughed, "Seriously."

"Do you have a pen name?" Rick asked.

"No. Read as a guest."

"Arrr. Are you one of those anonymous stalkers that reads the entire story but can help sending nasty comments to the writer?"

"No." She strongly objected.

"With an exclamation mark No?" He asked.

"Huh?"

"Your response was intense. If you had written it, would you have tacked on an exclamation mark?"

"No. I only use them in extreme situations." Kate replied, "Like if I was to send you a text and it carried an exclamation mark, its serious."

"Duly noted." He replied, "What we having for lunch? I'm starving."

"Cheeseburgers?" Kate asked.

"Perfect."

"What's your penname?" She asked.

"Not saying." He smiled.

Kate grumbled out her frustration. Rick laughed.

At the Precinct a couple of hours into the afternoon, the boys were crowded around Ryan's computer monitor, apparently doing research. Beckett had been gone for a while, not that they had noticed her absence.

"Damn, those are some serious five-star Class B misdemeanours." Esposito said.

"Dude, between you and me, did you ever pay for it?" Ryan asked Castle.

"Are you counting my marriages?" Castle inquired, his eyes not leaving the monitor, "Wait, wait stop. That's the girl in the photos."

"Look at her, if I had your money..." Ryan trailed off when he caught Beckett approaching.

"This isn't phone sex, Ryan, you don't just pay for the two minutes you use." Beckett said as she circled the men paying particular attention to where Castle's eyes were.

"Ha ha." Ryan muttered.

"The 800 number is registered to a PO box from out of State. We are going to have to get cyber to track down the IP to see where it's hosted." Beckett informed the group.

"Well, what if the IP is out of State too?" Castle asked.

"We just co-ordinate with local PDs." Espo answered.

"If they are willing to co-operate."

"Sites like these are designed to evade authorities, Ryan. We'll get there. Just take us some time."

"Or you could just do it the easy way." Rick replied dialing out on his cell phone to VIP liaisons.

"Castle what are you doing?" Beckett asked.

He stood up, "Hi, my name's Richard. I'm a very generous man looking to arrange a very special date with Tiffany. Just give me a call on my phone which is 347-555-0179 thank you." He hurried away with Beckett chasing him for his phone.

"Castle, you can't just call and arrange a date with a prostitute."

"Why not?"

"Because we're the police."

"No, no, no. You're the police. I'm just a lonely upscale gentleman looking for a date. Bet I find her first."

A guy came out of the elevator pushing a large box sitting on a trolley. He called out, "Is there a Rick Castle here?"

"Right here." Rick replied and looked for where the voice had come from. Guy in a cap and high visual clothing, stopped a few fee away and patted the top of the box.

"Where do you want it, boss?" The guy asked.

"Ah, straight through there." Ricked started on his way to the break room.

Beckett watched the two men, "Castle?"

"You are gonna love this, Beckett.". Castle called as he led the way.

"No, I'm pretty sure I won't." Standing her ground, Beckett folded her arms, watching.

"Guys, guys, guys. Just put it right over there, perfect." Rick said as the guys lifted the large and seemingly heavy box to the bench. "Lift with your knees, man! Stay here for one second, would you? Because you guys have been so wonderfully hospitable to me I just wanted to return the favour, and because your coffee is basically crap, I got you..." He waved his hand over the box. "-… an espresso machine! How cool is that?"

Kate repeatedly glanced behind her, and half pointed, "I think my phone's ringing."

"I don't know how to put this together." Rick said to the delivery guy, "That's part of the delivery, right?"

"Sure is, Man."

"Excellent. We are finally gonna have decent coffee guys." Rick said to Espo and Ryan, who cautiously watched one, while waiting for Beckett to call them back to work.

At the end of the day they had unraveled a fair bit of information about the late Councilor Horn and Rick was ready to pack it in. He also had a date with his daughter. He grabbed his coat as Kate looked up from her monitor.

"You leaving, Castle?"

"Mm. I am." He replied as he searched for the boys but they were no where to be seen and nobody else was paying them much attention. He leaned on his hands on the desk and looked down at her eyes. "Enjoy your catch up with Lanie."

"I will. Talk later?"

"Okay." He said, and pushed off the desk.

She smiled and waved him bye. She returned to work after he was swallowed up by the elevator, only to get interrupted by a text message from Rick, which said he would be at her place by the time she got home from her BFF date.

That evening, alone in her apartment Kate slowly and strategically applied make up. She had plenty of time until Lanie would be knocking off work. Unlike her daytime make up, when she went out Kate enjoyed playing with products. She was busy with eyeliner when Lanie's text arrived that she was going to be about 45 minutes before she would meet Kate at the bar where they had decided to order dinner.

The day had been busy with the Horn case. They'd finished up agreeing that although the millionaire and playboy Creason was a creep, he was also innocent. Rick's decorator come fuck friend had been playing in her mind since she'd been home, his cautionary comment about sleeping with business partners had circled in her conscious mind most of the day too. All jokes aside, he was probably right. It wasn't good to mix business with pleasure. She had dated a guy in a similar line of work and in the end his job and career, had broken their relationship. Jason Bollinger's investigation of Horn, run by the licensed PI, Bruce Kirby had found Councilman Horn had been sleeping with another woman, not his wife, but a hooker. Rick had called the hooker, and as Kate applied eyeliner to her right eye, she allowed herself to ponder over whether he'd been to a hooker. He certainly knew how to pleasure a woman. Someone in his life had shown him how to be a great lover. What he knew wasn't something one picked up watching porn.

She finished applying the eye liner to her left eye then inspected her work, leaning in to examine how straight she had her lines. She then touched up the beauty spot on her left cheek with a touch of brown liner.

Rick had said he really liked her beauty spot. She'd noticed he had a freckle in almost the same spot but it was lighter, less obvious. She picked up the lip stick. Tonight, she was wearing a light pink color. She checked herself in the full length mirror. She had kept it simple. A black dress with a denim jacket and boots. It was what lay beneath the dress that would have Rick go crazy.