Chapter 87

After the all night shift Beckett clocked up, she was still at her desk working when Ryan and Esposito arrived on duty bright and early. They'd been to the gym together, were pumped and fresh out of the showers. Castle was seated on his chair looking a little worse for wear. He needed a shave and she was dying for a long hot shower.

Ryan dumped his bag at his desk as he said to Beckett, "Hey, we're thinking maybe you could talk to Montgomery about finding some room in the budget for those smart boards."

Beckett rolled her eyes, glanced at Castle who just smirked. "Sure, Ryan. While they're at it, maybe they could buy us bat mobiles."

Esposito lit up, "That'd be cool, wouldn't it?"

Ryan grinned, "Yeah. Driving the bat mobile."

Beckett who sat back to observe the boys said, "Our murder boards are just fine and so are the units."

"For a caveman, Chica."

Ryan nodded, "You're right, Espo."

Special Agents Shaw and Avery entered the bullpen, also showered, and freshened up with clean suits.

Beckett leaned in to Castle and said, "Everyone has had bloody showers but us."

"I see that. But I have continual hot water at home."

"And I'm gonna test it out."

The FBI agents approached Beckett's desk. Castle stood to shake Avery's hand.

Beckett also stood, "Agent Shaw. I was just typing you a note. We're about to knock off, go get some sleep."

"And you should. You both must be exhausted."

"Yes, I'm ready for the sack, but you look well," Castle commented to Agent Shaw.

"I'm fine." Shaw responded with a hint of a smile then spoke to Beckett. "Dunn is being transported to The Tombs, where he'll enjoy his stay in the intensive management unit with the State's most dangerous criminals until his trial begins."

Beckett pointed at the TV where the morning show was running a report about Dunn, "Well, he's getting his fifteen minutes. That's what he wanted this whole time."

"Yeah, but it'll be on our terms from here on out." Shaw replied. "Well, I guess we'll pack up."

Beckett fidgeted a little, "I want you to know that I learned a lot from you on this one."

"You did most of the heavy lifting. Honestly, the thing that impressed me most is that you came in with Castle." Shaw stated.

Beckett's cheeks colored and she glanced at her partner who had walked away with Avery to the war room, felt her heart skip a couple of beats. "You know, some people would call that foolish."

"Maybe," Shaw said, "But you made a tough decision on your feet, used the resources at hand. I'd say that's heroic and somewhat poetic. In the end, Dunn did actually face Nikki Heat."

Beckett knotted her brow in confusion.

Shaw continued, "She is, after all, part you, part Castle." Her gaze followed the writer who was busy taking a last check of the FBI's equipment, "He cares about you, Kate. You may not see it. You may not be ready to. But he does."

Beckett crossed her arms, stole a glance of him, pictured him lying beneath her. She felt things for that man that she'd never felt for anyone before. She drew her attention away from Castle back to Shaw. "Yeah, well, the situation with Castle is..." She paused to find the right word, "Complicated."

Shaw smiled, "Ah."

"We can't have a relationship all the while he partners me." She said in hushed tones.

"There's ways and I'm sure you already know that," Shaw whispered, then offered her hand, "Detective Beckett. It's been a pleasure."

Beckett smiled and shook her hand, "We'll see you around."

Castle approached satisfied with his final inspection of the smart board.

"Ladies."

Shaw turned about to face the writer. "Castle. Thank you for your help. You are a valuable asset to Detective Beckett's team."

"Well, it would be great if you would call her and remind her of that from time to time."

"Oh, she already knows." Shaw gave Beckett's upper arm a stroke, leaned in close to her right ear and whispered, "Don't you ever let this one go." She stepped back and walked towards the elevator.

Beckett watched the elevator swallow up the agent.

"What did she say?" Castle asked.

She turned to Rick and came in close, "She knows."

"She can see it."

She bit her bottom lip, her eyes glistened, "And that's okay. Can you take me home. I'm so tired."

"Grab your stuff." He softly said, glad she had referred to his house as home. "I'll take you home."

Late in the afternoon, Beckett was curled up on the couch with her new iPad that had arrived that day, when Castle clumsily flopped himself beside her. His actions caused her to laugh and she shifted so she was closer to him. They'd gone to bed when they had arrived home and had been up for about an hour.

"Castle, what are you doing?"

He laughed and dangled out a gift bag from his fingers. "This arrived today too."

Beckett checked the classy bag, "Wow. What's this?"

"Open it."

She gave him a curious glance, relieved him of the bag, bounced up straight and dived a hand into the bag. Inside it was a box she sat upon her lap. "Castle?" She cautiously asked.

"Go on. Open it, Beckett."

She did. "Oh my. My father's watch." She lifted it from the box and held it up to study it. New glass, new band. "Thank you." She reached to him and gave him a kiss. "Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome."

She put it to her wrist and he helped her do up the band. "Where was it? Where did you find it?"

"Umm, it was found in the wreckage by the sofa, so I had it fixed."

"That was very sweet of you. Thank you." She leaned in again for another kiss, a kiss he gratefully accepted and this time she lingered there savoring the moment. As she pulled away she bit her lip.

"I've got good news," he shared.

Beckett said, "Yeah?"

Castle said, "I talked to Avery about buying one of those incredible fed-mobiles - without the weapons, of course. But I could stock it with my own gadgets. I could get 'writer' airbrushed across the back window. Ryan and Esposito have a better car than you do. I'm just - I'm embarrassed to have criminals in the back of that thing, and I don't know about your seat, but mine's got a spring that hits me in the-" he was cut off by Beckett's lips pressing against his, this time with more force and intent. It ended all conversation.

"So, this is your room for now?"

"Mm. Yes." Kate glanced at the stack of moving boxes neatly stacked against a wall, clearly labeled on the side with their contents. She cast her eyes over the bed she'd not slept a night in, perfectly made, with her soft toys piled against the pillows. They were little things Castle had gifted her that had survived the smoke and water.

"You haven't unpacked."

"Only been a few days, Lanie." Kate stepped over to the side of the bed and picked up a red sweater she had intentionally left in that spot as a plant. She folded the top as Lanie turned about at the end of the bed then sat down on it where she could see her friend.

"Its huge for a guest room." The doctor patted the bed, testing it out Kate guessed. Castle had said a couple of night earlier that the mattress was the same as the one in his bedroom, in case he ever needed to use the guest room.

Kate nodded her agreement. "Almost as big as my old apartment."

"Where is Castle?"

She shrugged. "Not sure. With Alexis somewhere. Been gone a while." She knew exactly where he was and he had begged her to join him and his daughter but she had made the decision to catch up with Lanie and let him have one on one time with his daughter.

"How's that going?"

"What?"

"Being here, with Castle, his family?"

Again, she shrugged her shoulders, "Its okay, for now. Until I find a new place. I'm very welcome."

"I bet he loves you being here."

The comment caused Beckett to impulsively smile, "He teases me a lot and he's umm.. different at home. Sweet. Could call him a family man."

"You like living with him."

"I'm living in his guest room." She replied, "Not his bedroom." She could also feel the heat in her neck and cheeks.

"In his house."

"Under his roof when I'm not at work." Kate stood. "Shall we go do the shopping? I really do need some new clothing and I need a few groceries."

"Well, what have we got here?" Castle asked as he dumped shopping bags on a stool beside the kitchen counter, In the middle of it was a plate full of pink and chocolate Macarons. His daughter followed and leaned over the counter to inspect the delicacies.

"Wow, they look delicious, Dad."

"They sure do. Beckett's been out. She has a sweet tooth. Must have caved in to her desires."

"That's a lot of sweet tooth." She commented, "And where did she buy so many? They're not from down the block."

"How on earth can you tell?"

"I just can." She examined the plate of pretty sweets. "They are very good wherever it is Beckett gets them."

"Who knows. Where is she?" He checked his phone for any texts then searched the living area, through the book shelf. The last text she'd sent had read she would be home when they returned.

"Kate?" He hollered. "We're home."

"Here." Kate immediately called from his office. She appeared seconds later, attired in yoga pants and a loose knitted top. She smiled and crossed the living area, with a bit of a hop to hurry things up, to Rick who pulled her in and gave her a kiss to her cheek.

"You're warm."

"Mmm. I was reading in the sunshine in your office."

"it's a nice spot to read." He replied, "You bought Macarons."

Beckett cast her eyes over the plate of Macarons then said, "Nope."

"My Mother?"

"No." A smile appeared as her arm snaked around Castle's torso for a hug. His arm instinctively drew her close to his body.

"Alexis can't identify them from around here."

"You can't?" Beckett asked, "Try them. They're nice."

Castle reached to the plate first and took a chocolate Macaron. It was popped into his mouth. His eyes widened as he chewed and a smile appeared. He nodded at Alexis who held a pink one. She bit into it. Given a couple of seconds, her eyes also widened.

"Oh my God. They are delicious. Sweet."

Kate let go of Castle when he started to move more.

"Have you tried one?" He asked and received an instant nod.

"Your Mom also had one before she went out." Kate said.

"Gran ate one? She doesn't usually do sweets."

"Well, she ate one." Beckett confirmed.

"Where did you buy them?" Castle asked as he reached for a pink one.

"I made them."

His hand stopped before the Macaron entered his mouth. He glanced to his daughter whose expression mirrored his thoughts. His eyes back on Beckett, he replied, "Funny, Babe."

Kate restrained a smile, "I really made them."

Castle took a bite, then studied what was left of the treat he held. It was a perfect sample of a French Macaron, firm shell, soft inner, sweet, deliciously so, and perfectly shaped. The filling was also good. "I understand that these are next to impossible to make."

"True. I've had lots of practice, and you have a very good oven." She leaned against the counter, watched father and daughter silently communicate. Both seemed impressed and surprised. Blue eyes connected and at the same time turned to her.

"True." He said, "For the oven." He waved the half eaten Macaron about. "I'm impressed."

"Shocked you, huh?"

"Well, in all fairness, your kitchen was not alive with productivity." Castle replied.

"But Daddy, Gran said her kitchen was full of cooking ware."

"Now in storage," Kate added, eyebrows raised.

"These are to die for." Alexis commented.

"Thank you." Beckett broadly smiled.

"I don't believe you made them, Kate." He was kind of teasing her. In response, she silently walked around the kitchen counter to a corner cupboard.

"I found my stuff in a box in the spare room, and bought the rest while I was out with Lanie earlier. Decided I needed to make some." She brought a plastic box from the cupboard, "Exhibit A." She placed the plastic box on the counter. It contained food colorings, a glass jar marked 'Almond' and several other items.

"I'll be damned." He muttered. "Logical explanation."

"I would love it if you could teach me to make them, Kate." Alexis said.

"Sure. Any time."

Castle pointed at the bags he'd left on the stool. "Those are for you, Kate."

"Me?" She returned the box to the cupboard then went to the bags.

"What is it?"

"Go see." He hoisted the bundle of shopping bags off the chair and passed them to her. With a third Macaron in his hand, he followed the girlfriend to the sofa. She was already digging inside a bag when he sat beside her.

"You collected my orders?"

"Yep. Got you a couple of other things. Good thing you are an off the rack size girl. Makes my life so much easier," he chuckled.

"For buying lingerie?" She inquired as she lifted out an item wrapped in tissue paper.

"Yes. Perfect for that. But not today."

Kate observed Alexis run up the stairs taking with her what she had bought that day. She then unwrapped the tissue paper to find a light grey cotton sweater. It was one she had ordered online to pick up at the store.

"How was your time with Lanie?"

Kate held up the top, then dropped it to her lap as she thought about his question.

"Well, we stayed here for a while. We then went for a coffee, did a bit of shopping."

"Did she dig around?"

Kate smiled. "Of course. She's a little suspicious about us. Can't understand how I could sleep in that room." She tipped her head in the general direction of the spare room, "When you're in that room."

A smile formed on Castle. "If only she knew."

"Yeah. No. Keep it for us."

"Secret. Anyway, you've only been here a few days."

"She knows you like me so she's wondering how I can keep you at bay."

He laughed.

"What?"

"The irony. You're always coming on to me. Which I truly enjoy so don't take it as a complaint."

"I like doing it with you." She shyly replied and instantly felt her cheeks heat up.

"Were you like it before?"

Coyly, she smiled, opened the second bag, to find a black leather jacket. "Castle?"

"Don't change the subject."

"You bought me a new jacket?"

"The one I found like it in the apartment was beyond repair."

"Thank you." She held it up. Motorcycle jacket, silver zips. "Perfect. I will wear it to work tomorrow."

The next bag contained the same brand of hair straightener she'd owned as well as a hair dryer.

"What made you think of these?" Kate asked as she unpacked the dryer.

"Daughter. She brought it up that nothing from your bathroom survived."

"She's great."

"Yeah, I know." He smiled with pride. "And before you say it, I don't know how she got it."

Beckett laughed. "Maybe it was the milkman." She playfully suggested.

He scoffed. "Well, it could have been a director or producer." He looked at Beckett's face, briefly questioning whether she would ever cheat on him, but he couldn't imagine her doing so. Although she was afraid to share her feelings about him with him, or to go public with their relationship, by observing her actions and reactions he was confident she was committed to him. Extremely so. She wanted him, wanted to be with him. She only needed time to find security that he wasn't going anywhere and she wouldn't lose him.

"Can't believe Meredith did that to you."

"Yeah, well she did."

"You're so…" She waved a hand in the air, "She was a third rate actress."

There was a moment of silence and then he smiled curiously, "I'm so?"

"You're a celebrity…"

"I'm still a regular guy who likes cheeseburgers and …" He sobered, "I couldn't give her was she wanted, what she is still chasing. Even Alexis wasn't enough to ground her."

"Does she visit much? Like I know she was here a while back but does she see Alexis regularly?"

"No. She sometimes turns up unannounced as she did, but mostly, Alexis has missed out on having a Mom." He glanced to the stairs, then quietly said, "If we ever decide to have babies, my only thing I want you to be sure of, is that you will be there for them."

"Babies? Them?"

"Is that what you're taking from that?"

She laughed and reached out to his hand currently resting on his thigh. "I'll be there for them, with you, if I ever get clucky."

"Open you stuff, Beckett."