She has no idea how she's going to survive three more acts before the show ends without being able to check on Castle after Barkley's visit. She has no idea what they were talking about that rattled Castle so much, the gazes he sent her piercing her soul, leaving her breathless in their intensity. From the outside, it looked like they might've had a pleasant talk, but she knows him better than to fall for it, still knows him so well after two years apart. It still stuns her that she saw the tension around his mouth, the firm set of his eyes, the way he set his shoulders.
Is he still there? Is he dumb enough to threaten Castle openly? What upset him so much?
When she goes on stage the next time, Castle is typing again feverishly on his laptop, completely lost in his own world – and somehow this frightens her even more. He looks like a maniac, his hair standing up in all different directions, his eyes set firmly on the screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard faster than she ever saw someone type. Still, watching him doing what he does best makes her heart flutter, her whole body tingle. He looks so beautiful. A sudden, almost desperate need to protect him wells up in her, stronger than she ever felt it before.
They might not have seen each other in two years, but her feelings never went away if only they grew stronger over time and all the space she had to compare Josh with him and wonder at work how he would solve the case.
She is going to talk to him after this case, if she'll survive the evening without accidents. But she'll make sure of it. She wants to talk to him, finally say him what she wished she'd said two years ago before he left with his ex-wife for the Hamptons.
His mind is reeling from the talk he had with this creepy guy, whoever he may be. He's certainly not the boss – he knows Jimmy very well – and not the manager, because he's seen him before. But this guy? Makes his skin tingle the whole evening. He's being watched. He's sure of it, so he has to act as if everything is perfect – something he perfected over the last two years. He's awesome at that, he knows it.
So, he plays the debonair playboy he's been playing for one and a half years now, after things ended with Gina. He's charming the waitress, giggling on the phone with Mandy when she calls to demand further explanation and he's telling her the truth. That she's an old friend in trouble, some bad guys are after her and he needs to make sure that she arrives home safely. And no one would harm someone who's just been seen by the press. He also tells her that she's engaged to some prestige doctor.
Even though it breaks his heart and feeling of her lips on his, her moan in his ears echo in his mind. He closes his eyes for a second, fights the urge to press his fingers against the bridge of his nose. No laid-back playboy would be so troubled – at least not on the outside. He's certain that on the inside they are all pretty fucked up just like he is.
He opens his laptop then, at first only to keep the cover of the inspired write intact but after reading his last words and all that happened in the after math, he wants to capture this at least in this book.
So he starts typing and has no idea how to stop. An acquainted voice saying his name finally makes him stop in his tracks and spin his head so fast, that a few vertebrae crack. Ouch, he's getting old.
A stunning woman with amazing curves, black curls, and dark skin, dressed in a stunning grey diamanté gown beams at him, he has to blink twice, making sure that his eyes are not playing tricks on him.
"Lanie?" His voice is barely a whisper, too stunned to believe his own eyes.
"The one and only", she says, her voice sultry and light as always. It only takes the blink of an eye until Castle is on his feed and wrapping her in a tight embrace.
"What are you doing here?"
"Uh, I don't know, grocery shopping? Duh, we were watching the show just like you did!" She rolls her eyes, but her gaze is firm, alert.
"We?", he echos confused just as her date steps next to them, slaps his hands on his shoulder, squeezing it tightly.
"Yo bro, nice seeing you", Castle lets go of Lanie to hug Espo. "Beckett called. We're your backup", he whispers in his ear, "been having your back." Immense relief and longing flood him, tears well up in his eyes. Even after two years, he's still part of their team.
"Oh, I missed you guys so much. So, what's going on? You two together?" Lanie blushes and dips her head, but Castle can still see the blooming smile on her face that mirrors Esposito. "Wow, that's amazing. I'm truly happy for you guys."
"Thanks, Castle. It's so good to see you." Lanie takes his hand in hers, squeezes it. "We really missed you." And the way she says it and that it's her saying it makes him believe that it's true and that he's back now.
"She's right, bro. Wasn't the same without you." Castle's throat cloaks up, his eyes swimming again. Damn. He's such a sap. He clears his throat, beaming at them.
"I already heard you wished I'd be there for this case. Missing some conspiracy theories, some real Castle magic." Espo snorts.
"You wish." And just like that they were back to the way they've always been and he's back home. The thought of why they are here dampens his excitement though and he only just realizes that the last big act already ended and he completely lost track of time.
"Hey, why don't you sit and I order us something to celebrate?" He quickly gestures to one of the waiters and beckons the two to sit before they can hurry away. He needs to know more about this case and tell them his theories. Here might not be the right place though. Oh, is it wise though to be seen with his old NYPD buddies after the threat he and Kate just got? He can't decide if it helps them survive or not.
"What can I bring you, sir?" Another well-known voice says and he looks up to the waiter, only to be faced with a disguised Ryan, a small beard on his lips, glasses, and a hat, but still Ryan.
"Nice hat," he comments and Espo snorts, but doesn't pay attention to Ryan, probably to keep his cover intact. "Uh, what do you want to drink guys?"
"I thought we were heading straight home, babe?" A voice rasps in his ear, fingers trail down from his shoulders over his chest and the sweet scent of cherries envelops him, leading his heart to stumble and run away from him. Kate. Mh. He could get used to that. "Who are your friends?"
"It's my old team from a book research I did. Pretty nice guys. Lanie and Javier. This is Kitten, also an old friend of mine." He fake-introduces them vaguely, careful who might be listening, everybody waving, mumbling greetings. Gosh, this is weird. His leg is getting restless, jumping up and down under the table. Kate still is at his back, letting her hands wander over his torso, her cheek pressed against his. "Yeah, I'm sorry, you're probably right, honey. We should get to the loft", he's looking meaningful at the other three, "I was just so surprised to meet these guys here. It's been way too long. But you probably have plans."
"We do, we're sorry, Castle. Another time?" Lanie says apologetically, Espo already rising and pulling Lanie's chair back.
"Yeah, we'll talk later." Another meaningful gaze as he rises himself to bid them farewell. Is he being too obvious? He hugs Lanie, kisses her on the cheek, exchanges handshakes with Espo, and then draws Kate closer to his side, his hand resting on her waist, his finger brushing softly up and down, he can't help himself. She's still wearing one of the costumes as if she rushed out to him.
"Do you want to get changed?" He asks her, his fingers playing with the little sequins on her dress, the fake diamonds that seam the hem of her body suit.
"Mm, no, I thought you might wanna help me with that?" Ryan clears his throat, still playing his part in waiting on their order even though his ears are burning red.
"Oh, sorry. Uh, we changed our minds. We'll be heading to the loft straight away."
"Have a nice evening, sir," Ryan nods as he parts.
"Thank you." Kate and Castle watch Ryan leave before Castle picks up his belongings and weaves his arm back around Kate's waist, reveling in the fact that he's allowed to do this under their cover.
"There might be some press outside, so if you don't want to see your picture in tomorrow's newspaper, you better keep your head down." He warns her right before they step outside, before Kate can say anything or kill him, they are outside and caught in a flurry of camera flashes. He quickly guides her to the car from his car service waiting for them and helps her get inside.
"Good evening, Mr. Castle", a guy he doesn't know opens the doors for them, hurrying them inside the car.
"Who are you?", he asks, pausing to take a look at the guy.
"I'm Brad, Mr Castle, I'm replacing Gregory tonight." He seems to be pretty young, a little shorter than he is, with dark hair, dark eyes, even though he's not meeting his eyes. He wears the uniform of his car service, knows him and Gregory, so everything should be fine, but still, something is bothering him as he steps into the car. Brad closes the door, gets in the front, and starts the engine.
"Home Mr. Castle?"
"Yes, please. But we might take a quick stop on the way, I have to get something. Just need to check something first. I'll let you know, Brad." The moment he's seated, Kate presses herself to his side, wraps her arms around his, beds her chin on his shoulder, and starts whispering in his ear, eliciting the sweetest shivers.
"Everything okay?" She questions with raised eyebrows, her eyes careful, her mouth so close to his, as Brad drives them through the nightly city, only little traffic at this nightly hour. They'd be at the loft in no time, but something doesn't feel right.
"Not sure yet", he answers in the same volume. "I'm sorry about the press." He truly is, he knows how annoying the press is and he didn't want her to ever be met with this, but this time it was necessary.
"'S okay. Comes with the job, I guess." She sounds sleepy, her head resting heavily on his shoulder now, still cuddled tight against him. "should say sorry to your girlfriend."
"I explained everything to her earlier. She understands."
"Huh", is all he gets, paired with small huffs in his ear. Kate fell asleep on him. He can't hide the big smile that's blooming on his lips, the warmth he feels that she feels safe enough with him despite everything that she falls asleep.
The driver misses the turn to Castle's loft and just as he wants to tell him, his phone rings – the number of his usual driver Gregroy from the car service on the display. Dread pools in the pit of his stomach.
"Yeah?", he answers the phone.
"Mr Castle, it's Gregory. I fear there has been a mix-up. I'm here now at the Club, but I don't see you. Are you still there?" He almost drops the phone, Kate raising her head, the phone and his stiff posture probably woke her.
"What's going on?" He turns to look at her, his eyes wide with horror. The threats, the talk about accidents – not even the press can save them from having a car accident. And as he looks out of the window, they are heading straight for the Hudson.