Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed the story thus far! I'm so glad most of you seem to be enjoying it!

As stated at the conclusion of the last chapter, I am skipping the episode "Slice of Death" because even though I've watched it twice within the last week, there is absolutely nothing I can find in that episode to use as a springboard for a chapter. Plus Castle and Beckett are in a good place right now, so I don't need a filler chapter. But, the good news is that means I am now on "The Dead Pool" which has so many things I can use! This episode is heavy on dialogue from the episode…however, I did try to put my own spin on it. And, of course, I added some scenes!

The episode originally aired on April 11, so that means it's about 2 weeks after the events of the last chapter.

I still don't own Castle…

xxxxx

"Alex, so glad you made it," Castle gave the slightly younger man a smile. "Alex Conrad, meet Detective Beckett. Detective Beckett, Alex Conrad, my protege," he introduced the two proudly.

Beckett smiled and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you."

Alex took her hand with a charming grin. "It's a real pleasure, Detective. I have read Heat Wave and Naked Heat so many times, I feel like I know you. The piercing intelligence, the self-assured beauty…"

"Oh, um…thank you. But most of what Castle writes is just…fiction," she blushed slightly. "So what were you saying about the steroids?"

"Well nothing, really," Alex started. "I was just looking at the board and I noticed that this swimmer kid, he's caught between two worlds. Now, if I were writing the story, the steroids would just be a red herring and the real killer would be someone from the old neighborhood. Uh, yeah, but that's just me. Clearly, I'm new at this."

Castle gave his protege a sympathetic smile. "Alex, don't worry. It takes years of experience," he stated, fully expecting Beckett to laugh off his theory the way she so frequently did some of his own.

"No. No, you're right. We don't have any proof that this has anything to do with the steroids. We've just been assuming. We do need to look into Zack's old neighborhood," Beckett agreed with him.

Castle couldn't believe it. "Seriously?" Was he...was he building theory with her?

"I was helpful?" Alex asked with a proud smile.

"Yes. Yes, you were," Beckett smiled.

Castle tried not to let his reaction to Beckett's praise of Alex show. "Yes, but you probably have lots of questions, so we should get going." He needed to get Alex out of here and away from Beckett. This was absolutely not the way he'd pictured their meeting going, especially when Beckett had seemed against it earlier.

Alex, however, was still focused on Beckett. "Hey, uh, if it's not overstepping, just in the interest of keeping it real, I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions for the case I'm coming up with for Seriously Dead."

Castle couldn't help but clench his jaw. He wanted to state that yes, yes it was very much overstepping as Beckett handed Alex her business card.

"Why don't you give me a call when the two of you are done," she suggested.

Alex seemed to pick up on Castle's vibes and turned to glance at him. "I mean, if it's okay with you."

Beckett glanced at him as well, and Castle did his best to clear his face. "Why wouldn't it be ok?" he answered with a fake smile and chuckle.

"Okay," Beckett nodded.

"Okay," Alex grinned, taking a few steps backward with his eyes still on Beckett before finally turning around as he and Castle left.

It was very much not okay.

xxxxx

"It's so not okay!" Castle insisted as he sat with his mother and daughter in the loft. "After everything I've done for him, he goes and tries to steal my muse," he pouted.

Alexis couldn't help but giggle. "Muse thievery. What's the punishment for that? Five to ten in mythology jail?" she teased her dad.

Martha laughed as well, but she quickly noticed Castle was legitimately upset…or maybe worried…about this development, so her teasing and laughter faded.

"Yes. You laugh. Go ahead. Laugh all you want. But now I finally know what Obi-Wan Kenobi felt like when Vader turned on him."

"No…" Alexis continued to tease, but Martha simply studied her son.

"I should've seen this coming. Do you know what they're calling him down at Black Pawn Publishing?"

"Alex Conrad?" Alexis smirked.

"The next Richard Castle," he stated.

"Oh," Martha sympathized. This was a double whammy for him, she realized. This was professional jealousy as well as old-fashioned jealousy over Beckett. Poor kid.

"Yes. I thought it was a compliment, but no. He's trying to replace me," he insisted.

"What are you going to do?" Martha asked curiously, trying to get a feel for exactly which type of advice Castle was more in need of hearing.

"I am going onto . I am going to remove my glowing review of Dead Serious and replace it with cover art for Heat Rises. That ungrateful little weasel," he grabbed his laptop, carrying out his actions as he spoke. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to make him feel better.

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Dad, did you ever think that maybe you're overreacting a teensy bit?" she pointed out. "Did you ever think that maybe he admires you so much that spending time with Beckett is to understand you better?" she arched an eyebrow as she hit him with her logical argument.

Castle just stared at her. "Don't confuse me with your reasonableness."

"I'm just saying, maybe he's not the nefarious muse-snatcher you think he is. Maybe you should give him a chance," she kissed his cheek and patted his shoulder lovingly before heading upstairs.

Castle sighed and looked at his mother. "Do you think she's right?"

Martha lightly patted his hand. "It's not about what I think, kiddo, it's about what you think," she told him. "What are you more worried about–that he might be trying to replace you at Black Pawn, or that he might be trying to replace you with Beckett?" she asked. The look she saw in his eyes answered her question. "Richard…" she started.

"It's just…" he started, rubbing his face. "Beckett and I are in a good place. There's finally no one else in either of our lives but each other…and just my luck, a younger version of me comes swooping in, trying to steal her away before she's even mine to lose," he closed his laptop and rested his hands on top of it.

"And you accuse me of being over dramatic," Martha shook her head. "Really…Richard…give Katherine a little credit. She is not the type of woman to suggest she shares your feelings and then ask you to wait for her if she's going to jump into the arms of the first handsome, younger man who comes along," she told him seriously.

"I know…I know. It's stupid," he agreed with a sigh. "I trust her, I do. It's just…you didn't see the way he looked at her…like some kind of love-struck puppy," he breathed deeply. "I trust her. It's him I don't trust."

Martha simply shot him an unbelieving look. "What exactly is it you think is going to happen, Richard?" she asked pointedly.

Castle made a face and clenched his fists slightly. "They were supposed to discuss his case for his book…probably over dinner. Or drinks," he stated, suddenly not sure which idea bothered him more–the idea that Alex was out to dinner with Beckett, or that Alex was sharing drinks with her.

"And you think his motives are…less than professional?"

"Yes!" he answered quickly.

"And you're worried that he's going to trick her, is that it?"

"Yes!" He answered again quickly, but realizing what that answer implied, he immediately shook his head. "No…I don't…I don't know."

Martha gave a soft laugh. "Let me tell you something, kiddo. Women aren't as easily tricked as you men like to think we are. If Alex Conrad's motives are more salacious than professional, Katherine is going to know. And there is no doubt in my mind that she can take care of herself, no matter his motives. We learn early on how to deal with men who are far more interested in us than we are in them."

Castle studied his mother for a moment. "Thank you, Mother. I think." He was still unsure of exactly what to make of her words.

"Anytime, kiddo."

xxxxx

Castle managed to feel pretty good about Alex Conrad's evening with Beckett thanks to his mother the following morning. She was right; Beckett wasn't the type of woman to ask him to wait for her and then jump right to another man. She'd insinuated that she shared his feelings…told him they were on the same page even. She wouldn't just change her mind because some up-and-coming writer showed up to shadow her.

"Morning," he greeted her with a smile, reaching over the basket of muffins to place her cup of coffee on her desk. "Oh…muffins," he grabbed one.

Beckett returned his smile and grabbed the cup he'd given her. "Yeah, Alex Conrad sent them to me," she replied, leaning back in her chair slightly and taking a sip of the coffee as she studied his reaction. Surely he wasn't…jealous?

Castle made a face at the mention of the other writer, immediately dropping the muffin back to the basket. "Alex." He picked up the card sticking out of the basket. "Thanks for last night," he read, shoving the card back into the basket and clenching his jaw. "So you two went out last night."

Beckett arched an eyebrow, slightly amused…because he was jealous. "Yeah. We talked about procedure," she answered, finally leaning forward to place the coffee back on her desk.

"Oh…so nothing…special," he commented, studying her for a reaction that would give something, anything away to him about whatever had happened during their evening together.

She shrugged as though it were nothing. "I don't know…he said he was going to use it all in his next book. He said next time he wants to talk about cases," she answered simply, focusing on the paperwork on her desk. She was hoping to give him the impression that Alex Conrad didn't really interest her. Although she found his jealousy slightly amusing, it wasn't warranted. She'd asked him to wait for her…the last thing she was trying to do was make him jealous.

Castle's eyes widened. "Next time?"

Beckett looked up from her paperwork to meet his eyes. "Yeah, next time," she answered, straightening in her chair slightly.

"I thought you weren't interested in another writer asking you questions," he pointed out, reminding her of her earlier disapproval of the idea of even having to meet Alex Conrad.

"I thought you wanted me to be nice to him and let him ask me some questions," she countered, arching an eyebrow.

"I did, but…" he started, only to have Beckett interrupt him.

"This is me being nice and letting him ask me some questions. As a favor to you," she pointed out.

"Remind me not to ask for any more favors," he murmured under his breath.

Beckett's eyes narrowed slightly, trying to discern what exactly he'd said, but Ryan came over with some information on their victim, and her attention was redirected.

xxxxx

"Kate, you ready?" Alex Conrad asked, striding into the bullpen.

Castle made a face. Kate? He was calling her Kate? He flashed back to early October when another man had shown up in the precinct bullpen calling her Kate. The reminder of the first time he met Josh in this same place twisted his stomach, even though Josh was no longer an issue. And who was Alex to call her Kate anyway? He should call her Detective or Beckett…definitely not Kate.

Then he remembered the way she'd giggled…not laughed, but giggled…earlier that afternoon at Conrad's text. She never giggled at his texts. In fact, he was relatively sure he'd never heard her giggle at all. Laugh, yes…he'd made her laugh plenty. But not giggle. He had to stop this, if for no other reason than his own sanity.

"Yes. Just let me get my purse," Beckett answered with a friendly smile.

Once she was gone, Castle looked at Conrad. "So…you two are going out again tonight?"

Alex grinned. "What can I say? She's a wealth of information. You're lucky to have her."

That was probably the first thing Alex Conrad had said since he arrived that Castle found he could legitimately agree with. "Yeah. Yeah, I am," he smiled slightly. But he knew he was lucky to have her for so many other reasons than simply because she was a wealth of information. He hadn't wanted or needed that from her for a long time. "Too bad about tonight, though."

"Too bad how?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Well, it's poker night. Lehane and Connelly are in town. I thought you might want to join us, but if you have plans…" he trailed off with a shrug.

"No way. You're…you're inviting me to your mystery writer's poker night?" Alex asked, clearly in awe.

Castle offered him a smile. "Come on…you're a mystery writer now, right?"

"Yeah, but those guys are legendary. I mean, those guys…"

Castle chuckled. "Yeah, they are. But if you're unavailable," he shrugged again as he began to walk away. He was sure this would get Alex to blow off his evening with Beckett. No way would he turn down this once-in-a-lifetime offer.

Alex thought about it for a moment. "Woah…wait, wait, wait," he finally decided. When Castle turned around, he gave the older writer a smile. "Just…hang on a second," he turned to go find Beckett and ask for a raincheck.

Castle smirked smugly. "Oh yeah, they are gonna love you." This was perfect…so perfect it even surprised himself at how perfect it was. This would kill two birds with one stone–it got him away from Beckett and it would knock the younger man down a few pegs. It felt like sweet revenge to Castle.

xxxxx

"You know, it's ironic," Castle started, watching as Beckett worked on taking down the murder board. "The one man Zack thought he could trust, his mentor, turned out to be his killer."

She paused and raised an eyebrow. "Speaking of mentor, I heard that you guys were pretty hard on Conrad last night."

"Hard on him?" Castle asked with a chuckle. "No, no. It was just a little friendly hazing."

Beckett's eyebrows arched a little higher. "Hazing, huh? To hear him describe it, it sounds like someone was trying to teach him a lesson," she stated pointedly, wondering if Castle would actually admit it or not.

"What? Why…why would I want to do that?" he asked innocently.

She tugged her lower lip between her teeth for a moment. "Because you didn't want him to spend time with me," she finally stated once she realized he wouldn't admit it himself.

"That is completely…"

Beckett interrupted him, "True."

Castle thought about it for a moment but finally sighed. "Yes. Fine. It's true. I'm jealous. There, I said it," he started. "I want you all to myself, and to have you spending time with another writer, that upsets me. And if…if that makes me petty, so be it. Guilty as charged." Though he hoped she would be understanding about it and not be upset with him.

She chewed on her lower lip for a moment before offering him a small smile. "I actually kind of think it's sweet," she admitted softly, nudging his shoulder playfully.

"You…you do?" he asked. He hadn't been expecting that reaction. He was pretty sure she hadn't thought the jealousy he'd felt toward Josh was very sweet.

"I do," she nodded. "And that's why you don't have to worry about me hanging around with Conrad anymore. From now on, I'm a one writer girl," she promised, giving him a genuine smile.

Castle couldn't help the grin that spread across his features at her promise. He felt like literally jumping for joy, and, had he not been in the middle of the precinct with her standing directly in front of him, he probably would have. She was reassuring him, promising him, she was just his; she didn't want anyone else. His mother had been right, though he wasn't sure whether or not he'd ever admit that to her.

For now, though, he just needed to tamp down his excitement and play it cool. At least until he was alone and could squee like a fangirl. "I do feel kind of bad. He is my mentee, after all. He really didn't do anything wrong," he commented.

"Other than spending time with me, you mean," she teased him with a smirk. "I wouldn't feel too bad, Castle."

Before he could ask what she meant by that, Conrad, Ryan, and Espo walked by Beckett's desk on their way out, explaining that they were taking the writer to Riker's for research.

"It was nice to meet you, Alex," Kate smiled and extended her hand.

Alex took it with a grin. "You too, Detective," he stated before heading toward the elevator with Ryan.

"So, a dude can be a muse, right? It's not…weird…or anything?" Espo asked them.

Castle kept a straight face, shaking his head. "No, it's not weird."

"No…" Beckett shook her head as well.

"Nah," Espo agreed, hurrying after Ryan and Conrad.

Once the elevator doors had closed, both Castle and Beckett laughed. "It's a little weird," Castle stated.

"Yeah," she agreed, looking at him with a smile.

He was quiet for a moment. "Thank you," he told her genuinely.

"Always," she smiled, her eyes holding his for a moment as she used their word. She went to work boxing up the case files, remaining silent until she placed the lid on the box. "So…you want to grab dinner? I'll let you ask me questions about procedure and cases," she offered with a playful smile.

He chuckled at her offer. "How about just dinner?" he suggested. "Remy's?"

She grinned, getting her things together at her desk. "Remy's," she agreed.

Castle grabbed her coat off the back of her chair and helped her into it. "Do you need to take care of the box tonight? I can carry it for you," he offered.

She shook her head. "No, I'll get it in the morning," she told him, leading the way to the elevator. She smiled as she felt his presence quickly beside her, not behind her as he usually was. And when the elevator doors closed, she turned to him. "Was your jealousy purely professional?" she asked him curiously.

"What?" he asked, shaking his head. He hadn't expected that particular question.

"Conrad. Did you want to teach him a lesson because you thought he was trying to steal your muse, or because you thought he was trying to steal me?"

"I…I, uh…" Castle stumbled over his words, wishing the elevator would move faster. He wasn't sure what kind of answer he was supposed to give her, and he certainly didn't want to give the wrong one. If he said he was jealous on more than a professional level, would she assume he didn't trust her? Or would she think that was sweet too?

Beckett studied him silently, watching his face as he seemingly went over his options. "I asked you to give me time, Castle. That wasn't so I could go date other guys," she finally let him off the hook. "I thought I made it clear a couple of weeks ago when I said we were on the same page, that the next guy I dated would be you," she stated. The elevator doors opened then, and she stepped out heading for the exit, leaving him completely stunned behind her.

He was still staring after her when she reached the exit door. It wasn't until she turned and shot him a look that he realized he needed to move and get his brain to recover. "You do…I mean…you did…I trust you…" he fumbled his words as he caught up with her outside the precinct. "It's just…you guys went out…and then he sent you muffins…and then you giggled at his text messages…and then he called you Kate…" he began trying to explain.

"That's because my name is Kate," she laughed softly. "Lots of people call me Kate."

"Not professionally," Castle countered seriously.

She stopped walking and placed her hand on his arm. "Hey…it wasn't like that," she promised him softly. "Everything was professional, Castle. I made it clear, that's all it was."

"Oh…so…so he didn't try…"

She chuckled. "Oh no, he did." Seeing his face, she offered him a smile. "He asked if I was single," she explained, wanting to make sure his overactive imagination didn't think Alex had tried anything more physical on her.

"And what did you tell him?" he couldn't help but ask. Because technically, she was single.

"That I was unavailable," she answered, looping her arm through his and giving him a gentle tug as they resumed their walk towards Remy's. "Like I said…I'm a one writer girl."

"Oh…" was all he could manage to get out. She was telling men she wasn't available…because of him.

She couldn't help but smile slightly at his reaction. "It's true," she shrugged. "But it would be nice if my writer could come up with more than a one-syllable response," she teased.

He swallowed hard. "Your…your writer?" She'd caught him off guard again.

"Aren't you?" she arched an eyebrow in his direction as they stopped at a crosswalk.

"Yes!" he answered almost before the words were even out of her mouth. "I mean…yes, I'll be your writer," he tried again, sounding more controlled this time. "If that's what you want."

"That's what I want," she gave him a shy smile as she met his eyes.

"Me too," he returned her smile. The two were so caught up in each other's gaze they didn't realize the crosswalk signal had changed until they felt everyone moving around them.

xxxxx

After their dinner at Remy's, he'd hailed them a cab to take her back to her apartment. She'd told him she wasn't on call that night, so she would just leave her unit at the precinct since she wouldn't need it until the following day.

"Castle, I'm a cop. I've got a gun. I can get myself home without any issues," she tried to insist as a cab pulled up to the curb.

He opened the door to let her get in first, giving her a smile. "I don't doubt that, Beckett. However, my mother raised a gentleman, and as such, I cannot in good conscience simply put you in a cab and send you on your way," he stated, sliding in next to her and giving the driver the cross streets of her apartment building.

She rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide the smile. "Well I would hate to disappoint Martha," she told him.

"Please don't. I will never hear the end of it," he said, only halfway joking. "And I do mean never."

She laughed and swatted his arm playfully. "Stop it. Your mother is amazing."

"Maybe she should come live with you," he teased her with a chuckle.

"I have a one-bedroom apartment, Castle," she laughed.

He sighed. "I guess she stays at the loft."

She rolled her eyes again, shaking her head. "I'm sure it's not nearly as bad as you're making it sound."

"No…no, it's not," he agreed with a smile. "Mother is pretty amazing. Just…don't ever tell her I told you that."

She smiled and gently squeezed his arm. "Your secret is safe with me," she promised.

Traffic wasn't bad considering the time of night it was, and a few minutes later, the cab was turning the corner in front of her apartment building. Castle handed the driver $20 and got out, offering his hand to Beckett to help her out as well.

"You don't have to walk me up. Just take this cab and go home."

He shook his head. "My mother taught me to walk a lady all the way to her door."

She shook her head and motioned for him to follow her inside her building. Once they stepped off the elevator on her floor, he followed her to her door. She unlocked it and opened it slightly, turning to face him from the doorway before stepping inside. "I'd ask you in for a glass of wine…or even coffee…but I don't think that's a good idea," she admitted to him softly, her eyes meeting his. She knew if she invited him in, he wouldn't leave until the next morning…and she wasn't ready for that yet.

He shook his head slightly and offered her a smile. "It's okay," he promised. He wasn't expecting anything. In fact, beginning with her promise at the precinct that she would be a one writer girl, the evening had been much more than he could have hoped for with her. "Goodnight, Kate," he said softly after a moment.

Just as he turned to go, she reached out and grabbed the opening of his jacket and tugged him back to her, quickly covering his mouth with hers. The kiss wasn't deep, and it wasn't long. She held him close long enough to trace his lips with her tongue, just enough to get a taste of him, give him a taste of her, before pulling away and releasing him. "Goodnight Castle," she breathed, giving him a last smile before stepping inside her apartment and closing the door behind her.

Castle stood staring at her closed door, completely dazed. She'd kissed him. No alcohol involved, no being committed to another man, no other excuses or obstacles…just her kissing him. He ran his tongue across his lips and smiled at the taste of her. He finally took a step away from her door and headed down the hallway back to the elevator and found himself thinking: Best. Kiss. Ever.

xxxxx

I sincerely hope you liked this one! I know it was heavy on dialogue from the show, but I love the episode, and I wanted to make it my own. I definitely gave you guys some original goods, though!

And I know some of you expressed the hope that I wouldn't have Castle be jealous of Conrad. I'm sorry, I'm sure I disappointed you. But I wanted to touch on it because it was such an important part of the episode…and it was totally my springboard into the Castle and Beckett stuff.

Next up…LA! That's gonna be a fun one, as you can all probably imagine which scene I'm definitely including!

As always, I look forward to your comments for those of you who feel so inclined!