The rustling woke her up. Movement: in the kitchen, to the bedroom, back to the kitchen. Whoever it was had obviously been trying to be quiet, but they weren't quiet enough.

She rubbed her eyes, grumbling as she craned her neck to see what was going on behind her, to find the source of the soft but annoying noise that had interrupted her sweet dreams.

Esposito.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice still hoarse with sleep.

Esposito shot her a curious look, smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Funny," he mused. "I was just thinking why are you still here? Weren't you only gonna stay for a few nights?"

She tried to glare at him but couldn't hide the smile on her face as she pulled herself into a seated position on the couch. She knew he was just giving her a hard time - like any brother would.

"Because, Javi-" She sighed heavily, theatrically. "It has always been a dream of mine to be a third-wheel in your relationship," she joked.

"Dream of yours to cramp my style," he mumbled as he went back to whatever it was he had been doing in the kitchen.

"You worried Lanie loves me more than you?" Kate sung teasingly to him.

"Oh, I know she loves you more than me," he returned with a chuckle. He returned to the lounge room with a cup of coffee in his hands. "Brought you coffee. Won't be piping hot because you sleep so damn late... but should still be drinkable."

"Thank you." She accepted his offering, inhaled deeply and smiled at the familiar scent. "I appreciate it."

She watched as Esposito hesitated, saw the wheels of his mind turning as he decided his next move. After a couple of seconds he lowered himself to sit on the coffee table by Beckett's temporary 'bed'.

"You okay?" she asked him with a curious smile.

"Are you?" he returned without delay.

Her brow furrowed, head tilted slightly. "What do you mean?" she questioned, confused by her friend's apparent concern. "I'm fine."

She felt like she was under a microscope as Espo continued to study her face, searching for something. For what, she wasn't quite sure.

"I'm fine, Javi," she assured him, again, with a smile.

"Okay." Mollified - for now - he smiled and changed the subject. "How was your date with Writer Boy?"

"It wasn't a date," she replied - it was instinctive at this point: a habit she couldn't quite break.

"Right," Espo snickered and brought his coffee to his lips in a half-hearted attempt to hide the smile on his face. Obviously he had talked to Lanie this morning.

God, she'd kill for a bit of privacy...

"Is nothing sacred?"

Esposito shrugged nonchalantly. "She felt bad," he excused with a smile.

Before she could reply, a knock at the front door stole Esposito's attention.

"I'll get that for you," he said as he rose to his feet and headed for the door.

"S'not for me," Kate mumbled into her coffee before taking a sip.

"Hey," Castle greeted Esposito when he opened the door.

"Nope, I'm pretty sure this one's yours," Espo called over his shoulder as he stepped aside to let Rick into the apartment.

Kate looked up from her coffee to the men standing at the door. This one's yours. She didn't mind the sound of that. Hers.

Confusion crossed Rick's expression, but only for a second. He looked at Kate, took in her dishevelled, just woken up appearance and smiled.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," he quipped with a smirk as he moved further into the room.

A bright smile spread across Kate's face; a warmth spread through her chest.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

Esposito let out an amused scoff. "Is anyone allowed to be here?" he mumbled.

Kate ignored him... more or less. She shot a quick glare in his general direction, but refused to bite back at his teasing.

"You left your make up bag in my car. Get dressed, we're going out," Rick ordered. He plonked himself down on the edge of the couch, impatiently patted Kate's legs. "I'll wait but I told him we'd be there soon so don't take too long."

"We'd be where soon?" Kate asked.

"My friend," Rick drawled, prompting her memory.

"Oh! Right." She tossed the blanket from her lap and - with an exaggerated grunt - pulled herself from the couch. "That was quick!" she said as she dove into her suitcase, looking for today's outfit.

"What can I say? He's a man of action."

Kate stood upright, clothes clutched to her chest. "Okay, five minutes!" she declared before she grabbed her make up bag from the coffee table and rushed toward the bathroom.

"Did you sleep alright?" Rick asked as they walked to his car.

Kate smiled at his lack of subtlety, at the question behind his question and the apologetic undertones that any passer-by would easily miss but to her it was loud and clear. The interruption was far from being his fault and, yeah, she felt a little cheated by their abrupt ending - especially after having been so attentive to his needs in the back of the limo - but she had no doubt in her mind that, sooner or later, they would find time to connect again.

He had made it abundantly clear that he would follow her lead; the ball was in her court.

All she had to do was say when.

"Tossed and turned a bit," she admitted. "You?"

Rick's mouth curved into a mischievous smirk. He reached out and pulled open the passenger side door.

"I slept like a baby," he bragged.

Kate hummed. "Lucky you," she said before slipping into Rick's car.

"Lucky me, indeed."

Traffic was thin, considering, and it was smooth sailing all the way to Lenox Hill.

"This is it," Rick said as he pointed out the 30-story building that overlooked East River.

Rick turned into the drive way and pulled up to a security box. He entered a 4-digit code and the slatted, aluminium security gate that led to the building's underground parking began to slide open.

Kate's stomach began to churn and she grew more restless with each parked car they passed. Mercedes, Bentley, Audi...

"My Charger is going to look great next to that Maserati over there," she snarked, looking at Rick through the corner of her eye.

He shook his head and chuckled to himself as he navigated the garage. "Don't worry, I'll get you a car cover so you can hide away your shame." He laughed again when Kate swatted his arm. "Look, you won't be the other one," he joked as he pointed to a smaller car that had been covered by a thick, gray fabric cover.

"Remind me again why you think a fancy building like this is within my budget?"

"You haven't even seen the building yet," Rick whined.

"This garage is more secure than my last building - it's fancy!"

Rick pulled into the empty spot marked 29A and turned off the engine.

"Just- trust me?" he asked, almost pleadingly.

Her brow arched, accusation painted all over her face. "What are you up to, Rick?"

"Nothing, I promise."

She rolled her eyes and stared out the windscreen. She did trust him: she trusted that he wasn't completely ignorant to how the other half lived, to the struggles she had faced in regard to finding something within her price range; she trusted that he wasn't setting her up to embarrass her, wouldn't have a laugh with his rich friends at her expense; she trusted that he genuinely wanted to help her, that he understood - even without her having explicitly said so - that being in her own space and having somewhere she could call home was an integral part of her healing, that it was a vital step she had to take before she could really move on with her life.

"I trust you," she muttered.

"Good," Rick sung cheerily. "Because here he is."

Rick's door swung open before Kate even had a chance to process what he had said. Her eyes darted around the garage until they landed on a man walking out of the elevator at the very back of the garage. He was young; very casual in cargo shorts, a half-buttoned Hawaiian shirt and canvas slip-on shoes.

"Ricky!"

"Ned!" Rick greeted enthusiastically as she pushed against the car door and rushed to catch up. "How are you? It's been too long!" He shook the man's hand then looked over his shoulder to find her. "This is Kate," he introduced.

"Nice to meet you," she said politely as she shook Ned's hand.

"Likewise," Ned replied with a bright smile. "Rick tells me you're in need of a place to stay."

Kate nodded. "I've been trying to find somewhere for a couple of months now."

"Oh, it's absolute chaos!" the man exclaimed. "I had a friend in a similar situation. He was actually going to be staying here while I travelled but then he finally got his own place. I thought I was going to have to list this place but then Rick called me and I just couldn't believe my luck!"

"Must be fate, right?" Rick asked them both, seeming very pleased with how the pieces seemed to be falling into place.

But Kate was still hesitant, couldn't bring herself to celebrate just yet. This was far from a done deal and she couldn't help but wonder what the catch would be.

"Well, let's not waste any time," Ned said as he took a few small steps backward, toward the elevator. "Come in, I'll show you around."

They followed Ned into the small metal carriage that would lead them to - hopefully - her new home.

"How long have you lived here?" Kate asked as the cart began to ascend to the 29th floor.

"I bought the place back in 2003 but I've only lived here for a little over a year," the man explained. "Renovations took forever and then I thought it would be a great idea to retire early and move to Hawaii so that I could just surf and soak up the sun all day long. That didn't last long, though: I need more purpose in my life, you know?"

"And now he's taking up the wanderer's life," Rick said to Kate. She couldn't quite read the look on Rick's face; something akin to pride, mixed with perhaps a little doubt? "No plan, no purpose, just seeing where the universe takes them."

"But you're wrong, my friend," Ned teased. "There is purpose. Maybe the greatest purpose in life." He turned his attention back to Kate. "You see, I am in love. I met an amazing woman who completes me in every way; she is intelligent and beautiful and absolutely consumed by a lifelong wanderlust that she has never had the chance to fully embrace. I am going to show her the world. That is my purpose."

Kate couldn't help but smile at Ned's enthusiasm, the way he so shamelessly wore his passion for the world to see.

"That's really sweet," she said softly.

Rick looked at her, unable to ignore the sudden timidness to her voice, but before he could say anything the elevator began to slow to a stop.

"Here we are," Ned announced.

The carriage doors slid open and the three of them stepped out into a wide corridor. The space was light and airy, brightened by the natural light that streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows to their left and right. On the wall opposite them was two modern looking iron doors: one marked 29A and the other 29B.

"The neighbour's quiet as a mouse," Ned informed Kate and Rick as he walked toward the door on the right. "They won't be a bother at all. They do have access to the rooftop, though, so you'll just have to be mindful of that. But, honestly, in the time I've lived here I don't think I've ever seen them up there."

He pulled a small fob from his pocket and tapped it against the door handle. A small green light flickered and the soft click of a lock echoed in air before Ned pushed against the door, opening his home up for Kate and Rick to explore.

"I can have the digital locks removed if you'd prefer a standard lock and key," Ned assured Kate. "That is if you decide you like the place."

But as she stepped into the man's home, the thought of her not liking the place seemed laughable. She was immediately awestruck.

She was greeted by a large, open space: reclaimed oak floorboards and scratched grey stucco walls lightened the sleek industrial styling of the apartment. Natural light flooded through the 17ft tall floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the exposed-brick wall to her left.

She moved through the living space toward the windows, took in the unobstructed view of the East River. She turned to study the inside of the apartment rather than allowing herself to be distracted by what was outside. Her eyes roamed over the lounge room, admired the soft grey couch that complemented the two tan armchairs that sat opposite it. Behind the arm chairs was a black iron staircase that led to a partitioned off room above the kitchen.

"That's the bedroom," Ned told her, watching her intently as she absorbed her surroundings. "Only one bedroom but there's plenty of space up there. I have a small sofa and a little office set-up."

"So, what you're saying is this place is absolutely perfect?"

She threw the comment over her shoulder with a bright, playful smirk but her words were earnest; the place seemed to suit her every need - and more!

She walked toward the back of the apartment - underneath the loft space - into the kitchen. It was a small space, but not too small. The dark granite that topped finely crafted oak cabinetry blended seamlessly with the black appliances.

"Nice, right?" Rick asked as he stepped behind her.

His palm fell to her lower back and she let out a soft sigh.

"Rick," she whispered with a touch of worry in her voice. "It's amazing but I-"

"Oh, woah; hold on! He hasn't even finished his pitch yet and you're saying no?"

"I'm not saying no," she said quietly, urging him with her eyes to not draw attention to them. "I'm saying I can't."

"Trust me," he reminded her with a smile. He turned back to Ned - who was patiently giving the two of them space to explore - and spoke louder. "There's a pool, right?" Rick asked as excited as a little boy.

"Pool, sauna and gym are all on the ground floor," Ned confirmed.

Rick looked at Kate, enthusiasm etched into the smile lines on his face.

"Everyone in the building has access. There's also communal areas on the 3rd and 9th floors; lounges, pool tables, vending machines and a community library where you can offload any unwanted books you might have. And feel free to take whatever catches your interest, too. The idea is just to put it back once you're done with it so that the next person can enjoy it."

"This place is gorgeous," Kate said as she moved across the floor toward the homeowner.

"It's not much but you can see why I don't want to part with it, right?"

She laughed and nodded her agreement: if she owned a place like this, she wouldn't want to sell it either.

"Feel free to check out all the appliances and storage and such," he encouraged. "Make sure it suits your needs. And if you're keen on the place, it's all yours for..."

Kate held her breath and watched intently as Ned searched the corners of his mind for a number that suited. She tried to prepare herself, repeating the number she could realistically afford again and again so that she wouldn't jump the gun and agree too hastily.

"$1800 a month?"

The constant stream of Kate's thoughts came to a sudden halt, remained completely silent for several seconds.

"A month?" she repeated, completely shocked by how short this man was selling himself. "You do realise how much you could be getting for this place, right?"

Ned chuckled to himself and Kate realised what she had said. Of course he knew how much he could be renting this place for.

"If I needed the money, I would have listed it months ago," he said matter-of-factly. "I just don't want the place sitting empty all year. And Rick was more than happy to vouch for you; that's good enough in my books."

Kate smiled at Rick, grateful for the way he helped her without even being asked. Because, even though it felt like they had known each other for a lifetime, in reality it hadn't be very long at all. Even though it felt like he knew her better than anyone ever had, she knew that he didn't really know her that well; not enough to go out on a limb for her, vouch for her, like he had.

She looked back at Ned. "Yeah. If you're sure, count me in."

Ned stepped forward and shook her hand with a smile. "I'll have a lease drawn up and sent to you as soon as possible," he said.

"Thank you so much."

"And, you haven't even seen the best part, yet," Rick added.

"Come with me," Ned instructed and the pair followed him back out of the apartment and toward the elevator.

He tapped his fob to an electronic scanner at the base of the elevators keypad and then pressed a blank button at the very top.

"You'll need a fob to access the rooftop," he informed her once the elevator began to move.

It came to a stop shortly after and the doors opened up into a small glass room, like a greenhouse.

"I've never been much of a green-thumb but feel free to use this space to your advantage," he said as they walked toward the door that would lead them outside.

Once again, she was filled with a sudden sense of awe as she took in her surroundings.

Half of the space was covered in thick, lush green artificial turf and surrounded by garden beds of colourful flowers and green shrubbery. The other half was paved, had an outdoor kitchen, picnic table and lounge chairs with large awnings for shade. The 360 degree views of the city were spectacular and she could imagine herself up here on a warm summer night with a book and a glass of wine, looking out at the city lights.

"Imagine the fun the whole gang could have just hanging out up here," Rick whispered in her ear when he, once again, stepped up behind her and placed his hand on her lower back.

She looked around; imagined the possibilities.

Yeah, she could definitely get used to this.

He could feel it in the air: the relief, the gratitude, the weight that had been lifted from Kate's shoulders. Even as they stood in silence, rode the elevator back down to the garage, he could feel the positivity filling the space between them. He wouldn't be so bold as to give himself a metaphorical pat on the back - after all, all he did was make a phone call (Ned was the true hero of this story) - but he couldn't help but feel a little swell of pride in his chest: his connections had helped her, really helped her.

It didn't matter where they went from here: today had been a success.

The elevator doors opened and he walked out, taking purposeful strides to ensure he reached his car before she did. He reached out for the passenger door handle and pulled it open for her.

"Thank you," she said as she stepped behind the door but before she lowered herself into the car, she paused and looked at Rick.

A sincere smile tugged on the corners of her mouth and she brought her hand to his face to gently caress his cheek.

"Seriously," she said, her voice soft but serious. "Thank you."

She leant forward and brushed her lips against his but even just a chaste, barely-there kiss had electricity coursing through his veins and he cursed the metal barrier between them. He wanted to kiss her with all the passion that had been bubbling under the surface since last night, to push his body against hers; pin her against his car and let his hands roam freely.

He wanted another moment of privacy with her; one he didn't have to steal, one that wouldn't be taken away too soon. He wanted another chance to remind her how good they were together, how in sync their bodies had been even when they were just two strangers, how extraordinary they could be now that they had opened up to one another, added a layer of depth and vulnerability to their relationship.

But now was not their moment, a parking garage definitely not the place for it, so when she pulled back and looked up at him with sparkling hazel eyes he pushed aside any lust-filled thoughts and mustered the calmest, warmest smile he could.

"Anything I can do to help, I'll do it."

And he meant it, wholeheartedly.

He would do anything for her. Always.

Kate slowly sunk down into the passenger seat and Rick closed the door behind her.

"So, what do you have planned for the rest of your day?" he asked once he took his place behind the wheel and began to drive away from her soon-to-be home.

Kate leant her head back against the cushiony headrest and let out a deep breath.

"I was just going to be searching the papers for an apartment," she informed him. "I suppose my schedule just cleared up."

"Think you could pencil in a lunch date?"

"I think that could be arranged," she said with a smile. "Do you have somewhere in mind?"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

"I thought we were going out for lunch?" Kate complained as she followed Rick down the hallway that led from the elevator to his loft's front door.

"I never said we were going out," Rick reminded her. He unlocked the door and did a quick check of the floor just to be double sure that no one was home before letting Kate enter his home. "I thought I'd cook for us," he explained as he closed the door behind them.

The loft was dark, having not been opened up properly in his rush to leave earlier this morning. He made a quick sweep of the living area, opening the shutter blinds and curtains to let the sunlight stream into the room.

"Much better," he mused to himself as he moved back toward the kitchen.

"Is no one else home?" Kate asked as she watched him move around the kitchen.

"Uh, not at the moment," he answered, distracted.

She continued to watch him, fascinated by the expressiveness of his face as the wheels of his mind turned. He checked the pantry, the fridge, back to the pantry: it was obvious that this wasn't a well thought out invitation and now he was scrambling to find something he could easily whip up for them, something that he can impress her with.

Suddenly, she wasn't even that hungry. She craved something, but it wasn't food.

It was closeness.

Physical touch.

Him.

Pulled by some invisible force, she slowly drifted toward him.

"Are you expecting anyone home soon?"

"Uh-" He began to pull the items he would need from the cabinets and drawers around him: a cutting board, knife, bowls.

"Rick?" She curled her index finger under his chin and forced his attention to her.

"Yeah? Oh- wow," he stuttered, caught off guard by her sudden closeness. It didn't take a genius to read the glimmer in her eyes, the flirtation in her smile. He emptied his hands and turned his body in her direction, too. "Hi. I'm sorry, you have my full attention."

"Good."

She leant forward and pressed her lips to his. She savoured the feel of his hands on her hips, the taste of his mouth against hers and the sound of his soft moan as she kissed him at a leisurely pace. The urgency from last night was gone, but the intensity remained.

Rick pulled on her hips, brought her body to his and snaked his arms around her waist.

"When will they be home?" she asked as she pulled away from his kiss just enough so her words weren't muffled against his mouth.

"Who cares?" he groaned, earning him an amused laugh from Kate.

"I swear to God, if someone walks in on us again-"

Rick shook his head and began to take a few small steps, guiding her in the direction of his bedroom.

"We've got a few hours at the very least," he assured her. "And I am not about to get into the habit of starting something I can't finish."

"Good," Kate whispered.

Rick slanted his mouth over hers, kissed her greedily as they made their way to his room; hands gripping and pawing at clothing as their mutual desire to feel skin against skin grew stronger.

Physically, she was spent. The simple act of raising her arm and draping the back of her hand over her eyes was exhausting.

If she stayed here - still, eyes closed, silent - there was a very real chance of her falling asleep.

If only her mind weren't buzzing with life. Wired, like she'd had too much coffee.

But caffeine wasn't the drug that had her riding this high: Rick was. She could feel him in her veins, taking her over. She was already craving her next fix, wanting that rush that only he seemed to be able to give her.

As soon as she replenished just a fraction of her spent energy, she would get exactly what she needed from him.

Again and again and again.

She felt the mattress dip and Rick shifted beside her. She sucked in a sharp breath, startled when he began to lazily trace ticklish patterns across her bare torso.

"Sorry," he said, chuckling as her abs twitched from being tickled.

"Don't sound sorry." Her voice came out a hoarse grumble; fatigue and satisfaction playing equal parts in the sudden change.

"You're right," he said before dipping his head down to press his lips to the column of her neck. The touch of his lips was quick; gone before she could fully register it was even there. "I'm not sorry."

The press of his lips returned to her skin, feather-soft against her collarbone before disappearing again. She felt him again at the top of her breast before the sensation vanished once more. When the warmth of his mouth closed over her nipple, she gasped and all tiredness drained from her body.

She rolled toward him and cradled his head, holding him against her as she arched her back. She let out a shaky breath and he released her, looked up at her with a wicked grin.

"Worth the wait?" he asked.

Kate huffed - amused, not that she would admit it.

"Is this the part where I stroke your ego and make you feel like some sex God?"

Rick slowly shook his head, the smug look on his face never faltering.

"Don't need you to stroke my ego," he said casually. He leant forward, brushed his lips against hers. "I know I'm good at what I do," he whispered before locking his lips to hers.

And, hell, she didn't have the strength to keep up the act even if she wanted to. She leaned into his body, moaned when his tongue pressed against hers and fought hard to suppress the disappointed groan when he pulled away far too soon for her liking.

He looked at her, a knowing smirk on his face.

"Just wanted to make sure you got what you came for," he explained with a teasing undertone.

Kate rolled her eyes. "I came for lunch, remember?"

"So you did!" he said, as if he just suddenly remembered. "I better get on that right away."

Rick shifted to get out of bed, but Kate placed her hand on his chest to stop him.

"If I'm being honest, I'm really not that hungry," she stated.

"No?"

She shook her head.

"You know what? Me neither." Rick rolled back toward her, wrapped his arms around her body. "You know what I do kind of feel like, though?" he asked.

"What?" Kate asked, knowing very well what he wanted.

Rick leaned in closer, let his nose graze hers as he took a moment to just breathe her in.

"Round three."