24. Chapter 24

After Nikki Heat

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Why no, I do not own Castle. Thanks for asking, though. Rating: K Time: Guess

Rick wondered who could be knocking at his door that late at night. He put down his glass of Scotch, saved what very little he had written on his computer, and went to the door.

"Natalie?"

Natalie Rhodes smiled at Rick, and walked past him into his loft. "Thanks for inviting me in, Castle."

Seeing that Natalie was already on the couch, Rick closed the door. "I didn't invite you in. I'm not going to sleep with you. So, why don't you leave?"

Natalie patted the sofa beside her. "Sit down, I'm not done with my research. And don't worry, I have no intention of sleeping with you now."

"Thanks. I think. But, I'd really appreciate it if you'd leave."

"I'm not going to try to sleep with you because I know you're in love with Kate Beckett."

Castle was now angry. "I think you've done enough research and you don't need to do any more."

"And Beckett is in love with you."

Castle shook his head. "Look, as much as I'd love to sit here with a stranger and discuss who I may, or may not, be in love with, it's none of your damned business."

"Castle, please sit down and talk to me. Or, I have an idea, I'll do all the talking. All you have to do is sit there and listen. I'll get a much better grasp of Nikki Heat, and of Kate Beckett. The movie will be that much better, and you want that don't you? And I'll be out of your hair all that much sooner. Because I'm not leaving unless you physically toss me out. Wouldn't that be embarrassing? Famed mystery novelist throws sexy actress out of his loft in the middle of the night. What would Beckett think if she saw it on Page Six?"

"That's blackmail!" Castle said, raising his voice.

"Exactly. Now sit down. Please?" She patted the sofa beside her again. Rick sat down in the chair opposite her.

"If you think Beckett is in love with me, you're not as smart as I thought you were."

Natalie shrugged and then smiled. "Let me start with you first. You know, I think that bringing coffee to Beckett every morning is so sweet. That is going in the movie."

Rick shook his head. "That's why you think Beckett loves me? Coffee as an aphrodisiac?"

"That's just for starters." Natalie changed the subject. "You're a very wealthy man, aren't you? You're in your early forties, you have a teen aged daughter, and your mother lives with you. Right so far?"

Rick just nodded.

"Now I researched Kate Beckett for the movie and I spent a couple of days at the precinct. You've been with Beckett for almost two years now. That's what I call research. And I've talked to most of the people in the precinct. You don't just sit around and absorb the atmosphere and gather quotes from real cops. You really are Beckett's partner. You go everywhere she does, wearing a protective vest, but unarmed. You've been shot at, nearly blown up, and basically had your life endangered a lot. That's a lot for a wealthy family man in your position. You know the police are really impressed with you."

"Some of them are." Castle shot back. He could think of one cop in particular that didn't seem to be impressed with him.

"Whatever." Natalie said dismissively. "What all that says to me is that you need to be with Kate. No one is going to put their life on the line to research a book, not for two years. It's love, Rick. You love Kate Beckett."

Rick put on his best poker face. "And that's why you think I love Beckett? You couldn't come up with another reason I'd do all of that?"

"No, Castle. That just confirmed my conclusion. I decided you love Kate Beckett when I read the Nikki Heat books. They're one great big love letter to her. And I've seen the way you look at her when she's not looking. I'm good at reading people, Castle. You love her." Natalie laughed and punched the air. "Now do you want to know how I found out that Beckett loves you?"

"Sure, I could use a good laugh."

"It's what she didn't say."

"How very Zen of you, Natalie. Are you going to show me the sound of one hand clapping?"

Natalie chuckled. "Do you remember me saying that the hardest thing for an actor to do is nothing? Well, sometimes the best way to find out what a person is thinking is what they're not talking about. In Kate Beckett's case, it was you. I asked her about everyone. I asked whether Ochoa was all Esposito, or were there other real detectives mixed in. I asked about Raley and Ryan, Montgomery and Montrose, Dr. Parry and Dr. Parish, and she answered me fully. She was happy to talk about those people and their fictional counterparts. And do you know what happened when I asked about Beckett and Castle, and Heat and Rook? All of a sudden, I got short, vague answers."

"Did it ever occur to you that she just doesn't like me?"

Natalie shook her head. "In my experience, when a woman really dislikes a man, she's thrilled to tell someone all about everything that's wrong with him. But when she's fallen for a guy and doesn't know how he feels, she clams up. Just like Beckett did."

"You know she has a serious boyfriend."

Natalie shrugged. "I know she has a boyfriend, but how serious it is…? Not so serious, I think. His name didn't come up at all in our conversations. You'd think she'd mention a serious boyfriend, wouldn't you?"

"She doesn't open up to people, that's all."

"You have your opinion and I have mine." Natalie stood up. "Now that I've finished my research, I'll be on my way."

Rick walked her to the door. "In spite of this, Natalie, I think you'll make a great Nikki."

She held out her hand and Rick shook it. "Damn right I will." She gave Rick a serious look. "Rick, please consider what I said about you and Beckett. It isn't just me, you know. Everyone in the precinct thinks you belong together."

"Good night, Natalie." Rick said noncommittally.

Castle shook his head and went to get another glass of Scotch. He went back to his office and thought. Even someone who only sees us for a few days can figure out that I love Beckett. Eventually, Beckett will figure it out as well. In fact, I'm surprised she hasn't seen it already. And what happens when she does figure it out? Not hard to figure that one out. Richard Castle is kicked to the curb. There's no way she'll let me hang around her then.

But Natalie thinks Beckett loves me. Now there's wishful thinking for you. Actors, like writers, are hopeless romantics, I suppose. You don't want Romeo to be head over heels with Juliet and find out Juliet couldn't care less. You can't have John love Aeryn and find that Aeryn loves no one. We just can't stand that, but that happens in real life. All the time.

The next day, Rick decided he'd better tell Beckett about Natalie's visit. He didn't want her to hear about it from Page Six. However, he was not going to tell Beckett what she had said. They had stopped for lunch at a Chinese restaurant. The place wasn't too crowded, just enough customers so that Castle was sure Beckett wouldn't shoot him.

"Natalie Rhodes dropped by the loft last night." He said as casually as he could.

"Why?" Kate asked. She had a sudden, icy feeling in the pit of her stomach. He didn't! He didn't decide to sleep with her after all.

"She wanted some more information on Nikki and Rook, you and me."

"Such as?" Kate asked as casually as she could manage, in spite of the churning cold in her gut.

"Do I have any problems working with a smart, independent, kick-ass detective?"

"And?"

"What do you think? Do I have any trouble working with you?"

"No. You're a good partner, but I do think you'd be as big a problem to any empty headed, dependent, flighty detective. Except those only exist in fiction."

"I hope you're not referring to Nikki Heat. I think she's as smart, independent and kick-ass as they come. She is you, you know."

"No, I couldn't be happier with Nikki." She blushed slightly and her stomach didn't churn as much. "Do you think Rook has a problem with Nikki? Would he be happier with some bimbo with big boobs?"

Castle shook his head. "Rook enjoys that Nikki is smart. She wouldn't be any fun if she were dumb. Rook likes to be challenged and Nikki does that."

The word fun brought something to Kate's mind. "Did Natalie do any other…research?"

Castle laughed. "Do you mean did she sleep with me? The answer is no. Sleeping with either Natalie Rhodes or Nikki Heat is not an option."

Kate let out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. Is he telling the truth? Of course he is. He's my partner. He's my friend. He wouldn't sleep with anyone else but me. Kate suddenly realized what she had thought and a look of horror came to her face.

"Something wrong, Beckett?" Castle said, concerned.

Kate quickly coughed and took a drink of tea. "Just a hot chili I wasn't expecting. I'm fine."

"Okay. About time to go?"

"Ready." Kate replied. But she wasn't sure she was ready.