33. Chapter 33

After Eye of the Beholder

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: This is like the gazillionth time I've said I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: Should be obvious.

Rick and Kate walked to Remy's and managed to find a seat. Remy's was crowded and they found themselves sitting in a cozy corner booth, with their thighs touching. Kate didn't mind at all.

"Hi, Mr. Castle, Detective Beckett." The waitress said cheerfully. "I'm betting you know what you want already and don't need menus."

Rick smiled. "I know what I want. Beckett?"

"Cheeseburger, fries and a strawberry milk shake, please."

The waitress turned to Castle. "I'd like the Double Cheese, Double Bacon, Double Burger, the chili cheese fries and a chocolate shake, please."

Kate frowned at Rick as the waitress walked away. "Are you trying for a heart attack?"

"I have a teenaged daughter who makes sure that I have very healthy eating habits while I'm at home. When I'm with you is my only chance to splurge."

Kate reached over and lightly squeezed Rick's hand, then released it. "I won't bother you, then. I have a great deal of faith in Alexis."

Rick reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his notebook. "Before I forget, I have to write down my thoughts about Serena Kaye. She is really fantastic. What a find." Castle began writing in his notebook.

Kate felt a block of ice form in her stomach. As calmly as she could, she asked, "Are you going to see her again."

Rick stopped writing and looked over at her. "See who?"

"Serena Kaye. She's… fantastic?" Kate said managing to keep all but a small part of her jealousy out of her voice.

"Why would I see…" Rick stopped and smiled. "I see. Serena is a fantastic basis for a character for Nikki. Look at she brings. She may be an honest insurance investigator, helping Nikki. She may be a crook, using Nikki. She could be some kind of vigilante art recovery specialist. Recovering paintings stolen by Nazis or some warlord, that can't be returned to their real owners legally. Or she could be a total red herring. Like I said. She's fantastic." Rick tapped his notebook with his pen. "I'll have to think up a good name for her, though."

Kate had some names for Serena Kaye that she doubted would ever see print. Detective Heat, allow me to introduce Skank T. Slut, insurance investigator. Kate even had an idea of where to put the Fist of Capitalism, preferably sideways.

"So, you'll be using Serena in a new Nikki book?" She asked, trying to sound as disinterested as she could.

"I guess." Castle stopped writing and looked at her. "Why? Do you think that's a bad idea? Something wrong?"

Kate shook her head. "Hey! It's not for me to say. I mean, Nikki is your character."

"Sure, but let's face it. You're Nikki Heat. If you feel uncomfortable about something, with Serena, or anything else, you should tell me. I value your input. Like I said, you're the real Nikki Heat."

"Castle, I'm not a writer. I don't think I have any business telling you how to write the Nikki Heat books."

"Well, you're wrong. You, Detective Beckett, are a very intelligent and perceptive detective. You see things, you make connections, and observe patterns, that I might miss. Please, Beckett, if you have some input, tell me."

"Would Rook be…interested in Serena?" Kate asked carefully.

Rick shrugged. "He'd be interested like I'm interested in her. She'd have stories to tell that might lead to a magazine article, or something."

"Or something? Would Rook be interested in Serena, romantically?"

"Of course not!" Castle said sharply. "Why would you even ask that? You've read the books. Nikki and Rook are a couple. They're simpatico. They're in love. I mean I may throw some roadblocks in the way, because the path to true love is never easy, but Nikki and Rook will always be together."

Kate couldn't keep from smiling. "So Nikki would never have any reason to be jealous of Serena?"

"Jealous? Of course not. Why would you…" Castle stopped and smiled at Kate. "I see what you're getting at. Oh, very good, Beckett. Nikki has no real reason to be jealous of Serena, but suppose she thought she did?" Castle stopped and stared at the ceiling for a minute or so. "Okay. How about this? Nikki has had the mother of all bad mornings. Captain Irons and Detective Hinesburg have totally screwed up an important case. Rook comes in, makes some smart assed remark, as writers sometimes do, and Nikki unloads on him. Tells him to get lost. He leaves in a huff, and after a minute Nikki, feeling badly, follows him. In the meantime our insurance investigator has arrived. She trips. Rook catches her, but his hand slides under her blouse. When Nikki arrives, Rook has one hand on her boob and the other on her ass. Which, by the way, is nowhere near as perfect as Nikki's. Nikki thinks Rook has been making out with her. Nikki gets mad and leaves, without Rook seeing her. The Serena character is taken with Rook, and, for one reason or another, the two of them keep ending up in what look like, but aren't, compromising situations. The readers are saying to themselves, "Mother of God, is this the end of Nooki?". But by the end of the book it's clear that Rook only has eyes for Nikki. They have great sex, and fadeout."

Rick turned to smile at Kate. "Beckett, you are brilliant. I'd better watch out. Black Pawn will be hiring you and letting me go."

Kate blushed. "Castle, I'm a cop, not a writer."

"Okay, as a cop, and as the real Nikki heat, what do you think of the idea."

Kate thought for moment. "What about what I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. The Moonlighting Curse? You know, your characters get together, they become domesticated and get boring."

"Nikki and Rook will never be boring." Castle said seriously. "They'll get married one of these days, but believe me, they'll never be boring. Not while Nikki's a cop and Rook is a journalist. Besides, that Moonlighting Curse thing is a bunch of crap. The series didn't tank because Maddy and Dave slept together. It tanked because Sybil Sheppard had twins and Bruce Willis made Die Hard. They had no chemistry in the last season because they both had their minds totally on something other than the show."

Kate nodded. "I think that Rook and Nikki should meet the Serena character then. As long as Nikki doesn't get her heart broken too badly with Rook seemingly interested in another woman."

"Never happen. Nikki is tough and deep down she knows Rook is hers, forever. Actually, I think of Nikki and Rook like the lead characters in one of my favorite science fiction shows."

"That Joss Whedon thing?" Kate asked.

"No, Farscape. Made by Henson in Australia. It ran about ten years ago. The leads, an American astronaut and a kick-ass alien soldier chick, go to bed before the end of the first season. They end up getting married and even have a baby. She gives birth during a battle while shooting down bad guys. She says shooting makes her feel better. The show was a great love story. That's how I see Nikki and Rook."

They were interrupted by the waitress bringing their food. As Kate ate, she thought to herself. He wants Nikki to get married and live happily ever after. And I'm Nikki.