46. Chapter 46

After Murder He Wrote

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: This is just one of the many Castle episodes that I do not own. Rating: K+ Time: See above.

Kate snuggled against Castle after their lovemaking and relaxed, preparing to sleep. However, a thought penetrated the sexual haze she felt. "Ryan knows. He has to."

Castle, almost asleep, awakened fully. "You're right. From the way he was talking, he knows."

"Martha knows, Alexis knows and now Ryan knows. It didn't take that long for three people to find out. How long will it be before we're on Page Six, Castle?"

"So far, it's just family and friends who know. None of them will be running off to rat us out to Gates. So no worries there. So maybe Lanie and Espo find out. They have no reason to tell Gates either. As far as the rest of the precinct goes, what do they care? They have their own jobs to do, their own romances to worry about."

Kate shook her head. "Don't be so sure. The precinct is like a big, extended family. And in every family, there's a gossip. We have a couple. The blonde in records, and the skinny guy who dresses like he's in high school in fraud are our gossips. Stay away from them."

"And, so what if Gates finds out?"

"So what?" Kate sat up so she could look Rick in the face. "What do you mean, so what? Do you have…"

Rick put his hand over her mouth. "You are an NYPD detective. I am a writer, shadowing you for my literary endeavors. I am not a cop."

Kate giggled. "Literary endeavors? Is that what it's called these days? You've been following me around for years trying to get me into bed."

"And I've succeeded beyond my wildest imagination." Castle hugged Kate and kissed her forehead. "What I have found with you is way beyond my wildest imagination. And I have a great imagination."

"But still…"

"But still, if Gates tries to get rid of me, she's going to have a fight on her hands. I have a friend at City Hall, remember. And elsewhere. And I have something else. Someone else. Someone far more important to Gates than the mayor."

"You know…The President?" Kate asked, teasingly.

"Ha. Far more important than the President." Castle sneered.

Suddenly Kate said with faux awe. "You know the leader of a group of time traveling, alien Penguinoids who have come to save humanity from having no more Nikki Heat books?"

Castle nodded. "Him, too. You'd be surprised how well my books sell on 31st century Alpha Centuari. The downside of that is that Penguinoid fan fiction is pretty lame. But, I know the remarkable Kate Beckett, the best homicide detective on the planet. This planet that is."

"And?" Kate asked, curious.

"Gates has the best homicide detective working for her. Suppose, just suppose, that that detective wanted to transfer to somewhere closer to the home of a certain author? Suppose the rest of her team wanted to follow her? Suppose all of these people told Gates how important to catching killers a certain writer was? How would her statistics look with no Kate Beckett, Super Star, around?"

"Who exactly is this writer you're talking about?" Kate asked very seriously.

"Kate, you wound me. But, I have other plans"

"Such as?"

"Plan B." He said proudly.

"You have a Plan B?"

"I always have a Plan B."

"And Plan B is?"

"What do you need to become a PI in New York?"

"Your plan is to ask how to become a PI?"

"No, I may want to become a PI. How do you get a PI's license?"

"You need to pass a written exam and have three years experience as an investigator. Usually that means as a cop or a fire department arson investigator."

"Okay, I've been with you for three years and I'm good at tests."

"How is becoming a PI going to help?" Kate asked, mystified.

"Simple. When you get a body drop, I'll take the case on behalf of the next of kin, or whoever. Then I'll be with you on the case."

"I doubt that the State of New York would accept your years with me as the required experience and the tests are not easy. Aside from the problems involved in getting Gates to let Richard Castle, PI, anywhere near a crime scene, why would the next of kin hire you?"

"I'd do it for free. If necessary, I'd pay them."

"Do you have a Plan C?" Kate asked hopefully.

"Naturally. I'll become a reporter."

"You'll buy a newspaper?" She asked.

"No, I'll just set up a blog." Castle looked at the ceiling, smiling. "Actually, I could use either of those ideas with Nikki. Imagine Nikki and Rook meeting up with a New York private eye. A real Raymond Chandler or Dash Hammett character. He'd even have a girl Friday, like all good hard boiled PI's."

"The girl Friday would be?"

"Kate Friday?" Castle said, scratching his jaw. "Maybe Friday Beckett. I'll think of something."

"I'm sure you will." Kate rolled her eyes.

"Or Nikki and Rook could meet a mild mannered, but ruggedly handsome investigative reporter. "Scoop" Castle."

"And his girl Friday?" Kate asked, smiling.

"A Lois Lane type. Scary smart, dedicated, all about the job."

"She isn't a little slutty by any chance is she?" Kate asked.

"Never."

"Glad to hear it, but could we be serious for a minute. People are finding out about us. What do we do if Gates or the NYPD in general finds out about us? I don't want to lose you."

"Kate. You will never, ever lose me. Worst case scenario: I get kicked out of the 12th Precinct forever. I am not, repeat not, losing you. There are plenty of people who don't work together and they live their lives with no trouble at all. We could do the same."

"I'd miss you terribly."

"And I'd miss you. But the bottom line is that there is nothing that Gates or anyone else in the NYPD can do that is going to change how I feel about you. We're together now. A couple. Always."

"Always." Kate said.

Rick kissed her gently. "Now, we have to get up early and get back to the city tomorrow. Sleep tight, Kate."

"Tomorrow." She said and snuggled closer to him.

Castle relaxed with Kate in his arms. None of the women I've brought here are Kate. No doubt about it, I've finally found who I've been looking for.

Kate inhaled the scent of Rick as she got ready to go to sleep. He's different now. When I first met him, he'd have never wanted to investigate a murder with me in bed with him. He's the one.

Author's note: Something odd has happened in the last week or so. I can no longer read my own stories on . Obviously you can, or you're all really, really good at hacking into my computer. Anyone else ever had that problem?