502. Chapter 502

After Cuffed

Episode 4.10

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Owning Castle would be G-r-r-r-eat, but I don't. Rating: K+ Time: See above.

She had feelings for the man, she knew that. She didn't know quite what the feelings were, but if she had been able to identify the feelings, she would have found one was love. He was, after all the man that had broken down that wall for her. She desperately wanted to articulate that feeling into words, but she couldn't. She knew, though, that she could show him how she felt. She just needed a chance.

Toni the tiger wanted to meet the man again, but again, walls kept them apart. She looked up from her enclosure and wondered how she would find the man who was now on the other side of the wall. There must be a way, she thought. And she'd find a way.

Why do I do that? Kate thought. When we were trying to push that old freezer and he was rubbing against my ass, I told him he'd better not be enjoying himself. But I want him to enjoy himself with my body. I want to be naked with him and have him use my body as his own personal playground. I want him to do everything with me. Why can't I just open up to him? I've thought about just sleeping with him, friends with benefits, but I'm afraid he'll think I just want sex and nothing else. If that didn't ruin our relationship, it would sure set it back. He wants more than just sex and I want more than sex. But I can't ask him to wait forever. It's not fair to him. What if Castle had gotten interested in that damned insurance investigator? Could I have done something then? The only time I was able to summon up enough courage to tell Castle what I wanted was when I thought he was leaving the precinct for good. And then I was too damned late. Just a few lousy minutes and at least he would have left for the Hamptons with that damned blonde knowing I wanted more. Somehow I can find a way to show him how I feel. I just need a chance.

Toni wasn't good at planning, but she was good at leaping. She noticed a small crack in the concrete about halfway up the wall of the enclosure. If she could leap and get a purchase with her hind legs on that crack, she could leap over the wall and find the man.

She waited until nightfall as that was the best time to hunt. She tried three times and each time she fell into the water filled moat that was between her enclosure and the wall. The fourth time, one rear leg caught the crack and she pushed upwards with all of her strength. Her front paws caught on the metal railing and she hauled herself out. She was free!

The security guard had access to a dozen closed circuit TVs covering the Bronx Zoo. However, Toni had some experience and instincts did the rest, keeping her to the shadows for most of her run through the zoo grounds. By coincidence, as she ran across the open parking lot, the guard had turned his back to get some coffee. He missed seeing Toni.

After that, a number of people saw Toni, but two were too drunk to realize that a tiger running loose might not be a good thing and one decided it was none of his business what some over-sized pussy cat did as long as the cat was cool with everyone else. There are a lot of places in the South Bronx like that. One citizen did call 911. However, he was well known to the two officers who responded.

"A tiger, Jimmy? Really?"

"Really! A big freakin' tiger. Was running south. I tried to get his license number, but he was too fast." Jimmy said as seriously as he could.

"Did your wife kick you out again?" The other officer asked.

"She's with her mom in Alnaby…Alanby…Albany. Says she won't be coming back."

"Come on, Jimmy. We'll give you a place to sleep at the station. Good old drunk tank. It's practically home."

"If he barfs in the back seat, I ain't cleaning it up." One cop muttered.

"You'll catch that tiger?" Jimmy asked, feeling the satisfaction of being a good citizen.

"We'll have animal control on him like that, Jimmy."

She had feelings for the man, she knew that. She didn't know quite what the feelings were, but if she had to guess, she would have chosen either disgust or revulsion.

"Come on, pretty girl. Let's go party." He had one hand on her hip and was trying to get up the nerve to move it to her boob.

Alexis quickly moved his hand off of her hip. "No! I don't know you and I'm not going to go anyplace with you. Get lost." Alexis tried to turn away from him and leave, but the club was so crowded she couldn't move.

She felt a hand on her ass and turned to look over her shoulder. Great! This one is drunk or high.

"Les' get outta here. I'll show you a real good time. I know where we can score…."

The rest was cut off by screaming. Lots of screaming. People were running for the doors, but the two idiots with Alexis between them, somehow managed to knock all three of themselves to the floor. When Alexis looked up, she saw a tiger staring at her.

Toni knew that this was not the man, but his scent was strong on her. Was the man around? She walked over to the small one. She inhaled deeply. Yes, it was definitely his scent. Where was he? Perhaps if she waited, he'd come. She settled down and rested her head in the redheaded one's lap. Her paws rested on the other two.

"Alexis? Is something wrong?" Castle asked. He had been just about to leave the precinct after a very long and arduous case when the phone rang. "You have a what sitting on you?" He screeched.

Beckett looked up. "What?" She mouthed.

"You're at Club Medina and a tiger is there? With his head on your lap? Have you been…" Castle pulled the phone away from his ear as Alexis yelled at him. "Sorry, I know you don't drink. I'll be there ASAP."

"A tiger? Really?" Beckett asked.

"I need to get there right now." Castle was headed for the elevator.

Beckett grabbed her coat. "We'll get there a lot quicker in my car, Castle."

The police already had the area cordoned off when Beckett and Castle arrived. Using her badge, Beckett got them to the command center. She explained who Castle was and got a quick briefing. "Mr. Castle, we can only get a shot from either the front or the back of the club. If we use a tranquilizer dart, it won't knock him out all at once. He could hurt all three before he was knocked out. And if we try to shoot, the bullet could go through the tiger and hit your daughter."

"Her." Castle said distractedly. "The tiger is a she."

"How do you know?"

"Detective Beckett and I have met that tiger."

Beckett nodded. "It's a long story."

"It must be." The officer said.

Kate turned away from Castle to talk to one of the snipers and just caught him moving out of the corner of her eye.

"You can't go in there?" A cop yelled, but Castle was already past the police barricade. Kate ran after him, showing her badge to the cop. That's stalled him enough to let her catch up with Castle.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked.

"Saving my daughter."

"Do you have a plan?"

He was silent for a second. "No. Do you?"

"Just to be with you."

"You don't have to do this, Kate."

"What are partners for?"

Toni caught his scent immediately. She rose and walked to him, noting that the other human was with him. Toni caught their individual scents all mixed together. Somehow, in her tiger heart, Toni knew that their love was not to be. Still, she walked over to the human, put her front paws on his shoulder and kissed him.

Castle managed to refrain from throwing up. Being kissed by a tiger with no knowledge of oral hygiene is no picnic, he discovered. Especially if the huge beast is leaning on you.

"Okay, Toni. Time to go back to the zoo." Rick said, and Toni followed him out to the waiting truck and into the cage.

The next day, Toni looked up from her enclosure and saw the man and his two females. Toni understood. They were a family unit.

Author's note: What? You don't believe that Rick Castle is irresistible to all the females of the species?

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