612. Chapter 612

After Kill the Messenger

Episode 2.08

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: The message is, I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

Kate Beckett had finished her report and was re-reading it to make sure she had everything she needed. She shook her head when she realized she had read the same paragraph three times in a row. She snuck a look at Castle who was sitting there happily playing with his phone. What did he mean with Jeff Dilahunt? He asked if we were together and Castle said "Not yet." What did Dilahunt mean by the question? Did he just want to know if we were a couple? Or is he like Castle and thinks the only reason a man would be with a woman is to get her into bed? No. I know Castle better than that. Or do I? I have my walls. I know that. Yet for all of his glib talk and seeming openness, Castle is a mystery to me. Two failed marriages, which I know nothing about. He's constantly on Page Six with some starlet or supermodel and he signs women's boobs in public. Looking at that Castle and I see a man I want nothing to do with.

Castle laughed at something on his phone. Beckett glanced over at him, but he was engrossed in whatever game he was playing on his phone. Then there's the other Castle. He's a great father who's raised a great daughter. When I first met Alexis I could hardly believe she even knew her father, let alone had been raised by him with little or no help from Meredith. And he's a good son, as well. He takes care of Martha. Oh, he just doesn't support her financially, he's there for her.

And there's the Castle here at the precinct. What initially drew him to me? Sex? Curiosity? Does he want nothing more than to get background for Nikki Heat? He's been here too long for that, I think. Is it a game with him? Matching wits with some killer? Or is he matching wits with me, to see who catches the killer first? Does he actually care? Sometimes I think he does. He's angry at the Wellesleys. Lenanne Wellesley won't go to prison for ordering Olivia Debiasse's murder. She's not mentally fit to stand trial. Neither Winston nor Trent Wellesley committed any crime, although Trent's senatorial campaign may suffer a fatal hit. I hope it knocks the whole Wellesley family out of politics forever. Frank Davis, the family fixer, is telling the DA everything he can think of about the Wellesley's to make a deal. I've seen the look on Castle's face when we meet the families of murder victims. Is it that he cares, or is it the old line about the secret to success being sincerity? Once you learn to fake sincerity, everything else is easy.

And then there's the book and Detective Nikki Heat. The way Castle was talking about it to me, I expected it to be pornographic. But, it isn't. Castle has written a fascinating character and a complex, layered mystery for Nikki to solve. And Jameson Rook. Rook? Surely Castle could disguise him better than that. A rook is a castle in chess and Rook is Castle in Nikki Heat. But Rook cares deeply for Nikki. He wants more than just a good time. Is that what Castle is trying to tell me in the book? That he wants more than just to bed me?

Dammit! Why can't that man just talk to me? Beckett almost laughed. That's almost funny. Kate Beckett who hides behind her walls so she won't get hurt complaining that someone won't talk about their feelings.

"Is something wrong?" Castle asked suddenly.

"No. Why would you think something would be wrong?"

"Your eyes."

She frowned. "My eyes? What do my eyes have to do with anything?"

"When people read their eyes go back and forth, scanning the page. You've been staring at the same spot on the computer screen for like five minutes now."

"You noticed that?"

"I'm a writer. I notice details. So, will you tell me what's wrong?"

"No." She said quickly.

"Maybe I can help. Is it the case?"

She shook her head. "No, it's nothing to do with the case. Just forget it."

Castle opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. No point in giving Beckett another excuse to get angry at me. Although she doesn't seem to need much of an excuse.

Beckett tried to concentrate on her report, but found her mind wandering back to Castle. There's no reason I can't ask him a personal question. It's not like he's never asked me one. I mean it's natural that I'd be curious about what he meant. Most women would ask. Although I'm not most women and he's not most men.

"What did you mean?" It was out almost before she realized she was speaking. Too late now.

"Mean? That I'd help you. What's the problem?"

"No. What did you mean when we talked to Jeff Dilahunt? He asked if we were together and you said, "Not yet.""

"And you said "Absolutely not." What did you mean by that?"

"I asked first." From the look on his face, Castle was enjoying this immensely. Kate was sorry she'd spoken.

"Fair enough. I've told you before, Detective Beckett, you're remarkable and extraordinary and so much more. I just want us to be friends." He waited for just a second and added. "And more."

"In other words, you want to get me into bed."

"Among other things, but I want more."

"You're not getting more."

"Aha. The "absolutely not." Castle said. "Do you find us being together so…distasteful?"

"I'm not going to be some trophy that you can brag about to your friends. I will not be a one night stand or another notch on your bedpost. I won't."

Castle began to speak, but then Roy Montgomery came out of his office. Beckett shot to her feet. "I have to show this to the Captain." She strode off.

"You will be none of those things, Detective Beckett. You'll be so much more."