618. Chapter 618

After The Third Man

Episode 2.14

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: At least three men know I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

Once Castle and Beckett were seated at Remy's and had given the waitress their orders, there was a lull in the conversation. The silence was broken by Beckett. "Again, I'm sorry your date didn't go well. I'm used to having my life interrupted by work but you're not."

"No problem." Castle said with a smile. What did she mean by that? I told her Amanda was boring. Does she think I'm so shallow that any blonde with big boobs and nothing else is enough to make me start salivating? "And I'm sorry your date got ruined. Espo said Brad's a really nice guy."

Kate smiled back at Castle. A nice guy? The man was a first class creep. I have never in my life had a guy ask if we were going to have sex in the first half hour of a date. Wait! Espo knows Brad? Do they all think I'm so desperate for some companionship that a self-centered asshole like Brad looks good to me? Then again, it's not like my complete lack of a social life is a big secret. What did Espo tell Castle?

Castle could tell Beckett was thinking but he had no idea what was going on in her head. That's nothing new. Kate Beckett has been a mystery to me from day one. Complete terra incognita. That's one of the things that fascinates me about her. Fascinates? Okay, fascinates. I couldn't write a series of books about someone who was completely one dimensional. Like Amanda. I could cover Amanda in a paragraph. A short paragraph. Beckett? I won't live long enough to write enough books to truly capture her. He glanced back over at Beckett who was still thinking, her face set in a slight frown. He felt he had to say something. "I guess you and Brad have a lot in common. You being a cop and him a firefighter. Both out on the frontlines every day, risking your lives." Okay. That's better. I complimented her.

"I suppose. I hadn't really thought of it that way, but I suppose you're right." She said without much feeling. What the hell is Castle doing? How can he say we have a lot in common? I sure as hell don't ask about having sex on the first date. She stopped and thought for a second. Why am I blaming Castle? He has no idea what Brad is like. Or does he? Lanie has been trying to get Castle and me together from the beginning. Maybe she set me up knowing he was a creep and that Castle, who just happened to be there, would look good by comparison. No, that's too bizarre to be even one of Castle's conspiracy theories. Too many things would have to go just right for that to work. I'd have to start thinking about the pet shop, Castle would have had to have followed me and known about the pythons and then….No, it's just too convoluted and complex. But Castle and I are here at Remy's. But it's not like this is a date. Or is it? I really need to talk to Lanie. Did she set this up somehow? No. I have to stop thinking like that.

Kate realized she hadn't said a word for several minutes. "I'm sure Amanda would have been more interesting if you'd had some more time." I need to let him know I'm sorry for breaking up his date with bachelorette number three. Put a positive spin on things.

"Possibly." He replied. That has got to be how she feels about me. Rick Castle, empty headed chaser of empty headed women. And I thought that just maybe she was getting to like me. I thought that maybe my help on her cases was showing a side of me she hadn't known about. Hell, one I didn't know about. "She's no one I'd write a series about."

"I guess that's a point in her favor then, Castle." Dammit! I shouldn't have said that. It just slipped out. The book is great. I even think Nikki's great.

Castle managed to keep smiling. Of course. As far as Beckett is concerned having Rick Castle write a book based on you is the kiss of death. A fate worse than death. And then some. I admit to being a little bit biased, but I think Nikki Heat is a wonderful character, and a great cop. With a cop's name and not a stripper's name. "I'm the writer here, Beckett." He said as playfully as he could. "There just isn't a book there."

"Oh, I don't know. High society? Manhattan night life? The Hamptons? Something like The Great Gatsby?"She vaguely remembered the book from college.

The Great Gatsby? He thought. That would make Amanda, Daisy Buchanan, an empty headed socialite and I'd be Jay Gatsby, the sleazy millionaire. She really does hate me. No wonder she was so angry at our being romantically linked. He took a deep breath. "Beckett, I'm sorry for getting your name in the paper like that. It won't happen again."

"It's not your fault. And I think it's sweet that you talked so much about me." I over reacted, sure. But he was so damned upset at being linked to me.

"You do?" I never expected that.

"And I never really thanked you properly for what you've done for me. Not just on my mom's case, but since you started with me. I know we didn't get off to the best start, but I'm glad you're on my team now."

"I'm glad I am, too." He waited a second and added. "Even if I've never rescued any puppies."

"Please. Puppy rescuing isn't everything. Tonight with him was the second worst date in my life. Do you know that he asked me if I wanted to have sex with him about a half an hour into dinner?"

"And he lived? You're losing your touch, Beckett."

Kate blushed, remembering the threats she'd made against Castle.

"I have to ask, what was your worst date?"

Kate's blush deepened. "Castle…."

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

"Okay, but you first."

"I was a freshman in college and I got a date with Liz Blackwell. Gorgeous, brainy, witty, in short, perfect. I borrowed a friend's car, spent hours cleaning it up, got a haircut, spent hours on what I'd wear, and just as I was about to go pick her up, she called and said she had the flu. Later I found out that was a lie. She thought I was one of some wealthy Rodgers family. When she found out I wasn't rich, she had no use for me."

"She'd be disappointed if she saw you now."

Castle shook his head. "I ran into a guy I knew in college a few years back. A couple of years after college, Liz married some eighty year old billionaire who died a year after the marriage. She got everything. Maybe it made her happy." Castle looked over at her. "Now it's your turn."

"I was in high school. My date and I went to a party and the punch was spiked. He wanted to impress me with how macho he was, so he was chugging glasses of punch. He threw up all over me."

Castle grimaced. "Ewww. That beats my story. And Brad was second only to that? You suffered more than I thought tonight."

"At least I ended up at Remy's with my colleague and friend. The night ended well."

Castle raised his milkshake. "Here's to friendship, Beckett."

She returned the toast and then spoke. "I over reacted to the article in the paper. It was just a silly mistake by the paper. I'm sorry."

"I over reacted, too. Donna was right now that I remember it. I did talk a lot about you. You're remarkable, extraordinary and tall, after all. And my muse." I was wrong. Beckett and I are friends.

Beckett looked over at Castle. In spite of everything, you'll never say anything like Brad did to me. But I wonder if I might ever ask Castle if he'd like to have sex with me?