628. Chapter 628

After A Deadly Game

Part One

Episode 2.24

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: It's no game. I don't own Castle. Rating: M Time: See above.

Richard Castle went into the break room to get some coffee. When he turned around, he found an angry looking Javier Esposito shoving his face into his. Ryan was standing behind his partner, glaring at Castle.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Espo snarled.

Castle frowned. "What did I do…? I haven't done anything to anyone. What the hell are you talking about?"

"Beckett! What did you do to her?"

He shook his head. "I didn't do anything to her. I wouldn't do anything to her."

"Then why the hell did she look like you just punched her in the gut just now? Christ, when we told her that we found something from Spy Ventures she didn't even ask what we'd found. That's not Beckett and you know it."

Castle shrugged. "Maybe she just got some bad morning coffee. Whatever it was, I didn't do it. "

Espo grabbed Castle's shirt and pulled him nose to nose. "Tell me what the hell you did to her or I'll hurt you."

"I told her I'm leaving."

"What do you mean, leaving?"

Castle shook his head dismissively. "Going elsewhere? What do you think leaving means?"

"You just told Beckett that out of the blue?"

"I'm a writer, not a cop. And I'm way behind on my book, so I'm going to the Hamptons for the summer to write. Should I have filled out a form or something?" He asked sarcastically.

"But you'll be back."

"I'll drop by and see you guys in the fall some time."

"You're just going to walk away from Beckett like that?" Espo looked like he was about to unload on Castle.

"She's a big girl. She has a boyfriend if she needs anything. It's not like I've ever been really welcome here, with her anyway. And I certainly haven't been welcome lately."

"You like her, don't you? You like her a lot. And she likes you."

Castle laughed. "She tolerates me, and only as her partner. Be real, guys."

"Do. You. Like. Her. And. Do. You. Like. Her. A. Lot?" Espo said slowly and with menace.

"Hell, Castle. Everyone in the precinct except Beckett knows you're crazy about her." Ryan added.

"Demming doesn't know. Obviously." Castle shot back.

Espo nodded to himself. "Okay, you're going to talk to her."

"I talk to her all the time. What is the matter with you people? What the hell is going on?"

Ryan answered. "We know Beckett a lot better that you do."

"So talk to her. Tell her you really enjoyed being with her and working cases. Tell her you really like her and that you'd like to be with her again. Or else."

"In case you haven't noticed a Robbery detective around here lately…"Castle began, starting to get angry.

Espo shoved Castle back against the espresso machine. "You will talk to her and you'll tell her you really like her. We know that you do. You wouldn't have stayed here for any reason other than Beckett." Espo smiled coldly. "And if you don't want to, I'll break your hands. Try writing then."

Ryan leaned into Castle's face. "And if you think I won't testify that your hands got broken in an awful, unavoidable accident, think again."

Castle looked past the two detectives. "I can't do it now. She's gone."

The two turned. Beckett was gone from the bullpen.

Beckett found herself in Lanie's office without noticing how she got there.

"Sweetie, what is it? You look like your only friend died."

"Castle." She said, but couldn't go on.

"Castle is….?" Lanie asked.

"He said this would be our last case."

"He's leaving? For good?"

She nodded. "It sounded like it. He invited me to go to the Hamptons with him this weekend but he overheard Tom and me talking about this weekend, and now…" She stopped to collect her thoughts. "We're done."

Lanie shook her head slowly. "Sweetie, you have to be the only person who doesn't know that Castle is absolutely crazy about you."

Kate shook her head. "Lanie, he's not…"

"Yes he is!" She insisted. "Look at what he's done for you. He knows damned well he could get killed anytime he goes out on a case with you. But he is always there for you. Why do you think that is?"

"You think he likes me that much?"

"Of course he does. But I suppose you being with that detective was kind of the final straw. You're not exactly known for opening up to Castle. But he doesn't know you like I do. You like Castle more than you like Tom, don't you? A lot more."

She nodded imperceptibly. "But he's leaving. There's nothing I can do about it."

"You could ask him to screw you on top of one of the autopsy tables for…."

"Lanie!" Beckett said, scandalized.

"And the tables are too hard and cold. "Lanie went on. "So just talk to him. Tell him you enjoyed working with him. Tell him you like the book. Tell him you love the book. You do. I know you do. Tell him you want to remain friends and partners and if that fails, drag him down here and I'll throw some blankets over one of the tables and leave so you two…"

"Lanie!" Beckett was blushing furiously.

"You have to talk to him, Kate. Today. As soon as possible. And I'll be going back upstairs with you to make sure you do."

Late that afternoon, Castle went to the breakroom for coffee. With Lanie prodding her, Beckett followed him. Lanie and the two detectives made sure that no one else used the break room.

"Castle, I…"

"Beckett, I…"

They both said together, then laughed.

"You first." Beckett said.

"No, you go first."

She took a deep breath. "I just wanted you to know that I've really enjoyed having you with me for the last year. You're a good person and a good detective and I'm really sorry to see you go."

That was not what Castle had expected to hear. Am I hallucinating? What is…Why is she…"Thanks. I really enjoyed being with you, too. I learned a lot. Not just about police work, but about myself, too. I think I became a better person here."

Beckett shook her head, while smiling. "No, I've seen you as a father, and a son, and as a detective. You were a better person all along. You're a caring, compassionate and dedicated man. A very good man. I just didn't see it until too late. And I didn't tell you."

Castle was even more surprised. "Thanks. I'll really miss being with you."

"You could come back. We could be partners again, like we were." She suggested, her heart pounding in her chest.

Be her partner and watch her with Demming? That would be a very special brand of hell. He shook his head. "I'm not sure that I could swing that. I have an awful lot of things to do. I'm a writer, you know, not a cop."

Kate Beckett's soul stood on a very high precipice. Looking down, there was nothing visible below but empty space going on forever. She took a deep breath and stepped off the precipice. "Come back for me." She said, just above a whisper.

She couldn't have just said that. He thought. Wait! She's first and foremost a detective. She wants her partner back? Is that it? "What?"

Kate's soul dropped through an abyss, gathering speed. He doesn't want me. I either waited too long or misunderstood everything. "Come back for me." She repeated.

What the hell does she even mean by that? For her? "Beckett, I'm not sure we're on the same wave length here. Why would you…"

Her soul dropped towards a featureless plain that rushed up to meet her with blinding speed. She knew that her soul was doomed. "Come back for me." She said one last time.

Beckett is the most fascinating woman, no, the most fascinating person, I've ever met. And the most damaged. I love her and all she has to do is crook her little finger at me and I'll follow her anywhere. "Okay, I'll come back in the fall and be your partner again." Even if I have to watch Demming and you… His mind couldn't complete the sentence.

Kate Beckett's soul landed gently in a pleasant, green and flowery garden. A place filled with happiness, light and joy. Someplace she had forgotten about, but had still missed for many, many years. "Thanks. I really appreciate it." She smiled and took a deep breath. "Is the invitation to the Hamptons still good?"

"You want to go? But you have…"

"I was invited and I want to go. Is that okay?"

"Absolutely. And no funny stuff, I promise. I can pick you up after work on Friday."

"Fine. And, Castle, until I straighten some things out, please don't tell anyone about this, okay? Not a word."

Castle had a good idea about what, and who, needed straightening out. He smiled and nodded. "Anything you want."

They walked out of the break room with no coffees. "Espo, Castle and I are going to Spy Ventures. We'll be back." She turned and smiled at Castle and they left.

Her three friends looked at each other. "She looks happy." Lanie said.

"You know Beckett." Ryan added. "That doesn't mean anything."

"I'll talk to Castle when they get back." Epso said. But all Castle would say was that he had talked to Beckett and that if Espo wanted more, he could ask Beckett.

After Castle's going away party, Kate went straight back to her apartment. Her things were already packed. Castle was supposed to be there at six to pick her up. Six o'clock came and went. So did six thirty. By six forty five she was trying to decide between crying and shooting Castle when there was a knock at her door. It was Castle.

"I'm so sorry. But Alexis called from Princeton. The only guy she knew there dumped her for some teenage bimbo, some creep is hitting on her and won't go away, and her roommate is a sociopath. We had a talk. Then Gina called to bitch about the book being late and I had to calm her down. Then there was a fire as I was getting into the Village. There were fire engines all over the place. But don't worry. We'll be in the Hamptons in an hour, tops."

Four hours later, they arrived at his home in the Hamptons. "Sorry, Beckett. Every bad driver in New York seemed to have been out tonight, getting into accidents. I've never seen the roads so bad. I was going to grill some filet mignons tonight, but would some comfort food do for tonight? I'll feed you properly tomorrow night."

To be continued.