828. Chapter 828

After Demons

Episode 4.06

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I ain't afraid of owning no Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

The Big Guy waited patiently as the raucous crowd filed into the room and sought seats. As they continued to move around, talk loudly and generally goof off, he became less patient. First his forked tail began to swing back and forth, then he tapped his cloven hooves on the floor. Finally he slammed his fist down on the lectern and yelled, "Okay, people, knock off the grabass and let's get serious. Now! Goblins, that means you."

The room quieted down and one ass kisser called out, "Sorry, sir. Won't happen again." That was followed by a chorus of boos that quit suddenly as the Big Guy glared at them.

"You all know why you're here. We have a job to do involving two humans. One, "Rick Castle's picture appeared in midair, accompanied by more boos, although a female demon let loose a piercing wolf whistle. "One, is Rick Castle. The other is Detective Kate Beckett." A video of Kate Beckett diving out of her towel and into the bathtub as her apartment exploded brought cheers. "Our job is to keep them apart so that the Unresolved Sexual Tension stays high. That's what our clients want and that's what our clients get. At least until they get down here." That brought an appreciative laugh.

The Big Guy put on his reading glasses and looked at a clipboard. "First, we have some kudos to bestow." He glared at his audience. "And some people who need to need to get their behinds in gear."

"But, first, let's hear it for Bruce. He's the guy who whispered in Castle's ear that he should call up Gina and take her to the Hamptons. Good work, Bruce."

A large troll in the back stood up and waved to the crowd. "Hey, I couldn't have done it without Gina. She's really…."

The Big Guy interrupted. "Yeah, we know all about succubuses, Bruce." That got another laugh.

"And who can forget Mike's great job at finding a biker to interest Beckett." A skeleton in a tattered Hell's Angels jacket stood up, but then lost his balance and his legs fell out from under him.

"Live to ride, ride to live." He yelled as he fell. "Or I would if I were alive."

The Big Guy smiled. "And our Hollywood contingent, who can forget them?" He said pointing at a group of ghouls with fake tans, sunglasses and unnaturally white teeth who were abusing some writers and actors. "Sending a fake Nikki Heat to send Beckett up the wall was genius, guys, pure genius. I just loved it when Beckett saw her and Castle kissing."

"And who can forget the great timing after they saved New York from the bomb? Jimmy got DMB to hug Beckett just as Castle was about to say something romantic to her. Jimbo, you're the best."

Jimmy showed his fangs and growled his reply. Well, he growled something. It's so hard to tell with werewolves.

"And let's hear it for the Hollywood boys again. The scene in LA when Beckett opens her door just in time to see Rick close his. I could hear shipper hearts breaking all over the world. "

One of the studio executives stood up, "It's a dishonor just to be nominated, but I'd like to thank all of the little people I stepped on getting to the top." Fake tears began to fall from his eyes.

The Big Guy cued the music to drown out the executive just as he was starting to thank his mom who'd sacrificed endlessly to make her boy what he was, only to be cast aside.

"And the season ending cliff hanger? What could have been better than Rick finally having the balls to tell Kate he loves her, just as her eyes close?"

The room began cheering until the Big Guy held up his hand for silence. "I'll tell you what could be better, Kate Beckett lying to Castle about hearing him, that's the icing on the cake! " Loud and sustained applause followed.

"Now I'll admit that having Rick break up with Gina and Beckett breaking up with DMB was not my idea of how things should go. Jerry? Where's Jerry?"

A zombie, all the way in the back, slowly raised his hand. "Here, sir."

"Jerry, you know just because you got out of the pools of molten lava doesn't mean you can't go right back."

Jerry nodded, causing an ear to fall off. "I have some ideas, sir. Beckett's lie gives us a great hook for the future."

The Big Guy shook his head. "Jerry, the future is now." The floor opened up under Jerry and he plunged into a pool of molten lava. Then the floor closed up again leaving nothing behind but the smell of brimstone.

"Now, so far things have been okay since then. But we don't want just okay, do we? Beckett had a little heart to heart with Castle once she got back. That's not the sort of things we want to see. Luckily, Big George was able to make sure Beckett's statements were vague enough for Castle to start worrying about them down the road. That's a freebie, kids, let's take the ball and run with it."

The assorted denizens of the infernal regions began to take notes furiously, copying off each other as fast as they could.

"I have to give myself a pat on the back for having that blonde take a run at Rick and having him kiss her right in front of Beckett. That's what we need, boys and girls. We give the suckers a little Caskett and then we yank it away from them. It's the old bait and switch. And we have plenty of people who know that one, don't we?"

The Big Guy checked his watch. "Now we have one named after us coming up, so let's do this one proud, got it?"

There was a chorus of yells and cheers as the crowd headed for the exits.

Kate Beckett sat in Pete Benton's office and Pete described in great detail what he had done the night Melody Benton had been murdered.

"When something like that happens, it's burned into your brain. Every detail of what happened the night you heard. I couldn't forget it if I tried." Pete said.

She tried not to look over at Castle, wondering if he was wondering why the day of her shooting wasn't burned into her brain. But Castle said nothing. Beckett relaxed.

Once the case was over, Beckett went back to her apartment and had a glass of wine and started reading one of Castle's books that she'd read many times before. She put it down after five minutes, unable to concentrate. Castle grabbed my ass that night, accidently or not, I got a sexual thrill out of it. No, more than a sexual thrill, just a thrill that I was allowing Castle past my walls just a bit. I wish I'd brought him back here, torn his clothes off and made love to him until neither one of us could move.

But you aren't going to do that. A voice whispered in her mind.