117. Chapter 117

After An Embarrassment of Bitches, Again

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Does anyone have any idea of how much Castle I don't own? Rating: T Time: See above and below.

Author's note: Okay, if you want to be technical about this, this story takes place during An Embarrassment of Bitches.

Royal was not a happy dog, but one the other hand, he did not consider himself to be an unhappy dog, either. He was aware, for reasons he couldn't really understand, that his friend Francisco had gone and wouldn't be back. However, he had a new friend who had bought him a fun thing and fed him very well indeed. His new friend, a male, he was sure, had played with him and let him romp around. Then he had put him in a moving thing and taken him to someplace new. Royal liked new places. There were always new smells, and sometimes new dogs and new friends. The door opened and Royal ran into the new place. There was a new friend there as well, but no new dogs. Royal sniffed and processed what he smelled. The new friend was a female, certainly. Some female friends were not nice to Royal, but this once seemed nice. Royal was happier.

Royal's new friends stood together and spoke. He heard none of the words he knew, such as "Walk" or "Food", but that didn't really bother him. He saw the male stroke the female's hand. He immediately sensed a connection between them, but wasn't sure what it was, only that it was pleasurable to his two new friends. Then the male friend left and he was alone with his new female friend. She motioned to him to come with her onto the furniture, something that many female friends didn't like. Royal knew that this female friend was nice, so he kissed her face which she enjoyed. Both Royal and Kate were happy.

That night Kate Beckett sprawled on her bed with Royal and stared at her left hand. He stroked my hand. She thought, smiling at the thought. He didn't mean it to be erotic, he couldn't have meant it to be erotic, but it was. How could Castle's touch excite me so much? I know the answer, of course. Castle himself excites me. More than anyone I've ever met. I never felt like this with any of my boyfriends in high school or college. I never wanted to feel this way about any of them. I was K Beks the Rebel and I wanted more than any of them could give me. After Mom died, there was no one I ever met that could fill the hole in my heart that her death had left behind. Not until now. She looked at Royal. "It won't be too long before I'm ready for someone else in this bed, Royal. And not just in my bed. He'll be in my heart as well. Yes, Royal, I know I'm in his heart as well."

Royal sensed that his female friend needed some affection, so he scooted over and snuggled up against her, allowing her to rub his tummy. She was a very good tummy rubber, indeed. Royal hoped that he had made her happy.

Rick Castle stared at his thumb. I know what happened, but I don't know what I means. I only meant to show her what Royal liked, but I showed her what I like and found out that she liked it, too. She did like it, but she didn't want me to go any further and I stopped like a good boy. Heel, Castle! Heel.

Oh, hell! I'd never hurt Kate. If she wants me to stop, then I'll stop, and I won't go any further until she says it's okay. But what was the real message tonight? That she liked what I was doing, or that she wanted me to stop. Where is Kate with her walls? Am I weeks, months, years or decades from seeing those walls come down. Is this a lost cause?

Castle shook his head decisively. Not a lost cause. I will not give up on Kate Beckett even if I have to shadow her for the rest of my life, getting nothing but the occasional erotic handshake out of the deal. She means that much to me.

Royal was with his male friend again. He was a very happy dog. Rick was a very good friend and Royal recognized from the smells that he was going to visit his female friend again. Kate opened the door and Royal and Rick walked in. Royal went over to the couch and jumped up on it. Neither friend objected, and Royal relaxed. His two friends spoke, but again used no words that Royal was familiar with. But as they talked, Royal sensed something about them that confused him. They were both happy and sad, something that friends were capable of, he knew. In his mind he recalled a similar situation and something that another dog had done. Royal jumped down from the couch and ran over to Kate who was faced away from him. Royal goosed her hard with his nose, causing Kate to squeal and jump towards Rick, who put his arms around her and held her.

"Royal!" Rick and Kate said together, then they laughed.

"Are you okay?" Rick asked, still holding her.

"I'm fine. He just surprised me, that's all. Dogs just have a thing for…butts, I guess. I mean you see them…"She didn't say anything else, but kept her arms around Rick. She sensed he was about to pull away, so she rested her head on his chest. He stayed where he was. "I don't thank you enough." She said.

"No need to." He replied.

"But I should. You're my partner. You're as responsible for the arrests we make as anyone else on the team, but you're not a cop. You don't have to be here."

The hell I don't. He thought, but he said something else. "I'm your partner. Always."

"Always." She repeated. "Thanks."

This time he did pull away from her. "I should be going. Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

When Castle was gone, she turned to Royal. "Royal, I think you deserve a doggie treat."

Royal agreed.

Royal was back in the place with lots of friends and one not friend had been hurt. Royal was happy that the not friend had been hurt. Now he found himself between his two new friends, both of whom were calling him to come to them. Royal wasn't sure what to do until another dog, a female came out. Royal went to the female at once. She had another female friend with her. Royal said hello to both females.

Royal turned to look at his friends Rick and Kate and struggled to tell them something. Be happy, friends.