299. Chapter 299

After The Double Down

Episode 2.02

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle. I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

Author's note: Remember, we are back in canon Castle now. Castle and Beckett sleeping together in the last chapter was AU.

Kate's team sat in a booth at Remy's, enjoying an after work beer. Beckett and Castle sat on one side of the booth and Espo and Ryan on the other side.

"I bought the drinks to prove that I, at least, am not a poor loser." Castle said with a superior smile. Kate nodded.

"You are, however, a loser." Espo said. "We, the team of Esposito and Ryan, won our little bet. We are the champions."

On cue, Ryan began singing:

"We are the champions, my friends,"And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end."We are the champions."We are the champions."No time for losers"'Cause we are the champions of the world.

Castle shook his head and Beckett looked disgusted.

"You two have to realize that we won the bet." Kate said. "The team of Beckett and Castle? We solved the crime. There was one crime with two killers. And we got Marx to confess, thereby solving the case. The entire two murder case. We won! Pure and simple. Why can't you accept that?"

Espo shook his head slowly. "Because we won. The bet was who solved their murder first. There were two murders." He turned to Ryan. "There were two murders, weren't there, bro? I distinctly remember two dead bodies. One was Ashely Cosway, who Castle and Beckett took and the other was the murder of Mr. Anderson. Our murder. "He turned and looked across at Castle and Beckett. "Two murders. Surely we don't need to ask Perlmutter to confirm that, do we? So we won."

"This is really sad, Beckett." Castle said, sadly. "This is how the Roman Empire declined and eventually fell. Everybody wanted to take credit when things went right and no one would take responsibility when things went wrong. You know, this could be the very beginning of the decline and fall of the New York Police Department. All because of the Bobbsey Twins over there."

Kate nodded sadly. "And so it goes." She wiped away an imaginary tear. "And to think we're here at the beginning of the end. It's historic, Castle. Sad, but historic."

Castle used his handkerchief to wipe away another of Beckett's imaginary tears. "I feel like Romulus Augustus, the last Roman emperor…."

"Do you believe these two, bro?" Esposito said, shaking his head sadly. "Castle used to be a solid, workmanlike author. Not great literature by any means, but…readable."

Ryan nodded. "Not like the great Irish authors, of course: Yeats, Joyce, Brendan Behan, Shakespeare, Pearse…"

"Shakespeare?" Castle interrupted. "You're kidding. He was English."

"Do you see how little he knows, Javi?" Kevin adopted a look of great sadness. "Everyone, except a few Englishmen, and their lackeys, know Shakespeare was born and raised in Ireland. It's a known historical fact."

"Yeah." Beckett replied. "Known to everyone who's had too many Guinness stouts on Saint Patrick's Day."

"We were bound to win, Kevin. After all, it was two NYPD detectives against one."

"One?" Castle said. "One?"

"And isn't that one the person who can have you two looking in every dumpster from here to Long Island if you piss her off?"

"Harassment." Espo said. "She's resorted to crude threats."

"Beckett can come up with some pretty spectacular threats if she has to. And if she has some best selling help, who knows what she can come up with." Castle muttered.

"Castle, too." Javi said.

Ryan finished his beer and checked his watch. "Gotta go. I have a hot date with Jenny tonight." Ryan said his good byes and left.

Esposito checked his watch as well. "As it happens, I have things to see and people to do. If you ever need any background on police work, Castle, you know where to find me."

"Yeah. Learning from Beckett."

Javi laughed and left.

Castle checked his watch. "I should be on my way as well." He started to slide out of the booth.

"Castle." Beckett spoke up quickly. "We need to talk."

Oh, crap. Castle thought. She's not done with me. But, he smiled confidently. "Sure, what do you want?"

"First, in spite of what Esposito said, you're a member of my team. You may not be a cop, but you are a member of my team."

Castle thought that Beckett looked like she wanted to say more. "Thanks. I appreciate that. And Espo was only kidding around. I didn't take it seriously."

"You don't take a lot of things seriously." Beckett replied. Shit! What was I thinking of? I just insulted him. She hurried on. "But you do a good job. I really enjoyed working with you on this case. You were a big help, as always. I appreciate it. I appreciate all the work you've done."

Okay, she's being nice to me. I don't want to scare her off, so…"I enjoy working with you as well. It's not just enjoyable, but it gives me a real feeling of accomplishment. It's a bigger thrill than writing, although it doesn't pay nearly as well."

Kate laughed. "I'm glad you like it." Do you like me as well? I still haven't figured that part out yet. Will I ever?

"That's why I am so sorry for looking into your mom's murder. I never should have done that. I never should have hurt you like that. Beckett, I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you. Never. Please believe that." I hated hurting you. I never want to feel the way I felt when I discovered how badly I hurt you again.

Kate looked down at her beer. Castle, thinking she was done, started to get up. "Please, wait a second." She said. Castle sat back down and waited.

"I'm conflicted. The thought of reopening my mom's case after all the grief it caused me makes me physically ill. Sick to my stomach." Kate stopped and continued to look at her beer. Castle waited patiently until she went on. "But I'm a cop. I see dead bodies every say. I've seen dead men, women and children. When I was a uniform, I saw a baby so badly…"She stopped. "Anyway, I've seen lots of things that made me sick. It comes with the job. But her case…It frightens and sickens me, but I shouldn't let that affect me, but it does." She shook her head. "I'm not making much sense to myself. Am I making any to you?"

Castle nodded sympathetically. "I know, on a lesser scale, about being conflicted. You'll have to work it out yourself, but if I can be a help, anything at all, just let me know."

"Thanks. I may have to ask for your help some day."

"One more thing, Detective Beckett. It's an honor and a privilege working with you. You are a remarkable, fascinating woman."

"Am I remarkable enough to talk you into giving your next character a cop name and not a stripper name?" Kate said with a smile.

"You're going to love Nikki Heat."

Kate laughed and shook her head. "I'm not sure about that. Tomorrow, then, Castle?"

"Tomorrow, Detective Beckett."