335. Chapter 335

After Last Call

Episode 3.10

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I'd have to be drunk to claim to own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above

Castle sat in his office in the basement of the Old Haunt, going over the books. He was not happy. The Old Haunt? This place ought to be called the Old Money Pit, or the Old Paperwork. I'll be thrilled when I can finally learn enough about the business to hand the actual work of running this place over to my accountant and Brian. Castle checked another ledger, trying to figure out what the last bookkeeper had been doing. It's not that I mind spending the money, but I don't like the idea of this being a charity project for thirsty writers or cops. And it's also taking up way too much of my time. Gina is mad enough at me for the time I spend with Beckett when I could be writing, but I can tell her that I'm getting great story ideas. Of course, she just tells me that great story ideas ought to become stories eventually. The time I spend on the Old Haunt is different to her. It really doesn't add anything to Nikki and Rook. I can't take time from the Old Haunt right now, and I can't cut back on my time with Beckett. I'm doing something good here. Catching murderers and righting wrongs. Of course, if I'm honest with myself, all I'm really doing is hanging around Beckett. I can't cut back on that. She has a boyfriend now. She's been with him longer than she was with Demming. I wonder if this is serious? Is he her one and done? Is she going to tell me again that she doesn't want things to be awkward?

Castle tried to push the idea away of Beckett getting serious with DMB and tried to concentrate on the books. After another half an hour he gave up and went back upstairs to check on how the bar was doing. "Hi, Brian. How's things tonight?"

The bartender smiled at his boss. "Just fine, Rick. McIlhenny, the literary critic from the Ledger, was in with a whole bunch of his friends. Nothing but the best for him and his pals."

"How did he tip?"

Brian shrugged. "You won't have to worry about me retiring early, buying my own island in the Caribbean and leaving you to try to run the place by yourself."

Castle smiled. "Anyone from the 12th in tonight?"

"A couple of patrolmen were in earlier, and Beckett is in her corner in the back."

Kate Beckett had found a corner in the back where she couldn't be seen until you were practically on top of her and had moved a chair back here. If anyone did go back there, the famous Beckett glare insured they didn't stay long.

"I'll go back and check on her." Castle said and headed to the back of the Old Haunt.

"How's everything tonight, Beckett?" He asked cheerfully.

"Is there some reason I can't get any privacy around here?" She asked sullenly.

"This is my bar. I try to make it a friendly place for the people who come in here. Apparently I've failed in your case."

"Jeez, Castle, you should be a detective or something." She shot back.

"It looks like I failed worse than I thought. In that case, your drinks are on the house tonight. That's the least I can do."

"Castle, I can pay my own way. I don't need your charity."

"And I own the bar. I'll just tell Brian that anything you pay, he should consider a tip. I'll just leave before you get any more unhappy." He turned around but stopped when Beckett called his name.

"Yes?" He asked, without turning around.

"I'm sorry. Josh and I had an argument. I shouldn't be taking that out on you. If my drinks are on the house, can I but a drink for you?"

Castle called to Brian for a glass of Scotch and a drink for Beckett. He pulled up a chair beside her. Brian brought the drink for him and another for Beckett. They sat and drank together silently.

"The argument was about you." Kate said suddenly.

"Pardon?" Castle hadn't expected that.

"Everyone on the planet knows that Nikki is me and Rook is you. Josh has this crazy idea that we're sleeping together. It bothers him."

Castle managed to control his panic. I knew this day would come sooner or later. If not with DMB, then with someone else. Who'd want to have everyone think your girlfriend was sleeping with another man. Naturally he wants her to have nothing to do with me. I know what I have to do. I hate it, but I have no choice. "I suppose I should stop following you around."

Kate was surprised and shocked. What? What brought that on? He didn't take more than a few seconds before he was saying we should stop working together. He must have been thinking about this for a while. Damn it! As usual I'm seeing things from my point of view only. Sure, I'm with Josh, but he's with Gina. She can't be happy that he spends so much time with me. What woman would want every reader of the Nikki Heat books to think that her boyfriend was sleeping with his muse? Are they serious? Castle never says anything about his private life. For all I know they could be engaged. Or maybe they eloped to Las Vegas or somewhere. Obviously she means more to him than I do.

This is what happened last summer. He went off with Gina before I could tell him…I can't tell him anything now. Not when he's with another woman. He did really leave me then for her. But he came back to the team, even though he's with Gina. Does he really want to leave me now? My partner?

Kate managed to calm herself down. "I thought you liked working with me."

Castle shrugged. "Of course I like working with you. Why would you think I didn't?"

"You just said you'd leave." Kate relaxed. Okay, he does want to stay. That's a step in the right direction.

"I don't want to get you in trouble with your boyfriend. I can see his point."

"Castle, my problem is with Josh, not with you. And leaving my team wouldn't do any good. If Josh thinks we're…involved, you'd have to leave the country and write a new Nikki Heat book explaining that Nikki is a virgin and that all the sex scenes were only in her imagination. And even then, Josh probably wouldn't accept it. This is my problem." Kate stopped. She hated having to say the next thing, but she had to do it. "Unless there's some other reason you'd want to quit following me." An angry blonde reason, perhaps? It makes sense.

Castle thought about what she'd said. She's right. Every time Josh sees or hears about me, he'll think of the books, and then he'll think about the writer and his muse, and he'll think Beckett is cheating on him. And nothing we can do will change Josh's mind. Damn it! She must be furious with me for screwing up things with DMB. What can I do? "Could I talk to him?"

Beckett rolled her eyes. "And say what? "I'm not sleeping with Beckett and I'll never do it again?" Castle, if he doesn't believe me, he sure isn't going to believe you."

"Does he know about Gina? That should convince him I'm not….doing anything with you. I mean, I'm with someone. " It's not who I want to be with, but, technically, I am with Gina.

Another eye roll. "You have a certain reputation, Castle. As far as Josh is concerned, you're a sex crazed playboy who tries to sleep with every woman he meets. He hasn't seen Richard Castle the father, or Richard Castle thedetective like I have. No, this is my problem. One way or another, I'll handle it." Kate breathed a sigh of relief. He does want to be with me. But from the sound of it, he's serious about Gina. If only I had done…But I didn't do anything. Too late now.

"I'm sorry, Beckett. I wish I could help. I caused your problem with the Nikki Heat books." She's not showing it, but I'm sure she's really mad at me. I never have been able to read Beckett.

Kate shook her head. "No, the problem is with Josh. And even if you did partly cause a problem, you've solved enough murders to deserve a break." I don't know what I'll do if Gina tells him to stay away from me. If they are serious, that's got to happen pretty soon now. I don't think Josh and I will work out as I once thought. Could I actually tell him that I have feelings for him? Sure! Now that he's with someone else? How stupid would that be? Still, it would be the only way to try to keep him. Or lose him all together.

Castle nodded. "Still, I'm sorry." I caused her problem and I can't do a damn thing to help her. And that last remark pretty much confirms that I'm there to be her partner and nothing else. It didn't happen tonight, but sooner or later, she'll want me gone. I suppose I could tell her how I feel, but since she obviously doesn't feel anything towards me, what good would that do? "But, see you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, Castle." I'll see him tomorrow but how long will it be before he does leave?

I think I dodged a bullet tonight. They thought in unison.