311. Chapter 311

After A Rose for Everafter

Episode 2.12

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Everafter is not a word. But..Idon'townCastle. There! Rating: K Time: See above.

"So one of our suspects is the bride and Castle's ex." Espo said.

"So?" Beckett replied.

"It's just a little odd, that's all. You don't often get a murder where one of the investigators knows one of the suspects."

"Castle is always saying he knows a guy. This time the guy is a woman. But you're right. We'll have to keep an eye on Castle so he doesn't mess anything up."

"You think Castle would screw a case up for his ex?" Ryan asked. "I think he knows better than that."

Kate quickly corrected herself. "Of course he does. I just meant that he can get too involved in things and not see the big picture."

"But you see the big picture, no problem?" Espo asked, grinning.

Kate gave Espo a mild glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged. "You have been with Castle for a while now. He seems to have taken up with Kyra right where he left off. But that doesn't bother you."

Kate's glare intensified. "To begin with I have not been with Castle in any meaningful way. The mayor leaned on the police commissioner, who leaned on the chief, who leaned on Montgomery and that's how we got Castle. That's it. And Castle can take up with whomever he wants to. It makes no difference to me. He can walk away from this case with Kyra, or all the bridesmaids and I wouldn't care."

"In that case, you should tell Castle." Ryan said.

Kate frowned. "Tell Castle what?"

"That you have no feelings whatsoever for him. It's pretty obvious to some of us that the only reason he's hung around this long is for you."

"Did he tell you that?" Kate asked quickly, too quickly.

"No. But we've both seen how he looks at you when you aren't looking. He likes you. He likes you a lot."

Kate shook her head. "And I've seen the way he looked at Kyra. If he likes anyone it's Kyra, not me."

"Then tell him. Clear the air. It'll do him a world of good in the long run, if you're right. And you should know how you feel about the guy."

"He'd still be here, the mayor will see to that. So telling him anything would just piss him off. I'm not telling him anything. Period."

"We should tell him." Ryan said. "We owe it to him. We're all guys together. We have to stick together."

Espo nodded. "Maybe Kyra has a sister who'd be interested in him."

"We'll tell him then, and we can quote Beckett. Castle can walk out of the precinct with Kyra, or all the bridesmaids, and she wouldn't care. That should tell him where he stands."

"Is he still here?" Ryan and Espo looked around for Castle. "He's here, I think. We'll go look for him. He can't have gone far." Both detectives stood up.

"Wait!" Kate said. "Castle is here to write a book which has gotten good publicity for the NYPD. He's also been a big help in out cases. In spite of the things I may occasionally say about him, he's been valuable and I don't want to lose that capability. And….I don't dislike him. I've sort of gotten used to him. He's okay."

Ryan and Esposito exchanged glances, then shook their heads. "I don't know, bro. I think we should tell Castle. I, for one, thinks he really likes Beckett. He'd be really angry if we didn't tell him."

"We owe it to him. Man to man." Ryan agreed.

"You two would screw it up. If I think that Castle needs to be told anything, I will tell him, not you two hopeless romantics. Now get back to work. I'm going to check to see if the financials for Greg have come in."

As soon as Beckett was gone, Ryan and Espo fist bumped. "We got her thinking about it." Ryan said.

"And we know Castle thinks about her a lot."

"I hope this works."

Kate was a bit surprised to be invited to Kyra's wedding, but Castle explained that she felt she owed Kate for solving the murder. So, she agreed to go as Castle's plus one.

"Can I talk to you for a second, Kate?"

"Sure, Kyra. What do you want?"

"Rick and I were very close once. In a way, it's like we were never apart, although I am married now. But I still care for Rick, a lot. And he cares for you."

Kate shook her head slightly. "We do work together, but that's about it. There's nothing between us."

"That's not what I said. I said he cares for you, a lot. But…you don't feel the same way?" She guessed.

Kate felt that Kyra had no right to ask her that, but if she was close to Rick, she'd want to know.

Kate decided to be as vague as possible. "It's complicated. We're very different people and there are things about both of us you don't know about. I really don't feel I need to explain myself to you."

Kyra nodded. "It's just that you're nothing like his first wife, who I met in LA. She's ghastly, by the way. You would be a vast improvement. But, if you don't feel anything for Rick, perhaps I should have a little talk with him."

What is this? Kate thought. Why does everyone suddenly want to talk to Castle about me? Kate decided she had to say something. "I never said I had no feelings for Castle at all. He's my partner. He's saved my life and I've saved his. We're friends. But I don't think either one of us is the fall in love at first sight type. That said, I'll say anything to Castle that needs to be said, when it needs to be said. Okay?"

Kyra smiled. "You could call him Rick, you know."

"It's a cop thing. To me, he's Castle and to him, I'm Beckett."

"Well, I hope you two do get together." Kyra went off in search of Greg.

This is like having clones of Lanie all around me. Next I'll have Montgomery having a little talk with me. Oh my god! That would so embarrassing!

"Your drink, Beckett." Castle handed her a glass of wine. He sipped a Scotch. Before either could say anything, the DJ started the music. Greg and Kyra began the dance, and then others joined in. The DJ was playing Sinatra, and one of Castle's favorites. "Dance, Beckett?"

She put her drink down. "Sure."

He led her to the dance floor and they began to dance. Kate hadn't intended to dance so closely to Castle, but she found herself relaxing in his arms and resting her head on his shoulder. All right. I do like Castle, a bit. It's not like I really meant any of those things I said when we first got started. I was angry having him foisted onto me, but he's not that bad, once you get to know him. I should cut him a little slack. Actually, they were right. I should talk to him. "Castle…" She began.

He pulled away from her. "Sorry, Beckett. I didn't mean to do that."

She pulled him back and rested her head on his shoulder again. "That wasn't what I meant. I just wanted to talk to you. Don't be so jumpy."

"What about."

"You've been a big help and I know I don't always give you the credit you deserve. Thanks for being my partner. And…my friend. I appreciate it."

"Just how much have you had to drink, Beckett?"

She shook her head. "That's what I get for trying to be serious with you."

Kate couldn't see the huge smile on Rick's face, but Kyra could.