624. Chapter 624

After The Late Shaft

Episode 2.20

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: They want me gone because I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

"They don't know I'm coming."

He shrugged. "It'll be a surprise."

"What if they don't like surprises? What if they want me gone?"

"Then I'll be gone, too."

She glared at him. "You can't do that."

"Just watch me. One word about you and we are out of there."

"Why does the studio want to make a movie out of Naked Heat anyway? Heat Wave bombed."

"It did not bomb. It was released straight to video. A lot of cult films start that way."

She smiled. "So Heat Wave is a cult film now? I thought cult films had hordes of fanatical followers who went to midnight screenings dressed as their favorite character?"

"Who says they aren't out there."

"Really, Castle?"

Rick Castle shrugged. "Mickey Kroger loves the Nikki Heat books and ever since he took over the studio, he's wanted to make a second one. He says it's going to be a franchise, like Rambo, or the Terminator, or Bond. He realizes that the first one had script issues, cast issues, and a lot of other issues. He's keeping his eye on this one, personally."

"And he wanted you to fly out to LA for the start of the production. Without your girlfriend."

"Without my girlfriend and muse. That's actually insulting that he'd neglect to invite you. I'm just correcting an error doubtlessly made by some gofer of his."

"He wants you with Ellie Monroe, the new Nikki Heat and your….ex."

Castle inwardly cringed. Ever since the long night after she had faced down Senator Bracken and they had finally spent hours talking, they had agreed that they would never discuss the errors they had both made before they had finally gotten together. Castle knew that chasing after Ellie Monroe when he had really wanted to be with Beckett was a major error. Beckett, on the other hand, felt that she had pushed Castle away and into the arms of Ellie.

He smiled at her. "She isn't getting anywhere near me this time, because you are going to be right there." He leaned over to kiss her, but she pulled away.

"Castle! What if someone sees us? We can't let anyone know we're together."

"We're in a private jet at thirty five thousand feet. Our one flight attendant is sound asleep and the pilots are flying the plane." She leaned back in and he kissed her.

The plane landed at LA International and was met by Mickey Kroger himself, Ellie Monroe and a dozen or so media representatives. As soon as Rick stepped out of the plane, Ellie ran up to him, intending to kiss him. She stopped ten feet from him when she saw Kate Beckett follow him down the steps and stand by Rick with a very possessive look on her face. What the hell is going on here? She thought.

Mickey Kroger came forward and shook Rick's hand. "Rick, great to see you. " He cast a sidelong look at Kate. "You brought Detective Beckett?"

"Can't do this without my muse and the real Nikki Heat."

Kroger wasn't sure what to do, so he kept with the script. "I have a limo waiting. We have you and Ellie at the Beverly Manor. In adjoining suites." He said with a sly grin.

"Oh, Mickey! You should have told me." Rick said with as much faux surprise as he could muster. "Detective Beckett and I have adjoining suites at the Beverly Wilshire."

By this time the photographers were calling for them to pose. Rick quickly placed Kate between himself and Ellie Monroe. Ellie had spent years smiling when she didn't want to and managed to look quite happy.

"Oh, look." Rick said, turning his back on Ellie. "There's our limo from the Beverly Wilshire. We'll be off now."

"We're having a party tonight at the studio at eight. I'll send a limo over with Ellie in it to pick you up."

Castle caught the slight emphasis that Mickey had put on the word "you" and smiled.

Once in the limo, Beckett turned to him. "You didn't tell me we were going to some Hollywood party. I didn't bring a damned thing to wear to one of those."

Castle grabbed the intercom. "Driver, we need to stop by Rodeo Drive to buy a dress and a few other things. Something extravagant. Can you find someplace to accommodate us?"

The driver laughed. "On Rodeo Drive, sir? I sure can."

Two hours and many thousands of dollars later, Kate Beckett was ready, in fact, more than ready for the party. "Castle, you don't need to spend this kind of money on me. You know I've always paid my own way. I don't need you to try to spoil me."

"But I'm going to anyway. I love you and you need to look spectacular. We need good publicity for Naked Heat after the first movie. I'm not doing this just for you, Beckett. Think of all the poor underpaid actors, writers, stunt people, makeup artists and such who depend on this movie. Do you want them to go home and tell their children, "There'll be no new Ferraris for you this Christmas. Heat Wave bombed all because Kate Beckett didn't look spectacular." Well, do you?"

Kate managed to stop laughing. "Far be it from me to keep the children in Beverly Hills from their Ferraris."

The limo arrived at precisely seven thirty. Ellie Monroe's face when she saw Kate Beckett standing next to Castle was a mask of rage. But she was smiling by the time Rick and Kate got in. "Well, how nice to see you, Detective Beckett. This must be a treat for you."

Kate smiled back. "Well, if you hang around Rick long enough, you get to see and do all sorts of things."

"Oh, don't I know that. The things I've seen with Ricky….We'll, I won't embarrass him when he's right here."

The rest of the ride was made in dead silence.

At the studio, Mickey Kroger was a bit surprised to see Kate with Rick and Ellie, but quickly decided to make the best of it. "Everyone," He announced, "tonight we also have with us the real Nikki Heat, the amazing Detective Kate Beckett of the NYPD."

Reporters, actors, and hangers-on, detecting a subtle change in the power structure, flocked around Kate and ignored Ellie, who was seething with rage and didn't care who saw it.

Kroger dragged Rick away to a quiet corner. "So, you and the real Nikki Heat?"

Castle smiled. "We're just good friends, Mickey."

Mickey laughed. "Don't kid me, Rick."

'I'm not kidding. Don't say or do anything that would make anyone think Beckett and I are together. If you do, well, I can be very hard to work with sometimes. Very hard."

Mickey stared at Rick and then shrugged. "Rick Castle and Ellie Monroe would have been good PR, but it won't either make or break the film. Whatever you want, Rick. Whatever you want."

Meanwhile, Kate had made her way to the ladies room to check her makeup and take a break. She found a familiar face waiting for her.

"Natalie? I didn't know you'd been invited."

Natalie Rhodes laughed. "The failed Nikki Heat get invited to this party? No way. But you don't last long in this town if you can't find a way to get into parties you're not invited to. One of the actors used to work with me on a series and we're still friends. I talked him into bringing me."

"It's good to see you." Kate said. "You did a good job in New York. I was sorry it didn't work out."

"Me too. But, I see you're with Castle now. I knew I was right."

"No, we're just colleagues and friends." Kate insisted.

"And your colleague passes up an adjoining suite with Ellie Monroe? Please, Kate. I'm not that dumb."

Kate looked around quickly. "Don't tell anyone we're together. I'm not supposed to be dating him. I could get in trouble with the NYPD."

"I won't say a word about you and Castle. I'll be too busy talking about Ellie Monroe. She slept with just about everyone on this picture to get the part, you know. In a way it's kind of a shame, since she isn't a bad actress. I'm going to go out and tell everyone she has a sexually transmitted disease." Natalie winked at Kate. "Not that I'm the least bit jealous, you understand."

Kate giggled and winked back.

She leaned in and air kissed Kate. "Have fun." And she was gone.

That night, Kate and Rick snuggled up together in his bed. "What did you think of Ellie Monroe as Nikki Heat?" He asked.

"She has some of Nikki's qualities." Kate replied after a few seconds.

"Oh? Like what?"

"She's determined, hard nosed, willing to do anything to get what she wants. And she won't settle for anything less than what she wants. She's kind of like Nikki and me."

"Ellie doesn't have your heart, though."

She kissed hum. "No, you have my heart."

"I do?"

She nodded. "Always."