881. Chapter 881

After Deep Cover

Episode 6.12

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to understand that I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

Detective Kate Beckett was momentarily distracted by waking up in a strange bedroom. But, in a flash it had all come back to her. She had almost turned Rick Castle down when he asked her out for dinner. She was sure all that he wanted was to get her into bed. But, he had been a big help with the Tisdale murder. Not that she'd ever feed his ego by telling him that. Plus, she hadn't been to the types of elite restaurants that Castle would go to and wanted to do so at least once in her life. And, to be honest, since she had broken up with Will Sorenson her social life had been non-existent. A quick fling would make her feel better.

She rolled over and saw that Castle was no longer in bed with her. Then she smelled breakfast being cooked. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, sausages, pancakes and coffee! She decided she should definitely stay for breakfast. When she got up, Castle called to her. "If you want to take a quick shower, you have time. Breakfast won't be for another ten minutes. And there's one of my robes behind the door in the bathroom for you."

Kate exited the bedroom in a huge robe to find a wonderful breakfast waiting. As she ate, Kate looked around the apartment. It looked more like a family home than the lair of a bachelor playboy.

"Um, Beckett? Could I ask you for a favor?"

Kate smiled. "The ice cube thing again?"

He shook his head. "No, I mean I'd love to, but that's not the favor I want. I've had writers block ever since I killed off Derrick Storm. I'd like to base a new character on you."

Kate shrugged. "Okay. I mean, I really couldn't stop you, could I?"

"What I really want to do is follow you around for a while and learn about you and how a homicide team works."

Kate shook her head. "You have no idea what you're asking for, do you?"

Castle shook his head. "What's the problem?"

Kate thought for a moment. She had had fun with Castle and he was turning out to be more than the empty headed playboy she had originally thought him to be. She didn't want to upset him, so she told a little white lie. "Look, it's fine with me, but the Chief of Police and Captain Montgomery would never buy it."

"But it's okay with you? I just have to get the brass to go along with it?"

She nodded. "Go ahead." She knew it would never get past Montgomery.

She was surprised the next day when she saw Castle in Captain Montgomery's office and was told that Castle would be following her around for his new book.

As soon as she could, she cornered Castle in an empty office. "You talked them into it?"

He nodded, smiling. "I'm good friends with the mayor. I talked to him, he talked to the police commissioner, who talked to the chief or police, and here I am."

"Look, Castle. I don't want it to get out that we had a little fling together, okay? It's hard enough being a female cop without things about my sex life getting out. So, we're not going to be friends. In fact, I'm going to be kind of hard on you. And absolutely no more sex. That's for sure. Agreed?"

Castle didn't like it, but he agreed.

After the Candela kidnapping, Kate went to see Rick.

"Detective Beckett? To what do I owe the honor of your presence?"

Kate blushed, but decided she had to talk. "When you walked in and found me kissing Sorenson…."

"No need to explain. We're not even friends, remember?

"The thing is, I felt like I was kissing the wrong man." She finally said.

Castle raised an eyebrow. "Did you have any particular man in mind, or just some other guy?"

She took his hand. "Keep talking like that and you won't be getting any ice cubes tonight."

Several months later, after having dinner at Castle's loft, he brought out the rough draft of his new book. "Beckett, I'd like you to read it. After all, you're the basis for the main character and an actual homicide cop. I'd really like your opinion."

Kate took the manuscript and the two of them went into Castle's office. Kate quickly read through the book. When she put it down, she turned to Castle. "It's really, really great. But, there are some things I think you should change."

"Like what?" he asked, looking serious.

"The name of the main character, for one."

"You don't like the name Priscilla Prim? But it has such possibilities. PP at One PP. PP Goes Pee-pee. PP and the…"

Kate held up her hand. "The main character is supposed to be this beautiful, supermodel-like woman, who's not just gorgeous, but fiery, dedicated, compassionate, and brilliant. Don't you think she should have a….sexier name?"

"Like what?"

Kate frowned in concentration. "Erica….Ricky….Pamela….Pammy….Michelle….Mikki….No, Nikki! That's it Nikki."

"What about a last name?"

"Something that says cop. Um, Blue? Force? Or….Heat! Cops are called the heat. Call your character Nikki Heat!" Kate smiled at Castle. "Just so people won't suspect were involved, I'll pretend to hate the name, okay? And just to be sure, I've talked Tom Demming into going out with me a few times. Don't worry, due to a problem with a female dog when he was a teenager, he's a eunuch. Nothing will happen."

"Anything else?" Castle asked, taking notes.

"The male character's name? Elmer Flood? Really?"

"I always admired Curt Flood the baseball player, so I thought…."

"Castle, change it!" Suddenly Kate smiled. "Castle! In chess a castle is also a rook. A perfect name for your journalist character."

Castle frowned. "Elmer Rook? I don't know Beckett."

"No, not Elmer." Kate looked around Castle's loft for inspiration. Then her eyes lit on a bottle by his bar. "That whiskey! It's perfect?"

"Whiskey Rook?" Castle shook his head. "I don't know…"

"No, Jameson's Irish Whiskey. The character will be Jameson Rook."

Castle took notes. "Anything else?"

"The names of the two detectives that work with Nikki? Willy Coyote and Roadie O'Runner?"

"What do you mean? Those are great names. And together they're called CoDie. You know, like Buffalo Bill Cody?"

Again, Kate's eyes swept Castle's loft for inspiration. Suddenly she noticed something. "Castle! Is that the remains of a hand rolled cigarette made with a substance that's illegal in the State of New York? I may be your girlfriend, but I'm still a cop. Get rid of that roach…..Roach! It's perfect." She thought. "Let's see! Roach is….Raley and Ochoa! Perfect!"

"You're my girlfriend?" Castle asked.

"Aren't I?" Kate said, raising an eyebrow.

"Absolutely. So, maybe I could try the ice cubes on you tonight?"

Kate smiled at him. "One other thing. Captain Montrose is a good name for the precinct commander. But, Montgomery might get upset to find that his character is a five foot tall, four hundred pound white woman with acne and a bald spot."

"Good thinking." Castle said, heading for the refrigerator.

At the book launch party for Heat Wave, Rick and Kate managed to find a few minutes alone.

"No one has figured out that I've been helping you with the book?" She asked.

"No, and you've done more than help. You should get credit as co-author, Kate."

She shook her head. "I'm not sure how One PP would react to that, I'm sure they wouldn't like it. And we don't need anyone knowing that we're together. All of this will be just our secret, okay?"

"Of course. If that's what you want."

Kate took a deep breath. "I guess you'll be writing those British spy books now." She said, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.

"Kate, you must know that this isn't about the books anymore, it's about you. It's all about you. I couldn't possibly give up Nikki or you for anything."

Kate turned away from him. "Castle, I like you a lot. Too much, I think. But, I'm just some cop and you're Richard Castle. I don't want to end up crying my eyes out with a broken heart when you leave me."

He put his arms on her shoulders and held her close. "Just believe, Beckett. Just believe in magic."

And she did.