#Caskett fic

[incrimeandinlife]

Friendly reminder to compliment your favorite fic writers who have their own lives and yet, still manage to make time to write for us. They are not robots and they won’t always be here, so reach out and remind them why they still are. 💛

[bunysliper]

Castle Ficlet: Off the Highest Shelf 1/1

Off the Highest Shelf A Deep Cover (6x12) Post-Ep

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He hesitates at the threshold to his bedroom - their bedroom - watching her. Although she'd left her coat and the impossibly tall boots she'd worn all day in the closet by the front door when they got home, she hasn't yet shed the rest of her armor, instead floating through the main areas of the loft in her jeans and her cream turtleneck for the evening. She hasn't been in their room at all as far as he can tell.

Until now.

And now Kate stands in her socked feet, staring at their bed with her lip pulled between her teeth. There's a tightness around her eyes that makes him wince, an exhaustion he hates seeing from his partner. After a moment, she sighs, runs a hand through her hair, and steps over to her side of the bed and starts tugging at the covers. Not with the intention of sliding into bed, but to strip the linens from the mattress.

A glimpse of red, already dark and browning with oxidation, reminds him why she can't just climb into bed and surrender to a restful night's sleep. He slips forward at that, joining her at the head of the bed on his side.

"Are you mad?" he asks as they work in an almost choreographed tandem, stripping the pillows and the duvet while she untucks the sheets and bundles them, carefully avoiding the blood - his father's blood - on her side.

"Well, I did like these sheets," she says, dry and contained. It's exactly the response that tells him she is angry, even if she doesn't quite realize it yet.

"That's… that's not what I mean. Are you angry about… my dad?"

Her face twitches just a bit and she sighs. "I'm frustrated that you kept it from me," she admits after a beat. "You had this entire experience in Paris last year and not only did you shut me out then, you continued to do it until now, until this case - until you had absolutely no choice but to bring me in on the family secret. Would you have even told me about him had I not stumbled upon him bleeding on my side of the bed with your mother tending to him?"

He opens his mouth to reply, to defend his decision not to tell her a year ago when Alexis was kidnapped and then to continue to hold that secret until just a few days ago, but sound doesn't make its way past his lips. Her fingers clench against the bundle of sheets and he moves to take them from her; though he's not sure if they are salvageable, he'll send them to the cleaners to have professionals try.

At first it doesn't seem like she's going to give up the linens, but when she does, she speaks again as well, "For years, you made it your mission to turn my life into an open book for you, whether I wanted it to be or not, but you're happy to stay locked up tight, to be a volume that's just high enough on a shelf to be considered off-limits, so nobody will try to read it."

"That's not-" Is it? He's not locked up tight; he shares plenty - doesn't he?

She licks her lips, running a hand through her hair before adding, "I'm trying. I'm trying to read it- you. I want to read you, as strange as it sounds to say out loud like that. You told me earlier tonight that you realized he's not family; that I am. So, start acting like it, Rick. Talk to me - tell me things."

"You don't need to be off-limits anymore," she adds, lifting a shoulder quickly as if it will distract from how deeply she feels about this subject.

Taking a deep breath, he leans over to drop the sheets on the floor near their bedroom door. It's not a perfect solution (and a little bit gross if he thinks too hard about it - he'll make sure to clean the hardwood, too), but he needs his hands free to reach for her and draw her into his chest.

Beckett sighs, relaxing into his embrace and slipping her arms around his waist. Her breath skims across his neck and he feels her sink deeper against him.

"I think… more than anything, I think it hurt my feelings," she admits into his skin. "Being left out like that."

His hands flex against her back, his eyes squeezing shut. "I'm sorry. That was… it was never… I'm sorry."

She nods after a moment, accepting his fumbled apology. "I know. And I know that was how you felt with the AG job and the interview."

Castle brushes his fingers through the ends of her hair, contemplating her words. They'd done the same thing to each other - unknowingly and unwittingly, but they had.

"Kate-"

Her lips brush his jaw, cutting off whatever it is he'd been about to say (though he's not entirely sure what it had been, beyond another apology, maybe even an assurance that he hadn't been trying to even the score or something like that).

"I know, Rick. I know it's not some kind of tit for tat. But…tell me now?" she asks, lifting a hand to cup the back of his neck. "While we make the bed?"

He nods, resting his cheek against her forehead. "Okay. But I warn you, it might give you more information about my mother's sex life than you ever want to know."

Kate laughs, giving his neck a squeeze. "I think I can handle it. I do sort of live with her now, you know."

Castle touches his lips to her hairline. "And you know what she's like."

"Oh hush, she's not that bad." Kate steps back, reaching for a bottle of disinfectant that he takes and sprays for her.

"Now. Imagine back then."

Kate hands him a rag to swipe over the mattress as well. There aren't any visible stains, thankfully, but he's not going to argue with her directions.

"I don't need to imagine," she says, rubbing a hand down his back. "Because you can tell me."

Her lips dust the back of his neck, the gesture soft and relaxing; it's not an interrogation, she just wants to know, wants to listen. So, he talks, telling her his mother's side of the story from when he was growing up, weaving it into the tale of the harrowing days when Alexis was missing and his father's daring rescue in Paris.

When that story concludes, all it takes is a soft look from her and a squeeze of her hand on his forearm for him to offer up everything else that's been on his mind since they caught their most recent case.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Long time, no see! It's been a time recently, and putting words to paper has been difficult, but I was able to finish this yesterday so I figured I would offer it to the world today. Thanks for reading.

[do-it-for-the-fandom]

Fic prompt: after 4x05, Kate thinks Castle is on a date with Serena. She goes somewhere she thinks he won’t be, and is surprised when he joins her at the bar.

Whiskey.

Neat.

And keep 'em coming.

She nursed her third, mindful of the situation she was in. Drowning the pain in smooth, spiced golden liquid: that was an awfully familiar scene. She washed away the bitter taste of hypocrisy with another sip and grimaced as her father's voice echoed in her mind: I didn't even realise I had a problem until I hit rock bottom.

With that in mind, she pushed the half-empty glass just a few inches away from her. She knew she'd more than likely reach for it again as soon as the next wave of negativity washed over her, though. Whether it be anger, or frustration, or sadness, or just outright jealousy... it had been relentless thus far.

The worst part was, she completely understood what Castle saw in Serena. She was beautiful, confident, smart. And she went after what she wanted. Serena wouldn't have trekked across town simply so that she didn't have to worry about the microscopic chance she might run into the man she was in love with because he was on a date with someone else. Serena was fun and uncomplicated and sexy. God, she didn't even want to think about they were doing right now. Chances were she was drinking alone in a dive bar in the Bronx for no damn reason: Castle and Serena had probably skipped dinner and drinks in favour of dessert, anyway.

The mental images that accompanied that thought had her reaching for her glass with a groan. She didn't understand why she was torturing herself like this. She wasn't ready, and she couldn't expect Castle to remain celibate while he waited for her. Maybe that was something they could have discussed if she ever actually worked up the gall to ask him to wait for her; instead, they'd had one conversation that had been so heavily reliant on subtext she really wasn't sure if either one of them had walked away with any sort of clarity. The whole situation with Castle was just... messy.

"I'll have what she's having."

The familiar voice startled her. She turned her head to look at him, not completely convinced she wasn't imagining his presence.

"Castle?" He sat on the stool beside her, turned to her and smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"Lanie told me you were here," he said.

Beckett frowned. Had she even told Lanie that she was here?

"She happened to be in the neighbourhood and saw you come in here," he explained. He smiled at the bartender when received his whiskey. "She asked me to check in on you."

She deflated, folded her arms on the bar in front of her and dropped her head onto her forearms. Of course she knew he didn't have some sixth sense that told him where she was, and that she needed him. Still, the confirmation was disappointing.

"Didn't mean to ruin your date," she mumbled incoherently into her arms.

"What date?"

She sat upright and rolled her shoulders. "With Serena Kaye."

She didn't mean to say the woman's name with such bitterness. Serena was... lovely. Beckett may not have agreed with ever life choice the woman had made but Serena had never been anything but polite to her. Courteous, forgiving. She didn't deserve to be treated the way Beckett had treated her.

"I didn't go on a date with Serena," Castle said, sounding somewhat confused.

Beckett looked him in the eye. "You didn't?"

He shook his head and she narrowed her eyes; she didn't understand.

"Why not? I-" She swallowed. "I thought you liked her."

Castle's eyes dropped to the drink in her hand, then back up to meet her eyes. "Is that why you're here?"

She dropped her gaze to the golden liquid in her glass, scared he could see the truth in her eyes if she let him look for too long.

"What do you mean?"

"This isn't really your scene, Beckett," he stated as he looked around them.

The bar wasn't overly crowded but it was the busiest place she had dared to go alone in months. Since her shooting. But the unseen danger that had haunted her for all that time wasn't even on her mind tonight.

Tonight, it was just Castle.

And Serena.

And the date she had, apparently, imagined.

"Thought I'd try somewhere new," she mumbled.

Castle placed his hand on the opposite side of her stool and leaned closer to her, tilting his head to make eye contact again. "How's that going for you?" he asked sarcastically.

A huffed, both amused and frustrated by just how easily he could read her.

"I hate it here."

He smiled as if he had won some prize - which only frustrated her more - but at the same time, his smile filled her with warmth and she couldn't help but smile, too.

"Then, let me take you home," he offered.

His hand shifted from her stool and rested on her lower back, the heat of his palm seared through the fabric of her shirt and she flinched, as if his touch had branded her.

She knew it wasn't what he had meant, yet she couldn't stop the words from slipping from her lips.

"What? Serena didn't pan out so I'm the consolation prize?"

She winced, hearing the words aloud. She couldn't believe that they had actually come from her mouth.

What the hell was she doing?

She lifted her glass, ready to drain the remainder of her drink, but Castle's hand on her wrist stopped her. She turned her head to look at him, his gorgeous blue eyes an unusually dark shade of cerulean.

"Let's get one thing clear, Kate," he said in a low, warning tone that sent a shiver down her spine. "You are not a consolation prize." He took the glass from her hand and placed it back on the bar. "And I never wanted Serena."

"What do you want?" she dared to ask.

Castle shifted even closer, until their faces hovered just inches apart. She could feel his warmth radiating from him. He stared at her, desire in his eyes, until something - a thought, a memory, she wasn't quite sure - doused that fire within him. He blinked and looked away; the tension that crackled between them, gone in an instant.

"I want to know that you are safe and in your bed so that I can actually get some sleep tonight," he answered.

She knew it wasn't a lie, but it was definitely the safe answer.

He slipped off the stool and held his hand out for her.

Accepting that this conversation was over she took his hand and allowed him to lead her out of the bar.

The cab ride to her apartment was long, tense, and all too silent.

When the driver pulled up out front of her building, Castle placed his hand on her knee, effectively stopping her from getting out of the cab.

"Talk tomorrow?" he asked her.

Uncertainty pervaded his tone. It glimmered in his eyes as he studied her face for the answer she was yet to give him.

She nodded, unable to actually verbalise her agreement.

But they both knew that tonight would just be one more thing added to the list of things they never talked about.

It was easier that way.

[incrimeandinlife]

Never saw those TikTok’s, but now I’m just thinking about all the times Caskett went to work under this same premise 😂🥰

CLOSE PROXIMITY Post-series

She finishes just in time.

Her alarm goes off moments after she cries out in pleasure, and she uses the last of her strength to climb off the bed, leaving her husband in a sweaty and panting heap.

She ducks into the bathroom, takes a few moments to cradle the subtle swell of her belly, examine it in the mirror for changes. Now that she’s in her second trimester, the constant nausea that had accompanied the beginning of her pregnancy has largely been replaced by the insatiable desire for physical release. That’s what continues to keep her working from home as often as she can: close proximity to him.

She chuckles when she hears the low groan from the bedroom. If she’s not careful, if she doesn’t space it out a bit more, he might die. Death by too much sex doesn’t sound too bad to her, but she would hate to have to raise their child alone because she was so horny she couldn’t keep her hands to herself.

After quickly using the bathroom, she throws on a pair of leggings and a dressy blouse, checks on Rick - he’s still flat on his back, his hands on the mattress, his chest rising and falling with every pant as he tries to catch his breath. She grabs the now-cold coffee (decaf, unfortunately) from her nightstand - how they hadn’t knocked it off during their more than vigorous rendezvous, she’ll never know - and relocates to the office, opens her laptop, and signs into the 1PP network.

The computer chimes with a notice of a meeting in progress, and she panics for a moment until she notices that she’s still a minute early. She grins, clicks on the join button, and settles in for her budget meeting.

A/N: inspired by those TikTok posts where it’s like “(partner) is really cooking breakfast like they didn’t just rail me for the last hour”

[cuppatealove]

New chapter is up!

When you've just survived a serial killer and a burning building, a couple of angry redheads should give you no trouble at all.

[gif]

[lordofkavaka]

(photo's original post)

He stopped in the doorway, head tilting to the side as he admired the view of his wife sleeping, lying on her side, her back to him, the window open to the tropical air outside. His gaze traveled over the gorgeous contours of her body. The blanket only came up to her hipbone, leaving the rest of her tantalizing form exposed to his greedy eyes.

I'm a lucky man, he thought as he milked in the scene, wanting to remember it for the rest of his life. He still couldn't believe it was real, that Kate Beckett was his wife. She married him. She actually said yes.

"Castle?" came a drowsy voice.

He blinked, and glanced down to see her arching her neck over her shoulder, her brow wrinkling adorably as she squinted up at him.

"Yes?"

"Stop staring, it's creepy," she grumbled softly, adding a little glare to punctuate her words.

"I wasn't staring," he objected. "I was admiring the view."

"Well," she said, rolling over to give his eyes much more to feast upon. "Get back in bed and you can do much more than 'admire the view'."

He grinned and eagerly followed her suggestion, wrapping his arms around her as he pulled her close. "I love you, Mrs. Castle."

She smiled back up at him. "And I love you, Mr. Beckett."

Before he could protest the nomenclature appellation, she was kissing him, and all other thoughts were pushed aside.

[mysterymuseffn]

"We're still gonna go to that island getaway, right?" Castle and Beckett honeymoon in the Bahamas for seven days. Post-7x07, "Once Upon a Time in the West."

NEW FIC!

Consultants - @i-prefer-west-side & @badwolf2008

FFN // AO3

[pollylynn]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by duck lovers (@duck_loverss)

Castle. Did you stay up all night making memes about Chuck again?

Kate. He haunts me.

[badwolf2008]

All the Songs Make Sense

Just a little tidbit I wrote a while ago. After seeing a post of about the quote that originally inspired it, I decided to spruce it up and post it. Hopefully it’s not terrible, as it was just a little writing exercise I did. And no I don’t own these characters and yes, all mistakes are mine. Enjoy!

“Castle! What are you doing!?” 

“C’mon, Kate! They're playing our song!”  

He didn't even stumble when she resisted slightly, simply continued towards the dance floor, paying no heed to the other dancers. Or the fact that they were supposed to be keeping a low profile and watching out for their suspect.  

“It’s ‘True Love!’” was all the explanation he gave as he dragged her onto the dance floor.

“Admit it, it fits us perfectly. Or more specifically…” He smirked at her, "It fits you perfectly.”  

Kate just gave him a look and wrapped her arms around him.  

“Oh, really? And why is that?” 

“Because all the songs make sense now,” he replied as he leaned down to kiss her.  

[grabnetsrik1]

Haunted Chapter 4 is posted. Enjoy!

[nikki-rook]

Castle Ficlet: The first I love you

During the night between Always and After the Storm

Kate shuffled under the comfy white blanket, turning to her side, her eyes fluttering open. Castles eyes looked back at her. A soft smile spread across her face.

“Hi” she whispered.

“Hi” he whispered back. A smile touching his lips as his body visibly relaxed back into the pillows and sheets.

“Have you been watching me sleep?” she asked, biting her bottom lip a little in embarrassment.

“I um... yeah.” He mumbled. He squeezed her hand, and she realized he had been holding it this whole time, gently. His thumb circling the top of her hand, gently playing with her fingers. His eyes glanced down, almost embarrassingly and she squeezed his fingers.

“What?” she asked, ducking her head a little to meat his gaze.

He let out a little breath disguised as a laugh. “I feel like if I take my eyes off you, I’ll look back and you won’t be there.” He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them.

Concern crossed her eyes, she let go of his hand, shuffled the blankets, and scooted closer to him. Kissing his chest, she looked up at him, his piercing eyes so bright in the darkness.

“I’m not going anywhere.” She said, firmly, so he would believe it. “I love you, Castle.” She could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Grabbing her shoulders, he slid back to make some space between them.

“You love me?” he asked, his voice cracking. Surprise in his eyes, Kate reached up to his face, brushing his hair back, smiling at him with that mysterious look she always had. Castle realized in this moment that look, that glow in her eyes, it was love.

“After all this time, you think I didn’t?” She asked. She leaned her body into his, kissing him on the lips, her hands on his face. She took the moment of silence after the kiss to nuzzle herself into his arms. The feeling of safety she never knew she needed, his warm arms engulfing her, his chin resting on the top of her head.

“I guess…” he sighed, at a loss for words, which was still an unfamiliar feeling even though it happened quite a lot with her. “I guess I had just convinced myself over the last month that you didn’t. I was trying to come to peace with that. And that was okay.” He paused as she squeezed him a little bit tighter.

“Rick, I’m so sorry.” She whispered into his chest. She could feel him shaking his head, he pulled them apart for just a moment to look in her eyes.

“I love you Kate, none of that matters anymore.” He kissed her, long and slow. “You’ve healed all those wounds in an instance with those words.” He smiled, and she smiled bigger now, swatting his shoulder.

“So cheesy.” She laughed, and he laughed too, pulling her close, tucking the blankets up around them both.

“Cheesy, but true.” He said. And they both lay there, feeling each others breathing, the calm, comfortable, familiar presence of each other lulling them back to sleep.

Neither of them stirred until Kate woke to the light peeking through the window, quietly detangling herself from his arms so she could slip away and make them coffee.

Now that we know those words crossed Kates lips many times before Still, I like to think it happened this night. That she said it, that she felt it, that she meant it. Maybe its too early, too quick for our damaged girl. But she definitely knew. She went to his door with all of the love in her heart. And him confirming that it wasn't a dream wasn't so much about the whole night, but about that moment, in the middle of the night when she said those words. So I felt the need to write this quick little moment.

[castleficpromoter]

Hello. I was wondering if you happened to know of any fics based around the 3x22 episode To Love and Die in LA that are of that moment but from Castle's POV, not Kate's.

Thank you so much!

Oooh... um... I know there's plenty of fics surrounding that moment from 3x22 "To Love and Die in LA" but I can't really pinpoint one that specifically just does it from Castle's POV.

Anyone else have some fic recommendations?

[bunysliper]

https://www.tumblr.com/gallow-glass/692512417889107968/acta-non-verba?source=share fic prompt

Lake Day

"Having a good time?"

She watches as her words take a moment to register, and grins when Castle blinks a few times to focus on her.

"A good time?" he repeats, allowing his head to swivel a bit to take in their surroundings; the wind has been a little heavy so far, so the water of the lake is choppier than usual, but the sun shines and the temperature is comfortable enough for them to rest on padded mats on the dock. "Oh yeah."

 Beckett grins, feeling her cheeks warm.

It's silly to be so bashful because of two simple words, but here she is, blushing like a school girl because her boyfriend is having a good time doing the activity she planned for them.

"Yeah? I know it's not a big house in the Hamptons, but-"

Castle's hand scrambles across the dock, brushing over her wrist before he twines their fingers together. He lifts their joined hands to his mouth.

"Beckett," he murmurs, making sure she knows he's about to say something serious – something that will probably leave her grasping for words, "I don't care where we are – big house, little house, no house – as long as you're with me. The fact that you brought me to your dad's cabin is… it's beyond what I could've ever hoped."

She bites her lip, nodding. "Yeah? Even with the squeaky floors and the doors that don't close unless you shove them?"

His lips dust over her knuckles. "Especially with those things. They make this place yours."

"My dad's," she tries, shifting closer. It hadn't felt like her cabin when she was recovering from being shot. It hadn't felt like her cabin when her dad used to hole up here when he was on a bender.

But now…

"Yours, Kate. It's yours, too."

Now there's a warmth, a feeling of home. Because he's here with her.

[do-it-for-the-fandom]

Mistletoe.

5x09 - Secret Santa.

The boys peered around the corner simultaneously trying to get close enough to see their targets clearly and stay out of sight themselves.

They had a clear view of the elevator, of the little surprise they had hung right in front of the doors, all they had to do was wait.

Half the bullpen was in on the bet - will they, won't they? - but given the advantage Ryan and Espo had (the knowledge of Castle and Beckett's actual secret relationship) they felt pretty confident that a friendly little 'Christmas kiss' was out of the question. The risk of outing themselves was too high. Beckett wouldn't risk giving Gates a reason to boot Castle from the precinct.

"- and I love the feeling, that sense of hope," they heard Castle say; a sign that their targets were approaching. And, sure enough, the pair stepped into view. "It's crazy, you know. On the shortest, darkest days of the year people of all faiths celebrate the light."

The boys looked at one another, rolled their eyes at their friend. He couldn't just say "I love Christmas". No, he had to make it poetic, make it beautiful. No wonder he had won Beckett over - they could see the smile on her face as she listened to him talk, absolutely enamoured. Honestly, how anybody was still in the dark about this relationship confused the boys to no end!

"Plus, who doesn't love presents?"

"There it is," Ryan whispered and Espo stifled a chuckle.

Castle glanced up, noticed the hanging ball of mistletoe directly above them. Kate's focus shifted almost immediately, searching for whatever had so quickly captured her partner's focus.

Espo looked across the bullpen, locked eyes with Karpowski and LT who stood by the breakroom door trying to look totally uninterested in whatever was about to happen. However, subtlety was not a skill Karpowski had honed and her intent focus had apparently drawn the attention of their captain.

Espo nudged his elbow into Ryan's ribs. "Gates alert," he whispered.

Ryan looked toward the captain's office, saw Gates standing at her door studying Karpowski. He watched as her gaze followed Karpowski's across the bullpen before landing on Castle and Beckett in front of the elevator.

He looked back over to Castle and Beckett, who had apparently entered the world's most intense staring competition. And... was that a smile on Beckett's face?

"Are they-?" Ryan stopped. Surely they weren't.

They all waited with bated breath, watched as their friends stood hesitating, wanting but not quite willing to take the risk. Beckett shifted her weight from one foot to the other, moving barely an inch closer, but it set the wheels in motion. Castle reached out for her - inevitably to pull her closer, to kiss her under the mistletoe - and Espo practically pushed Ryan out from their hiding place.

"Yo, Castle!" Espo called out, a desperate attempt to stop something he had never thought would actually happen.

But it was too late. Castle had so delicately cupped Beckett's face, pulled her closer and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Mr Castle," Gates' voice billowed across the bullpen. "What makes you think that that is appropriate behaviour for a precinct?" she demanded.

"Oh, I- th- just-" Castle stuttered and stumbled over his words, pointing to Beckett, to the mistletoe, to the various other decorations around the bullpen.

"'Tis the season?" Espo tried to defend his friend's behaviour without refocusing Gates' wrath onto himself.

"'Tis the season?," Gates repeated. "So I should just allow such tomfoolery?"

Espo looked around, all eyes on him. "Yes, Sir. I believe a certain amount of tomfoolery, as you call it, is good for morale. Especially at this time of year."

He waited, expected the scolding of a lifetime, but it never came. Gates simply smiled, like she knew something he didn't.

"In that case, I believe there is something you owe Detective Ryan."

Espo looked at Ryan, who seemed to be just as confused as he was. Karpowski walked toward them, her phone in hand, and began to play a recording from earlier in the day.

"Oh please," he heard his own voice echo through the speaker of Karpowski's phone. "You think a little bit of mistletoe is gonna make Beckett wanna kiss Castle?"

He groaned as he realised exactly where this was going.

"Sure, I'll take that bet. I'm in for $20. In fact, I'm so sure of this I'll make it $50. A hundred, even!"

"I didn't agree to a hundred bucks!" Ryan complained.

Karpowski laughed. "Oh, just you wait."

"You know what?" The recording continued. "If you win, we won't even take your money, that is how confident I am."

Ryan glared at Espo. "Dude!"

Esposito hung his head low. "It gets worse."

"If I'm wrong-" Esposito's laughter burst through the phone speaker. "I'll even kiss Ryan under the mistletoe."

"Nope," Ryan declared with a firm shake of his head.

"I was obviously joking!" Espo insisted. "And he only kissed her on the cheek!"

"A bet's a bet," Karpowski countered immediately.

"And it's good for morale, right?" Gates added with a smile.

Esposito looked over to Beckett and Castle who both looked entirely too pleased with themselves.

"You set me up," he concluded.

"Seems to me you set yourself up for this one," Beckett replied. "But maybe we can let you off the hook. Just this once."

"On one condition," Gates said. "No more nonsense bets on my time."

"Yes, Sir," they all agreed.

___

Once almost everyone had cleared out and only the skeleton staff pulling the holiday shift remained, Beckett made her way to Espo's desk and sat on the edge.

"You know that when Karpowski and LT came to me with that, I couldn't say no, right?" she asked as he filled out the last of his paperwork from their case. "They'd already gotten Gates involved."

"I get it," he assured her. "I shouldn't have run my mouth like that, anyway. That was just asking for trouble."

Beckett laughed; he wasn't wrong. After looking over her shoulder to make sure they were still practically alone, she continued.

"I appreciate that you stood up to Gates, tried to pull the focus from us."

Espo looked up from his paperwork and gave her his most sincere smile.

"I've got your back, Beckett. Whether it's on the street fighting criminals or in the precinct taking heat from Gates, I got you. And I know you got me, too."

"I do," she confirmed. "Thank you."

[cuppatealove]

Chapter 10 is up!

Everything is fine. Definitely, everything is so fine, nothing is the matter whatsoever, and everyone is communicating any not-fineness super well. Only healthy coping mechanisms here.

[lordofkavaka]

Unfinished

Knockout/Rise AU. Death has come for Kate Beckett, but her spirit can't move on, because she has unfinished business. A Ghost Love Story. Caskett. For Castle Halloween Bash 2024.

Part 1 of 3