[ case closed ]

[fanofthegenre]

"The ex-wife in the office with the fire ants," Beckett murmurs, juggling the ring of keys in her palm until she singles out the one she's looking for and slides it into the lock on her apartment's front door.

The case had wrapped all too easily after she and Castle had made it back to the city. Anne Gordon had confessed only after a little pressing in the interrogation room, and a secondary search of Cavendish's home had even turned up several crispy exoskeletons in the fireplace ashes from where she'd attempted to burn the evidence of the shopping bags. All in all, things had ended rather nicely - Castle had even fulfilled his urge and gotten to play with the squad car's siren and lights, and now she was going to put up her feet for the evening - probably literally - with Castle in tow.

She lets them both into the apartment, flicking on a few lights and shedding her coat and scarf before making her way towards the kitchen. Clearly, there are several options awaiting her in the relaxation department, but she's aiming for just one right off the bat.

"I'm gonna grab a beer. You want?"

Comments

[bestsellingego.livejournal.com]

"Depends on how fast you can ready the SWAT guys," he says dryly (but maybe not entirely jokingly).

Castle brings the phone back to his ear. "All right, I'm on my way. Don't let her move the furniture and if things start to get rough, find a doorway or move to a central, windowless room." Disaster preparedness is something that the Castles got used to, especially when Hurricane Martha made a stormy appearance. "Be there in a jiff."

He flashes Beckett a tight, apologetic look. "I'm sorry, but if I don't go, Alexis is probably gonna' get inducted into some kind of theatrical society and we were really hoping that she'd get into an Ivy League at some point, so." He works his arms through the sleeves of his coat. 'Looks at her with an absolutely mournful expression.

"Until tomorrow?"

[fanofthegenre]

"Oh, they're all on speed dial for moments exactly like this one," she replies.

He makes his apology, but she's already there to reassure him, putting her beer down to adjust the collar of his coat and then stepping back, smoothing her hands down the length of his arms and giving his hands a small squeeze.

"It's fine. At any rate, it's probably better you try to spare the place from looking like a tornado ripped through it sooner rather than later. And I'll call you the minute I find out about another case, okay?" Beckett squeezes his hands again, then releases them completely.

"Go."

[bestsellingego.livejournal.com]

Castle pats the handiwork she's done with his scarf, then drops his phone into his pocket.

"Hey --" as he's reaching for the door "-- how about dinner tomorrow night? I've got a couple of meetings downtown, but I should be able to swing back your way after seven." He reaches for her elbow and slides his fingers down the length of her arm, squeezing the flesh of her palm. "Barring the appearance of any mutilated corpses, of course."

He crosses both sets of fingers.

[fanofthegenre]

Beckett follows him to the door, arms crossed over her front until he finds a way to take one of her hands in his own.

Sharing a meal together is nothing new, but this feels different than Thai take-out and early morning trips to Java Loft before they reach the scene of a crime. Given everything that's happened recently, the invitation now almost sort of feels like a--

"Dinner," Beckett says, interrupting her mind's thought process, "would be great."

[bestsellingego.livejournal.com]

"Great!" He's a little out of breath. Scooby Doo starts up again in his pocket. Castle slaps his hip where a cop might keep a gun -- his artillery is a little more mundane -- and tugs his cell phone free.

He holds up a hand, begging for leave and understanding. 'Starts to back out of her apartment.

"You'll get back to me about that case thing, right? Creepier the better, and you know I'm all in?"

[fanofthegenre]

"Of course, Castle. When are you not in?" she chuckles, amused to see him this flustered over something that isn't all that big of a deal, and reaches around him for the doorknob, providing him with his exit. A burst of cooler air from the hallway hits her skin and leaves goosebumps on her arms.

"I'll see you tomorrow, creepy case and all."