Book Tour: A Love Story (2/5)
Title: Book Tour: A Love Story
Chapter: 2/5
Author: xashtheartistx
Pairing: Castle/Beckett
Other Characters: Kevin Ryan, Javier Esposito, Lanie Parish, Alexis Castle
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: AU, Future Fic
Spoilers: Nada
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be.
A/N: The sequel to Pancakes, We’ll Have Matching Casts, Best. Day. Ever, Warfare, and Counterproductive. However if you have no desire to read the others and catch up, this can work as a stand alone too. Like you, I prefer options.
*Day3*
Kate grabbed her coffee mug with less energy than usual.
“Rough night?” Esposito asked, mug in one hand, partially eaten bagel with spread in another.
“Yeah, was up thinking about the case.” She lied, setting up the espresso machine for a double.
Her cell phone went off.
Opening it up, she punched the ‘ok’ button and a picture of Alexis peacefully asleep in business class appeared.
‘Good morning from Dallas :)’
***
“Ooooo... You miss him.”
“What?”
“Don’t look like you don’t know that I’m talking about.” Lanie responded to the detective’s poorly attempted look of confusion. “He’s been gone what, three days? You look like the loneliest person on earth.”
Kate gazed down the the sheet covered body they were hovering over, then shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah... well...” She rambled off, vaguely.
“You know, you only missing him means the relationship’s good. You guys have something that you like enough to notice when it’s not there.”
“I like the peace and quiet.” Kate confessed. “But it’s kind of, too quiet. I can’t believe I'm saying this but I think I got used to how loud he is.”
“There you go.”
“And it doesn’t help I’ve been spending most of my nights over at his place,”
“You’ve gotten used to sharing a bed, that’s definitely understandable.”
“He snores a little.” She mused, her tension suddenly beginning to dissipate .”He’s not a morning person so I spend thirty minutes listening to him trying to get me to come back to bed, usually have to lure him out with coffee... and empty threats.....” Kate paused, softened some more, and went on “Alexis usually gives me a hug before she goes to school.... and if we get back to his place early we’ll cook a really nice dinner and sit around and talk and eventually...” She trailed off because Lanie was looking at her like something was absolutely hilarious.
“God, you have it bad.” She let a giggle escape “You’re just, the poster child of relationship separation depression.”
“Be nice.” Kate frowned. jumping up onto the empty and clean exam table next to the one they were by. “You know I’ve been trying to justify this, thinking about when I was with Will and when he took off for a week for seminars...”
“You weren’t like this.” the Medical Examiner announced.
She swung her feet childishly from the table. “I have known Rick longer, year and a half, two years? We haven’t been going out that long but I have had him around for awhile, Will and I just met and started going out.”
“Relationship’s a lot more deep because you know him more, I can see that.” Lanie agreed. “You also weren’t playing house with Will.”
“I’m not playing house,”
“You being in denial only further proves my case., because what do you call hugging his daughter before she goes to school and cooking dinner together?”
Kate clearly wore frustration on her features. “Well...” She huffed. “What we do...”
Lanie simply smiled knowingly and watched.
“It’s...” She raised a finger, flustering quickly. “We’re just finding that....” She sighed, glaring at Lanie in a way that meant she would not openly admit it, but she was not longer going to attempt and excuse.
“MmHmm.”
“Shut up.”
“Alright,” Lanie conceded. “Listen, before we actually start doing our jobs and talking about the dead guy on the table, do you wanna do something tonight? Occupy yourself?”
“Thanks but,”
Her phone buzzed.
Flipping it open, accepting the message, there was Castle, in a cowboy hat next to his cutout, holding what appeared to be a toy pistol to the cutout as if they were in a standoff.
‘Howdy.’
****
She was glad to get home, crank up her floor heater, take a scalding hot shower, put on a ratty pair of sweats, make some tea, curl into her mom’s quilt, and keep to the couch. She did not plan on moving from her spot, the perfect cozy location in an otherwise chilly apartment.
Kate had set things out on the coffee table for her to do and not have to move and give up body heat. First and foremost was her sadly neglected pile of mail that hadn’t been tended to due to work, but mostly because she slept over at the Castle residence. Setting the pile on her lap, she sorted, opened, read, groaned, and finally reached a little padded envelope marked express.
It was from Florida.
Suspiciously she cut through the top with a pair of scissors and reached in. What she pulled out was a small plush sea turtle. It rested comfortably in her palm and was honestly quite adorable with it’s little black eyes and soft green fuzz. There was also a card with the picture of a white beach on the outside. Which upon opening bore the penmanship of a certain author.
‘Apparently you can’t send real turtles in the mail. It’s ok though, because they kind of smell and they aren’t as furry as this one. I hope he keeps you company. We miss you, wish you were here. Skype me! Because it sounds dirty and I want to see you!
Dynamic Duo,
Castle and Castle 2.0’
Smiling, she looked down at the turtle and set him next to her on a pillow. Putting the card aside she looked across to her laptop, which was also what ‘Summer Heat’ sat atop of, she nudged the book off, took the laptop and opened it up. Allowing it to boot, she sipped her tea and turned the TV on for noise.
Skype started loading. And she wondered why she hadn’t even considered him sneaking onto her laptop and installing the program.
Their chat window popped up.
Space Cowboy:
Howdy.
Kate smiled and quickly changed her profile name
Kate Monster:
I take it you’re still in Texas?
Space Cowboy:
Where the salsa is good and the hats are tall.
Space Cowboy:
Not for long though, we’re off to the land of the shallow, materialistic and Meredith.
Kate Monster:
Ah, California.
Space Cowboy:
Yes, we are in the airport business lounge as I speak. Alexis is texting with thumbs of fury whilst listening to her Pod of Tunes and I just signed two chests.
Kate Monster:
Sounds like a good time.
Space Cowboy:
Eh, could be better.
Kate Monster:
Three chests?
Space Cowboy:
Red wine on the couch with a good book and a gorgeous girl.
Kate smiled.
Kate Monster:
I’m on the couch right now, have a good book, no guy though, and tea not wine.
Space Cowboy:
PIty. Alexis says hi by the way. She misses you apparently, I have no idea why she would.
Space Cowboy:
Owwww. And she just hit me. You know, I think your penchant for violence is rubbing off on her. Bad influence you are.
She chuckled, typing away.
Kate Monster:
Tell her I miss her too, also her betta fish is doing fine.
Space Cowboy:
She says many thanks, after the untimely murder of Feggin she didn’t have many she would trust with watching Ishmael.
Kate Monster:
I understand, I had my friend take care of my hamster when I was nine, that friendship didn’t end well.
Space Cowboy:
My sympathies for the hamster loss.
Kate Monster:
Getting off the topic of pets, I got your package today.
Space Cowboy:
Annnnd?
Kate Monster:
The turtle is with me as we type. Thanks for the buddy.
Space Cowboy:
I named him Jayne.
Kate Monster:
Him? He is named Jayne?
Space Cowboy:
Yep.
Kate Monster:
Why?
Space Cowboy:
It’s a Space Cowboy thing, you’ll never understand.
Kate Monster:
Between this and the costume, I’m officially curious.
Space Cowboy:
I’d love to explain the intricacies of this epic thing that is Space Cowboys, but we have to board our plane now. Which means I must bid thee adieu.
Space Cowboy:
Wait...
Space Cowboy:
Can you tell me what you’re wearing right now?
Kate scoffed.
Kate Monster:
A bikini.
Space Cowboy:
Really? :D
Kate Monster:
Yes. I’m wearing a bikini in the middle of winter.
Space Cowboy:
Heeeey, have pity on lonely writer boyfriend. D: I can’t shamelessly flirt, nor have illicit sex and on top of that hotel porn just isn’t cutting it.
She rolled her eyes.
Kate Monster:
I’m wearing a old pair of sweats, no makeup, and my hair’s still a little damp from the shower.
Space Cowboy:
Ooooo SO SEXY :D
Kate Monster:
Goodnight Rick
Space Cowboy:
Farewell my sweat-clad muse. And seriously, so sexy.