LIFTOFF
A 2X24 AU

"Castle, do you have a second?"

He glances around at the others before turning his gaze back to Beckett. He isn't surprised at her teasing about being able to take him in a drinking contest, not at all, but there's something else in her look now, something more serious. Something that has him standing, following the nod of her head towards the door and standing. "Yeah, of course."

She closes the door when they're in the hall, and he ignores the faces pressed against the window, watching them.

A stampede of elephants couldn't tear his eyes from the woman in front of him.

"What's up?"

Beckett takes a deep breath, her thumbnail picking at the label of her beer. "Look," she starts, her eyes on the bottle in her hand, "I know that I'm not the easiest person to get to know, and I don't always let on what's on my mind."

He opens his mouth to respond, but something in her voice stops him. Whatever she has to say, interrupting her will shut her down, he's sure of it. So he just tightens his grip on his own beer as she takes another breath, presumably to steady herself.

"This past year, working with you…" Beckett finally lifts her gaze to his. "I've had a really good time."

Castle just smiles. "Me too." And he has. It hasn't been easy, peeling away the few layers of the Beckett onion that he's managed, but he's loved every minute of their partnership thus far.

Beckett grips her beer and averts her eyes again. "So, I'm - I'm just going to say this and - well -"

He reaches out and touches her forearm when she stutters, and his touch seems to ground her, has her meeting his eyes once again.

"Sorry," she apologizes in a quiet voice, "I don't know what's gotten into me. I don't usually search for words like this."

Castle smiles and glances towards the spectators. "Should we get out of public view?" He suggests, taking a step to the side when she sighs in relief.

"Please."

He resists the urge to take her arm to guide her, instead lets her go first, lead him to the little-used staircase after they set their beers down. He also forces himself to shut up, to let her speak in her own time.

"Does your invitation still stand?" Beckett blurts after a long silence. When he just lifts his eyebrows in question, she continues. "To the Hamptons."

Castle just smiles, even as his heart jumps into his throat and his stomach does somersaults. "Of course," he assures her, his voice surprisingly calm despite his desire to run to the rooftop and shout his joy to the sky.

Beckett's face flushes. "In that case, I'd like to accept. But no funny business," she adds, pointing a finger at his chest.

Castle lifts his hands, palms out. "No funny business," he echoes. "I'll leave you completely alone if that's what you want. It's just a chance for you to take a weekend away from the city."

"Great." Beckett smiles and drops her gaze to the floor, her cheeks bright red. "Well, it's late. I better get going."

Castle opens the door, lets her go through first before following. "I should too."

He isn't the least bit surprised when Beckett is whisked away by Lanie upon their return, or that Ryan, Esposito, and Montgomery all stare at him with matching smirks.

The captain is the first to speak. "Good night, gentlemen," is all he offers, retreating to his office and shutting the door.

"Well?" Ryan prods as Castle slips on his jacket. "What happened between you two?"

Castle just shrugs. "Nothing," he lies. "Just a brief conversation between friends."

The two detectives share a look, but Castle just ignores them, walks towards the elevator.

"Good night, boys," he calls out, smirking as the elevator doors close on their offended looks. It's only when he begins his descent that he allows himself a fist pump.

Kate Beckett is coming to the Hamptons. With him.

He'll act like a gentleman, of course, won't do anything that might get him a knee in the crotch, or lose her as a friend. He respects her too much for that. But, even if they don't spend any time together, he's determined to make it a weekend that she won't forget.

A/N: Many thanks to Lou, aka instainedcoffeecup, inkycoffee on Twitter, for the "end of season 2 minus Gina" prompt she came up with on the fly. This may be continued at some point, although I can't make any promises, so it's being marked as complete...for now.