About Time.
Post 5x05.

It had been a few days since the ordeal with Tyson. He hadn't slept well the last few days, she could see the effect it was having on him. Captain Gates had ordered her to take a couple of days off and by extension that meant Castle too and she'd spent all of those days with him, reassuring him that they were alright. That he had nothing to prove. That his mind was getting the better of him. That they were going to be alright. Together. They were together and that meant so much to her. They'd stuck close to home, to Martha and Alexis.

They closed their first case back pretty quickly and he seemed to perk up as the case peaked his interest. That was until the word paperwork was uttered. But he'd elected to sit with her, play on his phone, then leave her side just yet.

"Yo, you two up for a drink?" Espo called as he grabbed his coat.
Ryan joined him and the stopped at Beckett's desk. "You know, seeing as you two are…" he lowered his voice, checking who was in earshot. "You know. We need to celebrate. Old Haunt? I'm friends with the owner." He joked.

Beckett laughed. "Sure, sounds good. Castle?"
She noticed the spark in his eyes rekindle. "First rounds on me," he announced. "After all, I do owe you guys a drink for… last week"
"We'll see you there. Text Lanie cause she'll give us all hell if we leave her out," Espo bumped his fist and made his exit, Ryan on his heels.
"You okay?" Beckett asked. "You've been theorising a lot less on this case."
"Just tired. The… dreamt again last night. Nice to be back in this place," Castle looked around. "Nice to not be on the wrong side of this desk… that suspect board."
Her heart ached for him. She knew he'd been weary of how everyone would look at him when he walked through the door again. But once LT had high fived him on the way through the door, Espo and Ryan had immediately filled them in on their case and he'd dived in.

"You may not be a cop Castle but you're one of us," Beckett assured him. "Now, let's go have a drink with our friends."

Beckett grabbed her cell, keys and slipped her jacket on, the last of the paperwork done for the day.
He followed her to the lift and waited for the doors to open. She leaned close, so his ears would be the only ones to catch her words. "I'm sleeping with the owner so I may be able to get us a drink or two."

Castle laughed. She didn't think she'd ever get enough of that sound.

Espo and Ryan had claimed their usual booth at the back by the time they'd gotten there, Lanie sitting across from them. Beckett slid in next to her, grabbing a chair for Castle to sit at the end. He'd gone to the bar to say hi to the staff and grab their usual orders. The joking and teasing started almost immediately and the both felt a lot freer now that they weren't lying to their friends.

"About time, you two," Lanie said as she raised her glass. Ryan and Espo clinked with her and Beckett rolled her eyes, shooting Castle a look. He was smiling. The first true, beautiful, carefree smile he'd given since Tyson.

"About time," he conceded and clinked with his friends.

They chatted and laughed and Castle rose to get another round, this time joined by the boys. "What can I get you ladies?" he offered.
"Same again," Lanie asked. Beckett nodded her agreement.

"You look happy girl," Lanie offered. "A lot happier than when I saw you last week that's for sure. I'm glad you two figured it out cause I'd given you all my good advice."
"Good advice?" Beckett laughed. "Lanie, you kept telling me to tell him at the worst possible times."
Lanie rolled. "Well, would you have preferred me telling you to 'use what God gave you'? Cause honestly Kate, you were gonna leave me with no other choice if you didn't do something."

"My brain and my wit?" Beckett asked, sipping the from her drink and feigning an ignorant look for her friend.
"Girl, that's a weird name for your boobs. I hope writer boy comes up with something better."
Beckett laughed, shooting her friend a glare at the same time. Castle was returning with their drinks. He looked like his usual self. Happy with a hint of childish glee about him. She felt a little giddy.
"Yep, happy looks good on you Kate." Lanie whispered as she watched the smile the two exchanged across the room.