The Master of Misdirection

Summary: Episode tag/ending piece for "Poof, You're Dead" – And that's when Beckett remembers something her grandfather told her: The fun's not in knowing. It's in the waiting to know.
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle. Would you quit rubbing it in already?

Bright child that she was, little Katie had enjoyed the coins coming from her ear, but quickly wanted to not just see the tricks, but do them. To his credit, her grandfather had showed her almost everything. Her parents laughed through her fumbling attempts to produce nickels from behind their ears with little six-year-old fingers. She dropped them more often than not. But her grandfather encouraged her with endless praise (and endless supplies of nickels).

As she got older, then, Kate started asking different questions. She understood the mechanics of the tricks. Why, she wondered, did he bother with all the swooping hand motions? They served no purpose. They just took up time; after all, it was the illusion that took the ingenuity. Why the window dressing?

Grandfather had taken a shrewd look at tall, skinny twelve-year-old Kate (not Katie; that was such a little kid's name), her folded arms and frown of concentration, and smiled. Kate, no one wants to see the trick without the beauty. The fun's not in the knowing. It's in the waiting to know.

But you already told us what's going to happen.

He laughed. Yes, I did. But while you're waiting, for just a second there, you're not sure if you believe me. You feel a little afraid. And what's remarkable, Kate, is that you're not sure if you're afraid it might not happen – or you're afraid what will happen when it does. If you don't have to wait for it, you'll never realize it's magic at all.

"No. No. What I'm saying is – it's over."

Kate froze, her eyes widening, and without thinking, she backtracked, leaving quietly before he noticed her presence in what was obviously meant to be a personal moment.

Castle. Gina. Finished.

Kate chose to ignore the sudden rush of – something – that bubbled up in spite of herself. She had never been a fan of Gina. The woman was good at her job, but there was a veneer of self-absorption about her. She seemed to merely put up with Castle, the way Kate pretended to. Gina was too aware of her own perfection. Castle had always seemed like more of an accessory to her.

But the way he'd said it – gentle, but final. He seemed so sure. So calm.

He appeared as she was ready to leave, his usual chipper self, bugging her about Josh (she hated that nickname, which was probably why Castle persisted in using it). At the last second, instead of a quiet dinner alone (her original plan), Kate found herself inviting him to join her.

Why? She'd been looking forward to the peace and solitude. And Castle didn't really seem like he needed food therapy. But for some reason, the words came out. He brightened immediately, and once again, Kate found herself headed to the elevator with the man whom the entire janitorial staff had dubbed her personal cocker spaniel.

Castle wasn't often so open. His appreciation for her respecting his personal life was touching. After living his whole life in the society pages, Kate realized, he was still too guarded to be comfortable airing his unhappiness in public. Rick Castle was many things; impulsive in his family life was not one of them. He and Gina must have been on the rocks for longer than anyone had realized. And he'd managed to keep everyone out of the loop till almost the vey end.

So this was the opportune moment, she decided, to deploy the trick her grandfather had saved for birthdays, last days of school, and dance recitals: the classic bouquet up the sleeve. Silly, but effective. Castle's face broke into a smile, a real smile, and she knew he really was okay. He didn't regret it. He had moved on.

After all, Kate had always expected Castle and Gina to break up. But it had taken so long that she'd begun to wonder if it really would happen.

And what's remarkable, Kate, is that you're not sure if you're afraid it might not happen – or you're afraid what will happen when it does. If you don't have to wait for it, you'll never realize it's magic at all.

Author's Note: GAH. Could not handle the love that was "Poof, You're Dead." The X-ray glasses? Esposito saying oye chica? Castle with that box thing on his head? Castle breaking up with Gina? Uhhhh. Yum. And don't even get me started on the depth of the significance of misdirection; Demming, Gina, and even Josh are examples sent to make us look the other way, as is the (adorable) pairing of Lanie/Esposito as the 'relief valve' (á la Angela/Hodgins in Bones). That was just a raspberry-jam kiss on the cheek from the writers. And then, because ABC wants to KIL ME DED with love, that was followed by the Promo of Yum, in which we almost saw Teaserization Of The Kissage (Coming Soon).

This was going to be just a oneshot, but I don't know, I was thinking of continuing, at least to include dinner. Yes? No?