How Do You Know Chapter 1: How Do I Know That He Loves Me?, a castle fanfic

Authors note: This is just a little something that popped into my head today... it'll most likely be a two shot

Richard Castle sat in his hard plastic chair next to Beckett's desk playing with his phone. He kept glancing at his watch even as he advanced level by level through Angry Birds.

"Where is she?" The now very antsy writer mumbled to himself as he checked his watch for what felt like the millionth time. "How long does it really take to get the autopsy report from Lanie?"

Ryan and Esposito snickered to themselves as they watched Castle fidget out of the corner of their eyes. Finally, after Castle had checked his watch multiple times, thrown down his phone, gotten all three of them coffee and checked his watch yet again, Esposito slammed his hands on his desk.

"Dude! Just go down and see what's keeping her!"

"Yeah, Castle. You're driving us nuts! Go bother Lanie and Beckett."

Castle looked at the two detectives over his mug. With a wolfish grin, he got up and headed for the elevators.

"Don't miss me too much, boys!"

"What will we ever do to pass the time?" Espo snarked back.

"I'm sure Beckett can find some paperwork for you, if you're really bored!" Castle called just as the elevator doors shut.

"Lanie, I don't know what to do!"

Detective Kate Beckett paced in front of the autopsy table as her best friend and ME sliced open John Doe on the table.

"Here's a crazy thought. You could tell him!"

"Tell him what exactly? Hey Castle, you remember how after I woke up from being shot I told you I didn't remember anything? Yeah, I lied. Oh! And on top of that I ran away to my dad's cabin so I wouldn't have to face you for three months! How's that?"

"I like the honesty… but maybe we can work on the execution." Lanie smirked as she looked up at her panicked friend.

"This isn't a joke! He told me he loves me!"

"Well, at least he had the guts to! He's not the one hiding from his feelings! He never has."

"Are you serious? He waited until I was bleeding out in his arms, after three years, to tell me he loves me."

"Girl, I'm gonna smack you! He wrote three books for and about you. He has saved your butt more times in the past year than any writer should for someone who claims to only be his muse. He has risked his life for you. He tried to jump in front of a bullet for you. Do you see where I'm going with this?"

"Okay, fine. But how do I really know he loves me? How do I really know he cares?"

"Castle is the most romantic man I've ever met, Kate. If you gave him a chance I promise he would show you over and over how much he loves you. And besides, if he ever hurts you, there are two detectives upstairs who could kill him and get away with it, and a ME right here who can make it look like an accident. At least consider telling him you remember everything about the shooting."

"Thanks Lanie, I don't know what I would do without you."

Castle sauntered out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened to the basement of the precinct. The cool air instantly hit him causing him to shiver a bit. He shook himself off and headed to the morgue. Just outside the doors he heard Lanie and Beckett's voices.

He could tell he was about to interrupt a rather serious conversation and his body froze just as the voices became clear.

"Okay, fine. But how do I really know he loves me? How do I really know he cares?"

Castle's breath hitched as he took in the almost plea from Beckett.

Castle's face transformed from glee to terror to ultimate shock as he took in Lanie's words.

"Kate remembers… everything. Everything!" The words ran through his head with rapid speed as they sunk in.

"Thanks Lanie, I don't know what I would do without you."

Castle's head snapped towards the doors as Kate's voice seeped through the fog that was his thoughts. "Crap," He muttered under his breath as he heard her footsteps approaching the door. Thinking fast, Castle backtracked a few steps and did what came naturally.

"Beckett!" Castle burst through the morgue doors and stopped just in front of Beckett.

"Castle, what are you doing yelling in my morgue?" Lanie was eyeing him suspiciously but couldn't hide her grin.

"What? It's not like he can hear me!" Castle smirked back as he gestured to the gray man lying on her table.

"No, but I can. Now get! I've got work to do. Both of you."

Through out the entire exchange Beckett had stood frozen by the door, her eyes locked on the back of Castle's head.

"If you like what you see, there's more for the taking," Castle teased when he turned to leave and caught her staring.

"Wha- Shut up Castle!" Beckett stuttered as she turned and sauntered out of the room.

Castle chuckled as he followed her with a parting wave to Lanie.

"I am so going to win that pool!" Lanie crowed to Mr. Doe on her table.

Beckett spun on Castle as they entered the elevator and the doors closed.

"I told you to stay upstairs!"

"I got bored!"

"I wasn't gone that long."

"You were gone long enough."

Beckett looked up into Castle sea blue eyes. The emotion swirling behind them was almost more than she could bear. She saw trust and admiration shining back at her.

"How can I even begin to tell him everything I need to?"

Castle looked down into Beckett's hazel eyes and instinctively wanted to kiss away the worry and apprehension he saw looking back at him.

"How can I even begin to show her how much I care?"

The spell was broken when the doors opened to their floor and they came face to face with Ryan and Esposito.

"We have a body."

Bonus Points for anyone who can tell what song/movie this is based off!