Evidently

A/N:This is something I've messed with for a while. I hope you like it. Updating will be a little off for a while, but give it a chance. And let me know your favorite Caskett moments up through season 3 as evidence for the up coming trial.

Summary: Kate Beckett lives her life making decisions based on evidence. Anyone who knows Kate knows that. But she's overlooking one critical piece, and her friends know just how to force her to see it.

Another step closer. Another sentence fragment. She adds to it and mirrors his advance. Blue and green connect, inseparable. Booth deepen, darken, their focus excludes all else. Even the flash and click of the camera

Dr. Lanie Parish knows Kate Beckett. Not just the hardnosed detective, but the breathing, feeling woman behind the walls. So when her cell phone finally loads the photo from Esposito , Lanie smiles, but her subconscious nags that what she sees on her display will never go further than that picture. At least not anytime soon.

But, damn if there isn't a fine image in her mind (not to mention plans for her winnings from the precinct's pool.) It's already there, what they need. It's written plainly in the easy proximity of their bodies and highlighted by the passion and adoration in their locked gazes.

Everyone knows – and knows well – that Richard Castle loves Kate Beckett, but Lanie knows her girl, so Lanie knows that Kate Beckett loves Richard Castle right back.

If only Kate knew Kate Beckett.

Javier Esposito likes to think he knows Kate Beckett. Truthfully, he is aware that he only really knows Detective Beckett.

But he does know Lanie Parish, so he's not surprised when Beckett emerges from her jaunt to the morgue with a thin mask of stoicism painted on her face to hide the wounds and contemplation. He knows that Lanie would've chatted with (interrogated) Beckett about that last round of eye-sex and mind-reading in front of the murder board. And if the text his phone is announcing is any indication, he knows Lanie is frustrated with Beckett's most recent denial.

Sometimes, though, he wonders if he really does know Lanie because this time, she's announced, oh so clearly, to his phone screen that she has a plan.

"She lied to me, Javi! She stood right there and lied to my face." Lanie was fuming hotter than she had in a long while, and her not-so-secret boyfriend was taking the brunt of it.

"How is that any different than any other time?" Meeting the good doctor's glare full force, the detective shrunk back from his own natural boldness.

Lanie took a breath and reminded herself once again of all the reasons she loved Beckett and… well, she definitely liked Esposito. But the whole love thing was an issue for another time. Not that she'd shy away from it like some people – especially guarded brunette detectives – but she just- Wait just a minute there girl! We're talking about Kate here… "She's never lied to me before. Girl is a damned pro at avoiding questions, but she's never looked me in my eyes and told a lie."

"'re you sure she's lying, chica?"

"You doubtin' my word, detective? Not just cops are trained to see lies."

Esposito, wisely, chose to remain silent.

"Bottom line is that woman has feelings for Writer-boy."

"Still, how is that any different than before?"

Lanie grinned a smug little grin that would've irritated the woman in question to no end, "She's starting to figure it out for herself."

Javier shot a sideways look at the ME. "You know she'll never admit to it, right. You can interrogate her all you want, but she's stubborn as hell."

"But she does follow the evidence."

Esposito felt a feint stab of fear at the glimmer in his woman's eyes. "Evidence? She still hasn't shot him. This isn't a murder."

"No, then we'd be hiding evidence… Nuh-uh. This is better." She saw the doubt and elaborated, "Kate trusts the system. If evidence says a man is guilty, then he's guilty. What she doesn't trust is her heart."

"So?"

"We just have to put her through the system."

"What should we charge her with, 'frustrating the hell out of her friends'?"

"Or public indecency for all that eye-sex…" Javier rolled his eyes in a Beckett-esque move. "Let me make a few calls."

Martha had agreed to provide the set (she was thrilled to be putting on a show, and those Temptation Lane folks owed her a favor anyway; this would be a smashing opportunity to cash in.) Judge Markaway would be honored to preside over this case (Maybe it'll get Rick to focus on poker rather than mooning over the detective or sulking because he messed up.) Doc Holloway would happily evaluate the not-a-couple (he had notes already started.) Witnesses were lined up and giddy with anticipation. The only thing needed was ultimate approval.

"Doctor Parish, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Lanie smiled as she stepped into Roy Montgomery's office. Beckett and Castle were off to lunch, and the boys had given her the all clear to put the final piece in place.

"I need to ask a favor, Sir." At Roy's raised eyebrows, she elaborated, "For Kate."

"Is there a reason why Detective Beckett can't ask me herself?"

Lanie scoffed, "You know Beckett. She'd never ask for anything she needs." Montgomery looked at her pointedly, and Lanie got on with it, "She may or may not know that I'm asking for her…"

The man hummed. "And what would this favor be, Doctor?"

"She's gonna need the next week off."

"Oh? Is she injured? Family issue?"

"Personal issue."

"Is she sick?"

"No, but the rest of us sure are," the doctor murmured, causing Montgomery to finally break.

A grin spread across his mustached face as he assured her, "I know all about your plan, Doctor Parish, and I think it's a damn fine one." When Lanie's eyes widened, Roy explained, "Markaway is a good man, great judge, but personally, he's not so tight-lipped."

"D'Beckett and Castle know?"

"Not a bit. Beckett can have the time, the rest of her team, too. I'd have to force her to take the time soon anyway." Lanie smiled and started to turn away when Roy added, "And I want in. I'll testify. I'd do about anything at this point to knock some sense into that detective. Brightest cop I've ever seen I swear, but when it comes to her own life, she never puts the pieces together right."

"Don't I know it."

Roy grinned a fatherly grin. "Clean up that tension in my precinct and I might just end up owing you another favor."

A/N: Leave your favorite Caskett moments in your reviews and I'll do my best to include them. Seriously, I want input here.