First things first. THANK YOU NIC AND AMY from the bottom of my heart. You two are my beautiful balls of sunshine. Amy, you've spent hours upon hours pouring over this for me, editing it two, three, four times for me and never complaining ;) and Nic. Despite your busy schedule you found some time to look over this for me. This fic wouldn't be what it is without you both. Thank you :) xoxo

Dedicated to my beautiful friend, Alex. For everything you've done, for putting up with me, for making me laugh. You're an amazing friend and may we have another great year together (heart eyes emoji) Love you :)

Takes place during Undead Again. The missing scene between the precinct and the arrest at the parking structure.

"Still waiting on that proof of yours."

Kate huffs. This guy is such a dick. She can't wait to see him behind bars full time.

Beckett glances behind her at Castle, the imperceptible all systems go call told through just the flick of her eyes. It's reassuring to know that they haven't lost that, that despite whatever has shifted between them these past few weeks hasn't killed the them in well... them. She's not sure what has been going on with Castle these past few weeks. This morning when she called to tell him the location of the crime scene she realized she needed to get to the bottom of it herself. That maybe it's time for her to be the one to push.

He promised her always over a year ago. It's too late to back out of that promise now.

But now it feels like he's back, like whatever pulled him away from her those few weeks ago is no longer an issue, or rather, is one he's willing to hold off pushing for just a bit longer. This entire case Castle has been more himself, funny and participating. Not just stopping by (maybe) but then heading right back out for a scandalous liaison with some blonde bimbo who she's sure is only with him for his money. She understands somewhat after the conversation they had after they talked to Kyle in the hospital. He's upset with her, hurt because she hasn't made it clear how she feels about him or what exactly they're waiting for. Whatever happened she forgives him, whatever it was that tore him away from her, she forgives him.

It doesn't matter anymore because all she can think of is-will he forgive her?

Kate catches herself getting lost in thought and clears her throat. She needs to stay on task.

They have to appeal to Tom's baser instinct here – preservation of self – to get him to confess to drugging Kyle. This is their one play.

Castle may never admit it, but he's got acting in his genes. Beckett's sure that if Martha knew how well Castle's selling this, she'd be proud.

"Detective Esposito, please process Mr. Williams out," she begins, trying to keep a straight face. Tom is playing right into their game and she can't blow their cover. "And then after that you are on your own," she says, staring Tom dead in the eyes. She feels Castle hovering behind her, maybe subtly signaling for Esposito to take him away. They watch him walk off together, a slight skip in his step while he shakes his head.

"That guy is such a douche," Castle mutters, and the chuckle she gives is terse. He's much worse than that.

"Come on, we better go." Esposito gives her a nod, her cue to get to Tom's apartment building before they make it there. "We gotta get there before them and you need to change!"

"In the car," he supplies when they step on the elevator.

"No! Definitely not enough space in the back of my cruiser. You'll change when we get there."

"Where's Kyle's costume?" he asks as they head outside to the parking structure, his breathing a little heavy with excitement and with their steps in sync.

"It's in my trunk! Come on, we have to beat them there." Kate picks up her speed a bit as they near the car. Swift in unlocking the doors she slips in the car with Castle sliding in next to her on the passenger side. This is the first time they've been alone since their conversation in the hospital. She wonders if he notices too.

Energy is transferring from him to her, her adrenaline flowing faster, blood pumping harder, and she can hear the bass of her heartbeat thumping in her ears. How is it that he gets her so wound up over these stupid ideas? In vivid detail she recalls all the times Castle had a dumb idea, but the one she focuses on was the one that led to an intense make-out session she still dreams about to this day. Oh, the thought of that causes a wave of desire to wash over her body, she wants him so much more than she has in weeks, and it's almost as if all that built up longing is hitting her at once and she's powerless to control it, to fight it.

Beckett bites her lip, tries to look anywhere else but she fails, catches herself roaming her eyes over his body anyway, traveling up the thickness of his thighs. Even through the width of his coat Kate can make out the broadness of his chest. She clenches her thighs, her need for him flowing heavier by the second. Her grip on the steering wheel grows tighter, her knuckles turning white, and leans in towards it, as if to physically prevent herself from reaching out to touch him.

"Beckett, are you all right?" Castle furrows his brow (that is so cute) and seems to examine how her legs are clenched.

"Yeah," she exhales, sounds a little too high-pitched for her liking, and nods her head. When she glances at him again from her peripheral it's like he knows exactly what's going on with her, like he knows exactly what he does to her. "What?" she asks, too nervous, on edge from trying to contain herself.

Castle sits all the way back in his seat, folds his hands on his lap while he stares at her with that stupid little smug smirk that she just wants to kiss off his face. "Nothing."

When they arrive at Tom's building Castle's the first out of the car. It gives her a second, just a second to gain some control. She sucks in a deep breath, holding it for a moment before closing her eyes, dropping her shoulders, and breathing out. It just feels so good to be back in sync, to have butterflies in her stomach instead of knots. But if she can't get some space between them she won't be able to control herself any longer.

"Pop the trunk for me, Beckett." She almost, almost calls back "anything for you," until she catches it on the tip of her tongue. What is going on with her? She feels as if she's been drinking, had one too many to be able to think straight.

She's drunk on him. On Castle.

Oh, God.

After she pops the trunk and exits the car, Kate texts Esposito telling him they arrived and should be ready for the next step in a few.

ETA: Ten Minutes, he responds.

Great. She's alone with Castle for ten minutes. With her control slipping at the pace it is this won't be good, this is so not good because-

Shit.

He's taking his clothes off.

She should look away, she really, really should look away, but his arms; he should show his arms some more. They're amazing. She remembers being wrapped up in them when they shared that kiss too long ago. It's crazy how he could make her feel wanted and safe at the same time. Oh, she'd give anything to be ready to be in those arms right now.

Don't even get her started on his hard, broad shoulders and she imagines holding onto them for dear life as she rides him into-

Focus, Kate. Damn it.

"See something you like, Detective?" Castle asks, brow raised with that stupid smirk on his face again. She knows she's blushing when she turns away, out of embarrassment or to let him take his pants off she doesn't know, but she can't bring herself to care. Kate doesn't know if she's going to make it the rest of the night without confessing all of her desires. With her body. And he knows; one glance in his eyes and she knows he knows just what is going on here and he's enjoying every second of it. The bastard.

"Espo said, umm," damn her voice is shaky, "that they'll be here in ten minutes. You should hurry."

"Plenty of time?" he asks, voice raising a pitch as he fiddles with his clothes.

Just a moment later he comes to stand in front of her, a small clear bag in hand. "I don't have a mirror, think you can help me with my make-up?" he asks while holding out the bag that contains Kyle's zombie mask and make-up.

Kate rolls her eyes but takes the bag from his warm fingers. Castle settles against the car, his stance rigid as Kate stands between his legs to get close to his face. She tries not to let it get to her, but he's staring at her with those big blue eyes and he loves her and God, she just wants him in every way-

She smears black lipstick across his lips, gets rid of the temptation to press her mouth against his.

Jerking his head back on instinct, Castle yelps, "Ew, Beckett. You got it on my teeth."

"Oh, sorry, Castle," she says as she watches him swipe at his teeth, little black chunks of lipstick sticking on the tips of his fingers. But Kate's a little relieved that some of the tension has dissipated from his outburst. Another second of his teasing and she would've ended up…doing things. Dirty things.

"Be gentle with me. I've never worn make up before."

Beckett scoffs, raises her brow at him in question after handing him a tissue.

"Okay," he confesses, snatches the tissue out of her palm. "I've never worn it to this extent."

"Mhmm."

"Maybe once, as a vampire. But I've never done zombie before."

As she's using up the make-up and goes to inspect her work, Kate shakes her head, steps out from between his legs. "You need more than just the mask if we're going to pass you off as Kyle." Beckett grabs her purse from the trunk of her car and when she stands with him again, he's looking at himself in the side view mirror, turning his head this way and that to inspect her work.

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Your head is too big. You need more make up."

"More?" he scoffs, folds his arms across his chest for a moment before letting them fall.

"Don't worry, it looks good."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it. The boys are going to tease me about this. Nonstop."

"Well, serves you right," she says, smiling and tilting her head to the side just so. "From all the times you've teased them."

Castle huffs. "When have I teased them?"

"The diapers?"

Castle rolls his eyes, a habit she's sure he picked up from her, and folds his arms across his chest once again, indignant. "How could I not? They were outrun by someone double their age!"

"Payback's a bitch, huh?" When she's finished with the extra make-up and takes a step back to inspect her work again she stumbles, tripping over one of Castle's feet, but he catches her at her hips. His hands slide up to bracket her waist and his grip on her is so tight that she drops the bag of make-up, overwhelmed with a deep, searing need for him; and when she meets his eyes Kate finds the same desire reflected right back at her, as if he's not even trying to hide it anymore. The tension rises tenfold, intense as delicious energy travels back and forth between them.

The grip he has on her tightens, and he pulls her closer, knocks his pelvis into hers in a harsh kiss and she bites her lip, nervous and excited all at once. Her hands inch their way up his arms to wind around his neck, hands shaky as they meet skin. His eyes fly down to her lips and lipstick be damned she leans in, but just as they're about to kiss her stupid phone starts ringing, cracking the silence with its cacophonous shrill.

Kate feels him deflate beneath her fingers, his lips still just a mere inch from her own.

Never breaking eye contact, she fumbles the phone from her pocket, unlocks it with trembling fingers. "It's Esposito." Castle just nods, takes a mournful step away, disappointment evident in his steps.

"Beckett." Annoyance oozes from her voice when she answers the phone.

"Arriving at Tom's house now. So far, no sign of Kyle."

"Good. We'll be ready." When she hangs up she finds Castle tilting his head back to place the contacts in his eyes; they make them bluer and brighter, beautiful like orbs of light despite their creepy intentions.

"Espo's coming down the street. You ready?"

"Yeah, I think so," he responds as he puts on the grey wig. "Is this on straight?"

"Tilt it to the left a little." When he thinks he's good to go he gives her a thumbs up, but keeps his eyes averted.

Whatever has been going on these last few weeks with him, she thinks it was because he stopped waiting. But staring at him now she realizes that they both just need to be reminded of what they're waiting for. He needs to remember how great they are together.

And if that means tearing this wall the rest of the way down, then so be it.