A/N: Welcome to #CastleFicMonday. Every Monday, starting from season 1, I will endeavor to add a chapter to this story. Ratings, missing scenes, AU looks, post episodes... it's all fair game here, but I promise that most stories will be Castle/Beckett centric. Okay, let's get this party started!

Gaps: Flowers For Your Grave S01E01

Rated: T.

"You're limping," the detective noticed as they made their way out of the alley.

"Do I detect a hint of concern for my well being, detective?" Castle flirted back, smug smile on his face.

"The only concern I have is how much paperwork this is going to create for me," she shot back at him, but his smile never faltered for a second. It was infuriating, and he still hadn't addressed the issue. "So, are you going to tell me what happened, or do I need to pull your shoe off and do it myself."

"Ah, it's nothing," he said bravely, waving a dismissive hand.

Who was she to argue, really? Rolling her eyes, she took in the scene of all the police vehicles, some pulled right up onto the sidewalk, others double parking and creating a traffic nightmare. Throwing the writer to the deep end of her mind, she started barking out orders to fix the mess and get CSU in the apartment upstairs, and into the alley to gather all the shredded evidence that was undoubtedly blowing away by now. Fortunately, the breeze was light, a barely there kiss to the cheek, just like Castle's…

Fuck, she thought to herself. She turned back to him and found that he was watching her every move. It was just a little unnerving, but being in a man's world, she was used to being watched, and she took great pleasure in showing up her counterparts.

"You're going to have to give a statement." It wasn't a question, but it wasn't an order, either. It was a simple statement of fact. "We could do it here, or in the precinct."

Castle looked around, weighing his options. He'd really like to give his statement in a five-star restaurant, but this was her no nonsense persona speaking, and perhaps this would be that one time where he stuck within the choices she had given him. "Here is fine."

"Okay. Let me just get my book," she said, turning on the spot to head for her cruiser. She grabbed her notepad from the dash and turned to find Castle had hobbled after her. "Okay, enough. Let me see your foot."

"Normally I have a few dates with a woman before I discover that kind of fetish," he responded with a cross between a wince and a smirk.

Beckett gritted her teeth, pointing to the passenger seat of her cruiser. He sat down and kicked off his shoe. Blood soaked through the bottom of his sock and undoubtedly ruined the expensive shoe. "Ugh, these cost a fortune," he growled.

"Yeah," Beckett observed, "probably enough to feed a small village."

Castle narrowed his eyes at her, just for a second and pulled off his sock. "How bad is it?" Beckett scoffed, and left. "Hey, where are you going?"

She only went to the trunk of her car, pulling free a first aid kit. Returning to him, she knelt down and rummaged around for what she needed. At least he had the decency to keep his mouth shut whilst she was bandaging his foot. "It's only a scratch; you won't need stitches," she muttered. "You probably stepped in glass; and what the hell were you doing with your shoe off, anyway?"

"I… dropped… a key. Yeah, a key. Just a plain old, normal key."

"A key?" she muttered, disbelievingly. Castle could see the wheels turning in her head as she stared at him, and that was the sexiest thing he had ever seen. Then, she let out a deeply offended gasp as she figured it out. It was one of the things that had been on her mind - how did he get out of them? "You have a handcuff key?!" Beckett thrust her hand out at him. "Give it to me. Now."

"I wouldn't have needed it if you hadn't handcuffed me, again." Her hand didn't move, and her glare didn't waver. "Oh, come on," he muttered to himself while fishing for his wallet. He put the key in her palm, watching her delicate fingers closing over it. She really was a mystery. "You know I have more of those at home, right?"

Another scoff, she packed up her first aid kit. "Put on your shoe."

After getting his statement, which felt like she was pulling out her own teeth at times, they were finally finished. She closed her notepad and set it down on the dash of her cruiser.

"Hey look," Castle started, shoving his hands into his pockets, "about earlier, when we were going through my mail, I just wanted to say that… uh, if I overstepped…"

No. No. They weren't doing this. Beckett shook her head at him, stopping his words. "Forget it, Castle."

"No really…" he pressed again, only to be stopped once more by the shrill sound of his ringtone. He looked at her for a moment before pulling out the phone. "I should take this," he said, noting it was Alexis. Excusing himself, he turned to walk a few feet away from the detective.

As it turned out, she wanted to have a sleepover at her friends place, and he agreed readily. "I'll just be up all night. You know… writing."

"Or trying to," Alexis sassed him. "OKay, I have to go. I love you."

"Love you, too, pumpkin." Hanging up and putting the phone back into his pocket, he came back towards Beckett, who seemed too absorbed in what was happening around her to notice.

"Hem, hem." When she turned, yeah, he had to admit that was pretty sexy. She even offered him a small smile, so he supposed that was progress.

"Well, I guess this is it," she said… grateful the experience was coming to an end.

"Well… it doesn't… have to be. We could uh… go to dinner. Debrief each other."

"Why Castle?" she asked, smiling. She was flattered, really. "So I can be another one of your conquests."

"Or I could be one of yours," he shot back, and she was sorely tempted, her lip trapped between her teeth. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to just take that leap, because when Saturday night rolls around, she knew where she'd be otherwise. Home and alone.

But, she knew what she should do, and slowly, her expression changed to that of a cordial one. "It was nice to meet you, Castle," she said offering her hand to him.

Put in his place, he respectfully took her hand in his, giving it a firm pump. "That's too bad," he said. "It would have been great." For a second, she had no idea if he was talking about dinner, sex or something beyond that. She bit her lip again, still tempted and wishing he would push her just a little bit more. She can't go back now, she's already declined. She already established a dynamic with him that she just can't seem to shut off.

So, she leans into him. After they way he drove her crazy today, if this was the only way she could return that favor, she was going to. "You have no idea," she said to the shell of his ear and stepped back. The look on his face made her want to take it all back, rewind the last minute and accept the offer.

But the words were out, but as she stepped away from him, she knew it was for the better. She didn't want to be a notch on his bedpost.

Still, she was tempted.