It's official-I have no self-control. I was going to wait until this story was finished before posting it, because I didn't want to make you guys wait long for updates. But I'm so excited about this story (it's one of 3 chapters I've written since I posted my last fic-my muse went into hiding for a LONG time) that I couldn't wait any more. I've written the first two chapters and hope to get the last two done soon. For those of you who watched 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman' this is inspired by the perfume episode from season 1. For those who didn't, you should be able to find clips on YouTube. I didn't make this a crossover fic because the only part I used was a guest character and her special perfume. In this fic Superman is nothing more than a comic book, TV and movie character. There really is a town called Metropolis, in Illinois. They have a lot of tourist stuff regarding Superman you can find out about from their town website.

One other thing-Kate is OOC in most of this story. That is INTENTIONAL. If you haven't seen the perfume episode, I recommend looking up those clips before reading this story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle, obviously. I also don't own Superman. Although I would LOVE to meet Dean Cain. Almost as much as I'd love to meet Stana Katic. :) Oh, and I share a birthday with Dean Cain. (And Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling) How cool is that?

"Castle's going to be sorry he missed this," Ryan told Esposito as the two detectives watched Kate dealing with their latest suspect.

"Missed what?" Castle asked, planting his hands on the back of the detectives' chairs and leaning forward to get a closer look. His eyes widened when his gaze landed on the suspect. "Is that-?"

"Morgan Fairchild?" Esposito said. "No. Just a look-alike."

"Name's Miranda Chambers," Ryan filled the writer in. "She owns a perfume shop in Metropolis."

"It gets better," Esposito said. "It turns out there is a real couple named Lois Lane and Clark Kent who live just down the street from her. Apparently the couple changed their names when they got together to capitalize on the fame of Superman. Ms. Chambers had a run in with them back in Metropolis. She did time for stalking Kent."

"So what's her connection to the case?" Castle wanted to know.

"Mr. Kent, formally Barry Reece, is our vic's brother," Ryan told him.

"His twin brother," Esposito added. "Identical. And our suspect dated good old Barry when they were in high school."
"I'm guessing it didn't end well?"

"First run-in with the law was when she TP'd his house after he dumped her," Esposito confirmed.

"The night before their senior prom," Ryan added.

Castle winced. "Ouch. He's lucky that's all she did. When I-"

Kate's voice raised in barely restrained frustration interrupted whatever the writer was about to say. "Your perfume? You think THAT'S going to help you?"

Perfume? Castle mouthed.

Ryan and Esposito shrugged.

"It will get me exactly what I want," Miranda said confidently.

Kate's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "And what is that?"

"Revenge."

Castle smiled at the way Kate rolled her eyes.

Miranda let out a mocking chuckle. "I've read that last novel Rick Castle wrote. It's based on you, isn't it? Tell me, Detective-just what is your relationship with Mr. Castle?"

Castle couldn't help shaking his head. If she wouldn't admit anything to him, what made this Miranda think that she would admit anything to her?

Kate gave a mocking laugh of her own. "And what makes you think that's any business of yours?"

"I just thought you might like to know-that perfume I sprayed you with before caught up with me? It causes a person to lose ALL her inhibitions."

Castle couldn't hold back his delighted gasp. Thankfully Kate couldn't hear it.

Kate narrowed her eyes into a dangerous glare. "I already know that's a lie. After all, you're still in one piece."

He gulped. Kate had a point. Maybe losing all her inhibitions wouldn't be a good thing.

"I can prove it to you," Miranda insisted. "All you need to do is see Mr. Castle or hear his voice."

Castle had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"And why is that?"

He had a feeling Kate did, too.

"The main ingredient in the perfume is a high concentration of pheromones," Miranda explained. "The effects are localized. You will act normally until you come in contact with a man you have strong feelings for. And you do have strong feelings for him, don't you?"

Castle didn't dare breathe, not wanting the slightest sound to cause him to miss her response.

Kate smirked. "I think we're done here."

Castle was irritated at the sliver of disappointment that ran through him. He knew better than to get his hopes up where Kate Beckett was concerned. The woman guarded her emotions as fiercely as she did the people of Manhattan. It would probably take a perfume like that for her to ever admit that she felt anything for him.

The writer didn't bother to wait for Kate before grabbing the two cups of coffee he had set on a nearby table and heading to his usual waiting place, the chair next to her desk.

Castle had been playing Angry Birds for only a couple minutes when he felt a soft, feminine hand on his shoulder. Sure it was Kate he looked up at her, his gaze focusing in on the soft smile on her lips.

"Thanks for the coffee, Castle," she held up the cup in her other hand as she spoke. "You're so sweet." Her hair tickled his chin when she leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

Castle watched with suspicious eyes as she sat, bringing her chair much closer to him than she usually did. Was there some truth to the effects of the perfume? Or did she know he had been in the observation room and had decided to tease him a little?

Castle jerked when he felt one of Kate's hands rest lightly on his knee. He gave her a questioning look but the detective wasn't even looking in his direction. Instead, she seemed completely focused on the paperwork she had just begun filling out.

So he waited. Any second she would look over at him with that amused smile that told him she had just pulled one over on him.

One minute passed.

Then another.

And another.

On it went until a good fifteen minutes had passed with Castle staring at Kate while she worked.

Which was also odd. Normally she would have snapped at him that staring was 'creepy' and demanded that he stop. But she still hadn't even looked in his direction. Or moved her hand.

"Kate?"

Kate looked over at him with that same soft smile she had graced him with earlier. "What, Castle?"

"Ummm…are you okay?"

"Never better," Kate replied. "Why do you ask?"

"I've been watching you do paperwork for the last fifteen minutes and you haven't said a word," he said.

Or removed your hand from my knee.

But he wasn't going to mention that.

"You've been quiet and haven't distracted me," Kate said with a shrug. "It's not a problem."

"Not a problem?" Castle didn't bother to try to hide his shock. "You've said it's creepy. Repeatedly."

"It used to be," Kate admitted her tone thoughtful. "But if you can be entertained enough by simply watching me, I don't see the harm."

"You don't-"

"It's fine, Castle," Kate said and gave his knee a light squeeze before turning back to her paperwork.

Either Kate was taking this joke farther than she'd ever taken a joke before….

Or that perfume was working.

I have missed my muse so much! I'm glad she's back. So what did you guys think of this one?

Also, I'm working on a fic with Celeste J. Evans and SheWhoTangles called 'Armed & Dangerous.' It's on Celeste's page. We came up with the idea when I was PLEADING with them for spoilers on the LA episode. I didn't get spoilers, but we did get a story out of it. :)