#beckettshooha

The next week he spends in the Hamptons, so he'll never knowwhat she read during their week apart on that subway. But he pretends it's him.Just to boost his ego.

When he's back to Manhattan and using their regular line, heends up getting stuck riding it during peak hours, the cars being so packed,he's forced to stand. Castle grumbles his annoyance about the situation atfirst, but then he's met face to face with a copy of one of his Derrick Stormnovels. He glances over the cover and sees none other than his mystery girl.

"Missed you last week," she says without takingher eyes off his book. "Worried something had happened to you and I'dnever get to learn how this series ends."

+++

The first time she sees him on her line, her first thoughtis one of those "oh my god" moments when you realize you're in thepresence of someone famous. Or at least semi-famous in his case. Writers don'tget quite the same recognition as actors. But she's sure it's him. Positivethat she recognizes Richard Castle from his book jackets. She wishes she hadsomething for him to sign but all she has in her bag is the Stephen King novelshe's reading, and wow how awkward would that be? So she simply gets off at herstop, figuring she'll just get him to sign his next Derrick Storm novel at hisnext book signing like she always does.

The next day she realizes how truly small New York City iswhen she sees him get on the subway car and sit directly across from her. Andwonderful she's reading the King novel. But it's not like there's some unspokenrule where she can only read his work. She likes the whole genre; that'snormal. He's quite talkative today, chatting about the weather with the peoplearound him, earning some grunts and annoyed looks in return. People don't wantto be talked to on the subway, at least that's been her experience. Kate shootshim an amused look as she gets off at her stop, but she doesn't think henotices her.

A few days later, there he is again. Her headphones are inso she really doesn't pay much attention to him. But she swears she catches himstaring at her a couple of times.

On their fourth almost encounter, they're separated only bya Russian couple arguing over whether or not they'll be going to the Statue ofLiberty and Ellis Island tomorrow or Coney Island. She wants to catch Castle'sattention by chiming into their conversation using her semester abroad Russian,but she's too worried she'll butcher the sentence. Her verb conjugation isn't whatit used to be. And of course she has her Patterson book out today, having justfinished her King one. It's not her fault she's all caught up on Castle'sbooks. Where was he two months ago when his just came out and she was bringingthat on the subway every day? Out of the corner of her eye, she watches himtake out a notepad and start jotting down notes. She wonders if she'll find anodd Russian couple in his next novel.

By the time she starts bringing along a Storm novel to whip out just in case she sees Castle, he's nowhereto be found. Did he go back to taking that car service of his he talked aboutin an interview once? Is he off preparing for a book tour that really doesn'tline up with the last book release of his at all? No, of course not, okay. He'sprobably on vacation. Or just done with the subway. She guesses her dailyroutine of newfound entertainment is over.

A week later, she decides to reread the Storm series, all these run ins with the author having sparked it.She's stuck standing during peak hour, when none other than Richard Castle getson and steps right in front of her.

"Missed you last week," she says without takingher eyes off his book. "Worried something had happened to you and I'dnever get to learn how this series ends."

She watches his eyes grow wide as she finally lowers thebook.

"So you do know who I am," he says.

"And so you have taken notice of me."

"Richard Castle," he says, extending his hand toshake. "Although I assume you already know that."

"Kate Beckett," she says, shaking his hand."And I assume you've been wanting to know that."

"I have, I have. So tell me, Kate Beckett. What drawsyou to the mystery genre?"

"Hmm it's a bit of a long a story," she hums. "Andthe next stop is mine. But I know a great coffee place around the corner ofwhere I'm headed if you're interested."