Reborn in Castle (TV show)

[One Month Later | Noon]

The sun sat high over the city, casting a warm glow across the rooftop. The breeze was pleasantly cool today. The place had that quiet midday charm, not too crowded, just a soft hum of conversation and the occasional clink of cutlery. Travis sat across from Lanie, one arm resting along the back of his chair while the other circled his glass, turning it slowly against the tabletop.

Lanie sat back in her seat. She wore a blue shirt and jeans. She noticed how Travis was looking at her with that gaze that says he's thinking something too hard. "You've been quiet for the last five minutes," she said, tilting her head slightly as she studied him. "That usually means you're either thinking too much or about to say something complicated."

Travis let out a small breath, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "Is it that obvious?"

"It is when it's you," she replied, setting her fork down and folding her arms loosely across the table. "So, which one is it?"

He hesitated for a second, then leaned forward, elbows resting on the table as his tone shifted into something more serious. "I've just been thinking about… us. About what we've been doing this past month."

Lanie's expression didn't change much, though there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "Okay," she said slowly. "And?"

Travis rubbed the back of his neck, searching for the right words. "I guess I'm trying to figure out where we stand. You know, what this is supposed to be." He glanced at her briefly before holding her gaze again. "Because right now, it kind of feels like we're somewhere in between. Not exactly casual, not exactly serious either."

She watched him for a moment, then leaned back again, one brow lifting slightly. "Is something wrong with how things are going?"

"No," Travis answered quickly, shaking his head as he straightened up. "No, nothing's wrong. That's not it." He paused, choosing his words more carefully this time. "I like spending time with you, if I'm being honest. It's just… the way things have been going, it feels a lot like a really good… arrangement." He gave a small, almost self-conscious shrug. "Like a very consistent booty call with great conversation and occasional food involved."

Lanie let out a soft laugh at that, shaking her head as she reached for her drink. "Well, when you put it like that, it sounds way less glamorous than it feels."

"I'm serious," he said, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I just want to avoid making assumptions or finding ourselves on completely different wavelengths without even realizing it."

She took a slow sip, then placed the glass down and leaned in, her voice steady yet straightforward. "That's a fair question," she said, tracing her fingers lightly along the edge of the table as she locked eyes with him. "I really enjoy what we have right now. It's easygoing, fun, and it doesn't carry the weight of a lot of expectations."

Travis listened without interrupting, his expression steady.

"I'm not looking to get tied down into something serious," she continued, her voice softer now but still firm. "Not right now. My life is already… complicated enough with work, and I like having something that feels… uncomplicated." A faint smile touched her lips. "And you fit into that really well."

He nodded slowly, absorbing that.

"That doesn't mean I don't enjoy being with you," she added, her gaze softening just a little. "Because I do. A lot. I just don't want to complicate things more than they need to be."

Travis leaned back in his chair, taking a quiet breath as he processed her words. His face showed no frustration, just a calm contemplation. "So, what you're saying is… let's keep things as they are for now?"

"For the time being," Lanie replied, offering a small nod. "If things shift later on, we can discuss it then. I just don't want to rush into putting a label on it just because it feels like we ought to."

He watched her for a second, then a faint smile returned to his face. "You know, most people would've panicked halfway through that conversation."

She smirked, resting her chin lightly on her hand. "Most people aren't me."

"Yeah," he said, a quiet chuckle escaping him. "That's kind of the problem."

Her smirk softened into something warmer as she reached across the table, her fingers brushing lightly against his. "Is that a problem you want to walk away from?"

Travis glanced down at her hand for a moment, then back up at her, his expression steady again. "No," he said simply. "Not even close."

"Good," she replied, squeezing his fingers briefly before pulling her hand back. "Then relax, Detective. You're allowed to enjoy something without trying to solve it like a case file."

He shook his head with a quiet laugh, the tension easing from his shoulders. "I'll try to remember that."

"You better," she said, picking up her fork again. "Because if you start overanalyzing every lunch date, I might have to demote you back to strictly nighttime visits."

Travis leaned forward slightly, a playful glint returning to his eyes. "That sounds less like a threat and more like a scheduling adjustment."

Lanie laughed, the sound light and easy as the city stretched out behind them. "Careful," she said. "Keep talking like that and I might actually mean it."

"Noted," he replied, raising his glass in a small, casual toast before taking a sip.

...

...

[A few days later] [Gym/Dojo]

A few days later, the gym echoed with the dull rhythm of gloves hitting pads and shoes scraping against the mat. The place smelled faintly of rubber and sweat, the kind of atmosphere that kept things honest.

Kate circled lightly on the balls of her feet, her eyes locked on Travis as she feinted left and came in with a quick jab. He slipped it without effort, his body moving on instinct more than thought, then tapped her shoulder in return like he was reminding her he could have done more.

"Captain hasn't stopped smiling since the audit wrapped," Kate said as she reset her stance and threw a sharper combination, testing him this time. "I don't think I've ever seen him that relaxed."

Travis blocked, redirected, and stepped just out of range before answering, his breathing steady. "That's because half the cold cases that were gathering dust suddenly got cleared. Makes the paperwork look a lot cleaner when someone actually does the digging."

Kate smirked and came in low, aiming for his ribs. "Someone meaning you."

He caught her wrist mid-motion and nudged her back a step. "Team effort," he replied, though the slight grin gave him away.

She rolled her eyes and circled again, her movements sharper now. "Yeah, sure. Funny how the 'team effort' always seems to have your name on the final report."

Travis shrugged casually, though his attention never slipped. "I just hate unfinished work. It sits there, bothering me."

Kate watched him closely as she moved, her gaze narrowing just a fraction. "You also hate sitting still, which explains why you took on three old cases at once like some kind of lunatic."

He smirked. "Worked out, didn't it? Auditor signed off, budget's getting bumped, and the Captain finally stopped hovering over everyone's shoulders."

"Budget increase is the best part," Kate said, stepping in again with a quick one-two. "New equipment, more resources, maybe even more personnel if we're lucky."

Travis deflected both strikes with minimal effort, then stepped back, giving her space. "You planning to put in a request list already?"

"I've had one ready for months," she shot back, then paused for a beat, studying him again. "You're distracted."

He raised an eyebrow, genuinely amused. "I just countered everything you threw at me without breaking a sweat."

Kate raised an eyebrow and gave him that look that says: I know something's wrong? Out with it, Wilson.

Travis let out a quiet breath and rolled his shoulders. "Fine, I'm just thinking."

"About?" Kate pressed, not letting it slide as she shifted her weight forward again.

He didn't answer right away, which was answer enough.

Kate didn't push verbally this time. Instead, she moved in fast, closing the distance and going straight for a grapple, hooking her arm around his shoulder and trying to throw off his balance.

Travis reacted instantly. His hand caught her forearm, his body pivoting with controlled precision as he stepped in instead of back. In one smooth motion, he reversed the hold, shifted his weight, and used her own momentum against her.

Kate felt the shift too late.

The next second, she was on the mat with Travis holding her down in a clean counter-grapple, his knee pinning her just enough to keep control without applying real pressure.

He glanced down at her, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. "You jumped the gun a bit too early," he said, his voice steady as if he were walking her through a simple math problem. "Your center of gravity got thrown off the moment you leaned in. That made it easy to turn the tables."

Kate let out a breath, more annoyed at herself than him. "You're insufferable when you're right."

He loosened his hold and stepped back, offering her a hand. "You telegraphed it. Gave me time to read the move before you even locked it in."

She grabbed his hand and pulled herself up. "Or maybe you're just annoyingly good at this."

"Bit of both," he said with a light shrug.

Kate studied him again, this time more directly. "So, you gonna tell me what's actually on your mind, or do I need to throw you on the floor next time to get it out of you?"

Travis let out a quiet laugh, though it didn't fully hide the thoughtful look in his eyes. "It's nothing work-related."

"That narrows it down," she replied dryly.

He hesitated for a second, then spoke more casually. "Just… figuring out where I stand with someone."

Kate's expression shifted, a hint of recognition crossing her face. "Lanie."

He didn't deny it.

She folded her arms, leaning slightly against the padded wall. "And?"

Before he could answer, her phone rang.

Kate walked up to the bench near the wall and took her phone out of her gym bag. "Yeah, Beckett here." She listened for a moment before nodding. "Okay. I'm on my way."

She cut the call before turning toward Travis.

"Another body?" Travis asked.

"Yeah, at Central Park," Kate replied with a nod.

--

Find me in the link below for advance chapters: https://unknownmaster.carrd.co/

[22 advance chs] + [Modern Family: 13 chs Early access]