Reborn in Castle (TV show)

[Three days later]

[The Old Haunt]

Night settled over The Old Haunt with rain tapping against the front windows and neon light spilling across the wet sidewalk outside. The bar looked better than it had a few weeks ago, though better was doing a lot of generous work. Half the wall near the pool table had fresh paint, the counter had been polished until the old wood showed some pride again, and the jukebox finally played music without sounding like it was begging for mercy.

Still, the place had its usual crowd.

Off-duty cops filled two booths near the back. A couple of lawyers sat near the corner pretending they were here for the atmosphere instead of cheap whiskey. Ryan and Esposito had taken over one end of the counter, drinking beers while watching Castle stare across the room like a man witnessing history betray him personally.

The source of his suffering occupied a booth near the windows.

Kate and Travis were sitting at a booth near the window.

They were laughing.

That was the problem.

Castle had noticed it five minutes after walking in, which was about four minutes longer than he usually needed to notice anything involving Beckett.

A few months ago, Beckett would have spent half the evening correcting Castle's theories or threatening bodily harm whenever he annoyed her. Now she sat across from Travis, looking relaxed and comfortable. Every now and then she laughed at something he said, and Travis would answer with that annoyingly confident smile of his.

Castle slowly lowered his glass and narrowed his eyes. He didn't like how much he noticed that smile.

Ryan noticed first.

Esposito noticed Ryan noticing.

Then both detectives exchanged the same look.

Castle was doomed.

Castle slid onto the stool beside them without taking his eyes off the booth. "Gentlemen," he said, trying very hard to sound casual and failing with impressive commitment, "I have a question."

Ryan took one look at his face and immediately sat up straighter, already enjoying himself. "This is about Beckett and Travis, isn't it?"

Castle whipped his head toward him. "What? No. Why would this be about Beckett and Travis? I didn't even say Beckett and Travis. You said Beckett and Travis, which frankly says more about your mind than mine."

Esposito lifted his beer and took a slow sip. "Bro, you've been staring at them like Travis stole your first edition manuscript."

Castle scoffed and adjusted his jacket. "I'm a writer, so observation falls under my profession. That is how art happens."

Ryan leaned closer with fake concern. "You've been observing for too long. At some point, that stops being observation."

Castle pointed at him sharply. "What are you, a prosecutor?"

Esposito glanced toward the booth again. Kate was listening to Travis with a faint smile, her fingers resting around her glass. Travis leaned back as he spoke, comfortable enough to look like he belonged there. Espo let out a thoughtful hum, slow enough to be cruel.

"They do look pretty comfortable together."

Castle went still. "Comfortable how?"

Ryan exchanged a quick glance with Esposito. Both men made the same silent decision at exactly the same time.

Ryan shrugged like he was trying to be fair. "I mean, I saw them leave the precinct together yesterday. They went to a bar alone. Who knows what happened last night?"

Castle's mouth opened a little. "A bar?"

Esposito nodded with grave seriousness. "A bar, drinks, late-night conversation, post-case adrenaline, rain outside and low lighting. That is a classic setup."

Castle turned toward him slowly. "Why did you say that like the opening scene of a romance novel?"

"Because I know my audience," Esposito replied.

Castle looked back at the booth. Kate lifted her glass while saying something, and Travis answered with a small smile of his own. They did not lean into anything dramatic. They simply looked easy together, and somehow that made the whole thing worse.

Castle's eyes narrowed.

Ryan followed his gaze and made a sympathetic sound that did not sound sympathetic at all. "That looks serious."

Castle glanced at him. "What looks serious?"

"The talking."

"The talking?" Castle repeated.

Ryan nodded. "That comfortable, low-voice, late-night detective talking."

Esposito added, "The kind that happens when two people understand the same dark stuff."

Castle stared at him. "You two are enjoying this."

"A little," Espo admitted.

Ryan held up two fingers close together. "A responsible amount."

Castle dragged a hand down his face. "This is ridiculous. Beckett and I have history."

Ryan blinked innocently. "History?"

"Yes, history."

Esposito nodded like he was trying very hard to follow. "What kind of history?"

Castle gestured vaguely with both hands. "Banter, chemistry, danger, partnership and meaningful looks beside corpses."

Ryan looked toward Kate and Travis again. "They have those too."

Castle stiffened. "They do?"

Espo nodded. "Plus sparring."

Castle stared at him. "Sparring?"

Ryan looked far too pleased. "Three times a week from what I heard."

Castle's expression shifted from jealousy to horror. "Three times a week? Beckett and Travis are rolling around on mats three times a week?"

Esposito lifted one shoulder. "Training is important."

Castle leaned back like someone had just told him the moon had filed for divorce. "I thought she jogged. I can compete with jogging. I own sneakers."

Ryan looked down at Castle's polished shoes.

Castle followed his gaze and immediately corrected himself. "I own stylish sneakers."

Espo leaned against the counter with the calm confidence of a man about to commit conversational murder. "Look, Castle, you're a great guy. Funny, rich, creative, famous."

Castle slowly nodded, clearly waiting for the compliment to continue.

Esposito continued with a straight face. "But Travis is a fine detective. Beckett and Travis share the badge, the job, the danger, the stubbornness, and the whole intense crime-solving thing. You've any idea how many cases he solved so far? We even got a budget increase thanks to him."

Ryan nodded along. "And he's good-looking."

Castle's eyebrows shot up. "I'm good-looking."

"Sure," Espo said. "In a mature way."

Castle blinked. "Mature?"

Ryan looked at him with fake hesitation. "Distinguished."

Castle leaned forward. "Why did you say distinguished like I need a walking stick?"

Espo made a pained face, as if he were trying to be gentle. "And Travis is younger."

Castle stared at him.

Ryan added quietly, "Very athletic too."

Castle turned to him next. "I am athletic. I fence. Occasionally."

"Against your daughter," Espo said.

"Daughter with swords," Castle replied.

Ryan tilted his head. "Plastic swords?"

Castle lifted one finger, then lowered it again because the argument had died before reaching court.

Espo glanced at Castle's forehead and squinted. "You know, I think the stress is starting to show."

Castle went very still. "What stress?"

Ryan leaned in, pretending to inspect his face. "Around the eyes."

Castle touched the corner of one eye immediately. "Around the eyes?"

Esposito nodded slowly, his expression solemn. "Wrinkles."

Castle stared at him as if Espo had just announced the end of civilization. Because he is a wealthy, high-maintenance celebrity author, Castle is unapologetically vain and highly invested in maintaining what he frequently calls his "ruggedly handsome" looks. He often participates in luxury skincare and facial treatments. So, he nearly had a mini-stroke when Espo said 'Wrinkles'.

"Wrinkles?" he repeated, far too loudly.

Several people near the bar turned their heads.

Kate looked over from the booth, brows lifting slightly. Travis looked amused already, like he had heard exactly enough to know Castle was suffering and wanted the rest of the show.

Castle lowered his voice while pointing between Ryan and Esposito. "I don't have wrinkles. I take facial treatments every week. So, it's impossible."

Ryan patted Castle's shoulder with the kind of sympathy that only made things worse. "Sure. But don't worry, Castle. You still have charm."

Castle looked wounded. "Still?"

Esposito nodded. "Yeah, like vintage charm."

--

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[20 advance chs] + [Modern Family: 23 chs Early access]