Reborn in Castle (TV show)

The beach club was crowded without feeling packed. Colored lights moved across the open dance floor while people danced beneath the warm night sky. A DJ stood near the far end, changing tracks while bartenders worked quickly behind a long counter near the beach.

Kate looked toward the dancers, then back at Travis with a smile. "You're dancing with me."

Travis glanced toward the crowded floor. "That sounded less like an invitation and more like an order."

"You told me I could take control sometimes," Kate reminded him as she caught his hand. "Consider this your first instruction."

Travis allowed her to pull him toward the dance floor. "I thought that talk involved a very different setting."

Kate looked back over her shoulder, clearly enjoying herself. "Stop talking and follow me."

They moved into the crowd as the music changed to something faster. Kate raised her arms and started moving with the rhythm, her red dress shifting around her legs while the lights passed over her face.

Travis stood beside her for a moment and watched.

She looked completely free.

There was no tension in her shoulders and no fear hiding behind her eyes. She wasn't thinking about the precinct, the tunnel, the school shooting, or the therapy sessions waiting back in New York. She simply moved with the music and laughed whenever someone nearby almost bumped into her.

Travis couldn't take his eyes off her.

Kate noticed after a while and moved closer, placing both hands against his chest while she continued dancing. "You planning to join me, or are you going to keep staring all night?"

"I'm enjoying the view," Travis replied as he rested his hands against her waist. "You look happy."

Kate's expression softened slightly. "I am happy."

"That looks good on you."

She smiled and moved closer until their bodies followed the same rhythm. Travis began dancing beside her, keeping one hand against her waist while she turned beneath his arm and came back against him.

Kate laughed when he tried copying one of her movements and nearly lost his balance. "Careful, Detective. Your doctor might add dancing to the forbidden list."

"My doctor isn't here," Travis replied as he pulled her closer again. "Besides, what happens in Bali stays in Bali."

"Unless you hurt yourself and I have to call him."

"That would be a terrible end to the evening."

They continued dancing through several songs. Sometimes Kate stayed close enough that her arms rested around his neck. Other times, she moved a few steps away and let herself enjoy the music without worrying about whether anyone was watching.

Travis kept watching anyway.

He had seen Kate confident at crime scenes, stubborn during arguments, and determined enough to push through injuries that would have kept most people in bed. This version of her felt different. She smiled without restraint, moved without hesitation, and looked like she had finally given herself permission to enjoy being alive.

Kate turned and caught him staring again.

She walked back toward him and rested one hand against his shoulder. "You're doing it again."

"What exactly am I doing?"

"Looking at me like you've never seen me before."

Travis leaned closer so she could hear him clearly. "I've never seen you like this before."

Kate looked at him for a second, then smiled. "You mean dancing?"

"I mean completely relaxed," Travis replied. "You're not reading every person in the area, or waiting for your phone to ring."

Kate glanced around the place before looking back at him. "My phone is turned off inside the villa, and I'm several thousand miles away from Captain Montgomery."

"You should do this more often."

"Dance in Bali?"

"Let yourself breathe."

Kate's expression warmed as she slid her arms around his neck. "Maybe I just needed the right company."

Travis smiled and kissed her gently. The people around them kept dancing while Kate stayed close for another moment, resting her forehead against his.

They stayed on the dance floor until the song ended. When the music changed again, Travis leaned closer to Kate.

"I'm getting hungry," he said. "And I think I've danced enough for one night."

Kate smiled as she rested one hand against his chest. "Is your back bothering you?"

"It's starting to ache a little," Travis admitted. "Nothing serious, but sitting down for a while sounds good." He wanted to hide it and act like some alpha who doesn't know what pain is, but with Kate, he can let his guard down and just be honest.

"I told you not to push yourself."

"I know, but you looked like you were having fun."

Kate's expression softened when she heard that. She slipped her arm around his waist as they walked away from the dance floor.

"I was having fun," she said. "Still, you could've told me you were getting tired."

"I didn't want to interrupt you."

"You won't ruin my evening by taking care of yourself."

Travis looked at her as they made their way toward the exit. "I'll remember that next time."

"You'd better remember it."

They left the beach club and walked into the seafood restaurant beside it. The restaurant had an open dining area facing the beach, with wooden tables arranged beneath a wide roof. Most of the tables were occupied, though the place remained calm enough for them to talk without raising their voices.

A hostess greeted them near the entrance and led them to a table near the outer railing.

Travis pulled out Kate's chair before sitting across from her. He adjusted his position carefully, trying to find an angle that didn't put too much pressure on his back.

Kate noticed immediately.

"How bad is it?" she asked.

"Not that bad," Travis replied. "I just need to sit for a while."

Kate placed her purse beside her chair and gave him a serious look. "You'll tell me if it gets worse."

"I promise I'll tell you."

"You said that very quickly."

"That's because I knew you'd keep asking until I agreed."

Kate smiled faintly and opened the menu. "At least you're learning."

A waiter approached and placed two glasses of water on the table. He handed them the menus and explained that the restaurant's evening specials included grilled lobster, red snapper, butter garlic prawns, fried calamari, and a mixed seafood platter.

After the waiter walked away, Travis looked through the menu with growing interest.

"I'm getting the lobster," he said. "And probably the garlic prawns."

She looked at her menu. "I'm thinking about the grilled red snapper."

"That sounds good."

"It comes with coconut rice and vegetables."

Travis pointed toward the appetizer section. "We should also get the fried calamari."

The waiter returned with his notepad. Kate ordered the grilled red snapper with coconut rice and vegetables. She also asked for the fried calamari as an appetizer.

Travis ordered the grilled lobster, butter garlic prawns, and roasted potatoes.

The waiter finished writing and asked what they wanted to drink.

"I'll have the passion fruit cocktail," Kate said.

Travis looked briefly at the drinks menu. "I'll have a cold beer."

The waiter nodded and left with their order.

...

[15 minutes later]

[Meanwhile...]

Castle and Gina walked along the beach for a while before deciding to get something to eat. They crossed toward the nearby seafood restaurant and followed the hostess through the open dining area.

Castle glanced around while Gina spoke to the hostess about finding a table near the outer railing.

Then he saw Kate.

She sat across from Travis near the edge of the restaurant, smiling while she ate. Her red dress moved lightly in the evening breeze, and she looked more relaxed than Castle had seen her in a long time.

Travis said something quietly from across the table, and Kate's smile widened before she shook her head and reached for her drink.

Castle slowed without meaning to.

The small reaction lasted less than a second, but Gina noticed it immediately. She followed his gaze toward the table and recognized Kate from the stories, photographs, and brief meetings they had shared before.

"Isn't that Detective Beckett?" Gina asked as she looked back at Castle. "Should we say hello?"

Castle kept his eyes on Kate for another moment.

She looked happy beside Travis. There was no tension in her face and no guarded expression waiting behind her eyes. Travis looked comfortable with her, and Kate seemed comfortable with him in return.

Castle was glad she had found that.

He truly was.

Still, something tightened inside his chest when he watched them together. A part of him remembered all the late nights at the precinct, the arguments over impossible theories, and the moments when he had convinced himself there might eventually be something more between them.

Those feelings had never fully disappeared.

They had simply lost their place in her life.

Castle turned back toward Gina, who was still waiting for his answer.

"Let's not disturb them," he said calmly. "They're on vacation." He smiled, putting his arm around her waist. "And so are we. Let's enjoy ourselves."

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