FIC The Little Things
9/4/13 16:40![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shanachie_quillTitle: The Little Things
Characters: Javier Esposito/Kevin Ryan, Rick Castle, Kate Beckett
Fandom: Castle
Series: City Protectors
Written For: whogeek
Prompt: Castle Sentinel AU
Summary: Castle is an observer by nature and today he noticed there’s something a bit different about the two junior detectives he’s been sort of watching. He’s going to find out what it is, even if it gets him in hot water.
Rating: PG-13 (Interlude is NC-17)
Spoilers: minor through season 3
Warnings: Castle is nosy, Ryan and Esposito have a secret, Castle pushes a little too far sometimes
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me. Not making any money off this. Sentinel is based off the ‘90s TV show
Author's Note: I used to love the TV series The Sentinel, but I honestly never meant to write a story based in any way on it. Then whogeek started telling me about this idea. And well…y’all know how weak I am when she tells me an idea she has. And that I love to write things for her. And I was having such an issue with what I was attempting to write…so I started playing with the boys. And this is what happened. About halfway through there is a link to an interlude—I decided to try something new this time. You can read this entire story without reading that, but you can also read that and then come back and finish this. It’s up to you. That story is NC-17 though.
“Ten minutes,” Beckett called after her retreating junior detectives as Esposito herded Ryan towards the locker rooms.
“More like twenty,” Ryan called back. He tried to twist away from Esposito who was almost stepping on him as he tried to get as close as possible. “Would you stop that?”
“Fifteen,” Beckett bargained.
Ryan rolled his eyes as Esposito tried to undo his vest. “I’ll do my best. Javi!” he yelped as the other man almost shoved him through the door.
“Strip,” Esposito growled when the door closed behind them.
“Um, hell, no,” Ryan replied. “I’m fine. I didn’t even get hit in the vest. You. Are over reacting.”
“You were shot at.”
Ryan flicked him on the forehead. “Hello. Cop. It happens.”
Esposito pulled the smaller man towards him, rubbing his nose against Ryan’s cheek before burying it in the crook of his neck. “What were you thinking?” he murmured just loud enough for Ryan to hear.
Ryan dug his fingers into Esposito’s hips, just below his vest. “I was thinking I was doing my job and that you aren’t any more invulnerable than I am.”
“I really hate it when you do that,” Esposito muttered.
Ryan rolled his eyes, wishing again that Esposito’s hair was longer so he could move the other man’s head. “You do realize I also carry a gun. And I am capable of shooting it, right? I know we’ve had this discussion.”
Esposito licked a stripe along the side of Ryan’s neck. “I know you can. But you’re still mine to protect.”
“Stop. Licking. Me. At work.” Ryan got enough leverage to push him away. “I know I’m yours. But we’ve had this discussion. Remember? This works better when you let me do my job, too.”
The older man reached forward, running his hand through Ryan’s hair, and down the back of his neck. “You’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Javi. I promise. Not a scratch.”
“Okay.” Esposito looked at him again, as if trying to decide if he could trust his answer.
Ryan flicked him on the forehead again. “And stop trying to lie detector me.”
Esposito pouted at him. “I wasn’t.”
He laughed in response. “You shouldn’t pout. It doesn’t fit you at all.” Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss across the other man’s lips. “Do you really want to check me over?”
“I’d feel better,” Esposito told him.
Ryan sighed and ripped the Velcro open on his vest, pulling it over his head. He was unbuttoning his shirt when the door to the room they were using opened. Esposito turned with a growl to see Castle poking his head in. The author held up his hands. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt anything. Beckett wants you out in the bullpen. She finished the board.”
“Don’t you knock, Castle?” Esposito demanded.
“Well, I didn’t really think I needed to,” Castle replied. “I didn’t realize that you’d be using the locker room to molest your partner.”
“I’m not molesting him!” Esposito exclaimed as Ryan snorted and began buttoning his shirt back up.
Castle glanced at Ryan, who was still obviously trying to control his laughter. “It’s fine, Castle. Esposito just wanted to make sure I didn’t get hit during the excitement. We’re good.” He pushed against Esposito. “Come on, dude, let’s go back out.”
Rick Castle had joined the group of detectives at the 12th Precinct so he could observe Detective Kate Beckett and write. Over time though, he’d found himself branching out and watching the other detectives; especially the junior partners that worked under Beckett. Something about them niggled the back of his memory and he kept trying to figure it out. Finding the two of them in the room with Ryan about to undress in front of Esposito had sparked something in the back of his mind, but he couldn’t seem to dig it out.
As the two detectives came out of the locker room, both of them having shed their vests; Esposito was walking a little closer to Ryan than usual. As they got closer, Castle realized that two of Esposito’s fingers were hooked into the belt loops on the back of Ryan’s jeans. The younger detective didn’t seem bothered by it, simply altering his stride so the other man was able to walk with him.
When Ryan took a seat at his desk, Esposito immediately planted himself on the edge of his desk. Castle took note of his position behind Ryan and between the younger man and the rest of the bullpen. He also noticed that when Ryan saw his position, the younger detective immediately rolled his eyes. “I’m fine, Javi,” he said. He pointed at the other desk. “Go. Sit.”
“If you two are finished?” Beckett said. “We do have a case.”
“Sorry, Beckett,” they replied in unison.
“Esposito, you have your own desk,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, boss. I’m gonna get a coffee.” As he stood up, he brushed a hand across the back of Ryan’s neck. “Want one?” he murmured in a low voice. Ryan nodded in response, leaning back into his touch. “Beckett? Castle?” Esposito continued.
“Sure,” Beckett said.
“Yeah,” Castle replied, getting to his feet. “Let me give you a hand.”
“I got it,” Esposito assured him.
When Esposito returned, Castle was standing over Ryan and looking at something on the other detective’s desk. Beckett was still at the board, looking over her shoulder at Ryan as she coaxed a detail from him to write on the board. Esposito handed the coffee to her first and set a cup on his own desk before moving to hand one to Ryan, subtly nudging Castle away. The writer went easily enough and Esposito leaned over, inhaling a deep breath of Ryan’s scent as he handed a cup to his partner in all things.
“Dude, you’re making me look bad,” Ryan told him. “I’m the junior detective. I’m the one who’s supposed to be fetching, remember? And back off a bit. Fine, remember?”
“I don’t think we’ve really been making you do all the scut jobs, Ryan, but if you want…we can change that,” Beckett pointed out.
“Nah, I’m good,” Ryan assured her.
“All right then.” Beckett turned back to study their murder board. “What do we have?”
As the day progressed, Castle watched.
It wasn’t anything noticeable at first. The two junior detectives were partners and by nature worked closely together. So it wasn’t unusual for them to be near each other. Esposito seemed to be taking it to a whole new level though. He was never more than a foot from Ryan, often right up against the younger man. For the most part, the younger man took the hovering in stride, only pushing the other detective away when it interfered with his own work.
Esposito reacted each time Ryan pushed him away by moving back as soon as he was able and nuzzling against the slightly smaller man. A couple of times, Castle even thought he noticed Esposito press kisses against Ryan’s skin. For the most part, Beckett ignored their interactions which Castle also found interesting although she did roll her eyes occasionally when Esposito tried to herd Ryan in a specific direction.
Finally Ryan clearly got fed up with Esposito’s hovering as he shoved the other man as hard as he could and snapped, “Get off! I’m fine!”
Esposito growled in response before backing off a bit. Castle waited until Beckett sent Esposito on an errand, although not without a bit of a protest, to approach Ryan. “Is he always like that?”
“Who? Esposito? He’s fine.” Ryan finished with the file he had been looking at and tossed it to the side.
“So. You’re okay with him stalking you and being handsy with you? And being all…” Castle waved a hand. “Grabby?”
“Are you sure you’re a writer, Castle?” Ryan questioned, leaning back in his chair. “Cause that was kinda…lame.”
Castle squawked in response as Esposito’s hand settled on his shoulder. “You bothering him, Castle?”
“Just wanted to make sure you weren’t bothering him,” Castle replied. “Are you bothering him?”
“And what did he say?” Esposito asked. “Am I bothering you, Kev?”
“I didn’t get a chance to answer, but, no. You’re just being your regular, overbearing self.”
Esposito chuckled in response, shifting his hold from Castle to Ryan. “You about ready to leave? Beckett said there’s nothing else we can do tonight.”
“Are you escorting him home?” Castle questioned.
“I really don’t think that’s any of your business,” Esposito told him as he handed Ryan his jacket. “Pizza for dinner?” he suggested as the younger detective shrugged his coat on.
“Really? After the way you’ve been acting all day? I don’t think so,” Ryan answered. “I definitely think I deserve something better than pizza.”
“I am not cooking tonight,” Esposito protested. “Italian? Thai? Deli?” He was still tossing suggestions at the other man as they entered the elevator and the doors closed.
“And you don’t find that strange?” Castle asked Beckett as she joined him. “Not even a little bit?”
“What? The boys getting dinner together?” Beckett shrugged. “Partners often live in each other’s pockets.”
Castle pointed after them. “That was a little more than ‘living in each other’s pockets’. I mean… Esposito was practically molesting Ryan!”
“I’m sure if there was anything inappropriate going on, Ryan would have reported it. He’s not shy.” Beckett glanced around as if checking to be sure she had everything.
“There’s still something funny going on.”
“Castle, drop it. There’s nothing going on.”
“No.” Castle made a moue with his lips. “No. There’s definitely something odd about it.”
Interlude NC-17 rated
Castle fidgeted for a minute before pressing the button labeled with Esposito’s name. “What?” a voice asked after a minute.
“Um, Esposito? It’s Castle. Any chance you can buzz me up? I wanted to talk to you for a minute.”
“Yeah. Come on up.” The door clicked open and Castle quickly slipped inside, pressing the up button for the elevator.
When he exited the elevator, his step stuttered a bit at the sight of Ryan leaning against the doorway to an open apartment door. He blinked as if he could change the picture before him. The normally put-together detective was dressed in a t-shirt and sweats, his feet bare beneath the hem of the sweats. His hair was mussed and became more so as he lazily ran a hand through it. “Ryan,” Castle said, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice. “What are you doing here?”
“I live here, Castle.” He pushed off the doorway, his movements almost languid. “Come on in.”
“I was looking for Esposito?” Castle said, his voice rising into a question as he followed Ryan into the apartment.
“Yo, Castle,” Esposito said as he came out of another room, pulling a shirt over his head. “What do you need?”
“Ah. You. But you. And. Wait.” Castle looked from Esposito to Ryan and back again as he tried to figure out what he was missing. “But this is your apartment,” he finally said to Esposito.
“No,” Esposito said easily. “This is our apartment. What do you need?”
“Um, I wanted to talk to you,” Castle started.
“Yeah, we figured that. Since you showed up here and all,” Ryan commented.
“Kev,” Esposito warned. “Let him talk. And you still need to eat.”
Ryan grinned. “Not my fault you distracted me.”
Esposito gave him a smug look in return. “I told you I had to check you over. And you’re very distracting. You still need to eat.”
“So do you,” Ryan pointed out.
“So make me a plate when you make yours,” Esposito said.
Ryan eyed him for a minute as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to leave Esposito alone with Castle, even long enough to go into the kitchen. Finally he said, “I’ll still be able to hear almost everything.”
“I’m not gonna rough up your partner,” Castle pointed out. “I doubt I even could.”
“Javi.”
“Kev.”
Castle waved. “Hi. Castle.”
Ryan snorted and rolled his eyes. “Fine. You want something to eat, Castle?”
“Um, yeah? I guess. If you guys don’t mind?”
“He’s polite, but he’s not that polite,” Esposito said. “He wouldn’t have offered if we minded.”
Castle jerked his thumb after Ryan as the other man left the room. “Did his shirt say ARMY?”
“Yes, Castle, Kev is wearing my shirt,” Esposito replied patiently. He crossed his arms. “Now why did you come over here?”
“I just. I noticed some things today. And I guess. I noticed some things before today, but I never noticed noticed them and I just. I wanted to talk to you about them. I just didn’t realize Ryan would be here. But it kinda makes sense. I mean with everything else. And I guess I can talk to both of you. I just don’t want to offend you. Or like set you off or anything.” Castle’s hands flailed around as he talked.
“Castle, breathe,” Esposito said. “What did you notice?”
“Is he babbling?” Ryan asked as he came back into the room, carefully balancing three plates.
Esposito was eyeing him suspiciously. “I think his imagination is running away from him…”
“I may have a vivid imagination, but it does not run away from me!” Castle protested.
“CIA,” Ryan pointed out.
“Aliens,” Esposito reminded him.
“Vampires?” Ryan hazarded.
“Should we go on?” Esposito asked.
“Hey! Most of those were legitimate cases,” Castle protested. “I was just a little…off.”
Esposito accepted the plate from Ryan and pulled him down on the couch next to where he was sitting, snuggling the younger man up against him. “So what did you notice?” he asked once they were settled.
Castle waved a hand at them, indicating their position. “Things like that. You’re very touchy feely with Ryan today. You were barely more than a foot from him all day. And you kept on… Smelling him and… Nuzzling against him. I think I even saw you kiss him a few times. And the whole thing in the locker room. At first I thought, until I saw you nuzzling him, that it was just you being overly concerned with your partner.”
Esposito shrugged, trying to act unconcerned. “So I got a little over wrought that someone shot at Kev. I’ll try to control myself next time.”
“No. No, it’s something else.” Castle shook his head. “I do a lot of research and some of it is just because something catches my attention. Stuff that doesn’t end up in my books. And I remembered something I read that Richard Burton wrote. The anthropologist, not the actor,” he added.
“What does an anthropologist have to do with Javi being an overprotective mother hen?” Ryan asked.
Castle leaned forward, attempting to look them both in the eye at the same time. “Esposito’s a sentinel, isn’t he?”
Ryan hit his face with the palm of his hand as Esposito gave Castle an irritated look. “Castle, seriously, you come up with the weirdest shit,” Esposito said.
“But it makes perfect sense!” Castle protested. “The way you two act and that you’re together and you’re still partners. And that Esposito sometimes looks at you when you’re across the room and talking. And…you must be the Guide!” He pointed at Ryan.
Esposito sighed. “I look at Ryan because we’ve been partners for years, Castle, and we’re used to each other. We’re attuned to each other. There’s nothing mystical about it.”
“But why would they let you work together if you’re together together?” Castle insisted.
“Normally they would split us up, but…” Ryan shrugged. “We were work partners first and we don’t let it affect our work.”
“Yeah. It didn’t look like that today. And clearly Beckett knows what’s going on. Come on, you can tell me.” He attempted to give them puppy dog eyes. “I promise it will not end up in one of my books.”
Ryan exchanged glances with Esposito, raising his eyebrows as if asking a question. The older man shrugged, then started to shake his head before sighing and nodding. Ryan drew his finger down Esposito’s arm, before turning to Castle. “Whatever we tell you does not go beyond this room.”
“Of course. Yes. Absolutely,” Castle immediately agreed. “I swear on my life. I swear on Alexis’s life!”
“I don’t know that you need to go that far,” Ryan said. “We do trust you.” He leaned into Esposito before confirming, “Javi is a sentinel…” before Castle could say anything, he added, “but hardly anyone knows.”
Castle’s jaw dropped and he stared at them for a minute, before blurting out, “That is so cool!”
Ryan flopped back against Esposito, rolling his eyes. “I should have expected that reaction.”
“It is Castle,” Esposito agreed.
“So how long? And is Ryan your Guide? Did you know as soon as you saw him? What did you do before you met him? Did you have your senses when you were Special Forces?” Castle was practically bouncing in his seat. “Oh! Do you have spirit animals? I hear that when you go online? Is that the term? You get spirit animals.”
Esposito turned his head, brushing his nose across Ryan’s temple as he inhaled deeply. “I don’t think there’s an exact number of years,” he finally said. “I was online some as a kid and then yes, when I was in the military I was mostly online.”
Ryan rested more of his weight against Esposito, something that was clearly a comfort to them both. “It’s been discovered if one half of the partnership fights their abilities or if they’re in close enough proximity, it messes with the other half. Apparently us being in the city at the same time was close enough.”
“So there is one ‘special’ person just for you?” Castle questioned.
Esposito sighed. “I could work with another guide. He or she just isn’t my Guide. With Kev, everything is just sharper, brighter, and things come much easier.” He rested his head against Ryan’s for a moment.
Castle watched them for a minute; the ease and comfort between them as Esposito nudged Ryan as if reminding him to eat. “Did you know immediately?” he asked quietly. “When you met? Did you know Ryan was your guide?”
Esposito turned enough that he could see Ryan, who was concentrating on his plate, and smiled. “I knew. Ryan… wasn’t as convinced.”
Ryan snorted. “As I recall, you kept trying to touch and smell me that day. And you followed me home!”
“Well, I had to make sure it was you and I had a little bit of trouble believing I’d actually found you,” Esposito pointed out.
Castle shook his head. “You two sound like an old married couple. I can’t believe I never noticed this before.”
“Well, you are kinda wrapped up in Beckett,” Ryan pointed out. “And it’s not like we broadcast it. It’s not safe for one thing. I mean it’s a hell of an advantage, but can you imagine if people found out? Scientists would want to study him and maybe even attempt to dissect him. I mean there are other Sentinel and Guide pairs in the military and the police. Even in Search and Rescue. But they’re like us, kinda low key. Beckett knows. And Montgomery. I’m sure there’s someone at 1PP, too, but we’re under numbers there, not our names.”
“They reduced you to a number?” Castle questioned.
“For our protection, Castle,” Esposito said. “And I’d take Ryan and run if it was any other way. Never doubt that his safety comes first.”
Castle nodded. He’d never been afraid of Esposito, not even when he first met the man, or watched him go through a door. But the flat tone to his voice and the blank look in his eyes reminded Castle that this was a very dangerous man. “Right.” He perked up after a second. “Spirit animals. Do you guys have spirit animals?”
“Not appropriate, Castle,” Ryan replied.
“What? No. Come on,” Castle protested.
“I think it’s time for you to go,” Esposito answered. He stood up, holding his hand out for the plate Castle was still clutching.
“But you just… I only asked…” Castle babbled.
“No,” Ryan said flatly. “We’ve answered enough.”
“But why? We were having such a nice conversation,” Castle said.
Ryan reached out, squeezing Esposito’s hand. “When you’re doing interviews, are there questions you don’t like answering? Questions that are just… rude? Or I’m sure you don’t like answering personal questions about Alexis. Especially when she was little. Asking about our spirit animals is inappropriate, invasive. It’s just… it’s not done.”
Castle nodded. “Okay. I get that. I’m sorry. We good?”
The sentinel and guide exchanged glances, both of them nodding after a minute. “Yeah. We’re good,” Esposito said. “I’d hate to have to explain to Beckett where you went.” He grinned. “I’m sure we could manage to make even you disappear if we needed to.”
“You are a scary, scary man. You know that, right?” Castle pointed at him.
“Oh, you don’t even know the half of it,” Ryan commented.
Esposito shrugged, clearly unconcerned. “There’s not much I wouldn’t do to protect Kev.” He looked over his shoulder at the still seated man. “But I would never hurt him.”
“I know I promised I wouldn’t write about you two, but can I ask you more about sentinels and guides in general? You can tell me when my questions are out of bounds no harm, no foul.”
“We’ll have to think about it,” Ryan said. “It’s not something we can just say yes to.”
“All right, I understand that.” Castle nodded. He glanced at his watch. “I should get home to Alexis. I’ve left her with Mother for long enough.”
“I’ll see you out,” Esposito said.
Castle nodded. “All right. And thank you. For letting me burst in on you. And answering me.”
“Have a good night, Castle,” Ryan said as he gathered up the plates and headed for the kitchen. Esposito rubbed a hand down his back as the other man passed him and Castle kicked himself again for never noticing it before. It was so obvious now.
Characters: Javier Esposito/Kevin Ryan, Rick Castle, Kate Beckett
Fandom: Castle
Series: City Protectors
Written For: whogeek
Prompt: Castle Sentinel AU
Summary: Castle is an observer by nature and today he noticed there’s something a bit different about the two junior detectives he’s been sort of watching. He’s going to find out what it is, even if it gets him in hot water.
Rating: PG-13 (Interlude is NC-17)
Spoilers: minor through season 3
Warnings: Castle is nosy, Ryan and Esposito have a secret, Castle pushes a little too far sometimes
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me. Not making any money off this. Sentinel is based off the ‘90s TV show
Author's Note: I used to love the TV series The Sentinel, but I honestly never meant to write a story based in any way on it. Then whogeek started telling me about this idea. And well…y’all know how weak I am when she tells me an idea she has. And that I love to write things for her. And I was having such an issue with what I was attempting to write…so I started playing with the boys. And this is what happened. About halfway through there is a link to an interlude—I decided to try something new this time. You can read this entire story without reading that, but you can also read that and then come back and finish this. It’s up to you. That story is NC-17 though.
“Ten minutes,” Beckett called after her retreating junior detectives as Esposito herded Ryan towards the locker rooms.
“More like twenty,” Ryan called back. He tried to twist away from Esposito who was almost stepping on him as he tried to get as close as possible. “Would you stop that?”
“Fifteen,” Beckett bargained.
Ryan rolled his eyes as Esposito tried to undo his vest. “I’ll do my best. Javi!” he yelped as the other man almost shoved him through the door.
“Strip,” Esposito growled when the door closed behind them.
“Um, hell, no,” Ryan replied. “I’m fine. I didn’t even get hit in the vest. You. Are over reacting.”
“You were shot at.”
Ryan flicked him on the forehead. “Hello. Cop. It happens.”
Esposito pulled the smaller man towards him, rubbing his nose against Ryan’s cheek before burying it in the crook of his neck. “What were you thinking?” he murmured just loud enough for Ryan to hear.
Ryan dug his fingers into Esposito’s hips, just below his vest. “I was thinking I was doing my job and that you aren’t any more invulnerable than I am.”
“I really hate it when you do that,” Esposito muttered.
Ryan rolled his eyes, wishing again that Esposito’s hair was longer so he could move the other man’s head. “You do realize I also carry a gun. And I am capable of shooting it, right? I know we’ve had this discussion.”
Esposito licked a stripe along the side of Ryan’s neck. “I know you can. But you’re still mine to protect.”
“Stop. Licking. Me. At work.” Ryan got enough leverage to push him away. “I know I’m yours. But we’ve had this discussion. Remember? This works better when you let me do my job, too.”
The older man reached forward, running his hand through Ryan’s hair, and down the back of his neck. “You’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Javi. I promise. Not a scratch.”
“Okay.” Esposito looked at him again, as if trying to decide if he could trust his answer.
Ryan flicked him on the forehead again. “And stop trying to lie detector me.”
Esposito pouted at him. “I wasn’t.”
He laughed in response. “You shouldn’t pout. It doesn’t fit you at all.” Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss across the other man’s lips. “Do you really want to check me over?”
“I’d feel better,” Esposito told him.
Ryan sighed and ripped the Velcro open on his vest, pulling it over his head. He was unbuttoning his shirt when the door to the room they were using opened. Esposito turned with a growl to see Castle poking his head in. The author held up his hands. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt anything. Beckett wants you out in the bullpen. She finished the board.”
“Don’t you knock, Castle?” Esposito demanded.
“Well, I didn’t really think I needed to,” Castle replied. “I didn’t realize that you’d be using the locker room to molest your partner.”
“I’m not molesting him!” Esposito exclaimed as Ryan snorted and began buttoning his shirt back up.
Castle glanced at Ryan, who was still obviously trying to control his laughter. “It’s fine, Castle. Esposito just wanted to make sure I didn’t get hit during the excitement. We’re good.” He pushed against Esposito. “Come on, dude, let’s go back out.”
Rick Castle had joined the group of detectives at the 12th Precinct so he could observe Detective Kate Beckett and write. Over time though, he’d found himself branching out and watching the other detectives; especially the junior partners that worked under Beckett. Something about them niggled the back of his memory and he kept trying to figure it out. Finding the two of them in the room with Ryan about to undress in front of Esposito had sparked something in the back of his mind, but he couldn’t seem to dig it out.
As the two detectives came out of the locker room, both of them having shed their vests; Esposito was walking a little closer to Ryan than usual. As they got closer, Castle realized that two of Esposito’s fingers were hooked into the belt loops on the back of Ryan’s jeans. The younger detective didn’t seem bothered by it, simply altering his stride so the other man was able to walk with him.
When Ryan took a seat at his desk, Esposito immediately planted himself on the edge of his desk. Castle took note of his position behind Ryan and between the younger man and the rest of the bullpen. He also noticed that when Ryan saw his position, the younger detective immediately rolled his eyes. “I’m fine, Javi,” he said. He pointed at the other desk. “Go. Sit.”
“If you two are finished?” Beckett said. “We do have a case.”
“Sorry, Beckett,” they replied in unison.
“Esposito, you have your own desk,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, boss. I’m gonna get a coffee.” As he stood up, he brushed a hand across the back of Ryan’s neck. “Want one?” he murmured in a low voice. Ryan nodded in response, leaning back into his touch. “Beckett? Castle?” Esposito continued.
“Sure,” Beckett said.
“Yeah,” Castle replied, getting to his feet. “Let me give you a hand.”
“I got it,” Esposito assured him.
When Esposito returned, Castle was standing over Ryan and looking at something on the other detective’s desk. Beckett was still at the board, looking over her shoulder at Ryan as she coaxed a detail from him to write on the board. Esposito handed the coffee to her first and set a cup on his own desk before moving to hand one to Ryan, subtly nudging Castle away. The writer went easily enough and Esposito leaned over, inhaling a deep breath of Ryan’s scent as he handed a cup to his partner in all things.
“Dude, you’re making me look bad,” Ryan told him. “I’m the junior detective. I’m the one who’s supposed to be fetching, remember? And back off a bit. Fine, remember?”
“I don’t think we’ve really been making you do all the scut jobs, Ryan, but if you want…we can change that,” Beckett pointed out.
“Nah, I’m good,” Ryan assured her.
“All right then.” Beckett turned back to study their murder board. “What do we have?”
As the day progressed, Castle watched.
It wasn’t anything noticeable at first. The two junior detectives were partners and by nature worked closely together. So it wasn’t unusual for them to be near each other. Esposito seemed to be taking it to a whole new level though. He was never more than a foot from Ryan, often right up against the younger man. For the most part, the younger man took the hovering in stride, only pushing the other detective away when it interfered with his own work.
Esposito reacted each time Ryan pushed him away by moving back as soon as he was able and nuzzling against the slightly smaller man. A couple of times, Castle even thought he noticed Esposito press kisses against Ryan’s skin. For the most part, Beckett ignored their interactions which Castle also found interesting although she did roll her eyes occasionally when Esposito tried to herd Ryan in a specific direction.
Finally Ryan clearly got fed up with Esposito’s hovering as he shoved the other man as hard as he could and snapped, “Get off! I’m fine!”
Esposito growled in response before backing off a bit. Castle waited until Beckett sent Esposito on an errand, although not without a bit of a protest, to approach Ryan. “Is he always like that?”
“Who? Esposito? He’s fine.” Ryan finished with the file he had been looking at and tossed it to the side.
“So. You’re okay with him stalking you and being handsy with you? And being all…” Castle waved a hand. “Grabby?”
“Are you sure you’re a writer, Castle?” Ryan questioned, leaning back in his chair. “Cause that was kinda…lame.”
Castle squawked in response as Esposito’s hand settled on his shoulder. “You bothering him, Castle?”
“Just wanted to make sure you weren’t bothering him,” Castle replied. “Are you bothering him?”
“And what did he say?” Esposito asked. “Am I bothering you, Kev?”
“I didn’t get a chance to answer, but, no. You’re just being your regular, overbearing self.”
Esposito chuckled in response, shifting his hold from Castle to Ryan. “You about ready to leave? Beckett said there’s nothing else we can do tonight.”
“Are you escorting him home?” Castle questioned.
“I really don’t think that’s any of your business,” Esposito told him as he handed Ryan his jacket. “Pizza for dinner?” he suggested as the younger detective shrugged his coat on.
“Really? After the way you’ve been acting all day? I don’t think so,” Ryan answered. “I definitely think I deserve something better than pizza.”
“I am not cooking tonight,” Esposito protested. “Italian? Thai? Deli?” He was still tossing suggestions at the other man as they entered the elevator and the doors closed.
“And you don’t find that strange?” Castle asked Beckett as she joined him. “Not even a little bit?”
“What? The boys getting dinner together?” Beckett shrugged. “Partners often live in each other’s pockets.”
Castle pointed after them. “That was a little more than ‘living in each other’s pockets’. I mean… Esposito was practically molesting Ryan!”
“I’m sure if there was anything inappropriate going on, Ryan would have reported it. He’s not shy.” Beckett glanced around as if checking to be sure she had everything.
“There’s still something funny going on.”
“Castle, drop it. There’s nothing going on.”
“No.” Castle made a moue with his lips. “No. There’s definitely something odd about it.”
Interlude NC-17 rated
Castle fidgeted for a minute before pressing the button labeled with Esposito’s name. “What?” a voice asked after a minute.
“Um, Esposito? It’s Castle. Any chance you can buzz me up? I wanted to talk to you for a minute.”
“Yeah. Come on up.” The door clicked open and Castle quickly slipped inside, pressing the up button for the elevator.
When he exited the elevator, his step stuttered a bit at the sight of Ryan leaning against the doorway to an open apartment door. He blinked as if he could change the picture before him. The normally put-together detective was dressed in a t-shirt and sweats, his feet bare beneath the hem of the sweats. His hair was mussed and became more so as he lazily ran a hand through it. “Ryan,” Castle said, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice. “What are you doing here?”
“I live here, Castle.” He pushed off the doorway, his movements almost languid. “Come on in.”
“I was looking for Esposito?” Castle said, his voice rising into a question as he followed Ryan into the apartment.
“Yo, Castle,” Esposito said as he came out of another room, pulling a shirt over his head. “What do you need?”
“Ah. You. But you. And. Wait.” Castle looked from Esposito to Ryan and back again as he tried to figure out what he was missing. “But this is your apartment,” he finally said to Esposito.
“No,” Esposito said easily. “This is our apartment. What do you need?”
“Um, I wanted to talk to you,” Castle started.
“Yeah, we figured that. Since you showed up here and all,” Ryan commented.
“Kev,” Esposito warned. “Let him talk. And you still need to eat.”
Ryan grinned. “Not my fault you distracted me.”
Esposito gave him a smug look in return. “I told you I had to check you over. And you’re very distracting. You still need to eat.”
“So do you,” Ryan pointed out.
“So make me a plate when you make yours,” Esposito said.
Ryan eyed him for a minute as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to leave Esposito alone with Castle, even long enough to go into the kitchen. Finally he said, “I’ll still be able to hear almost everything.”
“I’m not gonna rough up your partner,” Castle pointed out. “I doubt I even could.”
“Javi.”
“Kev.”
Castle waved. “Hi. Castle.”
Ryan snorted and rolled his eyes. “Fine. You want something to eat, Castle?”
“Um, yeah? I guess. If you guys don’t mind?”
“He’s polite, but he’s not that polite,” Esposito said. “He wouldn’t have offered if we minded.”
Castle jerked his thumb after Ryan as the other man left the room. “Did his shirt say ARMY?”
“Yes, Castle, Kev is wearing my shirt,” Esposito replied patiently. He crossed his arms. “Now why did you come over here?”
“I just. I noticed some things today. And I guess. I noticed some things before today, but I never noticed noticed them and I just. I wanted to talk to you about them. I just didn’t realize Ryan would be here. But it kinda makes sense. I mean with everything else. And I guess I can talk to both of you. I just don’t want to offend you. Or like set you off or anything.” Castle’s hands flailed around as he talked.
“Castle, breathe,” Esposito said. “What did you notice?”
“Is he babbling?” Ryan asked as he came back into the room, carefully balancing three plates.
Esposito was eyeing him suspiciously. “I think his imagination is running away from him…”
“I may have a vivid imagination, but it does not run away from me!” Castle protested.
“CIA,” Ryan pointed out.
“Aliens,” Esposito reminded him.
“Vampires?” Ryan hazarded.
“Should we go on?” Esposito asked.
“Hey! Most of those were legitimate cases,” Castle protested. “I was just a little…off.”
Esposito accepted the plate from Ryan and pulled him down on the couch next to where he was sitting, snuggling the younger man up against him. “So what did you notice?” he asked once they were settled.
Castle waved a hand at them, indicating their position. “Things like that. You’re very touchy feely with Ryan today. You were barely more than a foot from him all day. And you kept on… Smelling him and… Nuzzling against him. I think I even saw you kiss him a few times. And the whole thing in the locker room. At first I thought, until I saw you nuzzling him, that it was just you being overly concerned with your partner.”
Esposito shrugged, trying to act unconcerned. “So I got a little over wrought that someone shot at Kev. I’ll try to control myself next time.”
“No. No, it’s something else.” Castle shook his head. “I do a lot of research and some of it is just because something catches my attention. Stuff that doesn’t end up in my books. And I remembered something I read that Richard Burton wrote. The anthropologist, not the actor,” he added.
“What does an anthropologist have to do with Javi being an overprotective mother hen?” Ryan asked.
Castle leaned forward, attempting to look them both in the eye at the same time. “Esposito’s a sentinel, isn’t he?”
Ryan hit his face with the palm of his hand as Esposito gave Castle an irritated look. “Castle, seriously, you come up with the weirdest shit,” Esposito said.
“But it makes perfect sense!” Castle protested. “The way you two act and that you’re together and you’re still partners. And that Esposito sometimes looks at you when you’re across the room and talking. And…you must be the Guide!” He pointed at Ryan.
Esposito sighed. “I look at Ryan because we’ve been partners for years, Castle, and we’re used to each other. We’re attuned to each other. There’s nothing mystical about it.”
“But why would they let you work together if you’re together together?” Castle insisted.
“Normally they would split us up, but…” Ryan shrugged. “We were work partners first and we don’t let it affect our work.”
“Yeah. It didn’t look like that today. And clearly Beckett knows what’s going on. Come on, you can tell me.” He attempted to give them puppy dog eyes. “I promise it will not end up in one of my books.”
Ryan exchanged glances with Esposito, raising his eyebrows as if asking a question. The older man shrugged, then started to shake his head before sighing and nodding. Ryan drew his finger down Esposito’s arm, before turning to Castle. “Whatever we tell you does not go beyond this room.”
“Of course. Yes. Absolutely,” Castle immediately agreed. “I swear on my life. I swear on Alexis’s life!”
“I don’t know that you need to go that far,” Ryan said. “We do trust you.” He leaned into Esposito before confirming, “Javi is a sentinel…” before Castle could say anything, he added, “but hardly anyone knows.”
Castle’s jaw dropped and he stared at them for a minute, before blurting out, “That is so cool!”
Ryan flopped back against Esposito, rolling his eyes. “I should have expected that reaction.”
“It is Castle,” Esposito agreed.
“So how long? And is Ryan your Guide? Did you know as soon as you saw him? What did you do before you met him? Did you have your senses when you were Special Forces?” Castle was practically bouncing in his seat. “Oh! Do you have spirit animals? I hear that when you go online? Is that the term? You get spirit animals.”
Esposito turned his head, brushing his nose across Ryan’s temple as he inhaled deeply. “I don’t think there’s an exact number of years,” he finally said. “I was online some as a kid and then yes, when I was in the military I was mostly online.”
Ryan rested more of his weight against Esposito, something that was clearly a comfort to them both. “It’s been discovered if one half of the partnership fights their abilities or if they’re in close enough proximity, it messes with the other half. Apparently us being in the city at the same time was close enough.”
“So there is one ‘special’ person just for you?” Castle questioned.
Esposito sighed. “I could work with another guide. He or she just isn’t my Guide. With Kev, everything is just sharper, brighter, and things come much easier.” He rested his head against Ryan’s for a moment.
Castle watched them for a minute; the ease and comfort between them as Esposito nudged Ryan as if reminding him to eat. “Did you know immediately?” he asked quietly. “When you met? Did you know Ryan was your guide?”
Esposito turned enough that he could see Ryan, who was concentrating on his plate, and smiled. “I knew. Ryan… wasn’t as convinced.”
Ryan snorted. “As I recall, you kept trying to touch and smell me that day. And you followed me home!”
“Well, I had to make sure it was you and I had a little bit of trouble believing I’d actually found you,” Esposito pointed out.
Castle shook his head. “You two sound like an old married couple. I can’t believe I never noticed this before.”
“Well, you are kinda wrapped up in Beckett,” Ryan pointed out. “And it’s not like we broadcast it. It’s not safe for one thing. I mean it’s a hell of an advantage, but can you imagine if people found out? Scientists would want to study him and maybe even attempt to dissect him. I mean there are other Sentinel and Guide pairs in the military and the police. Even in Search and Rescue. But they’re like us, kinda low key. Beckett knows. And Montgomery. I’m sure there’s someone at 1PP, too, but we’re under numbers there, not our names.”
“They reduced you to a number?” Castle questioned.
“For our protection, Castle,” Esposito said. “And I’d take Ryan and run if it was any other way. Never doubt that his safety comes first.”
Castle nodded. He’d never been afraid of Esposito, not even when he first met the man, or watched him go through a door. But the flat tone to his voice and the blank look in his eyes reminded Castle that this was a very dangerous man. “Right.” He perked up after a second. “Spirit animals. Do you guys have spirit animals?”
“Not appropriate, Castle,” Ryan replied.
“What? No. Come on,” Castle protested.
“I think it’s time for you to go,” Esposito answered. He stood up, holding his hand out for the plate Castle was still clutching.
“But you just… I only asked…” Castle babbled.
“No,” Ryan said flatly. “We’ve answered enough.”
“But why? We were having such a nice conversation,” Castle said.
Ryan reached out, squeezing Esposito’s hand. “When you’re doing interviews, are there questions you don’t like answering? Questions that are just… rude? Or I’m sure you don’t like answering personal questions about Alexis. Especially when she was little. Asking about our spirit animals is inappropriate, invasive. It’s just… it’s not done.”
Castle nodded. “Okay. I get that. I’m sorry. We good?”
The sentinel and guide exchanged glances, both of them nodding after a minute. “Yeah. We’re good,” Esposito said. “I’d hate to have to explain to Beckett where you went.” He grinned. “I’m sure we could manage to make even you disappear if we needed to.”
“You are a scary, scary man. You know that, right?” Castle pointed at him.
“Oh, you don’t even know the half of it,” Ryan commented.
Esposito shrugged, clearly unconcerned. “There’s not much I wouldn’t do to protect Kev.” He looked over his shoulder at the still seated man. “But I would never hurt him.”
“I know I promised I wouldn’t write about you two, but can I ask you more about sentinels and guides in general? You can tell me when my questions are out of bounds no harm, no foul.”
“We’ll have to think about it,” Ryan said. “It’s not something we can just say yes to.”
“All right, I understand that.” Castle nodded. He glanced at his watch. “I should get home to Alexis. I’ve left her with Mother for long enough.”
“I’ll see you out,” Esposito said.
Castle nodded. “All right. And thank you. For letting me burst in on you. And answering me.”
“Have a good night, Castle,” Ryan said as he gathered up the plates and headed for the kitchen. Esposito rubbed a hand down his back as the other man passed him and Castle kicked himself again for never noticing it before. It was so obvious now.
