By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I do not have a license to write about Castle. Rating: K Time: The indeterminate future.

"You think that's better?" Rick asked.

"Vastly better."

"Where did you come up with a name like Mal Reynolds?"

Kate shrugged. "I heard it somewhere or another."

Castle thought for a minute.

"I think we should remember that we work best as partners."

The Spies Who Loved Each Other

By

Richard and Katherine Castle

Rick and Kate Bond arrived at the casino in the very first of Rolls-Royce's new sports cars. Even so, all you could hear was the sound of the clock, and not the 1200 horsepower engine. As they exited the car, Kate made sure that only the love of her life could see her long, toned, supple legs.

They were greeted by the owner of the casino.

"How's everything, Pumpkin?" Rick asked.

"Just fine as always. This is the finest casino in the world, after all."

Kate looked carefully at the gaming rooms.

"It looks kind of slow to me."

"Oh, that's because nearly everyone is in the main showroom. Grams is getting ready to go on. That applause you hear is Meredith and Jacinda warming up the crowd."

Rick shook his head. "As dreadful an actor as Meredith is, I'd have never thought she had such a gift for slapstick comedy. Even though I've seen it a million times, I still laugh when Jacinda hits Meredith in the face with a cream pie."

"That whole Three Stooges schtick that Jacinda does to Meredith is hilarious. "Alexis said. "I just can't stop laughing."

"Me too." Said Kate. "And to think Rick almost married Meredith."

Alexis made a face. "Eww! Can you imagine Meredith as my mom instead of Kate?"

"The mind boggles." Rick said. He knew how lucky he'd been to have met Kate just after he'd met Meredith.

Suddenly, they heard the sounds of David Rose's The Stripper coming from another venue.

"But the new exotic dancers we hired are really packing them in, especially the women."

"Esposito and Vaughn are setting new standards for adult entertainment now." Kate said. "But of course I prefer a different exotic dancer." She quickly goosed Rick.

"Me too." He waited a beat and added. "That Roz Karpowski is great."

"Just wait until we get home." Kate said lightly.

"I can't wait."

'Oh, there's your old friend….What's her name?"

"Oh, you mean the Ice Queen?" Rick replied.

"Rick. Selling flavored ice at a casino is honest work. You shouldn't say things like that. It was just a while ago she was editing pornographic comic books and practically homeless."

Alexis nodded. "The redeeming social content was fine but the pornography was awful." Alexis added quickly." Or so I'm told. You really shouldn't criticize her,"

"My bad." He said, not really meaning it.

"We need to see M. Is he in his office?"

Alexis nodded. "Yes. The guard will recognize you. Just go on up. "

At the bottom of the stairs they were greeted by a tall, attractive blonde.

"Ah. Hastings, or 1066, as I should now call you." Rick said with a smile.

"Good evening, Sir, Ma'am." Hastings replied.

"What a cute little fellow." Rick said, spying a raccoon wearing a small tuxedo at 1066's feet.

"Call me cute agin, me hoyo and Oi'll be puttin' me shillelagh to yer noggin." Quoth the raccoon.

1066 glared at the little fellow. "Ryan! Be polite. This is the famous Rick and Kate Bond. You should never, ever interrupt them." She turned to Rick and Kate. "He's one of Q's little experiments."

"Sorry, gov'ner." The little fellow bowed.

"That's all right." Kate said. "Say "Hi" to Maddie if you see her."

"Will do, Ma'am."

With that, they went upstairs to the office of M, the head of the Secret Service.

"Hullo, Rick. Hullo, Kate." He said, welcoming them. "Please sit. How did the mission go?"

"We'll have no more trouble in the eastern Ukraine. Those Russian johnnies know when they're outmatched, Roy." Rick said.

"What do you have for us now?" Kate asked.

"Not much. The new US President seems to have things well in hand. The problems with NAFTA are over and the Canadians, the Mexicans and the Americans are all happy with the results. I hear that Cuba will be joining soon." M took a file from his desk. "By the way, they were able to provide us with DNA samples. In spite of the uncanny resemblance, neither of you are related to President Beckett-Castle, or her husband, Rick."

"It's still kind of creepy. The resemblance, that is." Rick said.

M nodded. "Creepy or not, President Beckett-Castle seems to have the EU straightened out. She's managed to put the Greek economy back on track and Kim Jong Un wants her to adopt him. The Chinese think they can do better by cooperating with the West than competing." Roy looked at a map on the wall of his office. "The Mideast is still a rather sticky wicket, though. We might have to give President Beckett-Castle a hand there."

"They should have let us take care of Assad when we had the chance." Rick grumped.

"But you have no mission for us now?" Kate asked.

"None at all." M said with a smile.

Kate rose. "Then I think we could have a night out. Followed by some time in. Coming, Rick?"

"Always."

The End

Rick and Kate looked at each other and smiled.

"Always." They said together.

Author's note: I'm also working on two more stories. There's Captain Kate and the Dragon, in which Captain Kate Beckett, the pirate, sails from India towards China and more adventures.

Also coming up is The Girl I Left Behind Me, a story set in the 12th Precinct some three months after the end of Season Eight. Rick and Kate will meet some old friends. And some who are not so friendly. Sorenson, I'm looking at you.

I do have a vague idea for a story about Lord and Lady Castle in Renaissance Italy, so I'll be thinking about that. I have some other ideas for stories, but nothing definite yet.