This is my version of how Rick and Kate first met.
Please let me know what you think
It was unusually warm for September. The temperature was in the lower seventy's. Clear blue sky, from what she could see of it. Skyscrapers blocked most of the view of the sky. Kate walked down the steps of her apartment. She decided she would take advantage of the last days of Indian summer while she had the chance. She started walking.
She had plenty of time to make it to work. She was always the first one in. She generally was the last one out as well. Lanie kept telling her "Girl, you need to get a life".
Get a life. She had a life. Maybe she needed… A dog? No, that wouldn't be fair to the dog. She spent way too much time at work….. Okay, fine she needed a life. No what she needed was to splurge on a cup of coffee! The stuff at the precinct really didn't qualify for coffee, more like sludge. She drank it anyway. She needed the caffeine. Today she was going to get her favorite. Grande skim latte with two pumps sugar free vanilla. She was going to live large.
Her pace quickened. Her heels clicking off in a staccato rhythm on the city street. She was on a mission There was a Book store on the corner of 9th just a few blocks from the precinct. They served coffee. Her need for caffeine drove her forward.
Ah! There it is. She spotted the book store. She pushed on the large oak door. She loved the texture of the door. It was weathered and cracked. It was stained a warm brown. It looked as if it had its own stories to tell. This bookstore was one of her favorites. It had a mix of new and old. Books were stacked from floor to ceiling in some areas. The place had an eclectic vibe just like her. There was a section of used books that she really loved to browse through. She owned quite a few she'd pick up for a bargain price. She didn't have time to shop today. She kept walking and made a bee line to the coffee bar. She was a little short of breath. She had practically ran the last quarter mile. She was on a mission. She was living large.
She gave her order to the Barista; she put a single and her change into the tip jar. She headed out into the store to browse while her coffee was being made.
A display caught her eye. Was that? No! She thought he made the name up. Richard Castle that was years ago it couldn't be. Could it? She moved closer to the display to get a better look.
She would never forget those piercing blue eyes. "Oh! Shit" she said aloud. She sheepishly looked around to see if anyone heard her.
"Order for Kate" she heard from the coffee bar.
She made her way over to pick up her coffee. Her legs felt wooden. The Barista said "Have a great day" As he handed her the cup. She nodded "Thanks, you do the same." She headed back to the display.
The sign said the author would be in Today from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm for autographs.
Richard Castle. So that really was your name. Kate shook her head and took a drink of her coffee.
Kate glanced at her Dad's watch. No! It was a good thing she was close to work. She would have to hurry. She looked at the book. She debated. No time. I'll stop by and pick one up after work. She headed for the massive oak door.
She walked in the precinct, with three minutes to spare. She was holding a great cup of coffee.
Ryan was already sitting at his desk reading the morning paper. "Late night Beckett?" he asked Kate without even lowering his paper.
When she didn't respond he lowered one edge of the paper and looked her up and down.
That was one of the draw backs of working with detectives. They were way too nosy. Especially when you factor in that they were your partners. They tended to know all of your secrets. They knew each other better than spouses. Long hours together confined to tight places. There wasn't anywhere to hide. It didn't take long and you learned the intimate details of one another.
Espo walked into the bull pen. "Morning" he said. He caught the weird vibe in the room and asked "What's going on?"
"Beckett was late." Ryan said smiling.
"Didn't want to get out of bed this morning Beckett? Espo asked. Which was code for did you finally get laid?
"Guys, I stopped for a coffee." Give it a rest she said. She loved these guys. She knew she could count on them, they had her back.
They accepted her lame excuse for now. They knew something was going on with her. She was acting weird.
"Anything new on our Vic?" she asked
Just like that it was back to normal. They had a case to solve. The day passed knocking on doors chasing down leads. Some of them panned out others didn't. Some days it felt like you were just chasing your tail. You had to keep chasing until something popped.
She would rather have camera footage, DNA, or trace evidence to work off of. In her experience Eye witness accounts were not as reliable. It wasn't that people were trying to get it wrong. The longer the witness waited before telling his or her story. The fuzzier the details became. People were self-absorbed. They were talking on cell phones. They walked with their heads down. Most of them were oblivious to the world around them. They didn't realize it was helpful to note scars or tattoo's on a Perpetrator. Try and notate the license plate of a vehicle speeding away from a crime.
Sometimes she envied them. It would be nice to live in a world where evil never touched you. That wasn't the case with her. Evil slapped her right in the face. She reached for the necklace. When she thought of her Mom she had to touch her ring that she wore around her neck. She wasn't even aware she did it. The boys knew. They watched her.
Kate began to gather her things. She stood up and said "Guys I'm calling it a day"
"Night" they said.
She held her coat and walked onto the elevator. She was headed to the bookstore. She hadn't been able to get it off her Mind all day.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Espo and Ryan looked at each other. Her leaving first just confirmed their earlier suspicions. Something was up with Beckett.
Kate stepped out of the precinct. She immediately noticed the chill in the air. As night was falling the temperature was rapidly cooling. She unhooked her coat from her arm and put it on. She headed down the street to the bookstore. She glanced at her Dad's watch. It should be safe, he would be gone by now.
She pushed the oak door open. She headed over to the display from this morning. She didn't see any books. There was no way they sold them all. She headed to customer service. "Hi, I'm looking for the Richard Castle Book. The one, that was on display. Could you show me where they are?"
"Lady, we sold them all when Ricky showed up for the book signing."
Ricky? She thought. This guy knew him. He must be the owner of the bookstore.
"I've got of copy of Deadly Storm. It's one of his early works. The first book of the ser…
"I'll take it." She interrupted. What is wrong with you? She asked herself. Calm down. She felt like the walls were closing in. She just wanted to get the book and leave.
"I'll take it to the cashier for you. I'll meet you upfront."
Kate nodded. "Thanks" she said and she headed to the front of the store.
Rick was in the back of the store in Harold's office. He was gathering his things he stored there while he was signing his new book. Harold came with a copy of Deadly Storm.
"Ricky thanks again for stopping by. I really appreciate it. Can you sign this one? It's for a gorgeous lady with green eyes. She is in a crazy rush."
Green eyes
No, he admonished himself. It's not her. He took the book from Harold.
He wrote. For the lady with green eyes, you're a mystery I'm never going to solve. Then he signed Richard Castle with a flourish. He knew it wouldn't make any sense to the lady in a hurry. When he wrote the inscription it was for him.
He had searched, waited, hoped, four frustrating years. He never saw her again. He had even bribed the desk clerk to let him see the registry. She vanished into the night it was as if she never even existed. She haunted Rick in his dreams. He knew she was real.
Wait! He called out to Harold. He was going to sign another book for the lady in a hurry, using one of his standard phrases. It was too late Harold was already gone. He shrugged and put on his coat. His exited through the back door of book store. He headed home to the loft. He thought about going to the bar. He couldn't go there tonight that is where he first laid eyes on a beautiful green eyed woman, her name was Nikki.
He had gone to the bar every night for month. He was hoping she would come back. She never did. He never saw her again.
When Mickey fell on hard times he bought the bar from him. Who does that? He was such a fool. It was four years ago. He had one night with Nikki, and yet he remembered every detail like it was yesterday.
Four years six months and nine days ago. But who's counting.
The Old Haunt was where he would go when he was feeling nostalgic. The old style bar was comforting to him. He didn't want a loud happening place. He liked the vibe of the old Haunt. He'd written his first novel in one of the booths. Mickey had a picture of him with it hanging on the wall.
He was sitting in his booth when she came and sat down.
"Are you all alone tonight?" her voice was velvety soft.
He looked up, nodded his head.
"Can I buy you a drink?" she asked
"Isn't that my line?" he replied
She looked at him and smiled.
"Not tonight"
"Scotch, neat." he said smiling.
She nodded, slid out and the booth and walked over to the bar.
He watched her as she placed the order. She moved her blazer away from her back pocket and pulled out a bill. That's when he checked out her ass.
Nice, he thought. She was stunning. Her brown hair just touched her shoulders. She was slender, but she looked fit. She looked tough, like she worked out. He noticed her green eyes when she sat across from him earlier. They were sad eyes, troubled. She must have just gotten off work. She wasn't wearing off the rack from J.C Penny's. She wore a tailored suit with heels. She was a professional. A Doctor, lawyer, maybe something like that. She had a confident air about her. He was intrigued he wanted to know her story. She wasn't wearing a ring. He didn't see any mark on her finger where she hastily slid one off.
"Did I pass inspection?" she asked him as she placed his drink in front of him.
He started to deny that he was checking her out; He surprised himself when he told her the truth.
"Yes, I definitely like what I see."
"Good" she replied. She picked up her glass and drained it one swallow.
"Do you want to get out of here?" she asked
He stared for a moment collected himself and then he downed his scotch "Yes."
He slid out of the booth and waited for her to stand up. He placed his hand on the small of her back as he escorted her to the front door.
"Do you have a coat?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "I didn't bring one, don't have far to go."
They headed out of the bar into the night. She started walking and he quickly followed. They walked for about three blocks when she stopped in front of a Hotel.
"I have a room I'd like for you to come up. The number is 423."
She headed into the hotel and left a very stunned Richard Castle standing out front. This never happened to him. Wow, he ran his hands through his hair. He panicked. What kind of underwear did I put on this morning? The blue silk boxers, okay that would work.
He pinched himself, ouch! No he was not dreaming. He headed into the Hotel.
He stepped onto the elevator. He pressed the button for the fourth floor. He couldn't believe he was doing this. This was a bad idea. So why aren't you turning around? He asked himself. He couldn't explain it he knew he had to go. He was drawn to her.
The elevator stopped on the fourth floor. He stepped off and searched for room 423. He rapped lightly on the door.
She opened it and stood aside to let him in. And that's when his world was turned upside down.
