Hi there!
Here is a new Castle fanfiction, originally in French, that my dear friend Hell-and bliss and I wanted to translate into English. The original story was her idea, and we decided to co-write it. At first we posted it on the Castle Frenchboard and then we thought that translating it and posting it here would be a good idea. Hope you'll enjoy your reading :)
What : Drama, Thriller, Romance
Who : Rick Castle, Kate Beckett, Kevin Ryan, Jenny Ryan, Javier Esposito, Lanie Parish, Alexis Castle, Martha Rogers, Victoria Gates
When : middle of season 4
Rating : T
*Please note that we are French and not really bilingual so sometimes the translation may be in broken English. We apologize in advance and ask for your indulgence. ^_^
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THE HAMPTONS
...
CHAPTER 1
"All right, we shouldn't be that far…at the next crossroads, turn on the left," Kevin Ryan said as he carefully read his map from the passenger seat of Javier Esposito's car. Javier was holding the wheel, wearing sunglasses.
They were driving on a little country road, under a beautiful Spring sun. It was a Friday afternoon of April. The two detectives were heading to their friend Rick Castle's magnificent house of the Hamptons for his birthday party.
"…Are you sure about that?" Esposito frowned and asked after a few seconds. If they turned on the left, they would leave the asphalt road for a dirt one, surrounded by bushes and green broad-leaved trees.
"It's been thirty minutes at least we left Wainscott, the last known place of the surroundings, and that we've been driving through the East of the Hamptons…I mean, it looks like we're lost. Did you see those weird dented roads? It doesn't look good to me", Esposito explained, skeptical.
Ryan rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Javi. I'm reading the map right here. We were supposed to cross Wainscott and drive away. I'm telling you this is the right direction," he replied, a little bit annoyed.
"All right. Left, then?" Esposito repeated, still not convinced.
"Yes, left!" Kevin said louder. "Geez, I can see how much you trust your copilot, thanks", he mocked as he folded up the map.
Esposito sighed and finally turned on the left, following the little dirt road.
A few meters later on that sinuous road that was leading them through a deserted countryside, he couldn't help but add a comment.
"It's just that I don't trust that dirt road you know…Castle is a freaking rich writer and owns a super classy house, man. I don't think such a dented road would lead us to…"
Javier couldn't finish his sentence and just opened his mouth wide, captivated by the beautiful sightseeing that appeared suddenly in front of them, just after another turn. He stopped the car immediately.
"…to that" he finally said, still amazed.
A hundred meters away, there was a big colonial house made of dark bricks and stones. The manor was at least 100 m² big and its height was also impressive. The slate roof made the building look even more classy and sumptuous.
"Oh my God," Ryan managed to say without blinking.
"You said it", Esposito said as he raised his sunglasses on top of his forehead. He pressed the clutch pedal and slowed down as they approached the property.
There was a wide bow alley of white gravels in front of the house where Rick's Ferrari was parked. Javier recognized the vehicle and parked his own on the right side, next to the green garden.
"Here we are…finally" Esposito sighed as he stopped the engine.
"We're going to have fun this weekend, buddy" Kevin said enthusiastically as he smiled and exited the car. He opened the back door and grabbed his bag, while Javier got out of the car and closed the driver's door, glad they had reached their destination after all this time on the road.
"It took us more than three hours of driving, can you believe it? I don't know for you, but personally I'm freaking exhausted", Esposito sighed as he yawned and stretched to ease the muscles of his back.
"Need a massage?" Kevin joked as he closed the car's door with a playful smile that made detective Esposito frown.
"What's going on dude? Three hours without your beloved Jenny, and just because we listened to some Elton John's songs on the way, wham, you're…"
Kevin let out a laugh and didn't let him finish.
"Come on…you really think I'd give you a massage?" he joked with a grin. "You'd better shut up and turn away" he added as he nodded towards Javi's back. Esposito followed his move.
A few meters away, next to the house, there was another car parked 20 meters away behind Castle's Ferrari. They hadn't seen it at first because it was a tiny blue-sky car, slightly dented bumper. Javier recognized Lanie Parish's vehicle immediately. The young woman was standing next to her car, wearing an elegant black and beige skin-tight dress, opened in the back, and pretty short. Her long dark hair was balancing on her shoulders as she leant on the trunk to grab her bag. Esposito watched a few seconds her lower back before realizing Lanie wasn't alone. Detective Beckett appeared next to her, wearing casual blue jeans and a black tank top. She put her bag around her shoulder and lift her sunglasses up.
Javier turned to Kevin with a smile.
"All things considered, I wouldn't refuse a massage, bro…especially since Lanie is an expert. You know, when she massages the…"
"Nah, I don't wanna hear about it", Ryan interrupted with a funny face, as he walked away. Esposito watched him go, amused, before grabbing his own bag.
"Lanie, Kate!" Kevin called as he walked towards them. Kate turned to him, as Lanie took her suitcase and shut the trunk.
"Ryan and Esposito, what a surprise", detective Beckett said with a smile as she studied Ryan's clothes quickly. He was wearing a navy blue and orange checked shirt which made Kate think of boy scouts.
"Nice shirt, Ryan…I guess it's another gift from Jenny?" she teased playfully. Lanie chuckled as she looked at his shirt.
"So what", Ryan pouted. "So, did you guys arrive just now too?" he asked.
"We arrived a few minutes ago, indeed", Kate nodded.
"And you guys went together", Esposito said as he looked at Lanie who couldn't help but smile.
"How clever you are, detective, as usual…I'm so impressed", Doctor Parish teased as she walked in front of him, pulling her suitcase behind her. Kate followed her steps, with a smile. Esposito glared at his ex-girlfriend before turning to Ryan.
"I guess there won't be any massage for now", Ryan whispered not to be heard.
"Shut up, Ryan" the latino grumbled.
Kate, who had heard what he just said, looked back at them, suspicious.
"There you are!"
That voice. It was so familiar. Kate turned towards it and saw Rick Castle, cheerful and smiling, walking towards them. He was wearing a casual blue polo shirt and jeans. Kate smiled back at him, glad to see him and was about to say something when she suddenly heard a dog barking. That barking…she had heard it somewhere. She couldn't think about it, as Royal appeared from the big entrance door and ran towards the small group.
"Royal?" Kate said surprisingly, as she saw the dog exit the house and join them. The golden retriever jumped at her, standing on his two hind legs. Kate stroked his head vigorously and laughed uncontrollably like a kid, as he was licking her face.
"Beckett, I think he missed you", Rick smiled, before looking at Lanie, Esposito and Ryan.
"I'm so glad to see you!" he said. "How was your trip?"
"Pretty long, but it was easy to find, as I have a good sense of direction" Esposito replied proudly, as Ryan glared at him, offended.
"Sense of direction? You gotta be kidding," Lanie chuckled, which made Kevin smile again.
"What is that dog doing here?" Kate asked.
"Well, I live here a few months a year…" the writer replied with a playful tone, proud of his joke. Kate rolled her eyes and tried to ignore his comment.
"Hilarious. Seriously, Rick…Did you adopt Royal behind my back?" she asked, curious and jealous at the same time.
"Oh come on, I wouldn't do such a thing", he said, as he laid a hand on his chest.
"The fact is, I invited his owner to come here for my birthday party tonight…"
"What, Kay's here?" Esposito interrupted with an enthusiastic smile. Lanie glared at him with a cold look. She would have scalped him right away if she had had her M.E tools in her hand.
"Sorry to ruin your expectations, Esposito, but unfortunately she's on holiday in the Caribbean…" Castle explained.
"Oh", Javier said, a little bit disappointed.
"Why don't you join her, Casanova? Nobody's holding you back here", Lanie said coldly, crossing her arms. Esposito glared at her, as she refused to meet his look. Then she leant over the dog and stroked him with Kate.
"Anyway, she offered me to take care of Royal for a few days, and I just couldn't refuse. Besides, Alexis loves him."
"Not only Alexis", Esposito said, as he saw Lanie and Kate's attention focused on the dog. They both were petting him tenderly.
The two men shared a look before Rick turned to Ryan.
"By the way, Ryan…where's your beautiful wife? Did she stand us up?"
"Isn't she beautiful?" Ryan said, crossing his arms with an ecstatic smile. As Esposito looked at him ironically, he shook his head and explained : "Well, in fact she worked until late this afternoon…for an important meeting. But she'll take the train in a few hours and I'll pick her up at the closest station". Then he smiled again, daydreaming. "I miss her", he added with a kind of sad voice.
"I'm sure of that", Rick replied with a smile as Javier nodded. Gosh, his buddy was so desperately romantic.
"Martha and Alexis are already here?" Kate asked as she stood up and left Royal to Lanie.
"Yes they are. Alexis is in charge of the decoration, and my mother is on the phone with the caterers…Tonight's gonna be a good night!"
"So, how is it to get older, Ricky?" Kate teased him. Rick's eyes widened.
"What? Somebody's getting older here? Nobody told me", he said with humor. Kate smiled at him.
"Nice try. But when you get your birthday cake tonight, you won't be able to escape from reality," she cheerfully teased again.
"Instead of trying to ruin my mood, follow me, I'll pay you a visit and show you our room…"
"I beg your pardon?" Kate asked, frowning.
"YOUR room, I meant", he corrected quickly, clearing his throat.
"Yeah, that's better", she said, still amused, watching him out of the corner of her eye.
"I can't wait to visit", Lanie said, as she lightly hopped from one foot to another. She was literally staring at the big house in admiration. Rick smiled at her and held out his arm.
"Well, be my guest, Doctor Parish. I'm sure you will appreciate your visit, especially the Jacuzzi…" Rick said with a charming smile and a wink.
"You definitely know how to talk to women, writer boy", Lanie laughed playfully. They shared a fake laugh, almost arrogant, that doesn't look like them, as Kate watched them walk away, amused.
"Well, if Lanie starts to play Kay Cappuccio, we're doomed", she sighed. Esposito shrugged.
"Personally, I don't mind," he said in a detached manner. Kevin laughed at him as Kate rolled her eyes.
...
... to be continued