Jack and Jill 2
CH1
It is now March 1, 1999
This story is not strictly a sequel to the previous Jack and Jill story. This is a stand alone story that simply follows the same theme, just with a different background. I have tried to provide dates at the start of each chapter to give you a time frame in relationship to the series. It can become important from time to time so don't just discount them. Some aspects are canon while most is not. This is an AU take on what would happen if Rick had run across Kate at this point in time.
There will be some chapters that border on being "M" rated and I will warn you about those chapters. It will not be heavy "M", however it will not meet the requirements of being "T" rated either.
My thanks to my second beta reader! She knows who she is.
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(RC POV)
Rick had been in New York City for only a couple of years. He had wanted to get as far away from Los Angeles as he could possibly get. The only things in LA were bad memories, depressing memories.
He may have been here for 2 years however he was still living in his little 2 bedroom apartment that he had found the first day he had been in the city. It was okay, for the most part. It gave him a bed, kitchen and someplace to call home. Such as it was. It just didn't feel like him. Problem was he didn't really know what felt like him anymore.
He did know, however, that trying to write at home was depressing. It was lonely and he actually liked being around people. It wasn't that he didn't have friends both in and out of town. Some were even still in LA, and he actually talked to all of them from time to time. He even spent time with some of them here in NY.
So here he was walking up the steps of the New York Public Library, yet again headed for his now favorite table. There were a few nice comfy looking chairs around a single coffee table not far away. While he had converted to writing on a laptop computer and backing up his writing on a little flash drive stick, there was just something about sitting at a desk or table that felt more comfortable.
The main floor of the Library was filled with tables and usually filled with people. Even for a library it was rather noisy. However there were a few side areas that he had found that most people didn't seem to know about.
There were a couple of drawbacks to switching to a laptop and writing in the library. POWER! He needed to plug in his laptop or he would only get a couple of hours writing done before his battery died. So he had gotten into the habit of bringing his own 50 foot orange extension cord with him. He'd plug it in and route it over to his table.
It only took one phone call and a donation of $110,000 to the library to get the employees to overlook his extension cord. Since he was off to one side instead of out at one of the main tables (some of which actually had power), his orange cord was overlooked.
Rick was unwinding his cord and was just making it to his table when he saw someone sitting in one of the oversized chairs. "Looks like I'll have company today," he whispered to himself.
He set up his laptop, took off his coat, hung it on the back of his chair, and sat down. Rick stole a glance at his guest while his laptop powered up.
She looked young, 19 -20 at best. Her long brown hair was tied up behind her head haphazardly with stray hairs poking out all over. Rick figured she must have done it in a hurry, not caring what she looked like.
She was all curled up into herself while reading a book that she would occasionally turn a page in. It was obviously one of the libraries books by the look of it. She was far enough away that Rick couldn't see what she was reading.
She still had her winter coat on. "Must like to be warm." Rick was thinking that if she left it on much longer she was going to start baking inside of it. The library was cool, but not that cool, or at least he didn't think so.
Rick got to work typing and left his guest to her reading. He had managed to finish a chapter and took a moment to stretch out; it was only when he stretched his leg just a little too far that he felt a twinge of pain, which caused a soft yelp to escape his lips to go along with the pop sound in his knee.
Rick noticed that his guest stopped reading, looked up at him, and went back to reading after Rick mouthed the word "Sorry." Problem was now his leg/knee was going to give him trouble and he knew he had to start stretching it, so he was up and walking around, only coming back to look in on his laptop and his guest just to make sure both were fine.
After a little exercise his leg/knee was feeling better and since it was close to lunch, he decided to pack it in and go find something to eat.
Rick shut down his laptop, and coiled up his extension cord. Then he was back to collect his coat and his laptop carryall. After peaking at his guest, he headed outside.
Rick knew a little hole in the wall place a few blocks down where he had gotten food from a few times before. He always ordered the fish and fries, figuring they were a safe bet. The service was good especially for a little place.
The fish was relatively good. It didn't take much imagination to guess that the fish was second rate and the home cut fries were nothing to write home about. Still a little tartar sauce and catsup and the imperfections were covered up nicely. He packed up his food and his soda and headed back to the library. With some luck he would get another chapter done.
Bringing food into the library was another thing that was frowned upon, however his donation and his location were doing double duty so no one paid any attention to him.
His guest was still in her chair, though she had finally taken off her coat, and actually had her legs stretched out in front of her with her feet resting on the coffee table. Rick put his laptop and food down and pulled out his cord for his laptop. He sat down and slowly ate his fish and chips while typing away.
(KB POV)
She had to get out of the house, she just had to. Her whole life had been turned on its head and everything was going straight down the toilet. Their perfect Christmas and New Year's had turned into a nightmare.
She and her father came home after her mother failed to show up for dinner only to find a cop waiting to tell them her mother had been killed. It was likely a random act of gang violence the detective said. Then she listened to all their extended family and work friends tell them how sorry they were. Kate didn't even know who half of them were, and would likely never see them again.
Her dad and she had left all of them behind in their house to go to the beach to get away from it all. They hadn't even changed clothes so they were walking around out in the sand still dressed in their funeral clothes getting sand between their toes.
Did it help? It helped a little but not nearly enough. Kate could feel pieces of her heart being left behind out on that beach. It was dark out, dressed in black clothes each with their own dark mood. Kate didn't understand how it couldn't be raining; it was the only thing left to make this day any more miserable.
Even the shooting star that she saw streak across the night sky with her silent wish placed on it did nothing for the mood she was in. How could it get any worse?
Except it did just a few short weeks later. Kate had awakened to find her drunk father passed out on the living room sofa, only to have him wake up later in the day and start moaning about Johanna being gone.
Every day Kate would clean the house and dump the booze down the drain only to find her father passed out again reeking of alcohol that he had gotten from somewhere.
She left him where he was and cleaned up the house again and then searched it from top to bottom. Every cabinet, under every bed, under every chair, even the cars got searched. It all got dumped down the drain.
It had been one solid week and still her father was passed out drunk each and every day. Kate never saw him leave, though to be honest she was hiding out in her room, trying to come to grips with her own grief, so anything was possible.
It was only a month later that Kate had finally had enough and tried waking her father and getting him to see reason. It was now that she found out that her father wasn't just a drunk, he was a mean drunk.
The things he said and had done had left her broken and crying. Her mother was gone and her father was leaving, one bottle at a time. It was the day she had found him passed out on the sofa with puke all around him stinking up the house that had been the last straw.
Kate had cleaned up the house yet again and dumped all the booze, cleaned up the puke, causing her to run for the bathroom more than once to empty her stomach due to the smell, followed by checking the mail and all the bills that were piling up.
Kate canceled the TV service, turned down the heat to conserve power, paid the bills, took all of the car keys and ran. Ran until she reached the first park she came to and spent the day there.
Kate only returned home when it got dark and didn't go looking for her dad, though the house was quiet and didn't reek of booze anymore. Come morning however was a different story.
Kate's drunken father came stumbling out of his room and started cursing at Kate to get out of his house. He didn't want to be reminded that his wife was dead. Some yelling and a red cheek where her father had slapped her and Kate was running to her park yet again.
His behavior was repeated each day for the next week. It was now that Kate had a change of plans. Kate turned off the house phone and went out and got a pre-paid cell phone. It was simple like all cell phones, but it gave her something. Then she made arrangements and sold both cars to a local dealer, who did the paperwork for her and paid off the loans for her with the money she got. She canceled the car insurance and was even due some money back.
Using the house phone before it was disconnected got her in touch with her mother's life insurance company and arranged to have the check sent to the house.
Since it was cold outside, staying at the park was out of the question. Kate decided to take the subway and started spending her days in the library where it was warmer, plus it had restrooms where the park didn't.
Kate's first couple of days were spent in the great room. She got some reading done, but even though it was a library it was still a little loud and not very private, so she took to searching the building for somewhere else.
It was her third day in the building when she came across a little alcove. It had three old slightly tattered oversized chairs that had a small coffee table positioned in front of the chairs, plus a small table that could seat four.
Kate had her legs tucked in under herself with her heavy coat wrapped around her. It had been cold outside and staying in the park had chilled her. She wanted to get warm, so the coat stayed on.
Kate was deep into her book when movement caught her attention. It was some guy who put a laptop on the table, his heavy coat on the chair and then uncoiled what looked like a heavy duty outdoor extension cord that was orange in color.
Sure enough he plugged his laptop into it and started typing. Since he left her alone Kate went back to her book.
It was a little later when Kate started sneaking peeks over the top of her book to look at him. Kate saw him change facial expressions while he typed, as though he was living what he was typing.
It was later when Kate noticed that he had stopped typing and was stretching, when suddenly she heard a pop sound followed by him softly complaining about what was likely pain that was associated with it.
Kate caught his eye and he mouthed the word "Sorry" at her causing Kate to smile just a little. It was while she was still looking at him that it dawned on her that he looked vaguely familiar. Then he got up and walked around. Kate kept peeking over the top of her book and could see that he was walking with a slight limp in his left leg. Likely the cause of the pop sound and his cry of pain.
It left Kate wondering what had happened to his leg. She watched him pack it all up and walk out leaving her alone again. Since he was gone, Kate decided to get up and use the restroom and freshen up a bit.
Kate was back sitting in her chair when the very same guy returned, only this time he had food. The smell of it hit Kate like a ton of bricks. It instantly had her stomach growling, since she hadn't eaten anything all day, and wasn't even sure what or even if she was going to eat tonight.
Kate knew she was looking over the top of her book far too often, however she couldn't help it. Besides the growling, a pain in her stomach reminded her just how empty it was. "And how did they let him bring food in here anyway?" Kate softly moaned to herself. "And where did he get it?"
It looked like cheap deep fried fish and fries to her. Something nice and simple, just what she could use right about now. Eating in front of her while her stomach was in revolt for how she was treating it was just plain mean. HOW COULD HE?
Kate's stomach was growling and if he was paying attention she just knew he could see that she was uncomfortable as she kept shifting in her chair. Finally it was getting late and he was packing out everything that he came in with, including his now empty food container. As was her habit, Kate didn't leave until they were ready to close and lock the doors for the night. Only then did she go home to find her drunk father passed out with new empty bottles of booze lying around.
Kate still had no idea how he could get his hands on so many. She had sold the cars so either it was by taxi or he walked. Still Kate cleaned up the house and the puke, emptying her stomach twice, which only made her empty stomach emptier, then went to bed to repeat it all over again.
(RC POV)
It has been a week now and each time he went to his little corner that very same woman was already sitting there, reading a book. Most of them looked like they were library books, however even though he couldn't read the spine of the book, the jacket cover told him that she had bought this one and brought it to the library with her.
What was more interesting was that it was one of his! She was reading one of his earlier books. "Flowers for your Grave." It had Rick smiling wide while he sat at his table typing away on his next book which was a continuation of the Derek Storm series. Either she had recognized him and sought out one of his books or she was already a fan.
Still he noticed that she never left, that she was always still there when he came back with his lunch and that she stayed after he left for the day. "Just when does she eat, drink or use the restroom anyway?"
Over time Rick kept stealing glances over his laptop to look at her. He noticed a number of things while watching her. Her clothes were clean but she always looked like she had dressed in a hurry. Her face was void of any make-up yet Rick could still tell that she was a very lovely woman.
Either it was his imagination or she was becoming more comfortable sharing her space with him. He had caught her peaking over the top of her book countless times, only to avert her eyes and lift her book back up quickly. Rick found it amusing, endearing, and sweet.
Today he decided to try and break the ice dam that seemed to exist between them. Rick decided to start with something simple.
He left for lunch as usual, only this time he came back with food for two.
When Rick came back he found her gone like she was most times lately. "Likely using the restroom," was Rick's guess. She never seemed gone long enough to get something to eat though they would likely have stopped her at the door unlike himself.
Rick quickly pulled out his Sharpie and wrote something on the container and the cup and quickly put it on the coffee table before retreating back to his desk to eat his food. After he finished eating, he went back to writing and waited for her return.
(KB POV)
Kate had gone home and cleaned up and it was while looking at some of her mother's stuff that she found one of her books that was written by her favorite author. He was the same one that Johanna had dragged Kate out to see and stand in line to get her book signed.
Kate knew at the time that she had been a pain, a typical flat-chested teenager who didn't have the patience for hanging around with her mother for an afternoon. As Kate looked back on that time she wished she had behaved better. Her mother deserved better. Those were times that she was never going to get back ever again.
Kate had picked up one of the books, the one that they had waited in line to have signed actually and looked it over. It wasn't until she looked carefully at the back cover to see the photograph of the author that Kate suddenly realized that the guy she was sharing space in the library with was actually Richard Castle! What were the odds?
Kate had taken that book to the library with her the next day. She couldn't keep the smile off her face as she hid behind his book. She watched him sneak peeks over his laptop constantly. "He knows, and now he knows that I know who he is." It was the first warm spot in her heart for months.
Kate had finished his book that very day and then switched back to library books while she thought about which of his books she should bring in next.
Kate watched him pack everything up and leave for lunch, still not understanding how he got to each his lunch in the library when Kate got stopped at the door. Kate had wolfed down her food that day, because she wanted to get back in her chair and watch her mother's favorite author.
She watched Rick type out his new book which gave her with a thrill of sorts. She was watching him while he wrote his next book; Kate was pretty sure no one else had this privilege. It also left her to wonder what he was like-not that she had the courage to get up and sit down at his table and actually talk to him.
Kate got up to go use the restroom and freshen up a bit as usual. This time she took a little longer since she wanted to comb her hair out and tie it up right and even apply a little make-up that she had brought with her.
Kate found herself looking into the mirror while she put on her make-up, asking herself yet again why she cared what she looked like. Kate knew she was doing it because of Castle, it was just…
Then suddenly her heart started beating faster. What if he actually stopped typing to talk to her because of what she was doing? It was almost enough to get Kate to stop and just go back to her chair and purposely ignore him.
"Please find somebody nice Katie, and stop driving your father mad." Her mother implored her to find a good guy after some of the jerks that she had brought home just to get a rise out of her parents.
Now both of her parents were effectively gone. "Is Castle nice enough mom?" Kate threw her make-up back in her bag. "GOD, what am I thinking?" Kate was sure she had gone nuts, and it was probably all her parents' fault. Castle was way too old for her anyway, plus he was way out of her league.
Kate went back to her chair and found that Castle had returned and was sitting there eating while trying not to look at her. Kate came over to her chair and found something on the coffee table right in front of her chair.
It looked like a match for what Castle was eating. It looked like a rice bowl, mostly white rice on the bottom with a Chinese meat dish on top along with a soda. Kate dropped her bag on the floor and looked over at Castle who was eating from the very same type of bowl.
That answered where it came from, then Kate looked down at the rice bowl and found it had writing on top. "Eat me" was on the rice bowl and "Drink me" was written on the soda.
It was just too cute and Kate snorted out a laugh as she sat down and opened up her rice bowl. Szechuan Chicken with white rice and a diet soda. It even came with a little white plastic fork, a straw and a napkin. It had Kate smiling while she ate, forgetting about her book, her father and her mother, just for a moment in time.