Rick Castle was speeding along I-495 heading west; back into Manhattan. He had been up most of the night, trying to finish up the next Nikki Heat novel; the one he promised Gina he would finish before the month was over. He had reached a very important plot point in the novel for Heat; Rook or Schlemming?
Gina had lasted about 3 days with him in the Hamptons. When he thought about it later, it was really a bad decision, definitely, one of his top tens in life. Hell, it was worthy of a top five. He had replayed that last day at the precinct. Kate pulling him out of the break room, talking about how she had a really great time with him this year. How she knows she doesn't let on how she's really feeling, how she's just going to put it out there and then she tells him "have a really great summer." He agreed that there working together had been great, shook her hand and walked out with Gina; that was the bad decision.
Too hurt himself to notice, he never saw the look on Kate's face as he walked out with Gina. Alexis' was off at her summer program at Princeton, Martha was doing summer stock and Kate, well, Kate was with Demming. So, finally deciding he needed to stop avoiding Gina and finish the book, he willingly ran off to the Hamptons with her. Again, bad decision. He had spent most of the last few weeks brooding about it. At about 4 am this morning, after replaying that last day over and over in his head, he decided he needed to find out. Did he have a small chance, and God he really wanted a chance, or had she already moved on with Demming?
Not that Demming was a bad guy. Another handsome, square jawed and by the book kind of guy; another Sorenson. A NYPD male Beckett. He gave a small chuckle and thought back to what he had to told Kate almost 2 years ago about Sorenson.
"Ying needs Yang. Not another Ying. Ying Yang is harmony, Ying Ying is the name of a panda."
Demming was certainly another Ying.
At the sound of a horn, he saw the light had changed. He gunned the BMW down Second Ave and turned right when he hit Thirteenth Street. Raced down the last few blocks and hit the button in the car for the gate. He pulled in his spot, put the car in park and turned it off.
He smiled as he sat in the car, because, he had a plan. A very simple plan. He was going to show up at the precinct, sit her down in one of the rooms and lay all his cards out on the table. He had decided on the drive in, he had to play this straight with her. He wasn't going to use the usual tactics with her, it wouldn't work. She wouldn't take him seriously, and he needed her to take him very seriously.
He got out of the car, grabbed the laptop bag and headed to the elevator. He would call Alexis, let her now he was here and hopefully get to have lunch with her. A quick call to Martha, a check of his emails, a shower and he would be out the door. A stop on the way to the 12th to pick up their morning coffee, a bear claw for Kate and a long overdue conversation.
He hit the door to his loft, keys in hand. He paused, before inserting the key in the lock. He was suddenly nervous. He hoped he could make her understand, make her see that they could have something special together. He saw that now, it had taken him a few weeks, and he needed, desperately needed, to make her see it. With a glance at his watch, a turn of his key and he was through the door. Not bothering to light his way, he went to his study, pulled the laptop out of it's case, plugging it in and powering it up as he reached for his cell.
Alexis picked up the phone on the second ring, "Hello...?", sounding half asleep.
"Hey pumpkin," he smiled as he looked at the time. "I hope I didn't wake you. Please tell me you were out all night with friends."
She laughed at him, "Hey Dad. I was up most of the night studying for a test today. But I did go to a party the other night, if that will make you happy. How's the weather out there this morning?" she asks as she rolls over in bed, wide awake now.
"I'm in Manhattan. Just got in a few minutes ago," he answers as he starts going through new email; Gina, great. "I called to see if you are available for either a late lunch or early dinner later."
"I have a test and two classes today but I can do a late dinner, say around 7. Unless, you are going to head out to the Hamptons sooner. Are you here because you have a meeting today for the new Nikki Heat book?"
"You could say I have a meeting, but it's not about the book, but it is about Nikki Heat. Just a situation I should have to fixed with Nikki Heat before I left for the Hamptons. I came back to fix it," he answers her. I pray to God it's not to late to fix it, he adds silently.
"Okay Dad," she responds. Not sure what he's talking about and a little too tired to get into it right now. "I hope it works out for you. I'll meet you in the parking lot of Hamilton Hall around 7. Good luck at your meeting. Love you."
"Go back to sleep. I'll see you then and love you too." He hangs up and smiles, she's a great kid. He's not sure how he got so lucky, but grateful that he seemed to have done something right.
He gets up and walks around his desk, undoing the buttons of his shirt as he turns the laptop around to face him. Might as well run off a quick email to Gina. He lets her now that 'Yes, he's been working on the book. It should be done in about 2 weeks and that he'll call when it is. And oh, by the way, I'm in town. Just for a day or two. A very important meeting with a friend. But, he's on top of the book and he'll keep her posted.'
He hit the send button. That should keep her happy, well semi-happy for a day or two.
Next was Martha. He then checked the time again. Nope, he decided, she would just be walking in and he can call her later today. He sent her a quick text to let her now he was in Manhattan and that he would call later. Okay, a shower and then he would be on his way to see Kate; God how he missed her. As he turned around, pulling his shirt from under the waistband of his jeans, he hears a voice.
"So nice of you to return home, Mr. Castle."
Kate got off the elevator, coffee in hand and checked her watch; it was early. Oh, who was she kidding, it was early everyday she walked in and late every night she left. She was only sleeping about 4 hours a night and then she was up, showered, dressed, and back here again. The days off where the worst, so she was working as much as Montgomery would let her. She looked over at his office and noticed his door was closed. Unusual, but she shrugged it off as she set the coffee and files down on her desk. As she sat down, reading over a few messages on her desk, her eyes moved to the empty chair beside it. She hated the days when there wasn't a fresh homicide to work. It meant being here, in the bullpen, at her desk, looking at the empty chair. His chair. She found herself wishing for the days, that seemed not that long ago, when he was here, watching her do paperwork.
"You are watching me do paperwork; it's creepy.. Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"I like it here", he would respond innocently.
She smiles at the memory. It was their usual banter, their game that they played so well together, the dance that they danced. She didn't always find it creepy, but she wasn't going to tell him that.
The smile slowly fades as she looks at the date on the calendar. The week after the 4th of July, eight weeks before he would be back. September wasn't arriving soon enough for her. She had thought about calling him a few times, had actually picked up her cell, hovered over his speed dial button and then hit the end button. How do you say, 'Hey I wanted to let you know I broke up with Demming before you left, I have feelings for you and I want you to come back' without sounding desperate.
Lanie had showed up at her new apartment that night, a pizza box and a bottle of tequila in hand. She poured out her heart to Lanie, cried over Castle, cried over her stupidity, thinking that they could work. In the end, it was Lanie that made her understand that Castle was just as hurt as she was feeling now. Of course, that night she didn't want to see it, but she saw it now. God, she missed him, desperately missed him.
She only saw Demming once, he came down a few days later, heading to the espresso machine. She followed him in, advised him the machine was not for his use anymore. He left the cup that was filling and walked out. Esposito and Ryan watched her as she walked back out, and wisely neither of them said anything. A few weeks later, Esposito let it slip that Demming had gone back to the 54th precinct.
She didn't hear the door to Montgomery's office open. So, she jumped, when she heard his voice, "Beckett." She looked up, surprised to see him in so early. "Can you come in my office?" She got up quickly and moved towards his office. As she stepped into the doorway, she stopped. Montgomery wasn't alone. Esposito and Ryan were both seated on his couch. It was seeing Lanie, seated in one of the other chairs that caught her attention.
She felt a chill run across her entire body, finding a home at the back of her neck. She looks to the boys, but neither of them can look her in the eye. She turns to Lanie, and a lump forms in Kate's throat; this can't be good. She turns to Montgomery, "Have a seat Beckett, please." She shakes her head, mouthing the word 'NO' and crosses her arms over her chest. Montgomery looks at her, "Ryan, shut the door." The young detective gets up and shuts the door.
As Montgomery and Beckett continue to stare each other down, the other three in the room look at one another. All of them trying to make sense of what the captain had just told them. Finally, Montgomery sighs, "Please Kate. Please sit." At the sound of his voice and with another look in Lanie's direction, she slowly lowers herself into the other chair. Clearing her throat she whispers, "What's happened?"
Montgomery clears his throat, "The Mayor called me this morning. He received a call from the 8th precinct and when they advised him on the nature of the case, he advised them he would be handing it off to us. The FBI has been called in and we will meet them there. It's a kidnapping."
As a chill runs through her body, she crosses her arms again. Her eyes meet Montgomery's and she whisper's, "Who is it?" She feels all eyes on her as Montgomery answers quietly, "It's Castle."