So, I recently graduated from Housekeeper to Front Desk attendant in the hotel I work in. It's not our peak season. Front Desk kills my soul. So I write.
This is in answer to a Facebook Drabble Prompt challenge. It's a June prompt. I'm very behind.
Jack O'Neill 'Stargate SG:1' – I think, in her heart, she forgave me for what happened to our kid. She just... couldn't forget.
The divorce wasn't an amicable one. There was a court hearing, where the lawyers had to physically restrain their clients lest they throttle each other in front of the Judge. Each party held restraining orders on the other for different reasons, to the point where they knew the local precinct officers by name.
It was the very epitome of a nasty divorce.
He cited abandonment.
She cited reckless endangerment.
Both cited irreconcilable differences.
The Judge was glad to have them removed from his courtroom by the end of the hearing.
Mutual friends knew they still loved each other, but after suffering a tragedy such as theirs, everyone knew they needed space.
She claimed the State of New York in the divorce, giving him no other option than to leave.
He packed his things into a suitcase, laptop bag slung over his shoulder, and flew out on the first plane taking him anywhere but the US.
Five years later, he returned to the city he called home for his daughter's med school graduation, and saw his ex-wife across the banquet hall for the first time since they were escorted from court. He was gratified to see her smile at him, raising a champagne flute in his direction, and returned the gesture.
'Man, do you ever think you'll get back together?' Esposito asked.
'I'm not sure,' Rick sighed heavily, his eyes following Kate as she hugged Alexis and shook the boyfriend's hand. 'I think, in her heart, she forgives me for what happened to Liam, but I know she'll never forget. And I don't know if I could stand that being brought up every time we argue, her throwing his death in my face like that.'
'She misses you,' the Detective lowered his voice. 'We all do.'
'I miss her too,' Castle sighed. 'But I don't know if that will ever be enough.'
'Excuse me?' someone spoke from behind him.
Castle spun around, the feminine voice sounding familiar. He recognized his ex-wife immediately, but she held up a hand to stop him before speaking.
'I don't believe we've met,' she offered her hand. 'Captain Katherine Beckett, NYPD.'
'Richard Castle, mystery writer,' he knew what game she was playing, and he liked where it was going. 'Nice to meet one of New York's finest.'
Apparently, they were starting from scratch.
That was something he could live with.