Well, Readers...here we go on another adventure...of sorts...There will be lots of drama, angst..BUT always remember...our couple will survive and thrive...Enjoy the ride...Let me know what you think...

Love my betas...you are the best...

XXOO, Melody

Kate and Rick entered the loft, ecstatic to be home. Although the flight home on Singapore airlines had been every bit as comfortable and exquisite as the trip over, they arrived home tired and ready to unwind. They dropped their luggage in the hallway, called out for Martha and decided to have some wine before soaking their hours of travel off in a hot tub.

Martha heard them and came down to greet the returning trio. She had missed having people around and after the fiasco with her friends and encounter with the police, she was somewhat nervous to face Rick and Kate. She need not have worried, all of the travellers greeted her warmly with kisses and hugs. Kate and Rick invited her to join them in drinking a glass of wine as they caught up the family news.

Alexis stayed only long enough to kiss her grandmother, thanked both Rick and Kate effusively for the trip and departed to meet her friends.

Rick was relieved there hadn't been any more events requiring police intervention, not knowing the boys had kept his mother under close observation, reporting to Beckett frequently. Kate wanted to ensure Martha would not cause Rick anymore aggravation on their trip. She would confess what she had done later to Rick and laughed remembering some of the stories the boys had recounted about Martha's reaction when they "ran" into her occasionally.

Kate adored Martha, but she was a handful; very dramatic and unreliable, truly a renaissance woman. Kate secretly admired Martha's ability to, raise a son as a single parent and providing him with a strong sense of right from wrong and personal integrity, characteristics Kate greatly admired.

Martha was relaxing, telling them how her acting school was going, how untalented some of her students were, but there was one particular student who she had taken under her wing, determined to make her a good actress. Her flair for the theatrical was always entertaining and refreshing.

Rick looked over at Kate and shrugged, once his mother got started it was hard to reel her in. Kate somehow interrupted her without being offensive or rude, stating they were tired and needed to get cleaned up. She suggested Martha call something in for dinner and have it delivered.

Rick and Kate entered their bedroom, Rick tackled Kate onto the bed and leered down at her.

"How do you handle her so easily? I've never been able to do that."

Kate's hands went to his face, ran her fingers through his hair and gave him a great all knowing smile.

"Really, Castle? Remember I'm a homicide Detective. I'm used to interrogating and manipulating murder suspects. Your mother is a piece of cake in comparison."

"You are amazing, I love you'', his face tilting down, his mouth capturing her open mouth, her tongue meeting his, tasting his sweetness, eliciting a moan of pleasure from her.

"Are we going to continue this or get cleaned up?" Rick asked, wiggling his hips down into hers.

"Into the shower, Mister. Clean up, eat some food, then maybe if you're lucky, you will be rewarded.' Kate smacked him on his cheek and said, "Off me, now."

"Say please." He responded smugly. Kate grabbed his ear, twisted it and was able to get him off of her.

"Ouch, that really hurts."

"Sorry, but its effective."

She jumped up, shedding clothes as she entered the bathroom, stood there momentarily, trying to decide if she wanted the shower versus tub. A slow sensual smile appeared on her face, she reached over and turned on the shower. Hmm, maybe they could kill two birds with one stone.

She climbed into the shower and was not at all surprised to feel a pair of hands wrap themselves around her waist and stopped as they covered her breasts.

"God, I went almost twenty four hours without holding these. Ummm, I missed them. they are magnificent."

"You do know how to turn a girl's head, Ricky." Spinning around, her arms going around his head, pulling him to her, though she still needed to raise up on her tip toes to reach him.

The warm water played over their bodies, losing them in the moment, the water enhanced the sensual feeling of their hands on each other's body. Rick's hand worked his way down her abdomen, his fingers finding her triangle, separating her folds and with his expert touch, quickly brought her to a climax, her legs weak from her ecstasy.

Rick loved making her come so easily, his own erection a by-product of his feelings and he pressed himself into her. Kate maneuvered herself so he could easily enter her, their bodies against the shower wall, his thrusts bringing fruition to them both, leaving them leaning heavily on each other.

"This isn't getting us cleaned up, hmmm, but it's so nice." Kate murmured, rubbing her breasts into his chest.

"Why your detecting skills knows no bounds." Rick chuckled at his satiated partner.

"Let me wash you." Rick suggested.

"I won't refuse, have at it." Kate turned, facing the shower wall, stretched her hands out supporting her weight on her arms, her head resting on the shower wall.

Rick took care to thoroughly wash every part of her, he loved running his hands over her body and finished by washing her hair. Kate in turn helped him get cleaned up and they exited the shower, quite content and wrapped in clean fluffy towels, eventually trading the towels for robes.

Rick left their room to check on dinner and returned, shaking his head.

"Dinner is here, hope you're in the mood for Chinese." He scowled and stuck out his tongue. They had experienced excellent Chinese food on their trip and Rick was really looking forward to good old New York pizza.

"Oh, buck up. Tomorrow I will get you pizza, maybe Grimaldi's or John's, something you love." Kate had changed into yoga pants and a loose t-shirt.

They joined Martha, enjoyed their Chinese food, while they were eating, Rick mouthed the word "pizza", causing Kate to laugh and nearly choke on her wine.

After cleaning up the kitchen, they said good night to Martha and went to bed. As they crawled into their bed, Rick sighed.

"We had great beds on vacation, but I love ours the best, it's good to be home.''

"Right, just a home body, a New York boy."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Why yes I am." Kate smirked at Rick.

They lay in bed, wrapped in each other's arms, content at this moment, though quiet knowing what awaited them in the days to come.

Rick stroked Kate's arm, and her side, thinking about the best way to proceed.

"I think we should go and see Steve first. Get his take on how you are physically, he may have some good input.

"Well, he does know more about my body then anyone. Well, almost anyone." Her hand squeezed his.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The next morning, Rick greeted his sleeping partner with hot coffee and woke her by kissing her shoulder.

"Time to get started, love."

"What time is it?" her voice hoarse as she struggled to wake up.

"8:30." His response was met with a groan.

"Why dido you get up so early?" Kate complained.

"Beckett, half of New York is at work already, time's a wasting. I called Steve, he will meet us at 11:00. Rise and shine."

She swung her legs out of bed, stretched, and went to the exercise room to get some yoga in before their appointment.

Arriving at Steve's office, Kate was apprehensive. Steve needed to clear her physically before they could consult with the other professionals they planned on seeing. Kate was tired of being afraid, not trusting her body or her mind and she needed to move on; either regain her strength, return to being a Detective or be prepared to walk away.

Steve greeted them on time, shaking Rick's hand and kissing Kate. He was curious as to why the couple was here, Kate looked nervous, she was biting her lower lip, avoiding his eyes.

"Okay, you two, I love seeing you, but tell me to what do I owe the honor of this visit."

Rick began their explanation, Kate merely nodding in agreement. Ultimately, she took over the conversation. Rick was proud of her, he understood her reluctance, she hated for anyone to see her weak, but she needed to express herself, this was her life, her story to tell.

"On our trip, I had recurring nightmares, mostly about my fear of going back to work. Would I be strong enough? Mentally tough enough? Would I be able to provide backup to my partners? Could people depend on me? Can I handle a weapon without freezing? I was terrified, Rick and I spent hours discussing it.'

"We decided, it was time to return, toughen up, get emotionally strong again, return to the precinct, if possible." She grasped Rick's hand, smiled at him.

"I think I've recovered sufficiently to proceed, but Rick has reservations." She glimpsed over to Rick and back at Steve.

"So, I…we…want you to make that determination. You know my body better than anyone." Kate laughed. "Well, almost anyone." Giving a sideways glance at Rick with a half-cocked smirk.

"Well, jump up on the exam table and we'll see."

Kate climbed up, pulled her top up and laid down. Steve's fingers began their examination. He kept his face impassive, he wasn't going to give his thoughts away until he was finished. As his fingers moved towards her injured side, he noticed she tightened her muscles, her face showed nothing, she was determined to pass this test.

He pressed harder, her muscles quivered and her face continued to be impassive. He looked at her, her face had paled ever so slightly, imperceivable to the untrained eye.

Anyone else would have said she was completely healed, but Steve saw things differently.

"Sit up, Kate" He helped her to a sitting position.

"See, I told you, Rick. You're such a worrier." She slid off the table, turned to walk away, just as a fist connected into her left side. The blow was a complete surprise and she was unprepared.

The impact buckled her legs, a cry of pain was exhaled and she collapsed on the floor, rocking forward. Steve placed a large bucket in front of her and she emptied her stomach into it. He handed her a towel and a bottle of water.

"What the hell was that?" Rick was furious with Steve, instantly kneeling next to Kate as she finished throwing up and she slumped over on her side.

"Help me get her back on the table." Steve spoke without emotion. Rick pushed him away, picked her up himself and laid her on the table. Kate was gasping, writhing in pain, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm so sorry, but she was tensing her side up, trying to fix the exam. That is not smart, Kate."

Kate's stomach was still reeling, she was gulping down further episodes of impending emesis and her head was swimming in pain. Her initial fury at Steve for sucker punching her turned to shame, she had not been completely upfront with both men, but most importantly she had been dishonest to Rick.

"Forgive me, both of you. I thought I was okay, I believed I could overcome the residual problems." Her words filled with guilt.

"You lied to me!" , Rick blurted out, his face set and angry.

Kate turned her eyes away, licking her lips.

"I didn't really lie, I believed I was okay. It was a lie of omission, but evidently I am not healed." She rubbed her side, her face was chagrined.

His anger continued to rage and he spit out, " A Lie is still a lie."

Glaring at Kate and he turned his ire towards Steve.

"Did you have to hit her so hard to make your point." Rick's words were stilted, angry.

"Rick, I didn't hit her hard. She's just susceptible to a direct blow. I merely caught her at the right spot and she couldn't tense up."

Steve patted her head, went over to the cabinets and returned with some medicine.

"Here, Kate take these, one is for the nausea and one is for the pain. I really didn't think it would affect you this severely."

She took the pills, her head trying to make sense of what had happened, but she was far too upset about Rick's reaction to focus on her physical pain.

"I'll leave you two alone for a few minutes. I'll be back and we'll talk. I have some ideas on how to make this better."

Steve left the couple alone, Kate's eyes were shut, she was taking deep breaths, regaining her equilibrium, managing the discomfort while Rick paced in the room.

He was furious, they had been down this road before, and they would need to hash this out, but not here. He glanced at his partner, trying to understand why she had kept this from him.

In an instant the realization came. He walked over to her, leaned over her and said "Open your eyes." She opened her eyes, the embarrassment and self-disgust was there, unavoidable. Her eyes glistened with tears.

"I've really screwed up, haven't I?" Her voice soft, apologetic.

"This was not your finest hour." His jaw still set, but his angry heart was thawing.

"I can take anything, but not you being mad at me."

"Well, give me a few moments, I guess I'm as much disappointed in you as anything."

She groaned, "That's worse. I think I'd rather you be mad at me."

"Well, I will be mad for a while."

Her face was so crestfallen, she appeared truly repentant and her hand went up to rub his hair. All her efforts melted him and he leaned in and kissed her softly.

"If you weren't hurting and embarrassed I would kill you." His brows creased and his lips pursed.

"I know." Her arms went around his neck.

"Help me up, please."

"Stop it, just lay there until the medicine works. okay?"

"Okay." Kate closed her eyes and let the surge of the medications engulf her.

Steve poked his head in once, but Rick had motioned him away. When Steve returned an hour later, Kate was awake and insisted she sit up, still rocky, but feeling better.

Rick was sitting next to her, his arm around her for support.

"I think I have some ideas, Kate. I want you to go meet this martial arts expert, he is renowned for his core training. I talked to him about you before, and now I feel he is your best option."

"You will never be completely healed physically, but if you can train your core, toughen it, learn how to take a hit, you should be able to withstand most physical abuse. Though it would be my recommendation to avoid those situations, if possible. You may think you're one bad ass Detective, but you are not made of stone. Here is his name and number."

Steve pulled her chin up so he could see her face. "I'm sorry I resorted to such a sneaky move, but you have become quite adept at walling yourself off, hiding from people trying to help you."

Kate squeezed his arm and nodded. "You're right. As someone once said, I'm the most frustrating, maddening, challenging woman he's ever known. So, I get it."

Kate slid off the exam table, swivelled to see Rick, took his hand and pulled him towards the door.

"Take me home, handsome. I believe I promised you a pizza."