The day had been long and Kate Beckett sat at her desk finishing up the paperwork on her latest case. Rick Castle sat down in his usual chair next to her desk.
"How about we grab a burger?" He said
"Oh, I'd love to, Castle but I've got plans." She replied
"Hot date?" He asked
"Not really." She replied, "But you could join us."
"Us?" He asked
"Yeah, I'm meeting my dad." She said
"Oh well, I don't want to interrupt your time with him." He knew how close they were
"Oh where we're going you won't be interrupting anything." She replied
"Hmm...well, I'd love to."
"Great." She said, "Let's go."
"You're not telling me where?"
"Uh uh." She said with a sly smile
They left the precinct and walked a few blocks to McGinty's bar. Which seemed strange to Castle as Jim Beckett was an alcoholic.
"You're dad is here?" He asked
"Yeah, over there." She pointed to a small stage and her dad noticed her and came over to greet her
"Hi, Dad." She said
"Hi Katie." He gave her a kiss on the cheek, "I'm glad you could make it."
"Thanks." She replied, "Dad, this is Rick Castle."
"Ah, the writer." Jim extended his hand, "I've heard a great deal about you."
Castle shook his hand, "I'm not sure how I should take that." He quipped, "It's a pleasure, Sir. Kate speaks very highly of you."
"Are we ready, Dad?" She asked
"Yeah, all ready."
"Castle I'll, uh, be right back." why don't you get a drink at the bar
"Okay." He said a little preplexed
After a few minutes Jim Beckett got on the small stage with a guitar in his hand, joined by a pretty brunette and two other men, one who had a stand up base and the other a banjo.
Jim spoke into the microphone, "Well, were back and we have a special guest with us tonight. Please welcome, my daughter, Katie. Prettiest detective at the NYPD."
At that moment Kate came out on stage holding a violin as the audience clapped. Castle was speechless.
Kate went over to her dad and he whispered something to her then they started the next song. Castle listened as Kate played the violin and sang harmony intermittently with the female lead singer.
Daddy sits on a' front porch swinging
Looking out on a vacant field
Used to be filled with burley t'bacca
Now he knows it never will
My Brothers found work in Indiana
M' Sisters a nurse at the old folks home
Mama still cooking too much for supper
And me I've been a long time gone
[Chorus:]
Been a long time gone
No, I ain't hoed a row since I don't know when
Long time gone
And it ain't coming back again
Deliah plays that ol' church pian'a
Sitting out on her daddy's farm
She always thought that we'd be together
Lord I never meant to do her harm
Said she could hear me singin' in the choir
Me, I heard another song
I caught wind and hit the road runnin'
And Lord, I've been a long time gone
[Chorus:]
Been a long time gone
Lord, I ain't had a prayer since I don't know when
Long time gone
And it ain't comin' back again
[Instrumental]
[Bridge]
Now me, I went to Nashville,
Tryin' to beat the big deal
Playin' down on Broadway
Gettin' there the hard way
Living from a tip jar
Sleeping in my car
Hocking my guitar
Yeah I'm gonna be a star
Now, me and Deliah singing every Sunday
Watching the children and the garden grow
We listen to the radio to hear what's cookin'
But the music ain't got no soul
Now they sound tired but they don't sound Haggard
They've got money but they don't have Cash
They got Junior but they don't have Hank
I think, I think, I think
The rest is a long time gone
No, I ain't hit the roof since I don't know when
Long time gone
And it ain't coming back
I said a long time gone
No, I ain't honked the horn since I don't know when
Long time gone
And it ain't coming back again
I said a long time, long time, long time gone
Well it's been a long time
Long time, long time, long time gone
Oh, it's been a long time gone
Long time, long time, long time gone
Yeah yeah
The song ended and the audience clapped and Jim introduced the next song
"This next song Katie is going to sing. An old Fleetwood Mac tune." Kate stepped up to the microphone and music started again Castle was blown away as he heard her melodic voice
I took my love and I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
And the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love ?
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail thought the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life
Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older, too
Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older, too
Yes, I'm getting older, too
Take my love and take it down
Climb a mountain and turn around
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide brought me down
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well maybe the landslide will bring you down
The song ended and the audience cheered enthusiastically. Kate thanked them and left the stage and made her way over to Castle with a grin on her face.
"How? When?" was all he could manage
"I grew up playing. It was always a hobby in my house." She explained
"You were amazing." he said
"Oh Castle." She said, "You have no idea."
A/N: Landslide was intended to be done in the style of the Dixie Chicks. I love Stana's voice and always thought it would be cute if they had somehow incorporated that into the show.