Summer Rain, Chapter Two
Disclaimer: Not mine... characters are property of ABC
Summary: After Kate's shooting, Castle finds that he can't stay away. They discover that nothing clears the air like a summer rain.
A/N: Co-written with lms2457.
"Too noisy," Kate typed and sent back to Castle. She knew it was a weak excuse, and he'd probably call her out on it.
She had already decided when the message said he was in the area, that there was really no point in telling him to go away. Castle would be here soon, one way or another. It was just the way he was wired.
While she waited on him to answer, she also sent a text to her dad. "You gave Castle directions, didn't you? Not sure if I should stop talking to you or thank you."
Then after a moment, and just as Castle's answer came, she sent another note to her dad, saying, "Thanks. I love you."
Kate opened Rick's message and was taken back. "We're not in the city, Kate. There's not that much noise. Come on, the day is young, the sky is blue. It's beautiful." She smiled, knowing they weren't exactly 'his' words, but appreciating them all the same.
Her phone buzzed again, and it was another text from Rick. "And so are you. Come on, look around... let me see your smile."
Kate's heart jumped in her chest, and it stung a little. She took a few breaths to collect herself mentally and physically. "Where are you?" she sent.
And a knock on the door answered at the same moment her message tone rang. "Right here."
She nearly dropped her phone. How did he get here with out her noticing? Then, as she looked out the windows overlooking the valley below, Kate was reminded the drive was in the back.
Slowly, she got to her feet, suddenly feeling very unbalanced. He was the first visitor she'd had, besides her father, since she arrived.
Kate felt so different, and remembered so many things, she wasn't sure how to act around people anymore. Her hand touched the doorknob and she hesitated.
Castle knocked again, a little more insistant this time. Her gut twisted a little... what could she say? What would he say? What if he asked again? What if... there was just too much noise in her mind and Castle was on the other side of the door and it was all happening too fast...
The lock clicked, then, the knob turned, and gently, the door opened.
Kate stepped back, surprised, and maybe a little frightened and angry. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you just let yourself in wherever you go?"
The smile he was wearing faded a little as he dangled the key in his hand, "Jim, um your dad, he told me where it was hidden."
Speaking of whom, her phone buzzed again with a text from her dad. Kate took a quick glance at it, "I love you, too, and you're welcome. Just let him come inside, okay? I have this feeling you're going block him at the door."
She felt surrounded, Jim Beckett on one side, and Castle on the other. Kate rubbed the sides of her head and took another deep breath. Part of her wanted to slap Castle while the rest wanted to run into his arms and never let go. "Trying to make it sound like my father was an accessory to your breaking and entering isn't really helping, Castle."
"As you can see, I haven't entered yet," he smiled again, and she realized it really was nice to see him. It was hard not to smile back, but she managed to keep it together as he continued, "However, if you invite me in, that totally makes this not a crime."
Damn his logic. "Come in, but don't think I'm even the least bit happy to see you," she said, and even she wasn't sure why she lied.
If it was possible, his smile got even brighter as he bounced through the door. "I know, and just so you know, I'm not the least bit happy to see you, either, Detective."
Kate rolled her eyes, and for the life of her, couldn't stop the laugh that he brought to her lips. It felt good. She'd forgotten what it was like to laugh over the past few months.
"Oh, good, a laugh," the twinkle in his eye was infectious, "it sounds like it's been out of use for awhile, too."
Before she could react, Rick was in the living area, flipping through all the books and magazines on the coffee table. "You packed Patterson's books and not mine? I'm hurt." He picked up one of the hardbacks, then tossed it back, "You know his Alex Cross series is loosely based on my Derrick Storm novels, right? Cross Country, Double Cross... I should be able to get some sort of royalty from the titles alone."
Kate shook her head, "And I know this is exactly the reason you're here; to berate me on my reading choices."
"No, not really," he said, then walked back to her. "I'd like to go on a walk. How about you?"
Her chest clinched. She couldn't go outside. It was too... too open. No, that wasn't an option. "No, I don't feel like a walk today. Why don't you go over there, have a seat on the couch, and I'll make coffee?"
"Nice save, but we're going on a walk."
"No," she argued, "we're not. Feel free to take off on your own. There is a nice path that leads to a waterfall. I'm sure you'll like it."
Castle took her hand, "And you can show me where it's at. I'm not at all familiar with this place, and you wouldn't want me to get lost, would you?"
She sighed, "It's easy to find, Castle. Just-" She stopped when her eyes met his. Did his eyes always have this effect on her, or was it just because she hadn't seen him in over two months? "Oh hell, let's go."
Rick smiled again, and this time, it was different. Kate wasn't sure how, but it warmed her all over. She took the hand he offered her and stepped outside.
The world was huge... and open... and there was no place to keep her back to. She could see the sunlight streaking through the gray clouds above and hear the slight rumble in the distance. Even the rumble made her skin crawl, and she wanted to cry.
"Looks like we might have a little rain while we're out," Castle said as they walked across the yard, while Kate followed him down the old, worn path that lead into the woods.
She ignored his comment, and stayed close as they walked further away from the safe walls of the cabin.
"Hey, are you okay?" Rick asked, and she realized she was huddled to his side.
"I'm fine, just a little cold." Another lie.
When their eyes met again, he asked, "Are you sure that's it?"
Kate could tell he wasn't buying it, and looked away. "Look, I'm out here, against my will, and you're making me do something I really don't want to. I might be a little pissed, and I'm beginning to think it really doesn't matter to you. Am I right?"
He stopped walking and turned so he was directly in front of her. "You've been here, what, six, eight weeks? And you haven't stepped foot into the world since, Kate. You can't shut out the world, and you can't shut out your friends, either."
She knew what he said was true, but it didn't stop the hurt. "I don't need your help, Castle, I can take care of myself."
The sounds of thunder boomed like a cannon across the sky, and she couldn't hold in her reaction. Castle caught her and held her close. She buried her head in his shoulder and held tightly, angry at her reaction and how weak it made her feel.
"And all it took was a little thunder to flip the tables." Surprisingly, his words weren't mocking, but only spoke the truth. "Kate, sometimes, especially the times when you don't think you need it, sometimes, you can't do it alone."
She held onto him even tighter, and something inside cracked a little when she answered, "I know."
"Good," he said, "Now, let's do this together, okay? One step at a time?"
Slowly, Kate pulled away from him and nodded, her hand took his as they walked on. She turned to him after a while, "It's just around the next curve of the trail. Can you hear it?"
Castle stopped and closed his eyes. The corners of his mouth turned upward, "The waterfall?"
"Yes," she answered and tugged his arm, "we're almost there."
The first droplets of rain began to fall as Rick and Kate entered into the small clearing that uncovered a small waterfall spilling over several boulders.
"It's beautiful," he said, then looked directly at her, and she remembered the text he'd sent not long ago. And so are you, his eyes seemed to reflect.
The rainfall changed from just a few droplets into a gentle mist. Castle's hair was plastered to his forehead, and he was trying to finger-comb it back. All that accomplished was getting his hair to stand on end, and she had to admit, she liked it. Kate could feel her hair hanging limply off her head and shoulders and wondered for a time if he found her as distracting as she was finding him.
Another peal of thunder had her in his arms again. When it faded away, she moved closer to his ear and whispered, "Can we go back to the cabin? This... it's too much right now."
"Okay, we'll start back in a few minutes," he said, and took her hand. But he walked on toward the water, and sat down on a boulder at the water's edge. He gestured for her to have a seat as well. "We need to talk."