AN: I originally planned for this story to be a one-shot – a rather long one at that. As my first FF story, I really didn't know how it would be received. Much to my surprise, everyone seemed to like it and wanted me to continue. I had an idea where I wanted to take this story from the beginning.
All mistakes and errors are my own.
The usual disclaimers apply.
Chapter 7: A New Beginning
AIC Katherine Davidson was wrapping up her meeting with her supervisor, Rachel McCord. Rachel was Kate's training partner when she first came to the AG's office. Over the years they became friends and seemed to follow each other as their careers progressed. Nearly a decade older than Kate, McCord has never been married, never been in what she would describe as a serious relationship. Most of her 'boyfriends' were either other agents or involved with law enforcement in some tangental way. The long hours and frequent travel made any type of normal relationship damn near impossible. The job became Rachel's life.
Kate left Rachel's office and made her way to the cluster of cubicles where her team was located. She called them over to the conference table that sat in the center of the cubicles. The next thirty minutes were spent with her agents updating her on the cases that they were working on. She was proud of her team. They were honest, loyal, never questioned any of her orders and were coldly professional at all times. Finishing her briefing, she thanked her team for their efforts and walked back to her office.
Sitting down in her chair, she checked for any emails or other case related updates. Raking her fingers through her hair, she sighed and fought back the urge to rest her eyes for a few minutes. The red-eye from San Francisco gave her very little opportunity for sleep. As much as she'd hate to admit it to herself, it was nice to reconnect with Castle, even for just a day or two. She was shaken from her thoughts by a rapping on her door jamb. "Any plans for lunch?" Rachel inquires.
Kate smiles and shakes her head no. She rises to her feet and grabs her jacket that was draped over the chair. Slipping on her jacket, she fishes into her pockets for her keys as she grabs her purse off of the desk. "I'll drive." Kate comments as they walk down the corridor towards the elevators.
The ride to the restaurant was spent largely in silence. Kate watched as Rachel stared out the window looking at nothing in particular. They arrived at their usual lunchtime eating establishment a few minutes earlier than normal. Rachel makes some off hand comment about how little has has changed with this restaurant since she first started eating there.
Once seated, they place their orders while discussing Kate's trip to the west coast. "Did you do anything over the weekend?" Rachel asks, merely making conversation.
"I spent the weekend with an old friend."
Intrigued, McCord raises a suspicious eyebrow at her former trainee. "You don't say? Anyone that I may know of?" Rachel just assumes that it was another agent out of the San Francisco office.
"I doubt it. Not unless you read a lot of murder mysteries."
"You know I detest those type of stories. I see too much of it in real life." Rachel pauses and tries to remember the name of the writer that used to follow Kate around when she was a NYPD detective. Kate had mentioned it once when she was approached by an older woman and asked if she was Nikki Heat while working a case. "It was something that began with a C. Case, Casey, Cast-"
"Castle, Richard Castle is his name. And no, before your dirty mind can start, nothing happened. I hadn't seen or spoken to him in ten years. I was leaving the office after taking a statement from one of the witnesses in our case when I was walking past the Barnes and Noble bookstore. They had a big banner up that Richard Castle was there promoting his newest book. I was curious to see just how much he had changed since I saw him last."
"So was he all bald and bloated?"
Kate took a sip from her iced tea and smiled. "No, not at all. With the exception of a little grey around the temples, he hadn't changed a bit. I grabbed a copy of his book and stood in line, curious to see if he recognized me after all this time."
"So did he?"
"He wasn't really paying attention when I walked up to him, but as soon as I told him who to make the autograph out to he knew. He was surprised to see me and asked if I had time to meet him for a coffee while his son went for ice cream."
"Son, so you spent the weekend with a married man?" McCord asks somewhat surprised.
"Widowed. His wife died from cancer five years ago." Kate replied as the waiter brought out their meals. Kate explained to Rachel the high points of her weekend with Rick and his son."
Rachel listened intently and waited for Kate to finish her story. "So what's next? Are you going to see him again?"
Kate offered a sad smile. "Honestly Rach, I don't know. We were partners for nearly two years. I knew that he had developed feelings for me back then, but I was so afraid that I'd become just another notch on his bedpost."
"Maybe he would have become a notch on your bedpost?" Rachel smirked. "I can tell by the way you talk about him that you were more than partners. So what kept you two apart?"
Kate exhales an exasperated laugh before speaking. "It all seems so juvenile now. Rick was 'seeing' this starlet that he met on a talk show." Kate making air quotation marks as she says the word seeing. "It turned out that she was only with him to get a part in the Nikki Heat movie they were making. Not willing to admit that I was jealous of her, I met a detective from the robbery division and started dating him. At first, I did it to make Castle jealous, but then I found out that Tom had asked Rick if it was ok to date me. Rick told him that he had no say in the matter. Hurt by Castle's apparent indifference, Tom and I started dating for real."
"So what happened?"
"Tom and I dated for several weeks. He was a really nice guy, but was jealous of all of the attention that Castle got as my partner. Tom started sneaking down to help with our cases. At first Rick appeared not to care, but then started to withdraw from me. Things came to a head that memorial day weekend. Castle was trying to talk me into staying with him for the weekend at his house in the Hamptons. I lied and told him that I had to work, but then he overheard Tom and I make plans to go away. Caught in my lie, I tried to tell him that I didn't want things to become awkward between us."
Kate paused and took another sip of her drink before continuing. "Rick just smiled and informed me that he was under a lot of pressure from his publisher to get his book done and that he needed to take some time off. At first, I didn't think anything of it, but one of the other detectives I worked with confronted me, asking me if I really knew why Castle had been following me for the last two years. I honestly told him that it was to research his next book. He then told me that Rick had done enough research to write fifty novels and he'd bet that watching me with another man wasn't why he was there."
"That was when I realized that Castle was leaving for good. The other two detectives that I worked with had arranged a send off for him the next day. I knew what I had to do. Tom had came down to see me about our getaway. I took him aside and told him that I really liked him, but he wasn't who I wanted. Tom knew that I was referring to Castle. He seemed to understand and accepted it. I watched as Castle sat there with my partners and best friend celebrating his departure while I tried to work up the courage to tell him how I really felt. I tried to stop him on his way out of the precinct, but was interrupted when his ex-wife and publisher approached. She informed me that she was going to stay with him in the Hamptons until he finished his book. I could only stand there stunned as his ex informed me that they were going to give their relationship another try. I watched as he walked away arm in arm with his ex wife."
"So he never knew that you broke up with the detective to be with him?" Rachel asks. Kate simply shakes her head. "Wow, this sounds like one of those trashy romance novels that I don't read every night." Rachel smiles in an attempt to lighten the mood. "You know, you really ought to tell him. Ten years is a long time to think that you were rejected for another."
Kate nods her head dejectedly. "Yeah, you're right." The waiter brought out their check and Kate quickly placed the cash in the tray as they got up from their seats and made their way out of the restaurant. The remainder of the afternoon was spent working on the various documents requested by the Federal prosecutor that would be handling the case. She was so caught up in her work, she barely noticed as one by one her team members said their goodnights as they left for the evening. She glanced at her father's watch on her wrist and realized that it was 6:30. Deciding that a good night's sleep was exactly what she needed, Kate shut down her computer and gathered up her belongings.
The drive back to her condo went about as smooth as you could expect for Washington DC traffic. The upside of leaving so late was you missed most of it. As she opened the door to her townhouse, she checked for any mail that would have fell on the floor from the slot in her door. Closing the door, she kicked off her shoes and walked into the kitchen. Opening the freezer door, Kate searched for something to microwave for dinner. Seeing nothing that interested her, she closes the door and grabs her house phone. Kate calls the neighborhood Chinese restaurant that delivers and orders her food. Walking back into the kitchen, she pulls a bottle of wine from the rack while grabbing the corkscrew from the drawer.
Pouring herself a large glass, she walks into the living room and sits down on the sofa with her feet tucked under her. Kate turns on the TV and scans the channels looking for something of interest. She was about to turn off the television and turn on her stereo when she heard her phone chirp signaling a new text message. Kate sat her glass down on the coffee table and walked back to the counter where her phone sat. She smiled as she read the text message. Hope you had a safe trip home. Didn't want to bother you while you were at work. Kate quickly typed a response and walked back to the living room carrying her phone with her.
For some unexplainable reason, Kate sat there staring at the phone as if it had some secret power. The screen had nearly blanked when it brightened again and the bubble appeared signaling that someone was typing. A few seconds later her phone chirped again. She read the message and had to laugh. So what are you wearing? It was so like Castle, always trying to keep her off guard with innuendos and teasing. She grinned and thought that it would be time to tease him back. She quickly typed her response. Nothing but a smile. Waiting on the delivery boy. Do you think I'll get a discount?
She sat there and stared at the phone wishing she could see the look on Rick's face when he read the text. She remembered how easy it was to get him flustered and smiled. A minute later another text arrives. Send pictures, or better yet, let's video chat. Before she could type a response, another message arrives. Is it ok if I call you? Kate quickly types a response and waits with the phone in her hand. Thirty seconds later the phone begins to ring. Kate slides her finger across the screen to answer. "Hey Castle. How ya doing?"
"I'm doing ok. How was your flight?"
"Uneventful. Just the way I like it."
"Did you get any sleep?"
"Not really. You'd think that I'd be used to it by now." Kate replies while stifling a yawn.
"I know what you mean." Castle replies. They continue making small talk about nothing in particular until Kate's doorbell buzzes.
"Can you hang on a second Castle? I really do have dinner being delivered."
"Tell me you've got clothes on." Castle smirked.
"Jealous?"
"Yes." He replies without hesitation which slightly unnerves her.
"Hold on a minute Castle." She sits down the phone and runs to the door. A few seconds later, she picks up the phone with one hand while setting down the bag of food with the other. "I'm back. Sorry about that." She comments.
"I didn't mean to interrupt your dinner Kate. Why don't I call you back in a little while. It's time for me to feed the little man anyway."
"Promise to call back?" Kate asks, a little unsure of his answer.
"I promise. Enjoy your dinner."
"Bye Rick."
"Later Kate." The call ends.
Setting the phone on the coffee table, Kate returns her attention to bag full of cardboard containers. Stripping away the plastic wrap, she breaks apart the disposable chopsticks provided. She dug into the containers suddenly feeling famished. Kate couldn't seem to shake the smile from her face. It had been so long since she felt like smiling and she knew the reason why. Finishing up the last morsels that she could gather from the container, she gathered up her trash and deposited into her trash can. Glancing at her watch, Kate realizes that only twenty minutes had elapsed since their call.
Her full stomach only made her lack of sleep even more apparent. She picked up the phone and shuffled her feet into the bedroom. Throwing the phone on the bed, Kate strips off her clothes and grabs a sleep shirt from the dresser. She deposits her dirty clothes in the hamper and flops down on side of the bed and slips on her sleep shirt. Falling back onto the bed, she decides to rest her eyes for a few minutes until Castle calls her back.
Nearly an hour had elapsed when Kate was woken from her sleep by the sound of her cell phone ringing. Instinctively, she slid the button on the phone and answers. "Davidson."
Taken back for a split second, Rick realizes that Kate must have been asleep. He had to admit it was odd to hear her answer the phone with something other than Beckett. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you? I can call back tomorrow."
Hearing Castle's voice, she realizes that she had fallen asleep. Panicked that he would hang up, she blurts out. "No, um, yes, I sort of drifted off.."
"I'm sorry, but it took a little longer than I thought to get Alex's dinner ready."
"You don't have to apologize for that. I understand. How'd dinner go?"
"Pretty good, but I'm sure that if I never eat macaroni and cheese again, it will be too soon."
Kate giggles at the image of a smiling Alex eating his mac and cheese as Rick sits there trying to do the same while pouting. It was silly, harmless small talk. She decides to change the subject just a little. "You know, I never got a chance to thank you for inviting me to your place.. I really enjoyed myself."
Rick was surprised by her comment and the sincerity that came with it. "The pleasure is all mine Kate. You know, I never did ask you if it was ok to call you Kate. I was so used to calling you by your last name, but now referring to you as Davidson just doesn't seem right to me. You were always Beckett to me. Does this make any sense to you?"
Kate smiled as she listened to Castle ramble on. She couldn't understand why he would be nervous anyway. "It makes perfect sense to me. And please, call me Kate."
They continued making small talk about nothing in particular for nearly an hour when Castle noticed the time. "Would you look at the time! I can't believe that we've been talking for an hour. I know that you're exhausted and need your rest."
Kate smiled as she listened to Rick, the concern apparent in his voice. He was always concerned for her well being, making sure that she ate and bringing her much needed daily caffeine fix. It was his natural ability to nurture that made him such a good father. He truly loved to take care of others. "I have to admit that I am a little tired, but I really enjoyed our talk."
"Me too Kate." Castle replied as he paused for a few seconds. "Is it ok if I call you tomorrow?"
"I'd like that. I never know when I'll be home, but why don't you call me around 10:00 pm my time. Is that ok for you?"
"That makes it 7:00 pm here. That should be perfect. I'll be done with dinner by then and I don't have to put Alex to bed for another hour or so. It's a date Kate!" Rick has to laugh at his terrible pun.
Kate just rolls her eyes at his comment. "Goodnight Rick."
"Sweet dreams Kate." Castle replies as the call ends. Kate plugs her phone into the charger on her nightstand and turns off the light. It didn't take more than a couple of minutes before she drifted into a peaceful sleep.