Always darkest before the dawn_part 2
Kate was sitting on an armchair, her head resting on the back. She could not stand the wait anymore. The doctors had left for hours for the exams and she could not get anything from the nurse that was coming from time to time to check on Rick. All she could tell her is that they had to wait. She was waiting but still nothing. Rick had not waked up and his condition had not changed either. She was worried. She knew commotion could be serious. Why did that had to happen now? Now that they were finally together. He had followed her for four years and had never been hurt. So why now? Had this new relationship led them to be less careful? She stood up and get closer to him, staring to see if there was the slightest change. Something in the movement of his eyes or the way he breathed. She even looked at the monitor as if she knew anything about that. Seeing no change, she sighed and sat in the chair that was there.
When Castle woke up it was late in the night, almost dawn. Kate was sitting on a chair next to his bed, her head bent gazing at the floor, her hands clasped on her knees.
"Kate?"
She lifted her head and got closer. "Rick! You're finally up. How do you feel?"
"A little giddy and numb. What happened?"
"Your commotion was more important than we thought. I should have let them bring you to the hospital…. I thought I had lost you….. I don't know what I would have done."
"Kate…."
"All this is really too dangerous. I can't let you be involved in it. And I know that you won't let go, you won't let go if you stay with me."
"Kate, you're not leaving are you?"
"I'm staying. I won't leave until the doctors tell me you're ok."
"No, that's not what I meant. You're going to stay with me? You won't flee anymore?"
She kept silent.
"Kate!"
"No, no I won't."
"Great. Because if you do, you'll break my heart." He smiled faintly.
"Rick….. I'm staying, I won't leave you."
"I can't live without you anymore. You know that, don't you?"
"I….. I can't live without you either."
He held out his hand to her, his eyes in hers. She stood up to sit on the bed. She stroked his cheek lightly with her hand.
"I love you Rick."
He took her in his arms and kissed her. She tenderly kissed him back.
"I called your mother. She'll soon be there with Alexis."
"You shouldn't have called, I'm fine."
"Yes I should, they needed to know."
While they were still talking, a doctor came in.
"You're up Mr Castle. You really frightened us you know, as well as this young lady. We had to make some exams to dismiss any complications. After radiography and a scan we can say that everything is ok but we'll have to keep you under observation for at least 12 more hours. You need to rest too, so..."
The door suddenly fling open and Alexis run into the room, followed by Martha.
"Dad! What happened? Are you ok?"
"Yes honey I'm ok." He took her in his arms.
"Hi darling." Martha hugged Kate. "Thanks for calling."
"Hi Martha. It was the least I could do." Then to Rick. "I'm going to leave you." She took her coat from the chair and put it on. "You need to spend time with your family. I'm going home to have some rest. I have a long day waiting for me at the precinct."
"Ok." Castle sat up on the bed. "I'll see you later?"
"Yes." She headed to the door and turned back to smile at Rick who was looking at her leaving.
Castle turned to Martha who was watching them.
"So you had to cut short to your stay in the Hampton..."
Later, in the morning, Kate was in Gates' office to take her resignation back.
"Well detective Beckett, I thought I'd never see you again."
"Sir, I made a mistake."
"Yes detective. You can really be too emotional sometimes; what's surprising for a good cop like you. But I guess we all remain human after all."
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Mayor Weldon entered Rick's room. "Hey Ricky what happened to you? You were fooling around again?" But as Castle demeanor remained grave, what was totally unlike him even in some serious occasions, Mayor Weldon expressed more concern. "What's wrong?"
"Thanks for coming Robert. I'm fine now as for the physical part. But I wanted to talk to you about something very important and confidential."
"Ok go on." Weldon answered while sitting in front of Rick's bed.
If there was one thing Kate did not like, it was lecturing. But she had to bear it now from Gates; at least, if she wanted to be back soon at work.
"I'm glad that you're coming back on your decision detective Beckett. As much as I wanted you to understand the gravity of what you've done and mark my point you're one of my best detectives! I didn't want to lose one of our best assets in the 12th."
"Thank you sir..." She started to answer.
But as Gates' phone rang, Kate let out a discreet sigh, the breather would be short but it was better than nothing. Unfortunately her so appreciated rest was about to be painful; it was the Mayor calling. "I need detective Beckett and her team to go back to an old case, we have new leads on."
"She's actually on administrative leave Sir, as well as detective Esposito."
Gates was looking at her in a reproachful way now. Exactly the way she would look at Castle or at her if he was around. What now? Was she talking about her?
"Well suspend the decision then."
"But Mister Mayor, we have many other competent detectives here."
Ok Beckett got it this time. Castle was surely behind this. She could not believe that Rick had call upon his friend in her favour. She'll kill him as soon as she'll get her gun back! Even if he was already at the hospital because he nearly died and she actually freaked out about that.
"I've heard Beckett was the best, and I want the best. Furthermore, she was the one who was already on the case. We'll find another alternative to the leave later. Can you ask her to come to my office?"
"Yes your honour." Gates hung up.
"Well detective Beckett, it seems that your friend Castle has used of his influence again!"
"Sir?"
"You're not on administrative leave anymore."
Kate raised an eyebrow.
"The mayor needs you to deal with an old case. It seems he has new leads. You must go to his office right away."
"Yes sir."
On her way to the Mayor's office, Kate decided to pop in the hospital to see Rick. She was curious about what he was up to again. Entering the room, she met the Mayor about to leave.
"Good morning detective Beckett. I just called your captain!"
"I know sir I was there." She shook his held out hand.
"I'll see you at my office then." He said before heading to the door.
"So Gates was right you asked him to reinstate me?! You're aware that I'll have some real bad times with her now?"
"I'm sorry Kate but I could not do otherwise. I'm sure you could manage this anyway but..."
As they were talking Josh Davidson walked pass the door and Castle abruptly stopped. Ok, that was no good memory for him. He'll just try to repress it while motorcycle boy goes his way. What he didn't do of course.
"Hey Kate! Am I interrupting?" Josh was looking from Kate to Castle.
"Hey Josh. No. Not at all."
Castle was happy to hear Josh's beeper alarm and see the latter go in the hall to check it.
"How embarrassing!" Rick said lowly.
Kate, with restrained amusement, gave him a little pat on his shoulder with the back of her hand.
"Stop it! You're not!"
"No I'm not!" He had a large grin on his face. After all he was the one who was with her now.
Shaking her head Kate glanced at the door. Josh had finished checking his beeper.
"I have to go." He said showing the beeper. "It was nice to see you again Kate."
"Me too Josh."
"Castle."
"Josh."
When Josh left, Castle turned slowly towards Kate.
"You too?!"
"So why did you call Mayor Weldon?"
"I have new leads concerning you know who."
"What lead?! You got your friend about the phone?"
"No. But do you remember that case the Mayor was involved in? The murder of the girl working as a sex operator?"
"Yeah?"
"Smith had called me about this case."
"Really? What does this case have to do with my mom's?"
"I don't really know. Smith called me at a time during this case. I tried to find out how it was linked to your mother's but in vain. It seemed that an influent man was involved in this case and I thought it might be the same deputy. Since Smith called me about it, it was necessarily about your protection. If we can solve this case, we'll finally catch this man. That's why I had to talk to the Mayor first because he's involved and he was the only one to be able to cancel the administrative leave. What did Gates say?"
"Not much. But I could see she was furious. I'm sure she'll find another sanction anyway. Do you really think the same man's behind this? It was supposed to involve a powerful New Yorker like in my mother's case. We should dig more, Rick. We might find something that will lead to his fall without implying Montgomery."
"Don't you think he might threaten us to do so, to keep us silent?"
"No, he wouldn't want to be charged for more by talking about that case. On the contrary he'd prefer to bury it."
"Kate…. We can do that but do you realize that he won't pay for your mother's murder if we do it this way."
"I know. But it's better than nothing. If it's the price to protect Montgomery's memory and family, I'm ready to do that. And…. You forget that getting revenge is far less important for me know." She smiled. "All I want to do is to stop this man and put him behind bars. I don't want to be under that threat anymore." She paused, pensive then went on. "Castle, if we solve this case, we can get rid of him once and for all."
The fact that she was ready to let Anderson be charged for something else that her mom's murder showed that she had finally put all this at rest. Both understood that.
"But we'll have to fly under the radar. He must not suspect anything this time or that would be the end of it."
"So we solve this case?"
"No..."
"What?! Why Kate? It's the only way out..."
"I solve this case! And you, you stay where you are until you've totally recovered."
"But I..."
"Castle! For once can you just listen to me?!"
"You're taking this detective tone now!"
"Well I have to... Are you going to stay here?"
"Ok ok! You're right."
"Really?!" She said mockingly. "Are you really listening to me? Well, that's a first. Is it our new relationship that makes you so obedient? Had I known, I'd have tried this earlier!" She gave him a kiss on his pouted lips and leaved.
When Kate went out of the room she saw Martha sitting on a chair in the hall, a coffee cup in her hand. She went and sat next to her.
"Are you ok Martha?"
"Yes, my dear. Now that I've seen Richard and know he's ok. And You?"
"I'm ok, Martha."
"So you two are together finally?"
"How did you find out?" Kate didn't try to deny it.
"I know my son and I've learned to know you too."
"Well it seems that this is not doing him any good. Look where he is because of me!"
"Richard would do anything for you."
"Yes I'm aware of that. And that's what worries me."
"Honey that's what love is about; what any real relationship is about. Carrying each other's burden."
"But he's been the only one to carry one until now."
"I guess you'll have the opportunity to do so too, one day. "
Kate forced a smile.
"I have to leave Martha. See you later."
"I'll call you to tell you how he's doing."
"Thanks Martha".
Martha was watching Kate disappear in the hall when she heard Alexis coming back from the vending machine.
"Gramm we're not going back to the Hamptons, are we? We're staying with dad?" She was frantically waving her cereal bar while talking.
"Honey, I think your father we'll be ok, you heard the doctor. He's already recovered, it was not serious. More the less, all he'll do is to rest. I don't think he needs us for that."
"But gramm I want to take care of him."
"He's a big boy; he can take care of himself. As we left in a hurry we didn't get to pack our things and put everything in order. There's no need going back just for that and come back here. Honey, you need to worry less about your father. Remember you'll soon leave for college?"
"You want us to leave him alone is that it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know about that woman you know. When I came from my all-nighter she was there."
"Really?"
"So I was right, you know about her!" Alexis exclaimed. "It seems to be more serious than usual. Do you have an idea who she might be?"
"I think your dad will tell you about her when he'll be ready to."
"Ok. But I have a small idea."
When Kate arrived at the City Hall, Mayor Weldon was already waiting for her, some files in front of him. "Please." He beckoned the chair in front of him.
"Thanks"
"Did Rick apprise you of our case?"
"Yes sir."
"Ok. You must know that nobody apart from your captain knows that you're back in the police. Since from what Rick told me this involves someone of influence we'll have to lie low. My team is at your disposal for any question you have. They already know they'll have to be discreet and they're used to be anyway. We also have a room at your disposal with all the material needed."
"Thank you sir. We'll start with your chief of staff."
"Why my chief of staff?"
"If Jordan Norris got in touch with someone of importance it was necessarily during your campaign for governorship."
"Very well."
Kate left the office and took her phone.
"Espo, we're back to work."
"Yeah I just had a call from Gates."
"Meet me at the City Hall; I'll explain everything to you."
When Espo met Kate, they went directly to the room put at their disposal.
"That's a nice interrogation room." Esposito's eyes wandered through the room. But Kate went directly to sit at the table that was there, not paying any real attention to the decor.
"We're going to interview the chief of staff about Norris' whereabouts."
"We did that already"
"Yes, but we didn't know what we know now."
Several minutes later, they went out of the room. They were disappointed; nothing new came out from the interview with the chief of staff. It seemed nothing had eluded them during the first investigation and what they learned that was in some way new was of no use. Kate sighed. Usually she was not easily discouraged. But somewhat she despaired of finding another lead to charge Anderson. But she had one more to follow.
"Let's get in touch with Castle's friend to know what we can get from the prepaid phone."
"How do you plan to use what we'll find if we can't use it as evidence?"
"All we need is to find a way to relate both cases. If we find something on the chip it might give us a lead for the sex phone operator case."
Castle's friend was not living in a house it was more of a warehouse. They entered a room full of machines and computers, which was typical of a geek! But what was not was the fact that he could be Castle's friend. His look did not really fit. Long hair, too long. A pair of glasses too big too and that in fact always fell from his nose. But it was the typical geek look. After introducing herself and Esposito, Kate went straight to the point.
"Can you get anything from this chip?"
"The man has been very careful. He deleted all the outgoing and ingoing calls. Yet, you can't really erase anything with this new technology. There's always a way..."
"Did you find something"? Kate interrupted him.
"I can get into the call history... Hold on..." He typed on the keyboard. "Hold on..." Kate rolled her eyes. "He called only three different numbers in the last forty height hours."
"Yeeeeeeees?" She was getting impatient. Like this man was Castle's friend for a good reason after all. She got closer to the computer and pointed at the screen. "This number is Orlando Costas'. But this one; whose number is it? He called it three times and it's the last call. Can you tell us anything on this number?"
He started to type on his keyboard again.
" Hold on..." Typing again. "It's a burner phone we can't know the owner; but I can gps track down the number."
"Really?"
"Yeap, nothing impossible for me. Ok I've found the place but I'm not sure it will be of any help."
"What do you mean?" Kate asked
"It's in the Empire State Building."
"What?! Seriously?! Do you know how many offices there're in there?" She felt upset.
"Keep your hair on! I still have resources. I might not tell you who or where exactly this person is... But his call history can help. So, he called our man and... He received and made a call to Green Haven prison."
"That's where Norris is imprisoned! I think we get our link! But why would he call him?" Kate felt a bit relieved with this new information.
"Probably to make sure that he will remain silent." Esposito answered.
"So he's afraid of him?"
"The guy has been in there for a long time now. And you've seen the man he's not really of the courageous type. I don't think he'll hold out a very long time there."
"Then, we'll give him an opportunity to get out."
"There's a call to Maddox after this one." Esposito observed.
"And Maddox made a call to the prison too after." Castel's friend added. They looked at him surprised. "That's the owner of the phone you gave me, no?"
"Yes." Kate answered. She turned to Esposito. "You think..." She started then stopped to turn back to Castle's friend. "Why didn't you tell us that earlier?"
"Well, you didn't give me time for that and I had to track it. It's a burner phone. But I've traced it in Green Haven."
"Ok" She said still looking at him. Then to Esposito. "Do you think he put a contract on Norris?"
"For sure Maddox knows people there!"
"We must go to the prison right know. We should be able to stop this."
At the prison chaos and confusion reigned. It was time for the daily walk but the guards were hastily getting the prisoners into their cells.
"What's going on in here?" Kate asked.
"Two prisoners are fighting in the courtyard" a guard answered. "You should not stay here."
"Espo come."
They went down a stair where prisoners were coming up from the courtyard. There, Esposito intervened just in time to stop another prisoner from killing Norris. He handed him firmly to a guard. "Take good care of him. We'll need to talk to him later." The guard was going away when Esposito called him back. "Yo man put him into isolation; I don't want him to talk to anybody."
"What are you doing here?" Jordan panted. "They're going to kill me if they think I talked to you."
"Are you kidding?" Kate asked. "They just tried! And nothing will prevent them from trying again. You know that."
"I, I just asked them to do something so that the sentence will be reduced. I can't stay here for twenty years!"
"We already know who they are Jordan."
He looked at them unbelieving.
"How do you think we get just in time to save you? We only need more evidence. If you help us we can help you too."
"How?"
"If you tell us who's behind this we can reduce the charges. And when we get this man you won't have this sword of Damocles above your head anymore. We've already asked for you to be transferred just after this interrogation. You'll be put into isolation for a while, for your protection until all is settled."
Jordan looked everywhere, expecting someone to come.
"Nobody knows we are here. I can assure you. You can talk freely."
"Ok, ok, I went to someone I worked for once, before working for Mayor Weldon. I had financial problems and I thought he could help, he had before. He had not asked for anything then. But this time he asked me to do that, you know."
"Give us his name Jordan!"
"It's William Wright."
"Who?"
"William Wright, a lawyer."
"Are you trying to fool us Norris? We just saved your life, shall I remind you?!"
"No, no I don't I can assure you. His office is in Empire state building."
Kate looked at Esposito. Then to Jordan:
"Ok. For your own good don't talk to anybody from now on. Give us the exact location of this lawyer's office."
Esposito drove them to the Empire state building. Kate next to him did not talk, she looked annoyed.
"So Anderson has a middleman." she said in a low voice. "This case is becoming really too messy for me Javi. I don't think I can do it. How many middlemen are we going to find before getting to Anderson".
"Don't be disheartened Beckett. I'm sure we'll catch him... You know what?"
"What?"
"I think you miss Castle." He was pulling her leg to try to cheer her up.
She smiled:
"That's true I'd like him to be here with me. Not that I don't appreciate your company Javi."
"Don't worry I understand. Did you get any news?"
"I got a call from Martha. He's recovering well. But I'd like to tell him that we've closed this case next time I see him."
"We will Beckett."
Kate phone rang.
"Kate... I was thinking..."
"Rick! I thought you were supposed to rest" She exclaimed with a tender voice.
"I'm happy to hear you too!"
She started to giggle and abruptly stopped when seeing that Esposito was looking at her, a smile on his face. "I'm happy to hear you." She answered to Rick. "How you doing?"
"I'm fine but you know me. I can't stay without doing anything. So I was thinking; Costas and Maddox were in the army together, right?"
"Yes"
"We don't know Maddox real name but we can probably go through Costas' service file and find something?"
"You really can't just stay there and rest, don't you?"
"No I can't"
"Ok Espo and I will deal with that. But rest! I'll see you as soon as we've finished."
"I hope it won't last the whole day. I miss you Kate."
She hesitated then answered. "Me too."
"You too what?"
"Stop teasing me." Then lower. "I miss you too."
"I love you. Be careful. "
"Ok." She hang up smiling.
"He's ok?" Esposito asked.
"Yes. He was telling me about a new lead he thought about. I'll need you for that."
Once at Wright's office, Kate knocked at the door with a calmness that did not reflect her mood at all. Esposito, puzzled, briefly looked at her. When the lawyer opened and saw Beckett he gave a slight start of surprise. But he quickly regained his composure. "How may help you?" His smile was tensed though. Kate was not taken in by his behaviour she could still perceive his embarrassment.
"Come on Wright, are you surprised? You thought I was dead, do you? Cut the crap! You know who I am."
The lawyer's face hardened. "Well Detective Beckett it seems you finally got where you wanted to. So what now? There's nothing you can do against me or my employer."
"We already know who your boss is. It's Deputy Anderson."
The guy startled again. "If you're here it's because you have no evidence."
"But we will. You know that. We've already gotten to you. We got to all those involved with him. You know that too. So either you talk now or you'll be the only one to fall for all that".
"He'll get me out."
"He won't. He'll let you pay for him instead, just like he did with Jordan. By the way, Jordan cut a deal and all the evidence lead to you. We have enough to charge you."
Kate turned to Esposito. "Apparently he won't talk now. We already have Jordan's deposition. We bring this one to the interrogation room until he decides to talk. Like that he won't be able to warn Anderson either. We have another lead to follow."
They all went to the City hall. "Espo, do you know anybody who can help us get access to Costas' service file?"
"Yeah I think I know who can help us. I call him now and he'll mail it to us."
"Great! I'll get us some coffee and something to eat in the meantime."
Kate came back some minute later. "You have something already?"
"You arrived on time. The mail just arrived."
"Ok. Let's get a look at that." She put the cups of coffee and the two hot-dogs on an adjacent table, completely disregarded by both of them.
"Yo Beckett. Look here, we have a list of the members of Costas' unit. Here's Maddox, see? And his real name."
"And can we get into his file too?"
"Wait. I'm sending the request. Can I have this coffee and the hot dog now?"
"Sure. Here." They took the time to eat. But it seems like neither the coffee nor the food had real taste. It was just a matter of saying they had eaten.
"Ok. This is it." Esposito put the empty cup of coffee and the hot-dog wrap in a bin under the desk.
"So Maddox was in the army with Wright, under his orders. And so was Lockwood. And..." Kate stopped surprised. "And Coonan?! What the hell...? They were all part of the same unit? But what do Anderson has to do with all of them? I don't understand."
"Yo Beckett, look. Twenty years ago they had been involved in arms trafficking while still in the army. Anderson was in charge of the investigation. But the war ended just after the investigation started, they were demobilized and never bothered. Anderson probably buried the case and blackmailed them into working for him."
"And I guess he did the same with Montgomery and his colleagues. He takes advantage of his position to make exposed people work for him. As he holds serious things against them he knows they'll never protest or denounce him. I wonder how big his little personal network is and how many people will be ready to testify against him in order not to be his puppet anymore."
"It seems like we'll have a lot to go. But let's start with what we have I think it's quite enough to charge him. It's only the beginning Beckett. The dominoes will fall in reverse now."
"You've probably heard of this case of embezzlements of funds I was involved in." Mayor Weldon's voice was coming out of the tv set of the 12th precinct. "It has been proved that it was a conspiracy to compromise me. I've been cleared. All the evidence of this conspiracy led to Deputy Anderson who also has been proved to be involved in murders. This case though many months old had been able to be closed thanks to the good work of our New York detectives...
Everybody stood there watching and listening. Even if he did not name one of theirs personally or even the 12th, they were proud. It was a big case that had been resolved. With some chance since the Mayor was involved they might have some new funding. As two cops were leading Wright into custody he stopped by Kate and murmured to her in a threatening tone. "Don't think this is finished. Some people will never accept to fall with Anderson. Mark my words it's not finished!" The cops had to drag him away.
Kate shook her head. This man was just desperate and was trying to frighten her. She took her coat and put it on, she was in a hurry to leave and see how Rick was doing.
"Hey detective Beckett!"
"Hey Ryan!"
"So how did you catch him?"
"We only had to cross-checked the information. The witnesses in the sex operator recognized Cole Maddox from the picture we showed them. He was the one who had broken into her house and the place she worked in. Wright was part of the same unit in the army as Maddox, Coonan, Lockwood. They were all involved in arms trafficking during their service. Anderson as former member of C.I.D. got wind of it and impelled them to become hit men for his personal use."
"You did a great job Espo and you. I could have helped you know."
"Yes I know. I don't want you to feel sideline. It's just that we had special assignments."
Ryan stayed there not talking for a while. He seemed so embarrassed.
"Listen Beckett, I'm really sorry…."
"For what?"
"For involving Gates in all this, I really could not do otherwise."
"It's ok Ryan. I don't begrudge you that. After all you saved my live! And I didn't even get the time to properly thank you for that!" She hugged him. "Thanks! Really." That's when she saw Castle coming in. "Castle!" She murmured.
Ryan looked at her worrying.
"No he's really there this time Ryan." She turned him around by the shoulder.
"Hey Castle." Ryan called.
He left to meet Castle who was looking at Kate from afar. The latter shrugged with a smile on her face.
"I can't believe you forgive him so easily." Esposito who had met her said.
"Javi you'll have to learn how to work with Kevin again."
"He was my partner. I'm supposed to trust him in any circumstances."
"It's not always that easy. Everybody makes mistakes; that doesn't mean you can't trust anymore. Sometimes we think we do what is best." She looked at Castle standing next to the board talking to Ryan. "And he saved my life Javi, just for that I can't hold anything against him."
"He could have come alone and not bring Gates with him."
"I think he thought he was doing for the best in case he needed back up. Anyway you're both part of the same team and it's an order."
"Ok boss!"
Castle was only thinking about one thing; to be with Kate. But he made some great efforts to stay there and talk with Ryan. He did not want him to feel rejected after what had happened.
"I heard you saved Beckett's life on this roof. It's good to know that she can count on everybody in the team when needed."
"Where were you? She thought you were there with me. She was calling you."
"She was?" He looked at Kate talking with Esposito. "You know things had been complicated between Beckett and me."
"More than usual apparently. Each time I think things are getting better with you two; it seems something else comes up."
"I think I can say that from now on things will be better." He Looked again at Kate.
"You talked? Everything's settled?"
"Yeah."
"Good. It was high time. With things chaotic between Espo and me it's good to know the rest of the team's back together."
"I'm sure things won't stay long like that between Espo and you."
"I tried to talk to him and explain you know."
"Give it time. Let him come to you. I'm sure things will be soon as before. Excuse me Ryan I have to go..."
He suddenly left to meet Kate. He strode across the distance that separated them.
"Hey!" He knew emotion could be heard in his voice. But he could not restrain it and he did not care either. They had been separated for too long just after they had spent their first night together. That had been kind of frustrating.
"Hey!... I missed you." She could feel his emotion and that was not making things easy with her own. Her voice was trembling a bit though she tried her best to keep control. She bit her lower lip.
"I missed you too." This thing she was doing with her lip was not helping him. No it was really not helping. And those eyes, those eyes. They've always been so expressive. He was sure she had never realized how much.
"Do you feel better?"
"Much better, now that I'm with you." She beamed at him hearing those words.
They were getting closer to each other, almost touching. Kate lifted her hand and was about to stroke his cheek. Espo passed by them.
"Gates, Gates, Gates."
They startled and suddenly get apart.
"Espo! We didn't hear you coming." Kate blushed.
" I noticed."
"Detective Beckett, can I see you in my office?!" Captain Gates did not stop and went straight into her office.
"Do you think..." Castle started
"I don't think so but I'll know right away."
When Kate entered the office, Mayor Weldon was there. She had not seen him arrive in the precinct.
The Mayor turned to Gates:
"Of course it's impossible to keep detectives Beckett and Esposito on administrative leave, considering the success in their investigation. We'll talk about another way to sanction them though. Sorry it was the deal." He added to Kate.
"Actually I've already found something." Gates said. "Detective Beckett, you will be the instructor of two new officers. I hope going back to the basics will help you remember them the next time you would want to disobey a superior."
"Well. I leave you deal with this together." The Mayor headed for the door and he looked amused as his eyes met Kate's.
"Sir, I don't know. I already have a full team. I don't know if I can take care of more people."
"I understand that your hands are already full with Mr Castle." Kate looked at her wondering, but she realized that Gates didn't know anything and showed some relief. "It was this or the administrative leave. Furthermore Detective Esposito is supposed to help you."
"Yes sir."
The two young officers entered the room.
"Detective Beckett, this is Officers Bonnie Ryler and Clyde Kent."
Kate sigh, then said: "Come I'll introduce you to the rest of the team."
Castle was standing, next to her desk with Ryan and Esposito. Coming out the office, she shook her head to show him that Gates did not know.
"Guys, let me introduce you to Officers Bonnie Ryler and Clyde Kent. They're new members to the team. We'll train them for the work on the field.
"Beckett!" Esposito and Ryan exclaimed at the same time.
"Orders from the Captain!"
"What?! Their names are Bonnie and Clyde?" Castle asked.
"No it's officer Ryler and Kent."
"Do you sometimes wear glasses?" Castle asked to Clyde Kent
"No. Why?"
"No, no, just like that."
"But you, you do sing?" He turned to Bonnie.
"No."
"Castle, please." Kate said.
"Ok, ok." Castle raised his hands.
"Well, it's great to feel so welcomed in a new team." Office Kent muttered as he left with Ryler.
"What about a drink at the old hunt to celebrate?" Ryan suggested.
"Sorry Ryan." Kate said. "It's been a long day. But tomorrow perhaps?"
"Sure."
"Still have paper work." Espo answered and left.
"Sorry." Castle said shaking his head.
"Ryan! Some help won't hurt." Espo yelled.
"Coming!" He smile to Castle and Kate then left.
Kate watched Ryan leave shaking her head and smiling. Then she turned towards Castle. "Let's go."
They headed to the elevator. Once the door closed, Kate get closer to Castle, took his chin between her fingers and kissed him on the lips. Castle put his forehead on hers.
"Hmmmmm! Kinky!" He murmured
"Shhhh! Kiss me." She whispered. After he kissed her back, she kept her face close to his. "Did you get enough rest today?"
"Think so."
"What did the doctor tell you? Is there any contraindication to physical exercise?"
"No." Rick breathed as his heart beat faster.
Coming next: 503 (kinda) : Kevin