Hello, friends...our story continues...Thanks for reading...Let me know what you think...
Love, Melody
They returned to the loft, Kate had barely said a word on the trip home. Rick guided her into the loft, led her to the couch, removed her shoes, took her gun case and swung her legs onto the couch.
"See you can still bring it, Detective." Rick patted her side, ran a hand over her legs.
"I'm exhausted." Kate admitted, sinking into the couch.
"I know, it will be easier the next time, but you did it."
She ran her fingertips over his chin and smiled at him.
"Not without you, partner. I couldn't have done it without you."
"That's what partners do. Close your eyes, take a nap. I'll whip up something to eat for us."
His lips brushed her mouth and her eyes closed, but she was at peace, content in her accomplishments. She knew she would regain her ability to fire her weapon, now could she fire it when it mattered, when it was life or death. Only time would tell, her lips forming into a satisfied smile as she fell asleep.
"Hey gorgeous, you gonna sleep all day or can we eat now?"
She slowly opened her eyes and stretched her legs, and like a cat, arched her back. She felt well rested, good about the day's events and the progress she had made. She sat up, went to the kitchen and put her arms around Rick
"You are the best, talking me through my time at the practice range, like a guardian angel, can you sit on my shoulder all the time?" Kate loved teasing Rick, egging him on.
"Oh, would that I could. I would love to sit on you anywhere, anytime." Rick waggled his brows and smirked down at Kate. She was barefoot and fit perfectly into his chest, he loved her without shoes.
"I think I'll go again tomorrow, I'm on a roll."
"Hey, can I go?" A voice from the front door said
"Alexis, you don't need to learn to shoot a gun."
"Actually Rick I think that's an excellent idea. She should learn about gun safety and how to handle a weapon, but more importantly not to fear being around a gun."
Rick frowned, he was not happy about this, Kate realized she had overstepped her bounds and added, "Alexis, let me discuss this with your father first. It's not fair to blindside him, just give us a minute."
Alexis left the room irritated, she was eighteen and didn't need his permission, but understood his concern.
The couple went into his office to talk about the latest development.
"Rick, talk to me, what's wrong. You don't mind that I carry a gun, or that I shoot at people."
"That's different, you're a cop. Alexis is my daughter."
"That is really a chauvinistic viewpoint, I'm surprised at you." Kate sat forward, glaring at Rick, but trying to understand.
"Well, come on, she's my daughter. It doesn't feel right."
Rick sat with his head in his hands and a petulant pout on his face.
"Rick, this is actually a good thing. I really think Alexis needs to be around guns, so she's not be afraid if she ever is placed in a dangerous situation plus it would help me too. I'm being a little selfish, okay?"
She was kneeling down in front of him as she talked her hands on his, trying to get a clear look into his face.
"You're right, I know you're right. The world is a dangerous place. She'll be better off, but I hate thinking about the possibilities."
"Hey, you know I would never let anything happen to her. I would move heaven and earth to keep her safe."
Yeah, I know." The back of his hand stroking her face, angling his head to rest against hers.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The next morning, Kate and Rick were enjoying their coffee, making small talk waiting for Alexis to join them.
"I'm ready." Alexis rushed into the kitchen.
"Relax, there's no rush. Have some coffee." Sliding a mug over towards her partner's daughter, Kate smiled at her enthusiasm.
The pair arrived and Kate introduced Alexis to the staff there and proceeded to the range. Kate was still nervous about handling her weapon, but having Alexis with her at the range hopefully would make it easier, she could focus on Alexis' needs, not hers.
Kate quickly found teaching Alexis the intricacies of gun handling and ultimately firing the weapon brought her incredible comfort. It was therapeutic, cleansing her anxieties away.
By the time they left, Alexis had a good appreciation for weapons and Kate had conquered her demons. Kate wrapped her arm around Alexis, promising they would come back if she wanted.
"Oh yes please Kate. I really want to get more confident around guns, thank you." She reached up and kissed her on the cheek.
"Of course, now let's get some deli food from Carnegie's, your father will be starved from worrying about you." Kate was so in tune with Castle, both of them laughed and headed back to the loft.
The next few weeks were packed with appointments, speaking with Dr. Burke, working at the range, but most importantly she and Rick and often times Alexis met with the martial arts guru, Jonathan, who Steve had recommended.
Jonathan and Steve met with the couple on several occasions, they both recommended Kate be fitted with an extra light weight flak vest, made to protect her vulnerable side. Kate was against having to wear an extra protective device, she didn't think she needed it, but as both Steve and Jonathan reminded her, if she didn't wear it and got caught unprepared, she could suffer a serious injury.
Kate finally relented, particularly after, Rick nearly begged her to wear the vest. The vest was state of the art, reinforced with titanium stays over the left side of her rib cage, surprisingly comfortable and weighed next to nothing.
Jonathan taught Kate how to adjust her body to accept blows, learning various exercises to strengthen her abdominal wall, block shots, punish her attacker without opening herself up to possible injury, she even managed to gain more muscle tone without losing weight, and surprisingly Rick had also benefited from these workouts.
"I think I'm getting a six pack, what do you think? Pretty ripped huh?" Rick pulled up his t-shirt and was flexing his muscles for his partner.
"Yeah, though I think you're a couple packs short", Kate poked him in his stomach and laughed at him, he was so adorable.
"Wait, look again, it's hard as a rock." Rick tightening his stomach to make his point.
Kate took a halfhearted swing at his stomach, causing him to let his stomach relax, and return to normal, still a little flabby, but better.
"You know, if you ate more vegetables and less pizza it would help."
Rick frowned, pursed his lips, cocked his head, contemplating the possibility, "yeah, that's not gonna happen. I have to have pizza, it's a food group."
"In your world, of course it is. Rick, you are priceless." Kate exited the room chuckling at her love.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
By the end of the month, everyone on Kate's rehabilitation team agreed she was ready to return to the precinct; even Steve was impressed with Kate's recovery, though he cautioned Rick and Kate about how she was still vulnerable to persistent blows.
Kate and Rick both acknowledged his concerns. Kate promised to wear the extra padding Jonathan had manufactured for her, lightweight, but effective.
Kate and Rick strolled into the precinct, Kate leading the way and Rick close behind. Various members of the force came up to greet them, Kate was her usual friendly, polite, gracious self, but her goal was Captain Gates' office and she would not to be deterred.
The boys stood up and nodded in the couple's direction. They had been privy to the rehabilitation program and had seen their favorite couple often during the time off. They were a little anxious, as Captain Gates was a master of playing her cards close to her vest.
Kate knocked on the Captain's door and when they were given permission to enter, she walked in after glancing at Rick, winking at him and dazzling him with her most confident smile.
"Detective Beckett, back again I see. You're like the Eveready bunny; you just keep going and going. From what your doctors and therapists tell me, you are again fit for duty. But my question is why do you keep returning? Why aren't you on a beach somewhere working on your tan?" She ended with a smile, glancing at the couple.
Kate laughed at her last remark, but wanted to answer her first question in all seriousness.
"Sir, I work for the victims and their families, bringing justice to them, for them. I know that's my calling, though Mr. Castle would love if I relented and laid on a beach all day." Kate answered, smiling in Rick's direction.
"Mr Castle, are you really going to let our Detective run back into the mix again?
"Um, Sir, have you met Kate Beckett? Do you think I could stop her? Not likely. All I can do is support her, do everything in my power to keep her safe. There is no stopping her, but if you allow me to return with her, I will do my best to ensure we all remain healthy. Although with her it isn't easy." His hand squeezed Kate's shoulder as he spoke.
Captain Gates shook her head, moved behind her desk, opened the drawer and pulled out Kate's badge and gun.
"Starting today, Detective, you and your side kick here are back on duty."
Rick thought he heard a cheer from the bull pen, but gave no indication.
Kate and Rick left the captain's office and lightly brushed their hands together as they entered the bullpen.
The boys had already loaded two murder boards, Rick headed to the break room to make everyone some coffee, and returned to find Kate listening intently to Ryan and Esposito as they reviewed the first of two cases.
Rick took Kate's hand and slid the mug of coffee into her hand. She peered into Castle's face, a radiant smile taking over her face, in her element, she murmured thanks and returned to ask further questions of the boys.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Her time back was in full swing, they had solved two murders, again with Castle's theories, making everything much more enjoyable, plus he had become an integral part of the crime team.
While she had been gone, several members of the 10th precinct had been arraigned for illegal activities. Word was that they would make bail soon, but were facing serious prison time.
Kate had been instrumental in cracking the case open before she had been injured by Maddox, she had hated being part of the investigation, but couldn't bear having fellow police officers getting away with the crimes, the investigators had come to the hospital, took her testimony and pertinent evidence about the men's involvement.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Rick was in Chicago meeting with his publishers, it was the first time since her encounter with Maddox they had separated, Kate assured Rick she would behave, wear her vest, eat well, rest, plus Kate and Alexis were planning time together, dinners out, exercising and watching movies.
Kate hurried home, stopping at a favorite bakery for some desserts, Alexis and she were planning on some French food and watching a wonderful little black and white film, made in France with one of their favorite actresses.
She finally made her way through the evening traffic, into the garage, and she got out of the car and immediately removed the extra vest. She was home, she didn't need it at home and besides Castle was in Chicago. She was slightly uneasy with their separation, she was feeling a little vulnerable and honestly lonely, she smiled, she really missed him.
Kate was wrapped up in her thoughts, not concentrating and unaware of how quiet the hallway was as she exited the elevator. She unlocked the door and her senses were immediately on fire, the hair on the back of her neck stood up, something was wrong. The loft was silent, dark, no music. She instantly glanced around, pulling her weapon unconsciously, standing still trying to get accustomed to the darkness, she felt movement behind her and her gun was knocked out of her hand as something hard struck her arm.
Simultaneously, the sound of another person lurched towards her from her left, air rushed close to her head, causing her to jerk away, strike out at the attacker, but before she could focus, a blow struck the side of her head, hard, drawing blood, rocking her, forcing her to stagger. Her reflexes responded, she aimed a blow at the person on her right and heard a groan indicating her effort had connected.
Before she could recover another blow hit her from the rear, sending her sprawling forward on all fours, she was clearly outnumbered, her next recollection was a swift and well placed kick to her left side, followed by a full force jolt to her back, pain permeated her body. Kate attempted to tense her muscles, but the ferocity of the attack prevented her from being prepared. She struggled to remain conscious, desperately trying to locate Alexis without success. Her last conscious audible connection was a sinister voice speaking to her.
"Welcome home Detective, let the games begin." Her mind slipped away and darkness closed around her.