The doorman smiled at her, and waved, asking cheerily if she needed a cab. He always enjoyed talking to the detective while they waited for her cab.
She kept her head down, and shook her head as she walked by. "I'll walk tonight. Thanks, Henry."
"It's pretty late. Why don't you let me call one for you?" He looked at her curiously. "Mr. Castle would not be happy with me if I let you walk home alone this time of night."
"I need some fresh air tonight, Henry. It will be our secret." She attempted a smile, and gave him a pleading look, that begged him to leave it, and let her be alone.
He saw that she had been crying, and obviously in a hurry to make her retreat. "Ok, then, but be careful. I'll be seeing you soon." She started to head toward the door, when he touched her shoulder. "Get a good night's sleep. Things never seem as bad after you sleep on them."
Kate turned back toward the door just in time to miss Martha correcting her course to put herself in earshot of Henry and Detective Beckett. Of course, Martha didn't miss anything, and took in the whole scene. As soon as Kate left the building, Martha breezed over to Henry.
"That was Detective Beckett leaving?"
"Yes, maam. She and Mr. Castle must have had a falling out of sorts. She seemed a little upset. She wouldn't let me call a cab. She was in a big hurry to leave."
"Did she say why?"
"She didn't have much to say, but looks to me like she's been crying."
"Thanks, Henry. Why don't you have the car brought back around? She probably won't take the ride, but at least he can make sure she gets home safely."
"Yes, maam."
Martha dropped her keys on the table, sighing as she saw the wine glasses and random clothing strewn about the living room. Apparently, she was not expected home tonight. She headed straight for Castle's bedroom. She didn't wait to fling the door open fully before she lit into him. "Richard Castle, what have you done to Detective Beckett, besides the obvious?"
He flipped over, tangling himself in his covers at the yelling and the sudden burst of light into the room, and then sat straight up, pulling the covers around him. "Mother? What? What are you doing?"
"Well, I can see there was no need for me to rush home to keep you company tonight. What did you do?"
He was confused . . . deeply confused. He looked at the empty pillow beside him, and then at the dark bathroom. Where was Kate? Why was his mother standing in his bedroom yelling at him? He shook his head, trying to shake away the cobwebs from his deep sleep. "Where is Kate?"
"I imagine by now, around 53rd. I passed her in the lobby as I was coming up. She was heading out, giving Henry a hard time about accepting a ride, and crying. What did you do?"
"Do you mind, mother? I'll be out in a minute."
Martha skulked out, and he rummaged around in the dark for his pants, and his phone. He dialed her number, with no answer, and threw the phone on the bed. He came out a few minutes later, combing his fingers through his hair, and searching the living room for his shoes, and a shirt. "Why would she leave?" The question was directed more to himself, than to Martha, but of course, she didn't mind giving him her opinion anyway.
"She left because you rushed into something without thinking about the consequences. Coming from someone who has walked the walk of shame herself several times, she wasn't sure if you would want her here in the morning, so best to leave, and not have to face an awkward situation."
"That is not what she thinks. She knows."
"Did you tell her? Did you discuss what this step means? Honestly, Richard. What were you thinking? What was she thinking?" She shook her head, rolling her eyes. "Never mind. Don't answer that."
"It's not like that mother. We talked."
"About how you would deal with your new relationship? About what happens next? About what you would do in the morning?"
He looked at her guiltily. "She was really crying?"
"If you want more from her than you expect from one of your book bimbos, you can't treat her like one of them. She needs to know that you think more of her than that. You need to tell her how you feel, what you want."
He looked a little dazed. He was still standing in the living room holding his shoes and keys. "It was so clear to me. I just assumed that she felt the same way."
"Now would be a good time to tell her." She walked over to him, and put her hands on his shoulder. "You love Kate. I love Kate. Alexis loves Kate. Don't screw this up." She patted him on the head, and shook her head, rolling her eyes.
.
A/N:
Hmmm. That was really short, and not really interesting. Let's call it transitional, and wait for the good stuff coming tomorrow.
I am not familiar with NYC. I don't know where Castle lives, and I don't know where 53rd is. I just made that up. Yes, I could look it up, but let's just let it go, and pretend it is geographically correct. OK?
