Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or the recognizable characters who appear in this story. Any other names, for characters or businesses, are fictional, uncompensated, or are in the public domain.
Brazenly employing her lights and siren cut a few minutes from her drive to the precinct, Beckett's still a wreck when she pulls up to the precinct. What she sees causes her heart to clench even tighter. It looks like a crime scene – the entry's cordoned off, there are officers milling about to divert onlookers, and medical personnel are loading patients into ambulances. That last observation breaks what little of her resolve that remains. Beckett pulls to the side of the street, double-parking her cruiser without a care as she bails out and races toward the front door.
Luckily, her team is waiting to intercept her. Ryan holds his hand out, offering to move her car without a request. She nods thankfully as she drops the keys into his palm. "Meet you in the conference room," he says, more to Esposito than to her.
Turning to Espo for an explanation, he just motions toward the front door of the precinct, stopping to raise the yellow tape so that Beckett need not stoop to continue. It's a task Castle usually prides on doing for her, which just drives home her concern. "Where is he?" she asks of Espo as she passes beneath the tape. "Where's Castle?"
"He's upstairs with Gates," Espo says tersely. "He's fine. But we need to talk." Clearly, he's not keen on discussing whatever's happened in the open, which doesn't do anything to allay her fears. But she follows his lead, remaining quiet as they're waived through security. The elevator is cordoned off and being worked over by a CSU team, which prompts more raised eyebrows from Beckett. Esposito ignores the activity as he moves to the stairs, leading them to the fifth floor conference room. While he still doesn't talk, Espo points to Gates' office as they pass. Beckett's relieved to see Castle's back as he sits in the chair facing Gates' desk, though she's still worried about whatever took place during her absence and the content of what looks like a serious conversation between Castle and her boss.
They're just entering the conference room when Ryan catches up to them, slightly winded from his jog from the depot and up the stairs. He follows them into the room and closes the door, though he doesn't close the blinds. Beckett had prepared to stop him from doing so, since she's interested in keeping an eye on activity around Gates' office.
"The guy Karpowski's team picked up this morning," Espo begins, almost as if giving a case report, "the one tied to the Washington case, his attorneys came to see him." Beckett nods, remembering the large, unruly, and unwashed specimen of thuggery Karpowski wrestled into interrogation to start the day. "The lead attorney was a woman a little shorter than you, blonde," he adds almost inconsequentially. "There was another guy with her, but she did all the talking."
Beckett nods, trying to contain her impatience.
Ryan knows his boss well, so he takes up the narrative to keep things moving. "Unis brought the guy up from Holding. They uncuffed the suspect – Dennis Eckes – and were leaving when his 'attorneys' took their chance. The woman leveled Hastings and took her piece. Eckes picked Hastings up and held her out like a shield while they made a move to the elevator. But Castle…," Ryan trails off, looking uncomfortable, "… Castle was standing near the elevator talking to Dixon from Vice," he finishes with a blush that instantly conveys the subject of her partner's conversation.
"The blonde woman recognized Castle," Espo interjects quickly so they don't dwell on what Castle was doing near the elevator. "She told Eckes to drop Hastings and take Castle instead. Castle almost screwed it all up – Eckes literally dropped Hastings and wasn't pleased when Castle caught her. He cracked Castle with a backhand, then shoved him into the elevator."
"Which was a tactical mistake," Ryan adds immediately, recognizing that Beckett was about to make the same point. "They should've taken the stairs. But all three piled into the elevator, along with Castle. So we called down to the security desk and ran like hell for the stairs to beat the elevator down. But when we got to the bottom…"
"What?" Beckett asks, annoyed that Ryan stopped his recital at the critical point. "What happened in the elevator?"
"We don't know," Esposito answers, running a hand through his hair. "The doors opened and all three were down. Castle was kneeling off to the side of the doors so he wouldn't accidentally get shot by the cavalry. As soon as it was clear, he stood up, said there was a wheelman around the corner, then got out of the way. Gates hustled him up to her office. They've been in there since then."
"We need to know what happened in that elevator," Beckett answers in a low voice that still conveys her fury. If anything had happened to him while she was with Burke... "And I need to make sure those three never step foot outside a cell again."
"Tory pulled the elevator footage for Gates," Espo answers. "She'll get us a copy."
For some reason, Esposito looks uncomfortable with what sounds like a good answer. Swiveling to look at Ryan, Beckett sees the same odd look there. She focuses on the younger detective, certain he's the weaker link. "And…?"
"And," Ryan admits quietly, cringing, "we've got surveillance audio on Castle."
"What?!" Beckett shouts, coming out of her chair. "You idiots actually bugged him? So you've got this whole thing recorded? Play it!"
Rallying to defend his partner, Esposito steps in. "We heard this morning that Dixon was gonna make a play for Castle. It was a perfect chance to test the new tech," he tries to justify, before quailing at Beckett's fierce look. "But we haven't listened yet – it's still recording."
"What?!" Beckett repeats again, this time with a tone of worry leavening her indignation. "It's recording now, while he's talking with Gates?"
"We didn't want to turn it off," Ryan admits, "not once it captured the attempted kidnapping. And now we're screwed because it'll have to be logged as evidence."
Rubbing her brows, Beckett tries to figure out a way of this box. The boys will certainly be reprimanded, maybe busted down in rank or even terminated. It's the last thing Castle would want, though he's not likely to be amused with their prank.
"Here's what we're gonna do," she decides, taking command. "When he comes out, you're going to retrieve the bug, making sure no one sees what you're doing. We'll take that, and the video from Tory, and review both outside of the precinct. If there's nothing of use on the recording, we destroy it and never mention it again – not even the bit about Dixon," she says, leveling each of the boys with a look.
"If there is something on the recording…," she trails off, thinking. "If there is something on the recording, then we say I did it. I'll explain it as protecting my partner or something. Dixon's been gunning for me since she went to Vice, probably tired of hearing stories about my time there."
"No," Esposito answers immediately, bolstered by Ryan's vigorous head shake. "We did this, Beckett. We take the fall."
"You ready to lose your jobs?" she asks fiercely, noticing both of them flinch. "They'll go easier on me – bad press to discipline the cop who got shot while eulogizing her captain. Besides, the Union'll shred anyone who tries to fire one of the few female detectives for an offense like this. No, it's got to be me, guys," she says more calmly, showing them that she understands the ramifications of her decision. "And only me."
Neither of the boys say anything for a few long moments. Then, Ryan extends a fist. "Thanks," he says heavily after Beckett obliges in a fist-bump. "Sorry to put you into this position, Beckett."
"Yeah, thanks," Espo adds, giving a bump of his own and looking chastened. "We can go to my place to review the recordings," he offers, trying to make amends. "But let's get out of here," he says while pointing towards Gates' office. "Looks like things are breaking up."
They're still moving towards Gates' office when Castle emerges, looking ruffled and pale. He's surprised when Beckett wraps him in a quick, fierce hug. "I was so worried," she whispers to him. "I'm sorry I wasn't here."
He's about to reply when she drops her arms and steps back, clearing the way for the boys. Castle remains focused on her until the backslaps and bro-hugs distract him. Looking away from the testosterone-fest, Beckett's surprised to see an odd look on Gates' face. It's one more thing for her to think about once they get away from here.
She's just stepping away from the scene and toward her desk when she collides with someone. Looking up, she sees Tory apologizing profusely for her clumsiness, quickly stepping away with a wink. Patting her pocket on the way to her desk, Beckett contains her smile at feeling a memory stick. For a tech analyst, Tory's pretty smooth.
The boys lead Castle over to their desks, trying to keep the mood buoyant with jokes and teasing even though it's clear Castle's not his normal self. Espo gives Beckett a surreptitious nod, confirming that he's retrieved the bug. They're set for their viewing party, but Beckett needs to attend to her partner, first.
"Hey, partner," she says warmly as he folds himself into the seat next to her desk with a sigh. "You okay?"
"I'm fine, Beckett," he says in reply, hew words blatantly at odds with his demeanor and posture.
"No, you're not," she disagrees seriously, leaning in and shocking him by reaching for his hand. "Your hands are shaking and you're pale. You're on the downslope on an adrenaline rush. It'll hit you harder soon if it hasn't already peaked. Always does. I've been there, Castle," she confesses quietly. "I can help you deal with it."
"I'm fine," he repeats stubbornly. "I just don't want to think about it right now."
"Okay," she replies kindly. "You're gonna call me if you need to talk, right?" she asks pointedly, squeezing his hand hard to mask her concern with bravado. "You're not gonna do anything stupid like run away to a cabin to deal with it by yourself, are you?"
Her words take him aback, force him to pause for several long moments before replying.
"I'm sure if I needed to," he says slowly, his shock at her physical contact compounded by her willingness to refer to their dark summer apart, "a good partner would understand why I left," he admits quietly, pausing again as they both recognize the import of their words.
"But I'm not going anywhere," he restarts the conversation, "except home to the loft. I need to see my little girl. And maybe even my mother."
"Okay, partner," Beckett says bracingly, standing up and pulling on his hand to make him rise, too. "Let's get you to the loft."
"I can take a cab, Beckett," he replies while cutting her a look. "Just like any other day."
"If you think I'm letting you out of my sight before you're safely delivered to the loft," she answers with a raised brow and challenging look, "you're absolutely crazy." Noticing that he's getting ready to object again, Beckett drops her reserve. "Please?" she whispers, voice nearly breaking. "For me?"
"Not fair," Castle mumbles, though any fight seems to have left him. "Alright, let's go. But if we're trying to make me comfortable…," he starts a feeble joke.
"I'm driving," she answers immediately, well aware of his end-game. "You were just in a traumatic situation, Rick. It's not safe for you to be behind the wheel."
"I'm fine," Castle mumbles again as they walk toward the stairs, just in case the elevator is still being processed. He's taken several steps before he turns and gives her an odd look. "Rick?"
"No, I'm Kate," she replies, looking purposely confused. "Did you get hit on the head?"
"No, you called me 'Rick,' not Castle," he replies. "You were worried about me."
"I told you that!" Beckett replies, embarrassed by her slip.
"You might've been worried about your partner, Castle," he answers, sounding puzzled. "But it sounds like you also might've been worried about your friend, Rick."
"Of course I was," she replies, bashful. "I wouldn't make it without either one of you."
Fifteen minutes later, they're in her car, closer to the loft than the precinct. She's been chatting the whole time, trying to make sure he doesn't have time to brood on what happened. It's been a monologue, though, as he remained silent and introspective during the drive. But she's running out of time, and if today proved anything, it's that she can't afford to let herself dawdle.
"Castle?" she asks, her hesitant tone signaling the shift to a different topic. When he turns to look at her profile, she dives in before she can falter. "I've been seeing a therapist about my shooting and what happened afterward," she says, her hands tightening on the steering wheel as she hears her partner's soft intake of breath. "Will you attend my next session with me?"
"Kate, I don't need to see a therapist," he demurs, though it's clear he's surprised by her request.
"I'm not sure about that," she replies honestly. "I didn't think I did, either. But that's not why I asked," she continues quickly to prevent him from objecting again or asking about her what changed her mind about therapy. "There are things I want to tell you, things I want to talk about, and I think it'll be easier if we talk there. Would that be okay? Please?"
"Yes," he answers. She's not sure if she's happier about his immediate reversal or the awed tone of his voice. "Of course," he whispers.
"Just promise me one thing?" she asks. When he agrees, she names her terms. "Call me, okay? Any time, day or night – if whatever happened today starts to get on top of you, just call me and we'll talk. About that or nothing at all, whatever works. But you gotta call me."
She can tell he wants to turn this around, tell her that this goes both ways and she should call him – should've called him, anytime during their terrible summer. But she can see in her peripheral vision the exact moment he lets that go.
"I will," he promises. "I won't even use it as an excuse to call when I think you might be in the bath," he jokes, trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh, Castle, if you had any idea how many times we've talked while I've been wearing nothing but a thin layer of receding bubbles, you wouldn't joke so easily," she teases in reply, breaking into laughter at his immediate double-take.
Their banter seems to be lifting Castle's mood, but they run out of time and distance before making any other gains. Earlier than she'd prefer, Beckett slows the car and pulls to the curb outside his building. "You want to come up?" he asks. "An early dinner?"
"Another time, Castle," she replies. "You need to spend some time with Alexis. Go bond with your daughter and don't forget to call me, right?"
"Right," he capitulates with a nod. Then, after a deep breath, he exits her car, uttering a heartfelt thank you before tapping on the roof of her cruiser and seeing himself inside. Beckett waits until he's lost from view before pulling back into the street, already dialing her phone.
"Espo? I just dropped off Castle. I'm on my way. Let's find out what actually happened today."
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving! Best wishes for a time of thanks and appreciation, whether you celebrate the holiday or not. As for me, I have much for which to be thankful, including a wonderful family and good friends. Thank you all.
My apologies for breaking the chapters on the cusp of discovering what happened in the precinct. All will be revealed in the next two chapters, which will post before I return home on Sunday (as long as I can respond to reviews before then). The last chapters of this story were giving me trouble, but I think I finally worked things out with chapter seven. With luck, chapter eight will flow easily and conclude this tale.
Safe travels.