Two Moments Collide

by castlefan6

This is my AU version of events immediately following the interrogation of Bobby when Rick learns of Kate's lie. I hated the episode with Slaughter and was not so much a fan of the Limey. I think Rick was painted as a jilted Youth, rather than the mature man, who had survived infidelity, and differences with two wives, as well as desertion from Kyra.

4. Chapter 4

Two Moments Collide by Castlefan6

Authors Note: This is my AU version of events immediately following the interrogation of Bobby when Rick learns of Kate's lie. I hated the episode with Slaughter and was not so much a fan of the Limey. I think Rick was painted as a jilted Youth, rather than the mature man, who had survived infidelity, and differences with two wives, as well as desertion from Kyra. The story starts at the Interrogation room under Previously

I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 4

Previously

"At least if I had said that, you would have had the opportunity to confirm or deny, although your eyes told me all I needed to know the moment I saw you," tears pool in her eyes,

"Hey, let's see if we can get anything on Leann West so we can close this case, I know everyone is emotionally drained. We'll talk Kate, I promise as soon as this is over. I love you, I'm in love with you, but*******"

12th Precinct

11:35 AM Next Day

Kate and Rick interviewed Leeann West for all of 20 minutes, before she caved,

DNA and Fingerprints had been traced to her, as well as phone records secured from the Cloud Account of Jessie, storing incriminating voice mails between the two.

"I kept quiet for Jessie, for his memory" she cries

"That's what your friend Jessie would call sinning by silence, it's not smart, it's not brave, it's just cowardly" Rick spews at her angrily.

"Miss West, you have no idea how many dreams you shattered, how many lives you impacted, and also just how many tomorrow's for so many people you stole. Lies do that, I know, all too well. The most you can hope for now is that you can do good wherever you serve your sentence and remember No one's tomorrows are promised. IF any good came of this tragedy it was that reminder to me, Good Luck" as Kate fights back the tears.

Captain Gates has called a mandatory precinct meeting at 12:30 PM, where she will advise the results of the investigation to all and release the information to the press afterwards. As Rick is standing, leaning against a desk as the meeting starts, he feels a hand snake his.

"Hi, I just need to hold onto someone who I know who loves me and would really care if I had been lost in such a tragedy.", Kates eyes are full of tears, but she manages to hold them in.

Captain Gates is speaking about Leann West and her quest for a more prestigious job, her moment in the limelight, that collided with real life.

"I'd like to thank you all, I know everyone in this room gave 110%, but I especially want to thank Mr. Castle, who pulled off a task that the computers couldn't, he pulled the data from stacks of independent accounts and gave us the leads that led to the arrest of those responsible.

Also, Detective Beckett and her boys, you know how I hate saying that, but Detectives Esposito and Ryan, who followed a CI lead to retrieve the physical evidence. I think they deserve a round of applause," as she leads the clapping. After several minutes she holds her hand up to quiet the group.

"One more issue before I want you to get out of here and take the next two days off, we have arranged off shifts to cover each of you, and the mayor has authorized a paid leave for all of you. Detective Beckett?"

"Sir, yes sir" as she drops Ricks hand she was confident that no one could see, what the heck?

"Would you bring Mr. Castle up here with you please," WTH stares are shared as they both proceed to the front and face the Captain.

"Kate, why in the hell don't you just kiss that man, everyone knows you're in love, and much to your surprise I'm not an idiot, I do have feelings even as Iron Gates" as the faces of the remaining detectives begin to blush, knowing they had been caught using her nickname

Shock, utter disbelief, spread thru both as Rick waits for Kate's denial, but instead he feels his face pulled down and locked into a lip lock with her kissing him like he had never imagined. Finally, after what seemed hours, with clapping and cheering filling the entire bull pen, they break in need of air. "I love you Rick, and I don't care who knows it, I'm completely in love with you," saying over the clapping then "I just hope I can earn my way back" she whispers.

They both turn to Captain Gates, who is smiling, "Sir, how did you know?"

"I think the question should be for how long I have known Kate, and the answer is longer than you would admit it, ****since I first saw you two together. Congratulations and I trust that will be the only kiss I will be seeing on the job, to keep plausible deniability" she smiles.

"Of course, Captain, and thank you sir. "

"Now you two get out of here for a week, no calls no texts no contact and that is an order."

"Yes Sir" they both answer in unison.

"Guys we are going to the Old Haunt for a drink, care to join us" Rick asks Espo and Ryan,

"Thanks Bro, but I'm going home to see Jenny, seems like I've been gone forever, next time"

"Me too, I'm tanked, I'll holler at ya, but Thanks Rick, I really mean that. I know you did a lot more than you want us to know but, it means a lot to me to get closure for those impacted by this, too many memories," as he faces skyward for a moment, thinking of those he served with who had died similar deaths.

"OK Guys Thanks for a great job, enjoy your two days off, we'll see you in a week, and you heard the captain, no calls no texts***"

"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, we got it, you guys need to talk, and I mean Talk, Talk." Ryan says as he smiles and walks away.

Old Haunt Tavern

1:45 PM Same Day

Kate and Rick sat in "his" booth as usual, but this time Kate sat as close to him as she could get. Sharing French fries and wiping bits of ketchup off her chin as they enjoyed the burgers, the relatively quiet of the bar, and just the looks each shared into the other's eyes. Neither wanted to face the elephant in the room but finally Kate breached the subject.

"Rick, I love you, I'm in love with you, BUT I know that you need proof, hell, I don't even know that I deserve another chance, so I understand, I truly do.

Can we talk about what you would like? I can't go back and change the past but maybe we can map out where we want this relationship, and yes, I used the R word, to go. What I and we can do to insure we never face those doubts again?

I played that song again last night and I cried, thinking what you would have thought, had any of those close calls we survived turned out differently, Rick, I never want you to doubt that no matter how many tomorrows we have, it won't be enough, I want forever with you.

What hurts the most is my memories looking back at all the hurt, and times I caused you pain, **" as her tears fall freely, and Rick pulls her into a hug,

"Babe, shhh, come on now, those days are gone, besides I am sure I can find just about as many times as I hurt you, or caused you pain, I'm not looking to even the score card" "I can take a lot Kate, but to see you cry, kills me, please no more tears, we are going to work this out, I promise you."

The sudden urge to be alone with the man she loves grips Kate, "Rick, can we go to my place, I don't want to share you with anyone for now, I just want to crawl in your arms and have you hold me, I know that sounds weak, but I don't know what my life would be without you and I've been so stupid."

"Not stupid at all Kate, I feel the same way, Let's get out of here"

Rick hails a cab and gives Kate's address as she leans her head into his neck, softly crying, he holds her the entire way, not saying a word, these moments are for just the two of them.

Beckett's Apartment

4:00 PM Same Day

Kate recovers enough to fish her keys out of her purse as Rick pays the cab, and they enter the elevator, still looking into each other's eyes, neither wanting to be the first to look away or blink. The elevator doors have opened and closed several times, but the two occupants are oblivious to anyone or anything other than the person standing in front of them. Finally, another occupant enters and presses a button and the elevator sets in motion, this seems to shock them both out of the trance, and Kate quickly pushes her floor.

When the doors enter they lock hands as they approach Kate's door, she suddenly stops and turns to Rick, pulling his head gently down into a sweet, long kiss, trying to pour all of her love into her lips, then turns and opens the door.

"Come in Rick, this is the first time for you" she says shyly

"Kate, you and I both know I've been here before, or am I missing something?"

"You're missing the fact that this is the first time you are here fully aware that I love you more than life itself,

Rick I am so sorry it took me so long to wake up, and the way you had to find out. Most of all I'm sorry I lied to you and robbed us both of months of happiness. When I said I would do anything to prove it I was and am serious," as the tears begin to fall again.

"Hey, come here", as he pulls her into a sweet embrace, "We'll figure it out, I promise you, and we'll be great." She nuzzles his neck and wraps her arms around him, her gun causing a bit of a blockage.

"Make yourself comfortable while I put this away, and change if you don't mind"

"Of course not, I'll be right here, waiting for you."

Kate leans in and gives him a sweet kiss, there's wine over there if you want to pour us a glass, I'll be right back," then another kiss, and then another, finally she pulls away and heads to her bedroom.

Rick pours the wine and is careful to place each glass on the coasters on the table, but bumps Kate's remote off the table when he hears music just as Kate returns. He fully expected her to turn it off and chastise him, but instead, she turned the volume up and laid her head across his chest.

Then he hears the voice, and words, even he knows the unique sound of Daughtry, but the lyrics are almost like a plea from Kate, who is quietly singing along between the tears, holding on to him even tighter.

Feels Like Tonight

Daughtry

You, you got me
Thinking it'll be all right you, you told me
"Come and take a look inside."
You believed me, in every single lie
But I, I failed you this time

And it feels like tonight
I can't believe I'm broken inside
Can't you see that there's nothing that I wanna do
But try to make it up to you?
And it feels like tonight, tonight

I was waiting
For the day you'd come around
I was chasing
But nothing was all I found
From the moment you came into my life
You showed me what's right

And it feels like tonight
I can't believe I'm broken inside
Can't you see that there's nothing that I wanna do
But try to make it up to you?
And it feels like tonight

I never felt like this before
Just when I leave, I'm back for more
Nothing else here seems to matter
In these ever-changing days
You're the one thing that remains
I could stay like this forever

And it feels like tonight
I can't believe I'm broken inside
Can't you see that there's nothing that I wanna do
But try to make it up to you?
And it feels like tonight, tonight, tonight

Cause there's nothing that I wanna do
But try to make it up to you
And it feels like tonight, tonight

Songwriters: Sheppard Solomon / Martin Sandberg / Lukasz Gottwald

Feels Like Tonight lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Domino Publishing Company

As the song ended, Kate just quietly pressed the power button on the remote. Still quietly crying, as he comforts her, finally he turns her head, stairs into her eyes, and kisses her so sweetly and tenderly, "We're gonna be OK, Kate, I promise."

"Rick, just tell me what I need to do to make this right?"

"Well, I have a confession to make Kate," he whispers, and worry is suddenly washed all over her body,

"You're not the only one in therapy, I STILL am as well, since well it's not important since when but you were honest with me and as we start this, one demand is complete honesty from both of us, one lie and it will destroy us, agreed?

"I agree Rick, I promise, my lies and my running days are done, I have too much to lose, I need so many tomorrows with you,

Not that it's important Rick, but why wouldn't you want me to know you were in therapy, I mean it's better than not seeking help."

"Kate, you're a kick ass female detective that rides Harley's and let's face it your last boyfriend wasn't exactly a wuss, so I thought it would make me look even less worthy of you"

"God Rick, I remember some of the awful things I said to you, I never meant them, I swear, I have no idea of why I even opened my mouth like that"

"Well when I spoke to my therapist, she had a theory, she said that it was your defense mechanism to keep you emotions from getting to close to me, I thought she had lost her mind,***"

"Oh Rick, that was exactly what I was doing, I was afraid to get close to you, Wait, your therapist is a woman? How old is she and is she attractive?" as the jealousy comes roaring out

Rick laughs, "Jealous Kate?" he kids

"Well, if you, Hell Yes, I am jealous, you are mine Richard Castle, you got that, cause I got a gun and you don't get a choice" she laughs, but Rick is not sure it is all in jest

"Yes, Kate, I'm all yours and I don't want a choice, just want our Always," as he draws her into what started out as a sweet slow kiss and turned into a battle between the tongues and lips that went on until each was out of air.

"Wow" they both say at the same time.

"Hey Rick?"

"Yeah Babe"

"Answer the question how old is she and is she attractive?"

Rick silently pulls up his contacts from his phone and hands the phone to Kate,

"Dr. Sylvia Danio is that how you pronounce it, and how old is she?"

Rick smiles, she's 54, if my math is correct, I backed the graduation date of her diplomas from about the age she would have been to enter college, and do you think she is attractive? I do for her age, but are you asking me would I pursue her, the answer is NO, because I haven't had any interest in anyone else in a long time Kate, and I am being totally honest."

"I'm sorry Rick, I really had no right to**"

"Yes you do, if what you are telling me is true you have every right to check the women I am in contact with, because I'm calling rights to check out any guys you are in contact with, to quote a very intelligent source, You're mine and I don't share."

"Rick, can I ask you a question, and please give me an honest answer, OK?

"Like we said honesty even if it hurts, which for my sake I hope to God I didn't screw something up, that tone worries me,"

"No babe remember when Natalie Rhodes was at the precinct to shadow me, and I got all weird on you? I saw her kissing you on the elevator one night, and I thought for sure you were going to sleep with her.

The next morning she came in, and asked me to talk to you, I think she put it, Give you permission to sleep with her for research, then she told me that you had turned her down cold, I was floored. Why Rick?"

"Because I only wanted one woman in my life, my bed, my everything and it wasn't a movie starlet, it was a Detective. I know I am slow sometimes, but I picked up on just how much my sleeping with Ellie Monroe hurt you, hurt any chance of us, and I wasn't going to do anything that would cost me a chance, even as slim as it was to be with you," his eyes have filled with liquid, although he kept the tears at bay.

Kate's eyes now pool, and she can't hold her tears back, "Rick, I'm willing to do anything to prove to you, that you are the most important person in my life, just tell me, please"

"You really mean that, I mean anything, Kate?"

"Try me, Rick"

"OK, resign from the force, drop all of this dangerous activities that I live in constant fear that someone is going to get to you when I am not there to protect you."

Kate looks him in the eye, and says, "It's done", then pulls him into a kiss, deep and passionate. She reaches for her phone,

"Who are you calling now Kate?"

"Captain Gates to resign, I told you anything Rick and I meant it." Rick glances at her phone and there is the picture of the Captain with Kate's finger hoovering over it,

"Kate, Wait, please" Rick exclaims "Babe are you sure you want to do this, for me, for us?

"If that's what will prove to you that you are my top priority in life, then yes, I want you to know, I would do anything to spend the rest of my tomorrows with you, if you'll have me"

One kiss leads to deeper kisses no words are said, as they rise from the couch and Kate leads him to her bedroom, several hours later, they lay spent.

Kate has her head on Rick's chest, as she gently strokes his stomach, "I love you with all my heart Rick, it's yours Always."

Rick turns her head towards his as their eyes connect, "Kate I love you with all my heart as well, I have for years, it's yours as well, for Always"

"Babe we were working on what I had to do to prove to you I had changed, but we wound up here, I'm glad but this is important to me.

I have to know that I'm doing everything I can to deserve your love, so what do I have to do?"

""You would like Dr. Sylvia," Rick muses, as a confused look comes over Kate's face, "Kate, she told me if you were willing to give up the most important thing in your life, that you were ready for a relationship, and if I was willing to love you, protect and take care of you and allow you to make mistakes, just as I am going to do, this relationship will last"

"Babe you already proved to me that I am your number one, and I pledge to you today that when the time is right, I will ask you to be my wife, I just want us to crawl before we try to run, this is far too important to screw up for me, that is if you want a relationship"

He is answered with a kiss that curled his toes, "Always Rick, Always. I pledge to you that when the time is right, and we are confident in our relationship as much as we are our love for each other, and you ask me, the answer will be YES."

"Kate, would you like that trip to the Hamptons now that we have the week off?"

"You know I want to be anywhere with you, ALONE so yes, I would love that"

"Kate?" Rick asks in his whining little boy voice

"Yes"

"Can we have one more session to hold me over till we get there as he grabs her in deep embrace, and the last either remember is the sun peeking in her window the next morning.

Their trip to the Hampton's was just the start of many trips they made as a couple, Kate didn't resign from the force but she did take and pass the Captains exam and replaced Gates who was promoted to Deputy Commissioner less than 4 months later. Exactly one year to the date of the first trip to their beach house, they were married in front of only a few family members and friends, that's when two moments collided and formed one lasting memory. The trust was regained and never lost again, because they talked, always and never lied again.

A/N I hope you enjoyed this short trip down my memory lane. I always thought why it takes a life or death experience for one or the other to profess love, that's not how it happens in the real world. There are no perfect relationships, one is going to be more forgiving at one time or the other, it's never ALWAYS 50/50 split, and the secret is when he is a 90 just know you only get a 10 and vice versa. I had a lot of messages saying Rick should leave and let her stew, but once Trust is broken, aka the Lie, how is she ever going to redeem herself if she is ostracized, doesn't make sense. Trust is earned, once broken it is even harder to earn it once again, Thanks to all who read commented, favorited, or followed, your support means everything.