A/N1: WELCOME to the 7th Chapter titled 'Halloween'
Since the night where Kate had fallen asleep with Rick on his sofa there was a marked change in their relationship. She had attended every Castle 'DVD and Dinner night' at the loft since and always stayed late, politely refusing Rick's offer to spend the night in the spare room which he had cleaned up and hung a 'Domain of Detective Bad Ass' sign on the door.
It was now a week and a half before Halloween and he strode into the bullpen with coffees, a bear claw and three invitations to his annual Halloween party in his hands at the loft. Kate was sitting at her desk already tapping away at her computer.
"Moooooorning," he said in a low husky voice only she could hear. "How's my favourite detective?"
Kate blushed, smiling coyly.
"She's fine," she said, taking her coffee from him and lifting it to her lips. "How's my favourite writer monkey?" she asked him, with a slight smile gracing her lips.
Rick chuckled heartily at her new name for him.
"I'm good," he told her, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pumpkin shaped envelope. "This is for you."
Kate looked at him questioningly before sliding a nail under the flap, that had been stuck down with a gaudy witches hat sticker. She ripped it open, pulling out a cauldron shaped card proclaiming, 'YOU'RE INVITED!' and began reading out loud.
"You are cordially invited to the social event of the year," she softly spoke with an amused giggle. "The extraordinary pleasure of your most awesomesauce company is required at the Castle Pit in TriBeCa on October thirty first at seven PM for a whole night of Halloween themed festivities. Costume is essential, superheroes welcome HA!"
"So will you come?" Rick asked his ice blue eyes alive with hope. "Please? You're my drawcard guest, you have no idea how many celebrities I had to knock back once they heard you were on the invite list."
Kate couldn't help it and let out a great snort of laughter.
"Oh come on Castle, you don't have to grease me up like that." She told him. "I'm not the Mayor, tell me one thing though. 'Is the extraordinary and most awesomesauce pleasure of Ryan and Esposito's company' required too?"
"Yes, but those two got the generic invite. I handcrafted yours," Rick said with a grin.
"And the Castle Pit? You've named it now?"
'For Halloween twenty eleven, I have." Rick told her, with a grin. "Today, Alexis and I are decorating it with a crypt and mausoleum theme. I got this awesome realistic latex body with its guts hanging out. I think Lanie might like that, ha!"
Kate rolled her eyes.
"Yeah because the one thing she's going to want to do after spending all day in the morgue is to go to your apartment and be confronted with a latex version of a cadaver." She replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm."Who else is coming?"
"Patterson, Connelly, the Mayor and his wife, a dozen or so of Mother's friends from her acting school and you, Lanie, Ryan and Jenny and Esposito if they accept the invitation. I've also got an invitation for Gates and Alexis is inviting two or three of her friends over. Seriously it's the social event to go to. All the celebrities who mean anything want to be included on the guest list...come on Kate please says you'll come. I won't have any fun if you don't." He pouted.
And with that he stuck out his bottom lip and gave her the most endearing puppy dog eyes.
Kate's insides immediately turned to a huge puddle of mush and she slumped back in her chair with a soft smile. This man was too adorable for his own good.
"Yes, I'll come." She answered. "But do I have to bring a superhero? Mine's kinda hosting a Halloween party that night."
Rick looked around and seeing the coast was clear, he grabbed Kate's hand and laced his fingers through hers.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind you attending the Castle Pit that night," he whispered, huskily, rubbing the palm of her hand with the pad of his thumb. "Is he an understanding guy?"
Kate quickly squeezed his hand and let it go, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red.
"He is," she whispered back. "He's lovely really, very patient."
Rick smiled at her.
"Sounds like a great guy."
Kate smiled back.
'He's the best," she told him.
At the end of shift Rick went home and Kate immediately rang Lanie.
"Hello sweetie!" her friend greeted her.
"Hey Lanie, I need your help." Kate told her friend, as she shut down her computer.
"Oh, with what? Has Writer Boy asked you out on a date and you need me to go outfit shopping with you?" Lanie asked with a shrill laugh.
"Oh shut up," Kate said dryly. "No date, but he has invited me to his annual Halloween party and I have no idea what to go as, so I need your well practiced eye to go costume shopping with me. You got anything on tonight?"
"Not now I don't," Lanie said immediately. "I would leave in the middle of an autopsy to help you out girl. You need an outfit that'll make Write Boy's eyes fall out of his head and I know together we can find one that will."
"Lanie Charlotte Parrish, you are incorrigible." Kate told her, smirking as she put on her jacket. "Are you like this with all your friends?"
"No, because none of the rest of my friends are as stupid about their love lives as you are," Lanie said matter of factly. "Seriously girl, you and Castle need to wake up to yourselves."
"Yeah well we can discuss that at another time," Kate told her, firmly. "My place in an hour?".
"You got it girl, see you soon." Lanie confirmed.
An hour later a knock came at Kate's apartment door, Lanie stood there a look of pure determination on her face.
"Ready for Operation Halloween Shopping Trip twenty eleven?" she said with a grin.
Kate smiled at her friend.
"Hello to you too" the brunette responded pointedly.
"Yeah yeah hello, well are you ready? There's a new costume shop on fifty ninth and I know there's something in there for you."
"Yes I'm ready. I seriously cannot believe you've named this expedition. That's something Castle would do." Kate said, grabbing her handbag and keys. "I mean we're only going to get a costume."
Lanie rolled her eyes, with her arms folded.
"Come on girl!" she exclaimed. "If we get you the right one, something that accentuates your bad ass curves and butt. It'll make Writer Boy's eyes fall out of his head. You can't fool me Katherine Louise, I know you like teasing him."
Kate turned a magnificent shade of scarlet.
"I choose not to comment on the grounds I may incriminate myself!" she shrilled avoiding her best friend's knowing look.
"Everyone at the precinct and the morgue know you like teasing him, Kate." Lanie started. "Even Perlmutter who when he's not working, is as observant as a box of rocks has noticed. For one I've started noticing when you leave the morgue you always walk ahead of Castle and swing your hips so your butt sways. Now you can't tell me you do that for the hell of it, you do it so he can check out your trunk."
"Alright, alright, ALRIGHT!" Kate exclaimed as she pressed the button to call for the lift. "Yes I like teasing Castle, it's the best fun I've ever had. Does that satisfy you?" she asked.
Lanie's peals of laughter echoes around the floor.
"Slightly," she answered with a giggle. "So..." she began.
"So, what?" Kate asked, totally avoiding her friend's eyes.
Lanie groaned loudly in exasperation.
"Girl, Imma smack you!" She threatened. "So is it just going to stay at teasing or are you going to grow a pair and put the moves on him?"
And she began whistling 'Moves like Jagger'
"I'm not ready Lanes," Kate told her in a serious tone as the elevator arrived. "The rel-thing Castle and I have is complicated. We're progressing slowly but I don't want to jeopardise things. He's a nice guy and one of my best friends and I don't want to as you say 'put the moves on him' til I'm sure it's the right thing to do...trust me."
"So you want to go there?" Lanie exclaimed in surprise.
"I don't know exactly what I want Lanes," Kate said with a sigh as she strode into the elevator. "But I like spending time with Castle and his family, it's become a regular occurrence over the last few weeks. I go to his loft every Friday night for dinner and a DVD," A smile tugging at her lips at the thought. "Apparently the Friday night movie night has been a tradition since Alexis was small."
Lanie lit up like a Christmas tree.
"You've been spending time with him away from the precinct?" she asked gleefully as the lift travelled down towards the ground floor. "That's awesome girl, sounds like he's got the moves like Jagger. If he wasn't serious about you he wouldn't invite you to something as intimate as that."
Kate allowed herself a small smile and sighed.
"Yeah I know," she replied, quietly. "Okay I'm about to tell you something and if you tell Javi this. I will kill you."
"Why would I tell Javi?" Lanie responded, feigning innocence as he lift arrived on the ground floor.
"Because when it comes to that man, you can't keep your mouth shut." Kate said dryly. "I'm serious Lanie, I'm about to tell you something in confidence. No one is to find out about it alright? Promise me it'll only keep between us." Kate told her, seriously.
Lanie regarded her fried curiously.
"Alright," she said. "I promise, what's up?" she asked.
The lift arrived at the ground floor.
"Remember that trip to the academy a couple of weeks ago where we both did the physical assessment all the cadets do?"
"Yeah you took a paid day off for it." Lanie pointed out.
"Yeah well that night I went back to his apartment for the usual Friday night DVD night and mysteriously Martha and Alexis went to bed at seven then Castle and I continued on the DVD tradition and cuddled on the sofa..."
"Oh my GOD, really?" Lanie exclaimed stopping in her tracks. "You cuddled?" She asked, grinning.
"Not like that!" Kate exclaimed. "I just wanted to be comfy while watching the movie and he had pinched all the cushions. I leaned back on him and he put his arms around me and we watched the movie."
"Which movie?" Lanie asked, curiously.
"Is that important? It was the Sound of Music if you must know."
"Oh I love that film!" Lanie exclaimed. "Especially Edelweiss, that's-"
"Lanie I haven't finished yet." Kate pointed out.
"There's more? Did you two get jiggy with it?"
"NOOOO!" Kate exclaimed. "But we both fell asleep before the end of the movie and slept the whole night through. Well I woke up briefly and his arms were around my waist and my head was resting on his chest." She softly smiled.
"What did you do?" her friend asked, wide eyed.
"Well I watched him sleep for a few minutes before I went back to sleep myself, until he woke me up at dawn. Then we went to the Pancake Kitchen for breakfast."
"Oh Kate that's beyond awesome! Do you have any idea how much of a leap this is?"
"Yeah I do, that's why I want to make sure I'm ready to leap into a relationship with Castle," Kate told her, as they left the lobby and made their way out to the sidewalk. "But it's what he said to me upon dropping me off a my apartment that floored me."
"Oh? What did he say?"
"He said he knows I wasn't ready to leap into a relationship but he was and he is willing to wait for me ... until I am." Kate confessed, going bright red.
"OH MY GOD, ARE YOU SERIOUS?" Lanie exclaimed her mouth gaping open in shock. "Are you kidding me Kate?" she questioned.
"No I'm not, he wants to be with me," Kate said thickly. "But he knows I'm not ready yet and he said 'I know you're not ready to cross that line yet so I'm not going to do anything until you ask me to come and get you." She told her best friend.
Lanie swooned.
"Oh that man is so sweet!" she exclaimed. "Oh honey you are so lucky!"
Kate smiled then stepped out onto the road to flag down a taxi.
"I know I am Lanie that's why I want to do this properly, Rick could be my one and done and I don't want to muck things up."
Lanie placed her hand on her friend's shoulder, gently squeezing it. "I don't think you will sweetie, I don't think you will," she told her as a taxi pulled up. "Let's go and get you a costume huh?"
The day of the Halloween party dawned on Rick as he arrived at the precinct, bear claw and two coffees in hand. Kate as usual had arrived before him and was in the break room chowing down on a bowl of muesli.
"Morning," he greeted her, putting the coffees and bear claw on the table before brushing his fingers across the back of her neck. "Ready for the party tonight?" he asked her, slightly excited.
Kate momentarily leaned into his touch.
"I am," she told him, as he sat down close to her. "Lanie and I spent four hours trying on costumes on last week."
"Any clues as to what you're coming as?" Rick asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're not going to tell me are you?"
"Got it in one Writer Monkey," Kate grinned, sipping the coffee he had brought her. "It would run the surprise, I can tell you Lanie is coming as a naughty milkmaid though."
Rick let out a great snort of laughter, picturing that in his head.
"Should I plant a packet of condoms in Esposito's gym bag then?" he teased, with a chuckle.
"Oh I think Lanie's already thought of that," Kate smirked, squirting some honey into her muesli. "Those two are at it like nymphomaniacs on death row. I think they have the market on contraceptives."
"Nymphomaniacs on death row?" Rick repeated with a grin. "How do you know this?" he asked.
Kate grinned. "Lanie tells me, plus I had to go to the morgue about a month ago and they were doing it on her desk." She confessed.
"You walked in on them?" he asked, stunned.
"No I heard them, I'm surprised the whole of Midtown didn't. I stayed out of the way and took a photo of them before texting it to them both at the same time. The expression on Lanie's face was priceless. And Esposito avoided me all the rest of that day too." Kate told him, bursting into laughter.
Rick sat back and watched Kate laugh. Her hair fell back over her shoulders and her nose crinkled in the cutest way. Seeing her let go made his stomach flood with butterflies and Rick Castle was not the type to get butterflies. Not until Katherine Louise Beckett had come along anyway.
"You're staring at me," she observed, her voice breaking through his reverie.
"No I'm watching you, there's a difference." Rick pointed out with a soft smile. "I love watching you laugh, you should do it more often." He told her, genuinely.
Kate's heart skipped a beat. She was quiet for a moment before speaking up.
"I would if there was more to laugh about," Kate said softly. "Sometimes I have a depressing job. You actually make it less so."
Rick smiled at her, holding out his hand. After giving him an intense stare for the longest time, Kate reached out and placed her hand in his. Rick smiled, lacing his fingers through hers.
For the longest time the pair sat in silence. Kate finishing her muesli and coffee, while Rick fiddling around on his iPhone and periodically sipping his coffee. Every so often a hand would be squeezed or a look would be exchanged and their bond increased. The tranquillity was broken a few minutes later when Kate's cell phone began ringing.
"Beckett...uh huh, yep, sure, alright, thanks."
"Body drop?" Rick asked as Kate as she hung up.
She fixed her gaze on him. "Yeah under the Queensboro Bridge," Kate informed him, squeezing his hand before letting it go. "You want to come?"
Rick looked at her if that was a trick question.
"Do Bee's like honey? Of course I want to."
Kate bit down on her bottom lip. He could be so cute sometimes. "Let's go," she told him, smiling.
The pair made their way into the bullpen where Kate retrieved her jacket and soon they were on the way to the Queensboro Bridge.
"Are you on call tomorrow?" Rick asked her as they got in the Crown Vic.
"No I've got the weekend off" she told him as she put on her seatbelt and started the ignition.
"Why?" she questioned, pulling out.
"Do you want to stay over? Alexis and I are going go karting on Long Island tomorrow and it'd be nice to have you tag along." He told her, his eyes not leaving her.
"You sure Alexis wouldn't mind me tagging along?" Kate asked. "I don't want to intrude on any father daughter time."
"You won't be," Rick assured her as they left the precinct parking lot. "She actually asked me to ask you, because of the Halloween party we haven't got our usual DVD night on. I've cleaned up and organised the spare room so it's an actual bedroom and not a junk room so you can fall asleep in a comfy bed instead of the sofa."
"You know falling asleep on the sofa wasn't an entirely unpleasant experience," Kate told him, turning on the indicator and switching lanes. "I slept the best I have for weeks."
Rick lit up. So she liked using him as a pillow, he thought.
"Really?" he asked, gleefully.
Kate concentrated on the road, hearing the smile in his voice. "Yeah, very restful." She told him.
"Well I'd be willing to repeat the performance," Rick responded. "No funny stuff I promise."
"I'll stick with the spare bedroom," Kate said with a small smile. "But if in the future when we fall asleep on the sofa while watching a movie again, I wouldn't get up and go to the spare room." She told him.
"You're a tease, Kate Beckett and I think I like it." He told her with a grin. "So will you come go-karting? It'll be the best fun, I can guarantee it."
Kate chuckled at his pleading puppy dog eyes expression. He knew those blue eyes made powerless.
"Yeah alright," she said in amusement. "You don't have to grease me up you know Rick, I like spending time with you. I'll come along unless I have a girls night planned with Lanie or dinner with Dad, they're two things I won't compromise on."
"Do you see your Dad often?" He asked.
"Yeah every week, Sunday is our day together, usually lunch somewhere and board games back at his apartment or a movie. This past Sunday we had a best of three scrabble tournament."
Rick didn't take his eyes off her for a moment, he loved hearing Kate talk about her dad. She always seemed happier when she did. "Who won?" He asked, curious.
"He did," she admitted, her nose crinkling a little. "He beat me three zip by an average of a hundred points," Kate said dryly. "I haven't beaten Dad in a game of scrabble in years, I prefer Cluedo or Ludo or something like that. I think even you'd have issues beating Dad at scrabble."
"Tell him next Sunday I'm issuing a challenge." Rick told her with a grin.
"Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" Kate asked him in amusement "I would so laugh if he beat you. I would also video tape it and stick on YouTube to prove that the great Richard Castle got his but twhipped by an old man in a game of words." She proclaimed.
"You could beat me detective." Rick said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Behave yourself Writer Boy'" She warned, grinning.
Fifteen minutes later Rick and Kate arrived at the crime scene.
Kate showed her ID and she and Rick were waved under the yellow tape. Lanie was crouched down over the male corpse and was busy scribbling away on a clipboard.
"What do we have?'" she asked pulling on a pair of purple latex gloves.
"Fergus McAllister, thirty six with three gunshot wounds to the chest. One right through the heart," Lanie told her, pointing to the three wounds on the body. "Temperature and lividity indicate a TOD about nine last night. He's got burn marks on his fingertips and toes and a similar pattern on his genitalia."
Rick involuntarily winced. Lanie noticed this and grinned.
"How do you know who he is?" Kate asked.
"I found this," Ryan said approaching them with an evidence bag that held a wallet and a New York driver's license. "Already run a check and our vic is a family law attorney, he lives at a hundred and forty West Eighty Fifth Street on the Upper West Side. He's married with three kids. Wife is also a lawyer for Price Waterhouse Coopers, the accountancy firm."
"You sent anyone for the notification yet?" Kate asked.
"Nope, Espo and I have only been here five minutes longer than you."
"I'll do it then," Kate told him, taking the evidence bag from her colleague. "Who found the body?"
"Sanitation worker for the city, he and his team were assigned to clean up this area today."
"Alright, you and Esposito keep questioning his team, Castle and I will go and do the notification of his next of kin," Kate said with a sigh. "See you back at the twelfth okay?"
Kevin nodded his head, once.
"Got it."
The detective and writer began walking away from the body.
"I absolutely hate doing notifications," Kate confessed to Rick as they left the crime scene and made their way back to the Crown Vic. "It's the most depressing part of the job."
"You do it well though" Rick told her, sincerely. "I know that's cold comfort but if I was ever in the situation of being the next of kin I'd want to be told with the compassion you show."
"Really?" she asked, locking her eyes on his.
"Yeah, you do the best of a shitty job," Rick said as they got back into the Crown Vic. "But if this one overwhelms you, I have several hugs going free." He promised her.
Kate cracked a smile.
"I'll keep that in mind Rick," she replied, starting the engine. "It's not even ten o'clock and already a notification."
"Well we haven't had to do one for a while," Rick said as they left the Queensboro Bridge and headed in the direction of the Upper West Side. "I would imagine the longer it goes between them the rawer it is when you have to knock on the door."
Kate sighed, knowing he was right. "Yeah it is."
Half an hour later, when Rick and Kate got out of the Crown Vic on the Upper West Side, he made a point of squeezing her arm. Kate smiled, leading the way up the steps, and knocking on the door with the elegant lion's head door knocker. There was a short silence then a flurry of steps and the door opened.
A short Hispanic woman dressed in a maid's uniform stood there.
"Yes?" she greeted the strangers.
"Hello my name's Detective Kate Beckett this is my partner Rick Castle," the female detective addressed the woman. "We're with the NYPD. May we speak with Leanne McAllister?"
The maids eyes widened in shock.
"Of c-course of c-course!" she stammered. "Come in come in."
"Maria who is it?" came the voice of a woman from the second floor.
"The police Mrs McAllister they need to speak with you."
"Oh coming!" her voice, hesitated.
The maid went off through a side door and a woman in her mid thirties wearing smart yoga sweats and sneakers, raced down the stairs with a worried expression on her face.
"You're the police?" she asked worriedly. "Oh finally someone's listened-"
"Ma'am are you Leanne McAllister?" Kate asked.
The woman faltered slightly.
"Y-yes what's wrong?" she questioned, knowing bad news was on the horizon.
"Could we head through to the living room ma'am?" Kate suggested.
"Of course, come through here."
Leanne led them through to the living room that was elegantly and sumptuously decorated but bore the trademarks of a young and happy family. Photos of Leanne and Fergus and their three daughters all apparently of elementary school age lined the mantelpiece and three toy boxes were stacked in the corner.
The woman sat down and indicated for Kate and Rick to do the same.
"Have you heard from Ferg?" she asked worriedly. "I rang the police this morning. He didn't come home last night you see."
"Ma'am, did you put in a missing person's report?" Kate asked, taking a notepad and pen out of her jacket pocket.
"Well I rang the police but they wouldn't take a missing person's report yet," Leanne told the female detective, her voice wavering dangerously. "They said they would take note I rang but there's nothing they could do til he'd been gone twenty four hours."
Rick noticed Kate purse her lips in distaste.
"Mrs McAllister, I'm sorry to inform you that this morning we found Fergus's body..." the female detective began before being interrupted.
Leanne's face crumpled and she let out a shriek of grief.
"NO!"
"Under the Queensboro Bridge off Fifty Ninth Street," Kate continued as the other woman broke down into loud sobs.
"It appears that he was murdered," Kate continued on, even though the woman was in obvious pain.
"Oh my god, are you KIDDING ME?" Leanne shrieked, tears streaming down her face. "He was m-murdered? How?"
"Our medical examiner at the scene has found evidence of gunshot wounds ma'am," Kate delivered, cheerlessly. "I'm so very sorry for your loss, is there something I can call for you? Did Mr McAllister have any family you would like to be with?"
"There are my parents. They live in Nassau County," Leanne choked. "And Ferg's Mom and Dad live in Midtown."
"Would you like to ring them yourselves ma'am or would you like me to organise a uniformed officer to call on them?" Kate asked smypathically. "Or if you like I can call on them myself."
"N-no I'll ring them, thanks." Leanne choked, thanking Rick as he handed her a nearby box of tissues. "Oh my god, he was supposed to go trick or treating with the girls tonight, how am I going to tell them they're Daddy is gone?"
"You tell them the truth." Rick spoke up, melancholy. "You tell them that their Daddy loves them, but he's gone to heaven, tell them the truth but don't sugar coat it. Kids know when you're dressing things up. I know I have a daughter of my own."
Kate turned her eyes on her partner. He constantly amazed her with his compassion. She tore her gaze from him, turning it on the grieving wife and retrieving two cards from her pocket.
"Ma'am-Leanne this is my card and the card for the twelfth precinct's psychologist," she informed her. "If you have any questions about the case at all, please don't hesitate to ring me and I'll help you as much as I can. The other card is for our department psychologist, he can help you and your girls through this terrible time. And if need be he can put you in touch with a reputable child psychologist who will be able to help your girls cope. I highly recommend him."
"Th-thankyou detective," Leanne said as she pulled a cell phone from her pocket with shaking hands. "Can y-you stay while I make some calls?"
"Of course I can," Kate said. "Take all the time you need."
"Leanne would you like me to fetch you a glass of water?' Rick volunteered. "Or a cup of tea?"
"A water would be nice, Mr Castle, thank you." Leanne whispered 'the kitchen is at the end of the hallway through the left-hand door."
Rick fetched a glass of water from the kitchen and returned to the lounge room a few minutes later to find Kate sitting beside Leanne, an arm around her shoulder and comforting the young woman.
"Do you have any idea who would do this to your husband, Leanne?" He asked handing the grieving woman the glass.
"N-no, Ferg was the nicest kindest man Mr Castle," Leanne replied taking the glass with shaky hands. "Thanks. But he does-did practice family and criminal law and has dealt with several angry clients before."
"Has that happened recently?" Kate asked scribbling a note in her notebook.
"Not that I'm aware of, but then Ferg and I rarely spoke about work at home." Leanne said, forcing herself to take several deep calming breaths. "In our house, work was left at the office. Home is for family and socialising. The only time we brought work home was when we needed to liaise with clients in Britain or Europe and the time difference made working at the office non-viable during normal business hours."
"What is the name of your husband's practice, Leanne?' Kate asked. "Maybe his work colleagues could shed some light on who would want to do this to him."
'McAllister and Armstrong," Leanne replied with a long sniff. "Jill and Peter Armstrong were the other partners. They all went to Harvard together and set the practice up ten years ago. They've got quite a reputation in the family law scene they almost always win for their clients. Jill is one of my best friends."
"We'll call in on them and see if they can shed any light," Kate told her, gently. "Can you give us the address?" she asked.
"Yeah, level nine- twenty six, thirty two West Ninety Sixth Street." Leanne told the female detective. "It's not that far from here"
"We'll call by later today" Kate informed her.
"Um Ferg used to work for a firm called Aldershot and Cannon on Madison Avenue but didn't leave under the best of circumstances, I don't know if anyone there would do anything but..."
"We'll go there too" Kate assured her. "Trust me Leanne. I'll do everything I can to find the person who did this to your husband. My team is brilliant and we won't rest until this case is closed." She promised.
"Thank you so much Detective."
An hour and half later, Kate and Rick left Leanne Mc Allister's apartment. Once her parents had arrived.
They began their journey into Manhattan via Fergus Mc Allister's practice and his former employer Aldershot and Cannon, the latter refusing to give Kate any files without a search warrant.
"Assholes," Kate muttered as they left the pretentious and pompous offices on Madison Avenue. "Now we have to go to the damn courthouse. We're not going to get back to the precinct at all at this rate."
"Well at least you know you'll get a warrant quick smart," Rick said reaching across the Crown Vic's console and squeezing her knee. "We've got good cause for a search warrant, they're just being difficult."
"I know," Kate grumbled, patting his knee with an ever so brief smile. "Seriously Rick if you weren't with me I think I would've gone nuts, I haven't met a slimier bastard in all my life!"
"You haven't met the lawyer Gina hired for our divorce then," Rick told her. "To this day I swear he's amphibian."
Kate let out a great snort of laughter.
"You're always good for making me laugh," she said with a smile. "Thanks."
"Always," he promised, matching her smile.
When Kate and Rick arrived at the courthouse fifteen minutes later, he pulled her aside.
"You did great back at the McAllister's," he told her, grasping her hand. "Seriously, you're extraordinary."
"I'm just a cop Rick," Kate responded with a sigh, allowing him to draw her in for a hug.
"You are not just a cop," Rick said firmly. "You're a bad ass homicide detective and you'll probably hit me when I say this but...it's a huge turn on to see you in full flight."
Kate threw her head back and roared with laughter.
"Oh come on Rick..."
"I didn't mean sexually, though I will admit to having a few handcuffed themed Beckett daydreams." He told her with a grin gracing his lips. "But seriously, seeing someone being as passionate about their job as you are is amazing. I think you might get the dedication to Heat Stroke, 'To Kate, who is so badass she makes Chuck Norris look like a limp wristed Nancy boy."
Kate couldn't help it and laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
"Oh you are such a child!" she exclaimed with a giggle, biting down on her bottom lip as they headed to the courthouse.
"Ah I make you laugh on the job." Rick said with a grin, opening the door and letting her go through it first. "Actually I make you do that so often you should pay me." He joked.
Kate rolled her eyes, playfully whacking him on the shoulder. "Oh shut up."
Eight hours later, Kate groaned to Rick.
"It's days like today I want to pack it in being a cop and go and sell bags of birdseed in Times Square," she told him as they finally packed up for the day. "Seriously, do I have an asshole magnet on my back or something? Grrrrr."
"You still up to coming to my party?" Rick asked hopefully.
"Of course, it's the one thing that's been keeping me sane all day." Kate said allowing him to help her into her jacket. "Plus if I backed out Lanie would kill me. We spent four and a half hours costume shopping and I do not want to waste that time or the eighty bucks it cost me for the costume deposit."
"Which is?" Rick enquired.
"Not telling you nosey," Kate said with a laugh. "Nice try, I already told you what Lanie was coming as."
"I don't care what Lanie's coming as, you're the one I'm interested in," he told her with a grin as Kate shut down her computer and locked her desk drawer. "You don't want to come as a naughty milkmaid do you? If you don't I know of a specialist store off Broadway that sells naughty school girl costumes."
"God your theme song should be Moves like Jagger," Kate said dryly, picking up her handbag. "Behave Rick or I won't come at all." She threatened.
"Okay spanky fingers to me." Rick said. "See you at the loft at eight?"
Kate looked at him, nodding. "See you soon." She promised.
Kate took a cab form the precinct to her apartment, finding Lanie there unpacking her things already, getting ready for the party when she arrived.
"Girl I'mma smack you! Where have you been?" her friend asked briefly, embracing her.
The brunette began apologizing.
"Sorry crazy day at the precinct, Castle and I spent all day in and out, we-"
Lanie collapsed in a fit of hysterical laughter.
"That didn't sound dirty at ALL!" she shrieked tears running down her cheeks. "Hahahahahaha!"
"Lanie Charlotte Parrish, you are disgusting and I am ashamed to know you!" Kate exclaimed going bright red and heading in the direction of her bathroom.
"Oh your mind went there too honey you KNOW it did!" Lanie called after her.
"Whatever!"
At Lanie's insistence Kate spent a full hour getting ready before putting on her costume. She scrubbed and waxed and primed and primed her entire body before stepping out of the bathroom, her hair wrapped up in a turban.
"This costume is going to make Writer Boy bust a valve," Lanie proclaimed, confidently as Kate dried off her body and headed for her underwear drawer. "Worth every penny you paid for it girl."
"I can't believe I went for something that makes wearing a bra unnecessary," Kate grumbled well naturedly. "And anything but a thong is going to show. I'm starting to wish I had gone for that panda bear suit."
"Oh that was hardly feminine Kate, it's not going to hurt you being a girl for once," Lanie told her friend, rolling her eyes and plugging in Kate's hair dryer. "Plus that thing smelled like someone went to the bathroom in it, this thing is brand new! And if you play your cards right a certain mystery crime writer will ask you to keep it."
"Lanie I am not keeping it, first thing Monday Morning it's going back and I am getting back my eighty dollar deposit," Kate said firmly, going into her wardrobe and pulling out the figure hugging costume.
"Oh come on Kate, save it for when you and Castle finally hook up." Lanie begged. "It looks smoking hot on you, and you never know you could find a creative use for it in the bedroom."
"Lanie, Rick and I are so far away from being together, especially in that way it's not funny" Kate told her friend, stepping into the costume. "And don't you think if I were to go that far with him, I'd wear something easier for him to take off?" she teased.
Lanie was stunned for a moment, before bursting into laughter.
"Just take me with you when you eventually go shopping that night okay?" she begged. "I know you're not going to give me details but the least you can do is take me bra shopping."
"Ha!" Kate replied.
Across town in the Castle loft, Rick was bustling about the loft in his Michael Keaton style Batman costume fussing over the minutest details of the party.
"DAD!" Alexis exclaimed in exasperation. "Detective Beckett is not going to care if the pots of chilli dip are sitting a bit wonky, relax will you?"
"I'm not fussing," he pouted. "especially not about any particular person." Rick muttered the little of his face that was showing turned a magnificent shade of scarlet.
"You're a terrible liar, Dad" Alexis informed her father with a grin. "Grams told me you especially handcrafted Detective Beckett's invitation. You don't do that if you're not fussing about one particular person."
"You're far too smart for me pumpkin." Rick said hugging his daughter affectionately.
"So what's happening with you and Detective Beckett anyway?" Alexis asked curiously. "Seriously. I've noticed the vibe around you two is a lot different than it used to be. Friendlier and intimate, but not the sort of involved intimate. You've been like that since that fitness thing you did at the academy."
"Things have changed a bit," Rick admitted. "I told Kate I knew she wasn't ready to jump into a relationship just yet but I was and was willing to wait til she was. I'm determined to do things right this time sweetheart. Every day I'm glad you were born but I so should not have married your Mom, and Gina, well the less spoken of that the better. Kate is different. She's worth cleaning up my act for," he confessed. "She's worth the wait, worth everything."
Alexis lit up like a Christmas tree and let out a squeal of happiness.
"Oh Dad that's wonderful!" she exclaimed shrilly, engulfing him in a hug. "Seriously that's awesome. You and Detective Beckett are great together already and you'd be even awesomer if you actually hooked up!"
Rick laughed heartily. He was glad that his daughter approved.
"Awesomer is not a word," he pointed out, hugging his daughter again "I do believe the term is more awesome."
Alexis rolled her eyes.
"Well it's a word now," she informed her father with a grin. "Does Grams know?"
"Yeah she does and she's just as happy as you are." Rick told her, like the cat that the cream.
"Good. You deserve someone like Kate, Dad. She's the only one that doesn't take your bull."
Rick squeezed his daughter's shoulder, gently. "I know and that's one of the many things that make her unique," Rick said as the doorbell rang. "Ah the first victim has arrived to enter the crypt the party begins!"
"Lanie we're going to be late!" Kate exclaimed forty five minutes later as they got into a cab. Her friend had told the driver to 'take the long way'. "The party started twenty minutes ago!"
"I know it started twenty minutes ago Honey, but in that costume you need to make an entrance." Lanie said as the taxi pulled away from the curb.
"You know Gates and the Mayor a going to be at this party don't you?" Kate pointed out.
"Yeah so? Actually I'm kinda wondering what costume she's going to wear? Maybe the Grim Reaper's cloak?" she chuckled.
Kate let out an amused snort of laughter. She was curious, herself.
"I doubt it," she answered.
"What's the deal with the backpack anyway?" Lanie asked.
"I'm spending the night at Rick's-" she began explaining.
Lanie's mouth gaped open.
Kate noticed and knew she better correct her friend thoughts. "NOT like that! He invited me to go go-karting with him and Alexis tomorrow on Long Island and he said it would be easier from his place to get an early start."
Kate knew her friend was about to respond but spoke up before she could.
"He lives closer to the drive out to Long Island than I do. And before you ask I'm sleeping in the spare room not his bed."
Lanie folded her arms across her chest and huffed. "Nuts, we're not even there yet and you're being a party pooper," Lanie said in disappointment. "Give me something to go on."
Kate lips twitched.
"When 'something' happens I promise I'll let you know," she promised. "You're my best friend. I'm not going to keep you out of the loop."
Lanie smiled. She was satisfied with that.
"Good girl."
The taxi pulled up in front of Rick's apartment building, Lanie paid the driver and then she and Kate got out of the backseat, making their way into the warmth of the lobby.
"You know in the panda suit I wouldn't be so cold," Kate complained as they headed toward the elevator.
"Oh lighten up Kate; you've been outside in it for thirty seconds." Lanie said rolling her eyes as she pressed the button to call for the lift. "And once inside Writer Boy's apartment you can properly warm up." She told her, grinning.
"I hear your tone Doctor Parrish and I do not like it." Kate informed her, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Uh huh sure you don't sweetie," Lanie said still grinning. "Your mind has gone to the gutter more than mine has in the last couple of hours you're just too polite to say so."
"Oh brother."
Up on the top floor in the 'Castle Pit', the 2011 edition of Rick Castle's Halloween extravaganza was in full swing. In one corner there was a bobbing for apples competition going on between Alexis and her friends and in the opposite corner of the massive loft Ryan dressed as a Robert Pattinson-esque vampire and Esposito dressed as a naughty catholic nun were facing off in a game of singles table tennis.
Rick played the perfect host, floating around the packed floor offering his guests a drink or mouthful of one of the many trays of finger food on offer. But there was one guest yet to arrive that he was dying to arrive and his flitting about playing the perfect host was not an act that fooled Martha.
"Sweetheart she'll be here soon," the older woman said, laying a hand upon his arm. "She does live on the other side of town and you know and traffic in Manhattan is awful at the best of times. She's probably sitting in the back of a taxi as anxious to get here as you are for her to get here. Be patient any moment the bell will-"
The doorbell rung.
"Ring," Martha finished off grinning at her son's expression of relief. "Go and welcome her in, I'm going to challenge my granddaughter to an apple bob off."
And with that Martha disappeared into the crowd.
"Lanie why can't I take off my coat inside?" Kate complained as Lanie quickly pulled Kate's trench coat off her friend's slim shoulders. "And I am quite capable of carrying my own bag."
"Because you don't need anything that will detract from that smoking hot costume," Lanie said slinging Kate's overnight bag over her shoulder. "Come on Kate, play nice."
"God you're annoying." Kate groaned.
A moment later the door swung open.
Rick pulled the door open and the instant moment he saw her, his mouth fell open in shock.
Kate stook there dressed in a figure hugging replica of the Michelle Pfeiffer Cat woman costume. Her lips were painted Revlon Red and her breasts were pushed up and out by the skin tight costume.
"Holy shit!" he exclaimed.
"Meooow," Kate said in a perfect Cat woman purr.
And with that she strode into the loft her hips swinging.
"Shut your mouth Writer Boy, you'll catch flies." Lanie said with a knowing grin as she strode into the loft after her friend.
Rick just stood there dumbfounded, opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish.
A little later in the night Kate made her way into the kitchen to fetch herself a non alcoholic beverage. Rick followed her while everyone's attention was on the apple bobbing competition on the opposite side of the loft. The current competitors were a very tipsy Captain Gates and Esposito.
Alone in the kitchen, Rick spoke up.
"Seriously Kate you look awesome." he told her, running his eyes up and down her slim frame, appreciatively.
Kate felt he stomach pleasantly flip flop as Rick brushed a hand over the small of her back.
"Thanks," she mumbled, her face turning the same red as her lipstick. "Lanie helped me pick it–actually no she didn't 'help' she made me come as Cat Woman." Kate answered, flatly.
"Remind me to thank her later," Rick whispered in her ear, seductively. "Any chance of you keeping it and wearing it again?" he asked.
"When Castle? The annual NYPD Spring Picnic?" Kate answered, dryly.
"Yeah sure, why not? You can't say it wouldn't be a big hit," Rick replied with a chuckle. "I'd appreciate it."
"You would appreciate me in a chaff bag." Kate blurted out, immediately slapping a hand across her mouth.
Rick laughed, nodding in agreement.
"Yeah I would," he confirmed. "But I'm a simple man I'd prefer nottttthhhhhhhhhhhing."
He 'purred' the last word in her ear brushing his lips up against the apex and causing a molten pool of arousal to settle between her legs.
"I erm-uh-" she stammered "R-Rick I'm-."
"I know you're not ready for anything yet, but just let me try to woo you." Rick said softly. "I'm having fun flirting, aren't you? No need to rush, good things come to those who wait you know."
Kate smiled, biting down on her bottom lip. This man knew how to drive her crazy.
"You're the best Batman ever," she told him, taking the opportunity to give him a hug while everyone's attention was on Captain Gates who had risen victorious out of the barrel with an apple in her mouth and her arms above her head.
"Thanks for being my friend," she added, her eyes locking on his.
He smiled, softly.
"Always."
Eventually the last guest left. Lanie left with Esposito last giving Kate a knowing wink as she walked through the door and the last bag of rubbish was sent down the waste disposal chute.
Martha and Alexis headed to bed and Rick and Kate flopped onto the sofa with a collective sigh.
"I had a lot of fun tonight," Kate told her partner, sitting down and resting her head on Rick's shoulder. "I've never seen Gates let her hair down like that, she's going to die on Monday when you present her with that Apple Bobbing Champion trophy ha ha!"
Rick laughed.
"You won the sexiest costume award." he said sleepily stroking her hair.
"Are you going to give me a trophy for it?" Kate asked in amusement.
"No, because I know you're not ready for it yet," Rick said. "Though if you turn up in a similarly sexy costume next year, I'll give it to you the minute you walk in the door."
Kate giggled.
"Things might have changed by next Halloween," she said "Who knows what can happen in twelve months."
"What would you want to change?" Rick asked, fixing his eyes on the beautiful brunette.
"Ah those things are secret," Kate told him, closing her eyes, concentrating on the relaxing sensation of him stroking her brown tresses. "There would be no mystery if I told you everything Rick. I'd instantly turn boring if I told you all my wishes and fantasies."
Rick let out a great snort of laughter.
"You could sit me down all day and tell me every single one of your fantasies Detective and I wouldn't be bored for one nanosecond," he said. "In fact if you did I might be so obliging as to help you make some of them a reality."
"God do you ever think about anything but sex?" Kate exclaimed in exasperation stretching luxuriously like a cat in the sun.
Rick watched Kate stretch beside him casting her eyes over her body appreciatively while her eyes were closed.
"I never said anything about sex Detective," he said in amusement. "Have you Katherine Louise Beckett got a dirty mind? Well I would never have guessed, one of the city's finest was so deviant." He faked, shock.
Kate rolled her eyes.
"Shut up," she said failing to stifle a yawn. "Well I better head to bed I'm exhausted, damn you for throwing the best party I've been to in ages."
Rick got up and helped her to her feet.
"Well excuuuuuuuuuuse me," he said pulling her into a hug. "Glad you had a good night Kate, it was good to have you here."
Kate smiled, staring into his blue eyes.
"It was good being had." she said in amusement.
"I erm-" Rick mumbled.
Kate suddenly stood up on her toes and kissed Rick on the cheek.
"Goodnight Mr Mumble," she whispered in his ear.
And with that, Kate turned and disappeared up the stairs leaving a stunned Richard Castle behind her, grinning like an idiot.
When the sound of the spare room door shutting, filtered down the stairs, Rick performed an excited and totally silent happy dance, punching the air and jumping on and off the sofa 'Tom Cruise on Oprah' style.
Kate Beckett had KISSED him!
