I considered ending it here, leaving you all to finish the story in your own minds but I like this and have some ideas I want to explore in my own special OMAR - Oldest Man's Alternate Reality so I'm going to continue.

I don't own Castle. Writing is more satisfying than shuffle board or canasta or all the other old person's activities here at Shady Rest Home for the Old and Decrepit.

Thanks for all the reviews and alerts. 12,595 hits so far. I guess that's good, right? Right?

Final Heat by Oldest Man

Chapter 7

Harbison Medical Plaza
NYC, NY

"Let me recap the past hour, Kate. You have two men in your life. Each loves you in different ways. The one is strong, has a crappy history with relationships, anxious to please and was totally committed to you while the other is – "

"Strong? I never said he was strong. Headstrong, maybe, but not strong in the sense that he has the strength I need – "

"Kate, this isn't about you, not anymore. It's about them and your involvement is simply to point your finger at one or the other and mentally say 'I chose you'. As for what you need, you've already decided – at least insofar as you're still wearing his ring, right?"

Kate had developed a bad habit, a tell, when thinking about something personal such as Josh or Rick Castle or both of them or whenever she thought about the upcoming wedding. Her therapist had noticed it and tracked it in their sessions – it was an indicator of her indecision and personal struggle.

Kate let go of the ring as if it had suddenly become white hot. She looked up, startled, at the doctor.

"If you'd come to a decision other than the one you've already made, you wouldn't be wearing his ring. It's a beautiful ring but it's more of a symbol to you, isn't it?

She nodded, not really answering her therapist's question but more acknowledging her inner conversation. If she loved Josh and not Castle then why did she think about Castle so damned much? Why did he occupy her thoughts more than the man she was going to marry? When she thought of Josh it was almost always with a sense of irritation. When she thought about Castle she always ended up feeling a sense of loss and regret.

"Yeah, it's a symbol. A heavy symbol of how rigid my life is going to become when I marry Josh. His life will dictate the pace of my own. I don't know if I can deal with losing that much of my independence."

"Okay, and what about if you were with Castle? Would your life be any different?"

"Oh, hell yeah! Life with Castle would be just one big party but I'm not the party girl type. I like staying in and watching TV or just having a family movie night. I like waking up to pancakes and a quick snarky bout of who said what. I want a loving family that sits down and eats together, plays together and begrudges the world's reality when it gets in the way of that life."

"Kate, you just described what you told me life was like when you stayed with Castle until you found an apartment."

The ring she'd been twisting and turning slipped off her finger and fell to the carpeted floor.

12th Precinct

It was a different Kate Beckett who bounced through the bullpen and sat at her desk. She took out her cell and hit a speed dial she wasn't certain she'd ever use again.

It rang straight through to voicemail and she left a short message and a request and then hung up.

Going down her contact list she called another number.

"Silhouettes, may I help you?"

"Yes, this is Katherine Beckett – "

"Oh, yes, Miss Beckett. You'll have to arrange to be here by 4pm tomorrow for the final fitting. Please try to be on time for a change."

"You can take that damned overpriced rag and stuff it in a trash bag and throw it out. And for the record, it's Detective Beckett. Wait! Send me the dress and your bill. I may have a use for it if things go as planned. Have a really shitty day, you pompous old witch!"

Beckett blew a loose curl out of her eyes and started to giggle. Jesus, but that felt so damned good. She spun around on her chair and caught Esposito's eye. He looked shocked and was trying to get Ryan's attention but he was on his cell with Jenny.

"What do we have on the victim's family, and where are we on getting ESU into the ductwork?"

Esposito smiled. The Dragon Lady was gone. Now if they could just get Castle to change his plans maybe…

Amtrak between Washington and New York
Club car

Castle looked at his daughter who sat across the table from him and periodically glared at him and then went back to whatever she was doing on her laptop. Yesterday had been anything but the pleasant day he'd envisioned.

Yesterday he broke his daughter's heart and while it wasn't his intention, certainly not, it had been the result of actions he took. Words have consequences and hers surely did. He hadn't slept at all, playing her words over and over in his mind, knowing there was nothing he could say other than 'OK, I'll stay,' that would make her feel better. And he couldn't do that.

He cleared his throat and got her attention.

"Alexis, we'll have time together in Europe and then you and your grandmother can spend a few weeks together and I'll be home by Christmas and we'll all go somewhere, OK? I have to do this, Lex. Please try to understand."

"I don't understand but then I have no choice, do I? You're bound and determined to go off on some great adventure you might not come back from. What'll happen to me and Grams if you… if something happens to you? Have you thought about that?"

"My affairs are in order. Neither of you will be thrown out into the street and I'm sure your grandmother and you will continue living the lives you've each planned. Pumpkin, look at me. I'm not immortal. I'm going to die someday. We all are. I won't go easily, believe me. I have way too much I've left undone to die now. And I want those grandchildren – just not right away, okay? I'm not ready to be 'Grandpa Castle' and your grandmother – well, I think she'd disown you. Imagine her a great grandmother?"

He laughed at the image of shock and horror that would cover his mother's face when she got the news. She'd been 18 when she brought him into the world and been a grandmother at his age. Suddenly it wasn't so funny.

"Alexis, you will not be going to Princeton. I think a nice all-girls's school in the Swiss Alps is more appropriate. Someplace where men are only allowed in when they drop off or pick up their daughter."

Her phone vibrated and she looked at the caller ID. 'Katherine Beckett'. 'What the hell does she want? Probably calling because Dad didn't RSVP yet. As if!'

"Dad, I need to take this call. It's personal. I'll be right back, okay?"

He felt a little irritated but just nodded. She wasn't his little girl anymore and it showed more every day. Now she was taking calls in private. He sighed and looked out the window. When had he gotten so damned old?

"This is Alexis."

"Hi, it's Kate – Kate Beckett. Listen, I really want to talk to your dad but he's blocked my number and it goes straight to voice mail. I need to tell him some things, Alexis. Please ask him to call me."

"If you'd like to tell me I can relay the message, but we're not exactly on speaking terms right now. Well, he talks. I just grunt in irritation."

"Alexis, don't be mad at him. Whatever he's done I'm sure he had the best of intentions. You know how much he loves you and your grandmother. Can you just tell him I called and ask him to please – please – call me?"

"Detective, we're going to Europe for the rest of the summer and then I'm coming home and starting Princeton. He's going on with his tour. Maybe you can talk some sense into him?"

"Alexis, it's what he does. These things are contractual in nature. He has obligations to Black Pawn – "

"No, he doesn't have any obligations to Black Pawn. That's just it. He's doing this on his own. Okay, I understand why he's touring military hospitals in Europe. He wants to give something back. But why is he so hell bent on going to Iraq and Afghanistan and visiting the wounded there and then imbedding with some unit for 'research'? He can do research for his new series by talking with guys who've been over there. He doesn't have to go himself."

"And that's why you're irritated with him, isn't it, Alexis? Have you talked to him about it? Maybe he has some reason he doesn't want to discuss. You know your father a lot better than I do."

Beckett had a momentary flash on a scene from the evening news – an armored vehicle afire, it's crew being treated by medical personnel but several already in body bags. She shivered at the memory and its new context. Castle.

"It's like talking to the Sphinx. He just sits there and nods but he says he gave his word and that's as far as I can get. Maybe you could…"

"Alexis, I hurt him. He's not going to let me talk about this, can't you see that? If he won't take my calls, when would I talk to him?"

"Meet us at Grand Central Station at 7pm. We're coming in from D.C. so it shouldn't be hard spotting us. Look for the redhead with the swollen eyes and the big ox with his head up his butt."

Kate couldn't help it. She'd never heard Alexis Castle speak in less than proper English and never with such pungency. Her imagination ran away and she started to laugh and it was contagious and soon Alexis was laughing just as hard.

"I'm so sorry, Alexis. It's just that I had the funniest mental image for a moment…"

"No problem, Detective. I needed to laugh. Look, if you're there, you're there; if not, no harm done. We're leaving Friday and he won't be back for 3 months, maybe more, so we're running out of time."

"I'll be there. I have to tell him something and maybe he'll change his plans. I sure hope so. I'll see you there, Alexis."

Grand Central Station
7:45pm

Kate had been standing, waiting, since 6:30 just in case the train was early (Ha! Fat chance of that). Of course, it was late and she'd had two coffees and now was feeling the results. To say she was uncomfortable was an understatement. She glanced around and saw the universal sign for restrooms and sprinted off to take care of business.

Of course, the train arrived and the Castles were first off and Alexis had dawdled and even gotten back on the train saying she'd forgotten something but when that ploy failed to bring results, she sighed and accepted defeat.

Beckett hadn't come.

"C'mon, Alexis. I'm tired and I know you are, too. Let's catch a cab and then order a pizza or something. I just don't feel like cooking." He started walking toward the main station and the exit. Alexis seemed upset about something but he couldn't figure out if it was because of him or something else.

'She said she'd be here. She's not. Maybe a case came up. Or maybe she had second thoughts. Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing after all. It wasn't like he expected her to be here.'

She sent here a text. Arrived Track 7. Train late. We're heading home. Sorry you weren't here.

Thirty seconds later she got a text response from Kate. In the ladies room. Too much coffee. Making bust. Perv hid in stall and flashed me. Can you hang on, delay?

Castle turned to say something to his daughter but she wasn't there. He felt a moment's irritation and then concern. Where is she?

He turned around to look for her and saw her standing a few yards away, texting someone. She had a big smile on her face. He was glad someone had made her smile. He sure hadn't.

After sending Beckett her response, Alexis called her friend Paige and arranged a 'sleep over' and would tell her father that she wanted to spend some time 'apart' and besides, she wanted to talk all this over with her friend and gain perspective.

"Alexis? Are you coming?"

"Dad…" She told him her plans and he agreed. Maybe talking it over with Paige, her BFF, would make her more accepting of his plans. He'd never begrudge her time with her friend especially when she was leaving for the majority of the summer.

"Love you, Dad. I'll grab a cab." She gave him a peck on the cheek and took off running, dragging her wheeled suitcase behind her. She slowed to a walk once she was out of his sight and the sent Beckett another text.

He's all yours. I'm over-nighting at friend's. Good luck!

Kate had just handed the pervert over to the transit cops when she read the text and grinned. Castle had raised an amazing kid and almost all on his own.

She let out a deep cleansing breath and then started walking rapidly towards the arrivals area. She had no idea how she was going to get through the next few minutes.

Castle was moseying up the corridor lost in his own world when he heard a voice bark "CASTLE!". It was the voice of authority. The voice of 'I will be obeyed'.

The voice of Kate Beckett.