Title: Rock Foundation
Disclaimer: I do not own the Castle characters or their story lines. I just borrow them for fun.
Summary: A Sequel of sorts for my one-shot Rock Solid. Kate and Rick deal with the aftermath of Knockdown and move forward with their lives, learning to balance their partnership with their budding relationship.
Author's note: So, I haven't seen Castle yet (the drag of being in college without cable), so I thought I'd put this up so that it's there for you guys to read when the episode ends. I'll be waiting patiently (HA!) until midnight to catch it on one of the online channels. Happy Monday!
Chapter VII:
"Good morning, Detective," Rick chirped as he set Kate's customary coffee and bear claw down on her desk.
"Morning, Castle," Kate replied, smirking as he raised an eyebrow while he sat down in his chair.
"And what are we doing this fine morning? Anything exciting? Cool murder?"
"We're doing an exciting stack of paperwork!" Kate enthused, moving her coffee so she could take another paper down from the pile.
"Can I help?" Rick asked as he took a sip from his own travel mug.
"Only if you can perfectly imitate my writing style, handwriting and signature," Kate laughed. "There's nothing really interesting that's gone down yet today, Castle. I could give you a call if a body drops if you've got other stuff you can be doing."
He considered her offer. "Hand me a few of your finished ones?" Kate shrugged and handed them over.
A couple minutes later she saw Rick take a file from her mound of paperwork and grab a clipboard. She decided to ignore it — what harm could he do? — and continue with the very interesting backlog she was compiling for a previous case.
"Is this sufficient?" Rick asked her a few minutes later, handing over one of the files.
Kate looked through it and nearly spit out the bite of bear claw she'd taken. "Did you take one of the one's I did and pretend to fill it out?" she asked.
"No. It's good, right?" he said eagerly.
"Castle, this looks just like my writing. It sounds like me too! How did you?"
"I'm a writer. It's my job to copy styles. And, Detective, I know you pretty well by now," he smirked.
Kate just stared at him. "You realize this means that you have to help me do paperwork from now on, right? You can't just strut out of here the minute a case is over and leave me to do the dirty work."
Rick grinned. "Then my plan has worked perfectly. Hand me some more?"
Kate rolled her eyes but complied. How could she say no to help on paperwork? "Ask me if you have questions. And no making up answers, Castle."
"Scout's honor," Rick said seriously.
"You were never a Scout."
"Then…uh…I swear on Alexis?"
"That's better. And remember, I'll tell her if you break that promise."
"Understood. Now, get back to work," he commanded.
"Pushy," Kate mumbled. They shared a smile and set about demolishing the stack of files, which took a surprisingly short amount of time with them both working through it.
"Done!" Castle exclaimed as he placed his last form on the top of the 'finished' pile two hours later.
"Me too," said Kate as she put hers down and rapped the pile on the desk to straighten it out. "I'll go give these to Montgomery and then you wanna grab lunch?"
"Sounds like a plan," Castle nodded and pulled out his phone while Kate went to the Captain's office.
"Here you are, Captain," she told him as she handed him the stack of papers.
"That was awfully fast, Detective," he said, glancing around her to look at Castle. "I assume you filed all of these yourself?"
They stared at each other for a moment. "Yes Sir," Kate said resolutely.
"They're all in your handwriting?"
"Yes Sir."
"Your signature?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good job, Detective," he smiled and gave her a wink. "Just make sure they're, ah, always, in your handwriting."
"Will do, Captain. We're going to go out for lunch, do you need anything?"
"No, no. Go have a good lunch with Castle. See you later," he dismissed her as he rifled through the papers.
Kate nodded and headed back out into the bullpen. "Ready to go?" she asked Rick. He stood and held out her jacket to her and they made their way into the elevator.
The doors closed and they stood there awkwardly. "So, have a nice night?" Rick asked as they reached the ground floor.
"Yeah. I took a bath when I got back; it was nice. You?"
"Remy's?"
"Sure."
"I had a good, late evening. Did a bit more writing, slept a bit. You know, the usual," they crossed the street and walked into the diner.
They took their customary table near the back and Ernie took their orders as soon as they sat down.
"Is this a little weird?" Rick asked as they settled in.
"Is what weird?" Kate asked him shrewdly. He wouldn't really be trying to talk about their…whatever it was they shared, now, would he?
"That we don't have a case?"
"Oh," Kate laughed a bit. "No, I mean, yes, it feels a bit odd. But I think that's only because we haven't been in the precinct for a few days, and the week before was so crazy that this feels quiet, almost too quiet."
"Exactly," Rick nodded. "So, what do you usually do if there isn't a case and you're done with your paperwork?"
Kate shrugged. "I'm not generally done with my paperwork until the mid-afternoon." Rick grinned like a little kid with a cookie. "Then we mostly just hang around, or go home early. But we've all been on break, so that would feel a little weird. Ryan and Esposito hit the gym a bit before you got back. My guess is that they'll be doing paperwork all afternoon."
"Sucks to be them, doesn't it?" Rick asked proudly as their food came.
"I guess it does," Kate agreed as they dug in.
"So you're free this afternoon then?" Rick prodded.
"I suppose. Why?"
"I thought maybe you'd like to go to the Natural History Museum?"
"Did they finally take down the Mayan exhibit?"
Rick didn't quite meet her eyes. "Yes."
"Have you not been back since then?" Kate tried not to laugh.
"Hey, you know, I…oh, forget it."
"No, no, Castle. I'd be happy to go to the museum. It's been a while since I've been there for any reason other than catching criminals."
"Really?"
"I have a feeling that going to the museum with you will be more fun than sitting around playing solitaire on my computer and watching Ryan and Esposito argue over who gets the last stale bagel in the break room."
"Why Detective, I'm flattered," Rick laughed.
Ernie came over with their check and told them to have a good day. "Are we splitting?" Rick asked as they looked at the bill, which was a paltry twelve bucks.
"I'll pay for lunch, you pay for the museum?" Kate asked.
"Deal."
Kate paid and they left the diner and headed for the subway. "Oh, let me just tell Montgomery." Rick nodded and leaned against the rail to the subway station. "Hi, Captain Montgomery. Yeah, we thought we'd stay out of the precinct unless there's a call. Sounds good. Okay. Talk to you then," she hung up and beckoned Rick down the stairs and into the station.
Rick pulled out a metro card and swiped them both through.
"I didn't think you took the subway," Kate told him as they headed for the D.
"I do sometimes. What did Montgomery say?"
"He needs us, well, me and you by extension, back at 5:30 for a departmental meeting. I think you'll want to skip out on that, though."
The D pulled up and they hopped on. "Yeah…I'm down for paperwork, but meetings? I think I'd really do more harm than good there."
"Would you be poking me and trying to throw paper airplanes?"
Rick looked at her. "Now, when have I ever done that?"
"There'll be memos at this meeting."
"Ah, well. Yes, yes I would."
Kate laughed. "Go have dinner with your daughter. I'll call you if a body drops."
"Even if it's 3am and raining?"
Kate raised an eyebrow at him. "Really?"
"Really."
"Then yes, I'll call you."
"Sweet!" he enthused. Kate shook her head and the subway stopped.
They came out right in front of the Museum and Rick pulled her inside with child-like enthusiasm. Kate smiled and indulged him as he chattered about the new Butterfly Conservatory.
"Two please," he told the woman at the ticket desk. She handed him the tickets, smiling at them, and Rick pulled Kate through the turnstile. "Let's go to the dinosaurs first!" he said excitedly as they stood in the atrium.
"What if I want to go the Tibetan Medical Paintings exhibit?" Kate asked, spotting the least interesting poster.
His face fell for a second before he put on a smile. "Whatever you want."
"I'm just kidding. Let's go see some Dinosaurs," she giggled and pulled him toward the stairs by the hand he hadn't yet let go.
"See! You are a tease!" he grumbled as they climbed up the four flights to the Dinosaurs. "How do you walk in those?" he asked when they reached the top of the stairs.
Kate looked down at her four-inch heels. "Practice," she smiled. "Want to try?"
Rick looked affronted. "If that's what you're into, Kate Beckett, then there's a serious conversation to be had here."
"Oh, so many layers!" Kate laughed at his horrified look. "But, seriously, no. Should I be insulted that you'd even think that?"
"Hey, whatever you're into, it's fine. No judgment," Rick brought her hand to his chest. "You're you. You're extraordinary…even if you need me to prance around in heels for you."
He had gotten serious on her and Kate's heart melted a bit at the earnestness in his voice. "Thanks, Rick. But don't worry. You won't have to wear heels."
They stared at each other, but their moment was interrupted by a group of school kids followed by a harried looking elementary school teacher. "So, Dinosaurs?" Kate prompted after they had passed.
Rick grinned and nodded. "Lead the way." He didn't let go of her hand and Kate found that she didn't mind.
They spent the better part of the afternoon upstairs with the Dinosaurs before they ventured down for the 3:15 Butterfly exhibit.
"Look at them!" Kate squealed as they walked in and were surrounded by hundreds of butterflies.
"It's amazing," Rick agreed, letting her pull him through and taking great pleasure in the girlish glee she was emitting. She really was radiant.
"Oh, look!" One landed on her nose.
"Stay still," Rick told her as he whipped out his phone and managed to grab a picture of her with the purple butterfly on her nose. It flew away and she leaned close to look at the picture.
"Nice shot," she said softly.
"I had a good model," Rick replied.
"Ooh, cheesy!" Kate giggled, but bumped him with her shoulder all the same and pulled him further into the exhibit.
They made it out at 4:30 and hopped on a subway back downtown. The train was packed and they ended up squished back against one of the rails. Kate shifted until she was leaning on Rick, so that they took up the smallest amount of space, of course.
"I had a really good time today," she admitted, turning to glance up at his face.
"Me too," Rick smiled and wrapped an arm around her stomach.
Kate let herself grin and closed her eyes for the remainder of the trip, until they reached their stop and made their way up to street.
"So, I guess I should go?" Rick asked as they walked up the block to the station.
"It's probably for the best. You'll be bored stiff in the meeting, and you should go spend time with Alexis. When does Martha get back?"
"A week from today. We should all go out to dinner sometime soon after that. She's been dying to see you," he told her as they stood in front of the precinct.
"I'd like that."
"Call me if we get a case?" he asked, obviously not eager to leave.
"I promise."
Rick nodded. "Okay. You can call me even if we don't, you know," he told her.
Kate blushed and gave a little head bob in acknowledgment. "Go see your kid, Rick. Tell her I say hi."
"Will do. Until tomorrow, Kate."
Kate watched him go and smiled to herself before she entered the building and made her way up to the bullpen. She sat down at her desk, only to feel her cell vibrate in her pocket. She fished it out and glanced at the message, which read:
Morgue. Stat!
Kate sighed and went down to the morgue. "Lanie?" she called as she came through the doors, only to be assaulted with the picture from Friday's paper.
"What is this?" Lanie asked. "How did you not tell me about this?"
"I assumed you'd seen it already?" Kate shrugged before hopping up on the counter.
"Oh, girl, if I'd seen this, you wouldn't have heard the end of it! And just where have you been all day?"
"What do you mean?" Kate asked.
"I kept going upstairs, looking for you, but you were AWOL! Montgomery said you'd decided to stay out of the precinct with Castle?"
"Well, we didn't have a case and we finished my paperwork…"
"We finished your paperwork?"
"I mean, I finished my paperwork, and Castle watched?"
"Uh-huh. Sure. So, where'd you go?"
"To lunch and the Natural History Museum," Kate mumbled, looking away evasively.
"To the what now?"
"We went to the Natural History Museum, okay? Castle's been dying to go, and I mean, I didn't have anything better to do."
"Anything better to do? What about Josh? I thought he just got back. He's not working already, is he?"
Kate bit her lip and looked up at Lanie. "Josh, well, I don't know what Josh is doing."
"And why would that be?" Lanie asked excitedly.
"Hey, Josh is a good guy."
"I know?"
"Just, don't look so happy that he's gone, okay? I mean, it's not his fault."
"Gone? As in done? Finito? Broken up?"
"Yeah," Kate sighed as Lanie squealed.
"For Castle, right? It is for Castle, or do I need to beat up that Doctor?"
"No. I mean. Yes. I…you don't have to beat Josh up. He's pretty innocent in all of this."
"You broke up with Josh for Castle? Okay girl, details!"
Kate glanced at her watch. "We've got that meeting in about five minutes, and believe me, this isn't a five minute kind of story. Have dinner with me? I'll tell you all about it. Or do you have somewhere to be?" Kate asked.
Lanie shook her head quickly. "Nope. Nowhere to be. Nobody to be with. I'm yours."
She took Kate's arm, oblivious to the knowing look Kate shot her way, and they went upstairs for the meeting.
…
Rick got back to his apartment only to find a note waiting from Alexis, telling him she'd be out late studying with a friend, and that she was sorry she couldn't be there for dinner. He considered texting Kate, to ask if she was free, but figured they could use some space.
He sighed and looked in the fridge, to no avail. He'd barely been home the past week, and when he had, he'd eaten everything there was in the house. He grabbed his keys and phone and made his way to the market, picking up the necessities and the ingredients for a few of Alexis' favorite meals, and Kate's. He certainly wanted her to come over again.
He made himself a quick stir-fry and settled down to write for the evening. Would it be too much to have Rook and Nikki go to a museum? He glanced at his new background, which was now the picture of Kate with the butterfly on her nose, and decided that perhaps the new memories they were making should just stay theirs. So instead, Nikki found a body crammed into a small packing crate, about to be shipped off to the Caribbean. It wasn't the Butterfly exhibit at the museum, but it was still pretty interesting.
…
"Okay. Dish!" Lanie commanded as soon as they were seated.
"So, Castle came over on Saturday night. You knew about that."
"Right, for your movie night."
"Yeah. We kind of fell asleep," Kate blushed a bit and Lanie made a nod of approval. "And it was fun and everything. But he, uh, woke up at about 3am, having a nightmare, and we were talking about it when Josh showed up."
"Josh showed up! You mean, like, at 3am?"
"He'd hopped an earlier flight to surprise me," Kate sighed and took a sip of her milkshake. "And, well, he wasn't happy to see Castle on the couch, where we'd obviously fallen asleep together."
"Together, together?"
"No, opposite ends."
Lanie looked disappointed. "Too bad."
"Yeah, well, lucky for us, Castle had woken up, or Josh might have found us with out legs mixed up, sharing a blanket. Either way, it was bad."
"Was he really mad?"
"Well, he had a copy of the tabloid…"
"So, I'm guessing yes?" Lanie took a fry as their food arrived.
"He certainly wasn't happy. We all had this argument, well, more them than me."
"Castle didn't just hightail it out of there?"
"He wanted to make sure that Josh wasn't going to hurt me, actually," Kate smiled a bit, recalling Rick's very sincere words.
"Josh wouldn't, right?"
"No. But he was pretty angry, and I don't blame Rick for thinking…"
"Rick!"
"Castle. I mean Castle, for thinking that he might."
"Oh girl, you are in such trouble," Lanie grinned.
"Can I continue?"
"Oh, by all means!"
"So, Castle made sure we were okay, before he left. I promised Josh that nothing had happened, and then we went to bed."
"I'm not hearing the breakup part here."
"The next morning," Kate pushed forward, "we had another argument. He was feeling 'in the mood,' and I wasn't. It kind of got us started into this whole talk about where our relationship was going, and he said he wanted to do 'real.' But…"
"But you never wanted real with Josh."
"Right. So, we've gone our separate ways. It was a good breakup, in the end." Lanie gave her hand a squeeze and Kate smiled and took a bite of her burger.
"Now, tell me how you went from broken up with Josh, to afternoon at the museum with Rick."
"Well, I mean, we were both free, and I'd had a good time at dinner with them last night, so I figured…"
"Dinner?"
"Oh, yeah. Alexis just got back from California with her Mom, and they invited me over. We had a good meal and watched Eclipse. It was fun."
"Domestic already. I like it!"
"Lanie."
"Don't 'Lanie' me!" she scoffed. "You've had three movie nights with this man, one with his daughter, in the past five days. And you just went to the museum together, which is an incredibly couply thing to do, you realize."
Kate tried to protest, but she just didn't have it in her. "It is, kind of, isn't it?"
"Not kind of. Museums? That's a date, Sweetie."
Kate simply blushed and stuffed her face full of fries.
"Deny it all you want, but you're dating Castle."
