Disclaimer: Not mine!

Chapter 9

Shopping and fun.

The black limo pulled up in front of Lyn & Steve's. It didn't look like much from the outside. In fact if your weren't looking for it you might miss it. The building looked like any other warehouse on the street. It had a small sign above the door, but other then that it looked like nothing. Then they walked in. It was huge inside. The whole place looked like a department store, there was a section for undergarments, and a section for jackets. There was a wall just dedicated to jeans. And a section for what looked like club wear. Seeing that section Kate shuddered and thought back to Castle's option to shop for her. She knew that 90% of his purchases would have come from that section. Kate walked over to the register, and a smiling, brown haired, blue eyed lady in her fifties ran around the counter and hugged her.

"I'm so glad your okay. That nice man Richard came in to tell me about your clothes. I started a rack for you, it has some of your favorites. I pulled down some tops and jeans. I also pulled some undergarments, and three suits." she said in a rush as she led them to a rolling rack in the middle of the store.

"Slow down Lyn. Lyn these are my friends, you know Lanie, this is Alexis, and her grandmother Martha. Guys meet Lyn." she said with a laugh. She looked over the rack and nodded. "This trip might be quicker then we thought, this is about half of what I lost." she said as she pulled a soft, brown leather motorcycle jacket off the rack and put it on over her black t-shirt. She zipped it up, and rolled her shoulders. She nodded, and turned to the other ladies. It was like looking at another person. For the first time in days she looked confident. Even her lips twitched up in a small smile. They say the clothes make the man, but when Kate put on the jacket she showed the first signs of being 'Detective Beckett' in days. She walked over to the racks of tops and pulled out a red long sleeve shirt and held it up. She nodded. She looked at the other women. "Well go find something. We don't got all day." she then continued to where the coats were. The other women looked at each other an shrugged. They then spread out and started to find things.

Rick walked in to the mayor's office, and took a seat in front of his desk. The Mayor looked up from his phone call and nodded. "Maybe you should think on that for another day, and call me back when you have an exact number. We need that park rehabbed but not if it breaks the budget. That's right no more than a million. Good. See you tomorrow." he hung up the phone and looked at Rick. "You wouldn't happen to have another million laying around to spend on a park would you?" he asked with a laugh.

"I would if you named it after my daughter." Rick replied. "It's good to see you again Bob. How's life treating you?"

"The city is almost broke, I have to cut funding for all kinds of stuff, and on top of that I'm tired because my wife made me sleep on the couch for forgetting her birthday. Aside for that I'm good. How about you?"

"I'm good. I just came by to tell you that we have to cross off the high-tech screens for the 12th precinct. They don't want them. So instead I want to move the funds left over to the morgue to buy new equipment. Did you know that they have to use kitchen utensils because they can't afford supplies. It's a wonder we get any evidence from them at all." he said shaking his head.

"That's just wrong Castle. I didn't need to know that. But that should be fine. Those boards were expensive. Just have them fax over a list of stuff they need."

"That's what I thought. And hey are we on for the Yankees game when I get back? I've got a box, you should bring your wife. She can hang around with Kate and my mother."

"That should get me back in her good graces. So you hooked Nikki Heat? Congrats man. Is it long term, or a fling?"

"I'm hoping she's wife number three." he said with a smile.

"Good for you Rick."

"Yeah, I'm ecstatic. Now I need to make one more stop before lunch so I have to go, but remember the game when I get back. And tell your wife I said hi." they both stood up and shook hands.

"There is no way in hell I'm wearing that!" yelled Kate as Lanie tried to hand her a red leather corset over the door to the dressing room.

"Come on, where's your sense of adventure? It'll make Writer Boy happy." she said shaking the garment.

"No, and Lanie that's my final answer. Now what's next?" the corset was replaced with a red strapless knee length dress. "Now that's what I'm talking about. Who picked this one?" she asked as she stepped in to the dress.

"It was mine Kate." called out Alexis.

"That girl's got taste. It's perfect." Kate said as she looked at her self in the mirror. It hugged her body tight, and it made her boobs look bigger. Which for someone with barely a B cup was a plus. "Next!" she called out as she slipped out of the dress. She handed it over the door and Lanie, who was playing the part of the doorman, took it and handed her a pair of black jeans and a red wool sweater. She took them and put them on. "Great! Who picked it?" She said as she looked at her butt in the jeans.

"That was me again Kate, isn't the sweater just so soft?" said Alexis as she looked through racks of button down shirts.

"Yes. It is soft. You should get one for yourself." Kate said as she took the sweater off.

"No, that's okay, I'll just steel yours when I want to wear it." Alexis called out. Kate laughed.

"Okay next!" she traded the jeans and sweater for a maroon sweater dress. "Who's pick?" she asked as she put it on and looked it over.

"Mine kiddo! It should make you look more curvy." said Martha.

"It does. I like it. Next!" she traded for a pair of gray slacks, and a dark green button down shirt. "I love the color. Who's pick?" she called out as she buttoned up the shirt.

"Mine Kate, I have one just like it. It should bring out the color in your eye's" called out Alexis.

"That girl is gold I tell you. Next!" she handed over the shirt and pants, and a floor length green silk nightie was tossed over. Kate took one look at it and blushed bright red. "Who!" she yelled.

"Me girl. You need some sexy in your wardrobe!" called Lanie.

"Fine!" said Kate like a little kid who was told they had to eat there vegetables. She flipped it over her head and let the cool material pool down her body as it fell into place. She took one look in the mirror, and decided that she needed one in black, and one in red too. She reached behind her and unhooked her bra and slipped it off letting the cool material brush her sensitive nipples. She shivered, and turned away from the mirror, looking at her but over her shoulder. She thought about what Rick's reaction would be if she walked in to his room in nothing but this. She shivered again. She slipped out of the silk gown and put her bra back on. She opened the door a little and grabbed Lanie by the arm and pulled her closer. "Lanie I need a couple more of these in different colors but keep them off to the side. I don't want Alexis to see them." she whispered to her friend.

"Why? She helped me pick the color." said Lanie. Kate blushed red, and Lanie laughed. Alexis walked up with a bunch of tops.

"Hay what did you think of the Green silk night gown? Hot right? I think you should get it in red too." she said enthusiastically.

"Um… shouldn't it be weird to help me pick out sexy stuff I'm going to use on your dad?" asked a blushing Kate.

"I'm almost seventeen Kate I know what sex is, and from the way dad was copping a feel this morning, I know that you and my dad are going to be having it a lot in the near future. It would be weird if I offered you tips, and tricks for the bedroom. In fact you don't have to worry about being affectionate in front of me. Just don't get too hot and heavy with me in the same room." she said with a laugh. "Now what did you think about the red leather corset?" she asked innocently.

A cab pulled up outside of the 12th precinct. Rick Castle stepped out carrying a brown shopping bag. He checked in at the front desk and road the elevator up to the fourth floor and stepped out in to the bullpen. He spotted Esposito and Ryan sitting at there desks tossing a bean bag back and forth. He saw Captain Montgomery sitting at Kate's desk talking on the phone. Last but not least he saw FBI agent Jordan Shaw sitting in his chair working on what looked like a crossword puzzle. He approached Shaw and stood next to her leaning over her shoulder to look at the crossword. She looked up at him and cocked an eyebrow. "Can I help you Castle?"

"No, I come bearing gifts for the new guy on the team. Since you're a civilian now, and sitting in my space on the team, I thought I would like to present to you a civilian survival kit." he said with a flourish as he held the brown shopping bag.

"Okay Castle lets see what you got." she asked as she put her crossword down on the desk. By this point the team had gathered around to see as well.

"Well first of all you're a civilian in a room full of cops and you forgot to bring the customary cop peace offering." he reached in to the bag and pulled out a box of doughnut holes. He put them down on the desk, and smiled. "Doughnuts!" she watched as Esposito and Ryan attacked the box and nodded.

"I see what you mean Castle. What else have you got?"

"well the next thing I got you is for your protection. Since your not an agent right now you don't have your FBI issue vest so I had this one made." he pulled out the Civilian vest and held it up. Ryan was the first to see it and burst into uncontrolled laughter. Esposito followed his partner after he saw what he was looking at. Castle handed the vest to Shaw, and she took it gently from his hands. She looked it over, and saw that it was a high quality vest. In fact it was better then her standard issue vest.

"Thank you Rick, that was really nice of you." she said shyly.

"And last but not least I got you a can of good pepper spray. The kind that burns for a long time." He handed over the can and she laughed at it.

"Rick I appreciate the sentiment but I can handle myself just fine."

"Yeah but you don't have a gun…" he trailed off as she moved her suet coat to the side to reveal a Glock 23 strapped to her hip.

"I have a concealed carry permit for an off duty weapon. But I think it's sweet that you were so thoughtful." she stood up, and hugged him. He felt her tremble. She wasn't crying but he knew that she was holding something in. The way she gripped him a little too tightly was a big warning sign. Rick Castle spent his whole life around women, and because of that he had some insight in to women. He knew from experience that she was holding something in, and she desperately needed to let it out. He rubbed her back like he did for his daughter so many times in the past, and squeezed a little harder. He looked over her shoulder to Esposito, and directed him to the break room with his eyes. It spoke to the unity of the team that Esposito knew what he meant, and walked to the room to wait for Rick. Rick leaned down.

"Saturdays are half days. Why don't you let me take you out to lunch? I know this great little place down the street that has good grilled tuna steak." he said in a whisper. She sighed and nodded into his shoulder. "Why don't you hit the bathroom and then we'll go. I just have to go over some final details with Esposito. I'll meet you down stairs." he said softly as he tightened his grip once more and let go. When she looked up at him he was close enough to her that he could see she had blood shot eyes and her hair looked flat like she didn't take a shower this morning. She walked off and he rushed to the break room. "Something's wrong with Jordan." he said as soon as he walked into the break room.

"I knew it! Man I've seen eyes like that before. Beckett looked like that after she shot that dude Conan. She looks overwhelmed. What are we going to do?" Esposito asked.

"I'm going to take her to Blue Fin's. I was coming to take you guy's out to lunch any way. You know like a team building thing. I'm going to let her open up to me and see what's going on. I don't think it's about the kidnapping she went through, but I have a feeling it's connected to that. I have to call Kate, I need you to back me up with her. She's a little jealous of Jordan." he pulled his iPhone out and called Kate.

"Beckett." she said as she tried on a green dress.

"Kate, it's Rick. I'm calling from the break room. When I gave Jordan her gifts she hugged me and trembled. I think something's wrong with her. I'm going to take her to Blue Fin's to see if she'll open up. I need to know that your okay with this."

"Um… Well I guess? Is there really something wrong with her?" she asked suspiciously.

"Yes, Kate. Esposito is standing right here next to me, He agrees."

"Let me talk to him" she said as she sat down on the bench in the dressing room.

Rick handed the phone to Esposito. "yeah"

"Esposito, I want your opinion on the situation."

"In my opinion Boss the woman's hurting. I'm no expert on feelings but even I saw that something is wrong with her, and honey milk saw it too. I say we let Castle make a run at her and see if he can get her to talk. I don't like to think about what might happen if she tries to bottle it up and cracks under the pressure of a case."

"I want your honest answer. Do you think she has a thing for Rick, and do you think he might… well do you think he might leave me for her. This is all new and I don't want it to fail before it gets off the ground."

"You have nothing to worry about boss, I've tested the boy already, he's with you all the way. I offered to take him to a strip club, he turned me down. I talked trash about you, and he walked away from me, I'm sure if he thought he could take me he would have thrown a punch. Finally I had a hot girl walk up to him and flirt with our boy here. He gave her an autograph, and bought a round of drinks for her and her friends then he kindly told her to leave him alone. I was so proud."

"Fine but if this goes south I'm killing him and you. You understand me?" she asked in a huff.

"Got you boss." he said as he handed the phone back to Castle.

"Kate, I promise you if this is some trick, if she starts to come on to me I'll walk away. I with you Kate. I just think she's in some kind of hot water. And I want to help her." he said sinserly.

"Fine, but you promise me that if she starts to hit on you, you walk away." she demanded. "I'm not comfortable with this you know."

"I know Kate and I whouldn't nomaly, but I didn't like the way she trembled when she hugged me. Kate I just can't sit back if she's hurting. I would do the same thing if it was Lanie."

"I know Rick, and I'm trying to get over my jealousy. It's just she's pretty, and I know you have a soft spot for damsels in distress. It's who you are, and it's what I love about you. Just remember Rook turns agent Jordan down, I want life to imatate art you understand me Castle?" she demanded.

"Yes dear, I love you too dear." he said with a laugh. He sobered up quick though when she didn't laugh. "It's like I said, Always Kate. I love you. See you tonight."

"I know, I do too. I'll see you." she hung up.

Rick turnd to Esposito. "So the other night that was all a test?" he asked with mock hurt."Yep, and you passed bro. like I said I'm proud of you. Now go see what's wrong with our replacement civilian." he said as they shook hands and half hugged.

AN: sorry it took so long to get this out, but my Beta was dragging ass. Butt he looked over the next three chapters, so they should be up over the next few days. Also I know nothing about women's clothing. All of the stuff in this chapter came from a friend of mine, she's into that stuff. Next chapter, What's eating Jordan?