Ok, this was a hard chapter to get through but its like the interlude that had to be and to regroup everyone. I did promise I would post them as I finish them. Lucky its still raining and we are flooded out where I live. This chapter returns them to New York, so I can finish up the story as that's where the problems get resolved before we finally get to the Hamptons…. Yes, I do get them there. Thanks for the reviews. One of them has really inspired me to write another story that I hope will be hilarious!
… the next chapter will follow quite soon and will be shifting the story along. I'm just wanting to keep it intellectually challenging for myself to resolve this mystery and to keep you readers interested. Let me know … and yes Marley Andrews will be back – just trying to work that out so any ideas are welcome.
Chapter 10
Just a prior to 11.30 am Rick woke when he felt Kate's body jump within his embrace. He heard a squeal from deep within her throat. Her breathing rate had increased. He laid his hand over her head and hushed her, soothing her dream. When she calmed, he stayed still deciding to rest a big longer. His thoughts drowsily trailed along circling the fact he had Kate sleeping against his body, that she was finally letting him in. A smile of contentment filled his face, the sensations of happiness and security fired throughout his nervous system. Regardless of their current situation he didn't want to be anywhere else in the world if she wasn't with him.
Kate's body jumped again and this time she struggled against Castle who held her firmly but didn't fight her, listening to her cry "Castle." over and over as though he wasn't answering her.
"Kate. I'm here. I'm right here." He softly said. "Katie, wake up." He held his head against the side of hers listening to her cries his hands holding her still. "Wake up Kate."
"Castle." She stilled, sniffing and the crying stopped although she breathed rapidly a little longer. "I'm here Castle." She took a couple of deep breaths. "Damn ledge." She whispered. They laid in silence a minute or so, until she took hold of his hand. "I'm awake Rick." She contentedly whispered a smile growing over her face. Her hands held him close, her breathing had slower and steadied. She moved within his embrace until she could kiss his lips.
Rick accepted the kiss. "Hello Kate."
"Hi." She murmured touching his lips with her fingertips. He playfully took her fingers in his mouth briefly then laid back down, his head on the pillow.
"Remember that kiss?" Castle asked finally playing with her hair, deciding he could speak to her about it.
"The night we saved the boys?" She asked stroking his shoulder.
"Mmm." He responded and saw her smile, her face light up looking at his lips.
"It was crazy." She commented touching his lips again, tracing the outline of his luscious lips, the cute curves she had wanted to kiss again since that first time. She had dreamt about it so often, of tasting him again, of feeling the softness of his lips.
"Did you feel it?" He asked almost excited.
"Mmm." She bit her lip, half smiling at the memory. "But I tried to deny it as well." She kissed him again. "But now it's all I want." She purred and returned to his mouth.
"Me too!" One more kiss and he started to move away. He stepped out of the bed stretching his back as he strolled to the bathroom.
"Wow Beckett! Have you ventured in here?" He called out seconds later.
"No. Why?" She sat up looking around the dimly lit room. How bad could the bathroom be?
"It's like a time capsule, or a way back machine."
Kate grinned in amusement at his descriptive comment. "Why so?"
"I've stepped back into the sixties. Everything is yellow and white."
"Serious?" She kicked the bed sheets off her legs.
"Come see babe."
"Castle, you're in there."
"So? We've crossed that line now Kate." He laughed mainly to himself. He came back out pulling off his t-shirt at the end of the bed facing Kate. He playfully started flexing his biceps in front of her having noticed she was checking out his bare chest. "Perving on me Ms Beckett?" He inquired very proud of his body.
"Get outa here, Castle." She scoffed.
"I'm taking a shower." He said. "You can fantasize about me whilst I'm in there."
Kate sprung off the bed and ran to the bathroom wanting to use it before he showered. Castle laughed at her vanity but left her alone about it. She surprised him by leaving the door open however.
"You're not wrong Rick about the decor." She called out. "Some of these tiles have been re-glued a few times too." She stated.
"Like, how much does it cost to update a bathroom?" He asked from the main room. "How long you gonna be Beckett?" He asked bordering on impatience in his tone purely just to tease her.
In the bathroom Kate finished at the toilet and decided to surprise Castle since he thought she was such a prude. He was waiting for her to finish before he came in so she quickly stripped herself of clothes she piled on the side of the basin and started the shower. "Oh, Ricky!" She seductively lured him and he appeared within seconds wearing nothing but a boyish grin. Kate checked him out liking every inch of him she saw. He made a noise of approval seeing Kate totally naked, the shower running hot. He moved straight to her wrapping her body in his arms drawing her against his body. He playfully attacked her with affection making her laugh. She turned within his embrace reaching for his jaw pulling it to her mouth. She kissed him like crazy the laughter ceasing as he urged her backwards into the shower cubicle. He followed her in and pulled the shower curtain closed.
Richard's hands cupped her buttocks and he pulled away from her mouth a moment. "What's your thoughts on against the wall sex?" He asked with a boyish tone, a huge grin, his mouth moving to her neck he gently bit, then licked up her skin tasting her. Before she had a chance to respond he lifted her body from her backside, her legs immediately wrapping about his hips. He pushed her roughly against the tiled wall hearing her grunt, her hands moving to his head, his mouth covering hers. She gripped his hair and pulled him away from her mouth looking into his eyes to his cheeky grin.
"You might topple over the edge having wall sex with me in this time capsule." She murmured and a returned to his mouth kissing him urgently.
He was holding her up against the wall with his arms, and moved his hips in lowering her body to where he needed her to be. "My mother could have been conceived in décor like this." He stated under his breath.
"Don't go there." She pleaded.
"No. Just you." He whispered focusing only on Kate. He pushed against her groin and parted from her mouth, looking to her eyes. The shower was pouring between them, sprinkles of water running down his face into his eyes. "And you'll topple first Katie." He replied grinning and pushed inside of her, his eyes not leaving her eyes that sparkled wickedly as she took him inside her. She moaned, tilting her head back against the wall, closing her eyes and thrusting her hips to meet his, trust him to hold her. "God! I'm getting dizzy!" Castle groaned his head resting against her, causing her to laugh and he could feel her laughter in her muscles within her. She held her weight over his shoulders and he was against her again, pushing her harder against the worn out tiled wall the more her fucked her. Every thrust she moaned. It felt great. She's with him, wants him as desperately as he does her. Her legs are up, gripping his torso and she is taking him, wanting him, smiling at his face, luring him with her dark seductive eyes as he pushes deep inside her body. She see's he's pulling that face, his eyes are closing. She grips his head, kissing him hard as he comes deep inside, pushing her away from his mouth as he makes a primordial cry. He stays in her returning to her mouth, feeling her ankles lock behind him pinning him against her, her knees pushed hard against his panting rib cage. She's so fucking good at wall sex. He pulls away grinning to her face.
"Where the hell did you learn to hold on like that Miss Innocence?" He asked, pulling himself from her. He let her legs slide back to the floor pulling her back under the shower, still kissing her mouth.
She laughs hard at his question, shaking her head her eyes glistening with the shower water in them. "You really don't want me to answer that." She replied recalling the times Josh had thrown her up against walls. She loved the quickies with tall men, who had the physical strength put her where they wanted her. Really turned her on. The sex with Josh had been great physically but she hadn't had the chemical connection she had with Rick. Castle was a just little shorter than Josh but still had the build and strength to do the job as well, no, better than Josh had.
"No, I don't want to know the answer." He agreed holding her against the wall kissing her face her neck. "Our first quickie." He announced cradling her jaw, then pulling her body back to his and embracing her under the hot water. Kate's eyes flickered to his groin seeing he was still erect.
"You are unbelievable Castle." She commented and returned to his mouth, reaching her arms about his body, wishing she'd been brave enough to take him on years ago.
"Told you…" He laughed. "I'm still to take you on a proper date Beckett." He commented, moving down her body to her breasts he gently took in his mouth. She brought his head back to her face kissing him.
"You owe me a date, Castle." She stood back, parting from him, checking out his red swollen lips. She smiled to him, admired his body leaning into hers, fended off his hands. "But, then you will have to put up with me forever." She reached about his neck as he wrapped his arms about her waist lifting her off the floor.
"I'll happily put up with you forever." He replied. "Just promise me you will stay alive."
"I promise I'll try to." She said.
At exactly 1.30 pm the pair were seated on a park bench mostly obscured by trees and other people using the town park. They pretended to be relaxing, just a couple catching up. Castle had his left arm wrapped about Kate, her legs were over his left thigh her feet dangling between his legs. They said very little but searched the surrounding roads for any sign of Esposito and Ryan because they knew the boys wouldn't recognize them in caps and sunglasses sitting so close to each other. The day had warmed up considerably so Kate wore a light long sleeved pink top Castle had taken from Alexis' wardrobe, mainly to hide the bruises and grazes on her arms. Rick wore a t-shirt with his jeans.
"Shit I'm getting sore." Castle complained feeling his aching muscles as a result of their midnight getaway. He was enjoying girlfriend Kate as well, whilst they waited for their ride to arrive. It was odd relaxing on a park bench with her sitting over his body. She had always had a tendency to keep space between them, but since they had made love, she had closed the cap and really not allowed it to open again. He liked it. A lot. Enjoyed her climbing over him, being very close to him physically and spiritually. She was like a drug, or a good bottle of Scotch. Something to really be enjoyed, appreciated and savoured.
"Nothing in my body is free of pain." Kate replied quietly spoken playing with his fingers in her lap.
"Really? I told you by the end of the week … " He teased.
"I'm ok there." Kate interrupted lightly swatting his chest and enduring his laughter. "I'll let you know if it all becomes too much for me Ricky." She teased.
"Before was fun." He commented.
Kate sat up, leaned forward and kissed his mouth. "Best quickie ever." She said mimicking how he would say it and he broke into laughter seeing her expression of cheekiness. They sat quietly for a bit just playing with each other hands.
"Castle?"
"Mmm?"
"You could use the events of the last 12 hours of our lives in one of your books." She inquired.
"Too cliché Beckett."
"Why? It was real!" She scoffed. "It happened. And we still don't have news of what happened at the hotel last night."
"No, we don't. The fact they haven't found us yet, tells me it's bad news."
"Don't think that yet." Kate replied seriously. "I feel bad for running away from them."
"Survival Kate. We had to do it." He kissed her forehead reassuringly, like he had in the car the night before.
"So you won't put this in your books because it's too predictable?"
"Yeah, we are walking along, like fugitives and just happen to find a red pick up truck that looks like it came straight off the set of Twilight and conveniently has the keys in it. Sounds more like the scene of a good fanfiction story." He laughed and Kate giggled.
"Maybe you could write a Nikki Heat fanfiction story Rick. Hot steamy hotel sex, escaping explosions, the CIA chasing them, running through the night…" She hummed in amusement, swinging her legs excitedly, a huge smile over her face.
He pondered it for a moment. "Well, I could do a better job of it than those shades of grey novels."
Kate snorted and burst into laughter. "I think anyone could. My aunt thought it was a book about being a senior citizen, shades of grey. She was mortified when she started reading it." Kate said with a straight face. Castle laughed a loud causing Kate to laugh. "My Dad thought it was hilarious but my Aunt … "
"They're here." Castle said sobering.
"Where?" She started to look about discreetly.
"Behind your shoulder. Just wait and see they're not followed."
"He wouldn't be here if he thought he had a tail." Kate replied and sat up looking over her shoulder casually. She sighted Espo's charcoal SUV pulling to the side of the road, but she didn't' move as yet. Castle kissed the side of her face immensely relieved the boys had finally found them, because they were able to protect Kate. "We wait a bit." She murmured turning back and playing with his hand again. "Espo will have binoculars so he will see us, once he actually recognises us." She told him.
"Really? Cool! Lets shock them!" He grinned, held her face with his right hand and kissed her like crazy, laughing as she struggled playfully against him until she got to the point she started to tackle him back, hoisting her backside up onto his thigh. They stilled when the kiss grew serious, Castle lifting her closer to him so she was sitting on his thigh. She found his head both her hands grabbing his hair, kissing is mouth. They paused to take a breath, panting.
"Castle?" She whispered.
"Beckett?" He replied looking to her face and smiling.
"The songs really do make sense to me right now." She told him, hoping like hell he remembered a conversation at the door to his loft years before. She stroked his head searching his eyes to see if she saw the recognition, the depth of the meaning of her statement. "Is that enough for now?"
He grinned, kissed her mouth. "I understand. It's enough for now." He replied, knowing it was a lot more than he would have got from her three days ago. He recalled the night he'd asked her how she knew she was in love and she'd replied by saying she what she had just said to him. "I understand." He whispered, seeing in her face she was satisfied with his response. He gave her one more kiss then urged her to stand off him and stood with her. He grabbed their bags in one hand and her left hand in the other and they started to walk towards the car, a little carefully at first. "It is them right?"
"I think so." Kate replied. Her walk stalled when she saw the passenger side door open. She saw Ryan and grinned. "C'mon" She urged and they jogged to the car. Both climbed in the back, grinning to the boys.
"Look what we found in Hickville." Espo stated. "Getting it on in the park like a couple of teenagers!" He stirred.
"Hey!" Kate greeted climbing over the seat. "We're not teenagers."
Castle fell in the car with a huge grin. "Boys! Never been so happy to see you!" He exclaimed
"We could say the same." Ryan stated and looked at Espo. "Mum and Dad are having sex." He said to Espo as he handed them each of them a cool bottle of water.
"C'mon!" Kate replied. "Everyone knew it would eventually happen." She unscrewed the lid and took a long drink of water as Castle did.
"Took you long enough Chica." Espo replied. "Oh! Good to see you remembered the code." He added pulling out onto to the road again.
"I remembered it." Kate replied. "How could I forget after all those hours of it being drummed into me." She complained.
"Well, it worked when we needed it to. Even Ryan remembered it." Esposito laughed.
"Yeah, and you all failed to tell me about it." Castle complained.
"Secret police code." Esposito replied and Castle grunted.
"So, hell the hell did you two end up here? And better still, why is your car back at the loft?" Ryan inquired looking between Castle and Beckett.
The pair glanced to each other and Castle said. "He did tell us it would be back there."
"Who did?" Ryan inquired.
"Are we obligated to confidentiality again?" Castle asked Beckett with a cheeky grin. "Like, I don't want to be charged."
"We can tell them." Kate replied. She clipped up her seatbelt listening as Castle told the boys of their adventures during the past two days, only interrupting when his writer's imagination got the better of him, expanding the story into fantastic idealisms. Espo drove the vehicle towards New York but kept on the quieter roads until they were all sure there was no one following them.
Castle saw Kate fall asleep whilst he was in the middle of his story, perhaps a little disappointed she failed to stay awake for his entertaining story telling. He knew she was tired, physically and mentally. Ryan, who was turned about in the front seat most of the way waved a finger in her direction once Castle's story was over.
"How is she?" He asked.
"Sore, tired and scared." He replied looking to Espo via the rear vision mirror and then to Ryan. "Should see the bruises on her. One on her sternum is bad. She's lucky she wasn't hospitalised."
"Has a nice shiner on her forehead." Ryan observed.
"One on her shoulder is impressive as well. She has complained about it a fair bit."
"Can't believe your father has turned up in this whole mess." Espo stated.
"Me either. I did not see that one coming." Castle replied.
"Do you think he's still alive?"
"Don't know Ryan. We heard the explosion and ran like hell. She had a feeling not to wait for the lift and we're down a couple of levels and boom!" He shouted causing Kate to move in her sleep. He instantly placed his hand flat over her forehead and she calmed, falling back to sleep.
Ryan pulled a face. "How did you know to do that?" He asked waving a hand at Kate.
"What?" Castle was confused.
"She stilled as soon as you put your hand there." He stated.
"Always do it. Alexis, girlfriends." He shrugged his shoulders. "Seems to calm them down." He grinned. "Doesn't everyone do that?" He asked, surprised by their reactions.
Both men replied. "No!"
Shrugging his shoulders, Castle grinned boyishly. "Must just be my charm." The boys scoffed in response. "What are we gonna do when we get back to New York?" Castle inquired.
"Keep Kate safe at the Precinct and get her to a doctor to check her shoulder. We have to keep her safe." Ryan replied.
"I have to get hold of her Mum's diary." Castle sat back. "And we need new phones. Maddox or whoever it was had access to the network. He must have tracked my phone."
"Well pick up a couple of burners." Ryan replied.
"I also need to get a list of millionaires, self made or new to New York about 1998. Will work on that."
They fell silent, Castle growing weary from all the action. He rested awhile staring at Kate who had fallen into a deep sleep. She must have been feeling safe in the boys' company. He lifted her hand and took hold of it not receiving any response from her at all and played with her limp fingers, no longer afraid to touch her.
The moment Espo pulled into a car park at the precinct he killed the engine and looked to Ryan. "We're back in one piece."
"Yep." The two hit fists then turned about in their seats to say something to Castle. They glanced to each other then back at Kate and Rick who were both soundly sleeping. "Mum and Dad are quiet for once." Ryan commented and Espo chuckled.
"Fugitive lifestyle too much for them." Espo sighed in thought.
"Mmm. Do you think she's ok?" Ryan asked. "She's pale. She usually doesn't sleep that much."
"She's Beckett. She's ok." He paused. "Maybe we'll get Castle to carry her inside. Let her sleep. She's less trouble this way." He half joked. He tapped Castle's leg.
"Check the hands." Ryan commented noticing they were holding hands. "Another wedding on the way" He joked his bright blue eyes sparking in cheekiness.
"No. No wedding yet." Castle replied bringing his head off the headrest. "Done that twice already." He took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes.
"She wants the wedding." Ryan replied and they all remained silent a few seconds digesting that piece of information.
"One day." Castle replied. "She'll want the ring first." He said glancing to her, seeing she was still sleeping. "Where are we?" He peered out the window but it was dark.
"At the Precinct."
"We made it!" He almost cheered looking to his sleeping partner again thinking about waking her up. "I will carry her up to the bull pen. She really needs the sleep and she's easier to handle this way."
"Agreed." Espo laughed. The three of them climbed out the car but left the doors open so they didn't wake Kate. Castle passed their bags to Ryan then walked about the vehicle to the door Kate was closest to. He opened it and leaned over her to unclip the seatbelt feeling his own body was incredibly sore form the activities. He slipped one arm under her legs and the other behind her and lifted her limp body out of the car not feeling any reaction. Out the car he stood straight and looked to the boys.
"This is the woman who states she sleeps lightly." He remarked grinning, glancing to her face. "She's very pale." He thought the movement would have woken her but nothing was happening.
"She's tired" Esposito said. "Can you carry her to the sofa?"
"Yeah. She's not heavy." Castle commenced his walk over the underground car park to the lifts as the boys locked the car then followed him. Everyone remained quiet expecting Kate to wake with the change of scenery but she didn't stir.
"Do you guys think she's ok?" Castle asked again. "This is not like her at all." He stated fully aware she was dead weight in his arms. "I thought she would wake." He understood Kate was tired, that her body had been through the limits of hell and ecstasy in the past 48 hours. She had also been worried about his welfare in addition to her own. Worn out was his conclusion.
They both peered at her face, then looked to Castle. "She's just sleeping." Ryan replied. They heard the ting of the lift and waited for the door to open to their floor. Castle carried her to the staff room that had a couple of lounge chairs. He laid her on the couch, even lifted her head to place a cushion beneath it to support her. Ryan found a blanket he spread over her and they left the room, crashing into Gates on the way out.
"Where is Beckett?" She demanded her eyes moving to each of them and falling on Castle last with her death stare.
"Arrr … sleeping Sir." Ryan replied. "In there." He gingerly pointed a finger to the room they had just vacated. "She's out cold."
"She's alive." Gates sighed with relief. "I seriously believed you were going to phone me to say she was murdered."
"We managed to keep her alive." Castle replied. He looked back over his shoulder to confirm to himself she was ok, still amazed she had not woken on the way into the Precinct. He stopped listening to Gates and started thinking about what he had to do next.
He left her there and followed the boys back to their desks. He sat at Kate's desk noticing nothing had been moved but her collection of elephants and her personal items.
He dialed her father's cell phone from the desk phone. It was picked up inside a couple of rings. "Katie." Her dad greeted.
"It's Rick Castle, Jim."
"Oh, hi! I saw it was Kate's number. Is she ok?"
"Yes. She's good. Just tied up. I'm just ringing about her mother's diary, and its whereabouts."
"I have them here."
"Would you mind if I took a look at them? Kate told me neither of you could break the code. I may be able to."
"We couldn't. Johanna had her own shorthand. You can have a look at them."
"Would you mind if I came over now? Kate is busy but I have the time."
"Sure. I'll see you soon."
"Thanks." Castle hung up and looked to the boys who were both listening in. "I'll be back soon."
"No way." Ryan objected. "I'm coming." He told Castle, glancing to Espo.
"Take him." Espo ordered. "You could be on the hit list too."
"Fine. You stay with Kate." Castle negotiated. "And don't let her leave here." He stated firmly.
Espo laughed seeing that Castle was really manning up to protect Kate now he was with her. He'd always held back, but his instincts to protect her were now in overdrive. "I'll look after her for you." He replied. He leaned back in his chair as Ryan and Castle left the office arguing about who was going to drive, Whilst they were gone, Espo worked on finding the list of recent self made millionaires that Castle wanted.
He was in deep concentration when he saw Kate appear from the staff room. She held a mug of coffee and sat in Ryan's chair. Espo leaned back in his smiling at her. She was like the elder sister he didn't have.
"W'sup girl?" He started. "Good sleep?"
She smiled and nodded. "Mmm. I was tired."
"You ok?" Your boy is worried about you." He laughed. "He's gone all testosterone on us over you."
She giggled. "You're terrible Espo."
"Castle's Princess." He teased.
"I have a gun." She warned, and looked about to ensure no one else could listen in on their conversation.
"C'mon Beckett." He chuckled seeing the twinkle in her eyes. "We know you like him."
"Where's Ryan and Castle?" She asked noticing their jackets were gone and ignoring his comment.
"Gone to your Dad's. When they get back which should be soon we'll take you to the hospital to check out your shoulder."
"I think it's just bruised." She dismissed. "Where's Gates?"
"In a meeting to organize professional body guards for you. Castle told her he will personally pay for them to stay outside his loft to protect you." He shrugged. "He doesn't like the fugitive lifestyle."
Kate sat up a little surprised. "No, he said that when we stole the pick up." She half giggled."
"Pick up?"
"Yeah, just like a movie. The pick up, a red one like from Twilight was parked in some farm. Keys were in the glove compartment. Here's Castle and I traveling along the countryside in an old pick up." She laughed like crazy, "Castle loved it. He thinks is a perfect fanfiction story but not good enough for a Nikki Heat novel."
Espo was laughing with her when Ryan and Castle returned, both wondering what the laughter was about.
"The truck we stole." Kate reminded him. "How funny was that? Like out of a movie."
"Yeah. It was cliché, but it did the job. Kate wants me to write it into a novel. I might write up a fanfiction story." Castle remarked, looking over Kate who was a better colour than earlier. He glanced to the time. It was almost 6.30 pm.
"Has anyone heard from my Father?" He asked holding his hands up in question. Everyone shook their heads in the negative.
"I ran a report from up Hickville way." Espo reached for a piece of paper he passed to Castle. "No one was killed, and strange enough, no one was staying in the three rooms. The middle room was hit by the bomb but the neighbouring rooms were vacant. Its reported as a gas explosion." He shrugged his shoulders. Castle had heard he was alive, but had no way of getting in touch with him. So he guessed he would have to wait until his father made contact again.
"Gas explosion. Another bit for my fanfiction story Kate." Castle commented causing a giggle from everyone.
"Least you met him." Esposito commented. "Kate knows what the kids will potentially look like now."
"Shhh… " She hushed. "We have to keep it quiet. Gates can't know."
"She may already know, Kate. I told her you're staying at my loft and she is arranging security now." Castle told her. "Safest place to keep you besides here.
"Security?"
"My security. We are locking down my building." He stated. "You can sleep in the guest bedroom, next to the study." He added with a coy grin.
"Thanks Castle." She replied.
"Mmm." He responded glancing to the boys who didn't appreciate the joke about the guest room and the fact he slept in that bed almost every night.
"C'mon Beckett we need to take you to the hospital." Ryan stated.
"Ok. Let's go." She stood up. "By the way, how did I get from the car to the couch?" She inquired.
"You walked." Ryan replied, glancing to the boys, deciding it was time to mess with Kate's head at bit.
"Why don't I remember?"
"Very tired Beckett. But you did it." Castle replied collecting their bags, deciding to help Ryan confuse her even more.
"Lanie is going to meet us there." Espo commented grabbing his coat. "You did it alone." He said to Kate.
"I don't recall coming up here at all." Kate said. "In fact there's no memory from when Castle was story telling about our adventures out in the wilderness as fugitives to waking up on that stinky sofa."
"We need to get you to a hospital." Castle commented, glancing to the two men with a cheeky smile.
"Wait up you lot!" Gates called from the stairs. They all turned to face her as she hurried down the bull pen to them. "Good to see you in one piece Detective Beckett."
"Thank you Sir."
"Follow me. All of you." She glanced to Castle who actually felt scared, because he knew she had just come from the meeting in relating to hiring private security to protect Kate. The results were about to be told. This could turn out to be very bad news. She lead the way to her office, walking around her desk. "You are all back on active duty." She reached into her drawer and handed Kate her badge and gun one by one. Kate somewhere reluctantly took both items looking over the badge momentarily before she placed it in a pocket. Obviously Gates hadn't accepted her resignation. Next time Kate promised herself she would do it in writing.
She thought to herself, I'm back to being badge number 41319. But the happiness wasn't there. In fact she felt nothing but emptiness. The gun however she was very pleased to have back in her hand. She put it into her back pack.
"Beckett. You are to stay with Mr Castle. You have private security and plain clothes protection until we resolve who is trying to kill you. There is one condition. You are to remain inside the loft unless you have these two detectives with you." She sighed. "Understood?"
"Yes Sir." Kate was stunned.
"Who has the connection with the CIA?" Gates asked in genuine interest. "It seems someone is adamant about protecting you at all costs and is partially footing the bill and providing the protection." Gates remarked. They all shook their heads in the negative. Castle remained poker faced but believe that questions was a fairly good reason to believe his father was alive.
"No one Sir." Kate replied, hoping like hell Castle kept quiet behind her.
"Mmm. Take Beckett for medical attention and food. My God girl you've lost a lot of weight."
"Told you." Esposito mumbled causing Ryan and Castle to give him the be quiet looks but they snickered at the same time.
"Bit hungry Captain." Kate replied and smiled. "But Castle fed me as often as he could. We were busy running."
"I will ensure she eats." Castle replied. "I agree with your comment Captain however."
"Mmmm. " Gates half smiled at the group realizing just how tight the four of them were. If she was to kick Castle out there would be a major disruption to the group's unity. "Mister Castle, perhaps you should re-apply for a special gun licence."
They all looked at Gates in sheer shock. Castle opened his mouth.
"Castle." Kate stated and he instantly shut up. "Sir?"
"Yes. You may all leave. Detective Beckett, have this form processed for me to authorise and I will send it to the right people."
"Thank you Sir." Kate turned and lead the group out going directly to the lifts. They all remained silent during the time it took for the old lift to arrive. Detective Gates sat at her desk quite pleased the two boys had sorted out their differences during the trip to collect Castle and Beckett. She saw them bundle untidily into the lift and the door close. She also heard the cheers of delight. She smiled to herself. The group needed each person to enable it to work as well as it did, and she had decided, having now seen them separated, that she need to nurture them a little more as a team but at the same time not let them know she was.
The wait at the hospital was crazy with long waiting times. Because Kate was a cop she was directed to a room to wait for a doctor after a short wait in the public area. That was at 7.00 pm. The group waited with her and Lanie joined them by 7.30. They were still laughing about the conversation with Gates particularly the subject about food. The entire time they waited Kate had any of the boys fetch her chocolate, chips and drinks from vending machines. They shared the food joking that Kate never ate. Lanie didn't find it so amusing especially when she started examining Kate. Castle remained quiet as Lanie went over Kate's body counting the bruises and grazes she was able to see without removing clothes. He and Kate exchanged glances both pleased Lanie couldn't see the rest of the bruises.
Lanie stayed in with Kate when the doctor arrived. The boys waited in the hall. They all remained silent listening as Lanie told Kate off as she and the doctor examined Kate's entire body and in particular her shoulder. The fact that Lanie could count Kate's ribs made the boys laugh. They were aware Beckett would eat and did lose weight fast. She also put it on fast. Kate didn't say too much as she was hungry, tired and not in the mood to argue. She had consumed a fair amount of chocolate and soft drink whilst waiting but it wasn't enough. She really wanted to eat vegetables. Lanie on her case wasn't helping Kate's short fused temper. They then had to wait for the MRI scan to be undertaken. The results were good. Nothing was broken but she had sustained injury to a tendon. Rest and pain killers. Concussion was noted and she was told to stay home.
By the time they all returned to the loft it was almost 9.30 pm. They had collected pizzas on the way and all sat about the dining table eating pizza and drinking beer. Over their meals they discussed the events leading up to the fight with Maddox. The three detectives, now more relaxed sorted out the arguments that had been left unfinished when Beckett and Esposito had left the bull pen the other night. Kate conceded she had made bad decisions that day and promised them she would never do it again.
Castle promised them all he would never walk out on them again, that he would continue to be a part of the group.
Hope you are continuing to enjoy, let me know how I'm going. As I said at the start, this was the spell chapter where the character could regroup etc, before Castle starts working out a few clues…..