CHAPTER 10

Eight months have passed since the abduction by Maddox. Eight months since Maddox disappeared promising no one would pursue Kate again. Eight wonderful months have passed since Castle and Beckett finally gave into their feelings. Eight months of finally officially being together or dating. Well not quite officially dating exactly. More of dating on the down low. But dating, as in actually going out to places with each other. They have, so far, been able to keep that part a secret from everyone else that these are real dates, not just escorting each other places.

Being a well known author with a character based on Kate Beckett allows them to be seen together at book signings and charity events as the author and the Muse for his character "Nikki Heat". No one thinks too much about them being seen together. They have even convinced the others at the precinct and Kate's best friend, Lanie, that they are just promoting the books. And everyone is buying it. The others are just clueless about what happens after the charity ball or book store visits are finished. The mad dash back to one or the other's apartment for an evening filled with passion. This pair is still like two kids in a candy store when they are alone together. The tension built up by four years of dancing around their feelings has not decreased in the least. Each time they look at one another, the desire is evident. Each time they have that moment together is as exciting as that very first night during the storm.

How can two people spend that much time locked in each other's arms and still maintain that honeymoon feeling? They are not concerned about the "How does it happen?" They are just glad it is.

But Richard Castle is planning on breaking thru that secret wall that he and Beckett set up. It has been five years since they met over a case based on one of his books. Five years since he became smitten by this beautiful detective. Five years that he has been in love with her.

He has reservations at Geno's Bistro for Friday evening at 8:00 PM. He told Kate that it was a nice restraint and that he just wanted to have a quite diner together. Just the two of them. Kate was not on call at the station this weekend. So Castle knows they will not be disturbed by someone's dead body dropping somewhere around town.

He already picked out the music to be played. The wine selection. The appetizers. The main course. But the most important part of the meal was what he planned for dessert.

A flawless 14 carat emerald cut diamond ring. He selected the stone and had it set especially for this. He made sure it would fit her by borrowing one of her other rings to get the size perfect. He wanted to make sure that after tonight, she would have it on that most important finger. After tonight, there will be no doubt about "Will They or Won't They?" The only question remaining will be "When?"

He picks her up at her apartment at 7:00. She looks ravishing as always. How can this woman that he has known for five years always take his breath away every time he sees her? He has to struggle with himself to not just grab her on her doorstep and drag her back inside. So what if they are a little late to diner.

But he restrains himself. He wants tonight to be perfect. Perfect music. Perfect wine. Perfect meal. Perfect marriage proposal.

Richard Castle knows full well that disclosing the relationship to the world will kill any chance of them working at the princint together. But he really doesn't care. If she has a case that he can help with, she will bring the information to him at home and they will solve it together. What is most important to him now is for her to become his wife and for them to spend the rest of their lives together.

They arrive exactly on time for their reservations. The hostess greets them as they enter "good evening Mr. Castle, Ms. Beckett. You table is ready. Please follow me" She takes the couple to a secluded booth toward the rear of the restraint. She knows that celebrities such as Mr. Castle typically attract fans, newspaper reporters or paparazzi. So she likes to make sure they cannot be seen from the front of the restraunt. This gives her patrons some level of privacy.

After being seated, the wine steward comes up to them and offers them the selected wine. The appetizers are served almost immediately. Kate notices that this diner is different. She is not offered a menu, but the service is immediate. She suddenly feels a surge of adrenaline enter her system. She is having a premonition of what is going to happen. She knows what he has planned. She knows what she will say.

As soon as the main course is finished, the plates are removed and the server brings out the Crème Brule and places the cups in front of each of them. Kate is not looking at the dessert, but is looking directly into Rick's eyes. He is smiling from the top of his head to the bottom of his chin. Kate finally breaks the stare and looks down to the cup in front of her. Placed in the center of the cup is the ring that Castle had specially made. Written in thin chocolate around the edge is

"WILL YOU MARRY ME?"

The air escapes Kate's lungs. She can't talk. She can't even breathe. Tears appear in her eyes and she just shakes her head. All her plans on what she will say. How she will react go out the door. Castle leans into the table, grabs her hand, removes the ring and after cleaning the base, places it on her finger.

Kate just sits for a long while staring at the diamond that graces her left hand. She is pretty much speechless for the moment.

Rick finally breaks the silence "I guess we have to tell everyone now?"

Again Kate just shakes her head.

Castle pays the check and reaches for his new fiancé when they hear her phone chine that she has a message. The particular tone programmed is for emergency pages only and not routine calls. Picking up her phone, she reads a text from Ryan "Maddox captured. Wants to talk to you and no one else. No Castle! Call me ASAP!"

Kate is taken back a little. She tells Castle that a real emergency has come up and she has to call the station. Ricks was hoping for a little more time that evening, but he relinquishes his grip on her hand while she goes to the ladies room.

Kate starts up the moment Ryan answers "Kevin, you know don't want anything to do with Maddox or my old case anymore."

"Beckett, he says he must talk to you. That is a mater of life and death. Otherwise I would not be calling. He also said that Castle could not be with you, so I thought getting you in the evening would be the best."

"OK! Where is he?"

"He is at the Federal Courthouse in Federal custody. They know you are coming. I wonder if this has to do with the time he kidnapped Castle? That's why he doesn't want Castle around?"

"Ryan, I don't know, but I will go there and see what's happening. I'll call you later and let you know, bye"

Kate returns to Castle and tells him that she needs to go to the federal building to get some information on a case to take back to the station. Castle hails a cab and they leave for the court house.

The entire trip, Kate just stares at her hand and the ring that means that they are official. Really officially engaged. She can shout it from the rooftops if she wants to. She leans her head over on Rick's shoulder while they drove.

Upon arrival at the federal building, Kate took the new ring off and told Castle that she could not wear jewelry such as this in there. Rick placed the ring back into its case and into his pocket. The couple get out of the cab, Rick pays the driver and they go inside. Since it was after hours, Beckett presented her credentials to the officer on duty and told him that she needed to go to the 15th floor. This was the cellblock for federal prisoners in transit.

The guard told Castle that only credentialed law enforcement could go to that floor and that he would have to wait in the main lobby. Kate told him, that she will be fine, that this is a federal jail with plenty of officers to watch over her. He did not want to wait, but he said he would. Castle walks over to the chairs and sits down, pulls out his phone and starts playing hungry birds.

Beckett exited the elevator on the 15th floor, looked around to the guard turret. She showed her badge and visitor credentials and told the officer who she was there to see. He called over the radio to another guard to bring prisoner M19087 to interview 1. He directed Beckett to the door where she would enter. He told her that they would be separated by bullet proof glass, but they could talk thru the openings slots.

Kate entered the room and waited. About 5 minutes later the opposite door opened and in walks the man who tried so hard to kill her just a few months ago. He looks at Beckett and she actually thinks she sees fear coming from the man who was so strong and fierce when he threw her off the hotel roof and waited for her to fall to her death.

Maddox sits down in a chair and the guard places restraints on his wrists and connects him to a ring mounted to the wall. Even if there were no separation glass, he would not be able to harm her. As the guard leaves the room, he tells Beckett to just go to her door and knock and they will let her leave. She thanks the guard as he closes the door.

Beckett looks squarely at Cole Maddox "You drag me here to talk. So, What do you want Maddox?"

Maddox sits with his head down for a minute before he speaks up "I need you to tell your boyfriend to stop."

"Stop? Stop what?" Beckett is confused about what could Rick be doing that has Maddox in the state he is in.

"Castle is destroying me, my family, everyone I know. He is….."

"Wait, what do you mean Castle is destroying your family? How is Rick Castle destroying you family?

"You know? Right? Don't you know he is CIA?"

Kate feels her face turn a bright shade of crimson. "CIA? What do you mean CIA? Rick is a writer. He is not a spook"

"No lady, I promise you he is a spook. He is a CIA control agent. Why do you think I backed off on killing you and him? He told me if I didn't back off, my family, friends, everyone I came in contact with would die. Things started almost immediately. My ex wife has my kids. I used the money I made to take care of them. The bank accounts have been emptied. She disappeared. My former employer is dead. No one will hire me. He must be doing it"

Beckett is in shock. Her and Castle came to an agreement after the disaster they both caused by keeping secrets from one another. They both promised not to keep secrets anymore. They would be truthful with each other. No lies. Has Castle lied to her AGAIN? It does look like it.

"How do you know the Castle is CIA?"

"He used a code word while I had him tied up. This was a code we were trained that if it ever was spoken that this person's orders were to be obeyed without question. He used the word. After I acknowledged that I would obey, he told me that an automatic kill program had been initiated and if he did not reset it, then my wife and children would be terminated. Then my employer. Then any other family I had. And that this program had an unlimited recycle. So if I killed you or him, the program would execute. PLEASE, PLEASE tell him to stop the action. I promise I will not harm you, him or anyone else ever. PLEASE!"

Beckett gets up from her chair and calls for the guard to let her out. When she looks back at Maddox, he is visibly shaking. Something has him in terror of Castle. She stands outside the elevator not really sure what to do. Castle used lies and deceit AGAIN. Why did he do that again? Beckett decides that this is who he is. If he is going to lie to her, they have no chance. When she enters the elevator, she is not completely sure how she is going to handle Castle.

When the elevator door opens she sees Castle across the lobby. He gets up from his chair and as he starts to walk her direction, she shouts at him

"I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! YOU HAVE LIED TO ME FOR THE LAST TIME! WE ARE OVER! DONE! FINISHED! DO NOT EVEN TRY TO CALL ME EVER AGAIN! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Kate Beckett walks out the door leaving Castle standing in the lobby, looking out the window. He watches Kate get into a cab and drive out away into the darkness of the city.

Walking over to the officer at the counter, he asks who she just went to see. The officer looks at the log "It says prisoner named Cole Maddox"

Castle turns on his heels and runs out the door to get a cab. It is several minutes before one comes. He gets into the backseat and gives the driver Beckett's address and they leave. He pulls the ring box from his pocket and looks the symbol of his love for Kate

"I just ruined everything?"

Well, I guess it is time to return to the Hamptons to see how the ceremony goes

As I have said before, I own nothing. Wish I did, but I don't.

The only thing I get from writing this is the stuff that gets emptied out of my head and onto paper, er excuse me , computer screen.

Food for thought. I like to take the base characters that are already created and adjust them just a little.

Have them act a little different. Give them a slightly different back story.

Example in Chapter 5 I had Beckett doubting Castle's real intent. She wondered why she was the focus of his love. In the show

this is not an issue.

So back to the fray so to speak. Let's see what is really happening in the Hamptons